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By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published January 28, 2005
Scott Keeler/tbt*
Christina Bush, 24, of Seminole is marketing a new line of high-end pet accessories. Her dog, Romy, a Scottish Terrier, is probably the cleanest dog around.
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Romy, a feisty, ink-black Scottish terrier accessorized in a fuchsia collar, is one well-bathed pooch. Christina Bush regularly lathers up her pup, and when she isn't doing that she's knocking on her neighbor's door asking to take the suds to their horse.
Bush, 24, is no mere clean freak. She's the founder (and test marketer) of Christina Said... pet bath products, a Seminole-based entrant in the ever-expanding market of high-end pet accessories. Bush gets between $14 and $17.50 per bottle of a pet cleaner that smells and lathers as invitingly as people shampoo.
"There's nothing like it with the packaging, colors, smells," Bush said. "It's my personality out there."
Pet owners won't flinch at buying Fido a $14 bottle of shampoo since pet owners generally tend to be baby boomers now with empty houses or young professionals who are putting off marriage or children to pursue careers. Many have pets for companionship and have good salaries to spend pampering them.
Bush's customers can bathe their cats in pear- and vanilla-scented shampoo, their dogs in creamsicle suds or their horses in citronella shampoo or watermelon shampoo and conditioner. Strawberry Shortcake shampoo for dogs is set to come out next month.
The line, launched in October, has been two years in the making. Though she graduated from USF with a degree in political science, Bush knew she wanted her own business one day.
A lifelong pet owner and equestrian, Bush experienced her epiphany while she was at the last horse session she could afford. She was watching a couple of kids flying by on their ponies and commented to one, "you should give that pony a bubble bath, she did so well."
The girl looked at Bush like she was crazy, and an idea was born.
Christina Said... products are sold in boutiques and on her Web site. One store owner admitted her husband uses the dog shampoo on himself. Bush has expanded her line with necklaces of her trademarked scrolled horseshoe, dog bone and mouse, and has plans to create pet accessories.
"People want to reward their pets and they deserve it, they do," Bush said. "Romy runs errands with me all day."
By advertising in upscale horse magazines that are distributed worldwide, Bush has found interest for her product in Britain, Germany, China and Japan. She has her eyes set on even bigger goals.
"I want everyone in the United States to know what Christina Said... is and I want them to use it on their pets," she said. "And I want to be on Oprah. "
- Tamara El-Khoury tel-khoury@tampabay.com
Lather up
Christina Said... products are sold in boutiques in Florida and New Orleans and via her Web site, www.christinasaid.com
[Last modified January 27, 2005, 13:44:19]
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