Up Country is 40! Celebrating 25 years with Dolittles

Here at Up Country, we are proudly celebrating 40 years in business! This would not be possible without the support and collaboration of some outstanding retailers. To mark this milestone, we’re shining a spotlight on those retailers who’ve stuck with us for years, helping us bring style and comfort to countless furry friends. Today we're featuring Dolittle's! 

Learn more about them in our interview below. 

Why and/or how did you start your company and what year?
Dolittle's started in 1994 as a small booth in the Charleston City Market. Like many independent pet stores we got into this business because of the love for pets. Back in 1994 we were able to offer unique items to the marketplace: homemade dog treats, hand painted picture frames, and personalized leash holders. From that booth we were able to progress to four stores. 

Tell us a little about your store and the area you are located.
Dolittle's is a small local chain of four locations. Our locations are found around the Charleston area from Kiawah Island to Summerville. We try to present pet products in a more casual atmosphere. Walking into Dolittle's is more like visiting a local gift store than a trip to one of the fluorescent boxes out there. 

How did you find out about the Up Country brand and when did you start selling our products?
Wow. Have to get it the way-back machine for this. It was probably around 1999 and Doittle's found Up Country either at a Backer trade show or an Atlanta Gift Market. More than likely, the Daisy was one of the first patterns we picked up. 

What is a customer favorite, or your favorite design and why?
Our custom collars are quite popular. We have a store located in a tourist market. From that location we sell three different custom collars and they all do very well. Aside from those we like to rotate our designs seasonally so we can't really identify a favorite but, the seasonal sets we create always sell out. Lately we have been trying to keep one print as a constant. We have chosen Big Bones as our regular print because we feel it has very broad appeal.   

Anything else you would like to say about Up Country?
Dolittle's appreciates that Up Country collars are timeless. Many of the same patterns from back in the day are still popular today. We feel that speaks to the classic design work found throughout Up Country.