About Us

WHAT'S MY STORY?

Several years ago, I adopted a senior beagle named "GERTIE." Inspired by Gertie's special needs for a supportive, comfortable bed, and my own need to conquer excessive laundry and the regular purchase and disposal of traditional pet beds, I designed a pet air bed with a snazy fabric slipcover ... what was later named, the Gertie Gear™ pet air bed.

I'm also one of the many advertising/design professionals in the region who have been adversely affected by the struggling economy and forced to reinvent themselves to survive and thrive. I love animals and hate waste. So in 2007, I had a friend make the first Gertie Gear air bed prototype. Since then, I developed the logo, as well as the brand and marketing materials, learned to sew and have been selling the pet air bed online and at area arts and craft shows, obedience and agility dog shows, and other pet related events.

NOTABLE REWARDS & RECOGNITION...

For my efforts, Gertie Gear has achieved a superior product with a price point that is competitive with mass produced, foreign made alternatives. The beds have been well received, particularly by the dog show and agility community, as well as consumers interested in more sustainable, quality products that provide the same, or better, orthopedic benefits of a "memory foam" bed at a fraction of the price.

Gertie Gear has been chosen among much larger companies to participate in the 2009 Earth Day in Hollywood and HollyWOOF celebrity gift bag campaigns. Other high profile pet magizines and media have recognized the Gertie Gear pet air bed as well, including: FIDO Friendly, BARK magazine, PetLifeRadio.com, Etsy.com pet gift guide among others. Most recently, the American Kennel Club (AKC), the nations largest, most prestigious canine organization, has honored Gertie Gear in the top spot among only 18 items in its 2009 Holiday Gift Guide, a special section in the November issues of the AKC Gazette and AKC Family Dog magazines to be seen by more than 240,000 subscribers and 30,000 plus online readers.

More honors:
-2010 Winner in FIDO Friendly magazine's "100 Best Pet Products"
-American Kennel Club (AKC): 2010 Spring/ Summer Gear Guide (May 2010 issue online)
-American Kennel Club (AKC): 2010 Gift Guide (coming Nov/Dec)

Gertie Gear, the company, has also received aclaim in the small business world as a
AMEX/NBC sponsored, SHINE A LIGHT FINALIST: "Gertie Gear ... an end to throwaway pet beds."
and an "On Fire" top contender in StartUpNation.com's Home-Based 100 competition.
Click on a contest above to read the full profile.

Thanks so much for your time and interest in learning more about us. We hope you enjoy "your" Gertie Gear pet air bed as much as we do.

Kind regards,
Julie King, Owner / Innovator / "Whatever-it-takes DO-er"
and "GERTIE", CSB (Chief Senior Beagle)
—Gertie's Nose Knows Great Gear—