In this installment of our Dogpreneur feature, we’d like to introduce you to Holly and Teddy from Teddy Maximus.
Hello there! Thank you giving us this interview. Please could you introduce yourself?
Hi, my name is Holly and I’m the founder of Teddy Maximus, based in Fulham, London. I have always had a love for all things beautiful and girly – accessories, clothes, art and especially dachshunds! My weekends are often spent in the great parks of London with my dog Teddy. We love the cute cafes of Primrose Hill – which I’ve coined as ‘the homeland of sausage dogs, cupcakes and bike baskets’.
We recently launched Teddy Maximus with the aim of creating a beautiful British brand that people can induldge in for dog owners of many breeds, from cocker spaniels to chihuahuas. It’s something that i’ve wanted to do for a long time. Everyone remembers that first moment when you bring a dog home, the excitement, the anticipation and the wonderful thought that this little friend is now a special part of your family. Unwrapping a present for your companion should feel great, something that you can treasure and really enjoy using as part of those special moments. I can’t think of anything nicer than being a part of those memories.
What is your business?
Teddy Maximus is a very British company, we are all about fun, stylish design for you and your dog! We have a motto, it has to make you go ‘ooo’ or ‘aaah’ and it definitely has to make you smile! If it doesn’t pass these important tests with many a discerning dog owner then you won’t see it here!
We make luxury dog accessories with only the best materials. From brass collar fittings made in a foundry in England to cushions, beds and carriers made with a lot of love in the heart of the English countryside. Heritage is at the heart of everything we do.
Who is Teddy Maximus?
Teddy Maximus is a very special little dachshund, Maximus in name and Maximus in nature! He inspired the brand. He always makes people smile and that is such an awesome thing when you walk down the road! I truly believe dogs have a special capacity to have a very soothing effect on people and can make a real difference to someone’s day. Teddy’s favourite past times include chasing squirrels through Primrose Hill, keeping up to date with his friends on instagram and perusing the Sunday Times Style magazine.
What inspired you to come up with Teddy Maximus?
My love of dogs, accessories and fashion! I wanted to create a lifestyle brand which people could really enjoy and truly picture in their home. My aim was to create a brand with genuine character and warmth, bringing to life the insights I’ve learnt as a dog owner. I think there is a real resurgence in the appreciation for quality, heritage design, with people prepared to pay a little more for something which has been made with a lot of love and thought and which fits into their lifestyle.
When did you begin designing?
I began working with a number of talented people early this year, from sourcing manufacturers, to suppliers and everything else in between! With so many beautiful colours, designs and fabric possibilities, the hardest part was narrowing down what I wanted to launch with. It’s been an incredible journey which recently culminated in our first photoshoot in London for our lookbook. I spent weeks searching for the perfect locations and found a beautiful pink door in Knightsbridge which was the perfect back drop to the pastel colours of our signature print.
Tell us about the products you offer.
We cater for dogs of many shapes and sizes. From luxury slumber beds, dog bed cushions, cocoon beds, carriers, luxury leather leads and collars, dog bone toys, bow ties, dog bone toys and coats! We do coats in 6 sizes, including a special one just in dachshund proportions! Our bow ties and carriers have been particularly popular, people really like the fact that you can buy matching items. We have launched with three collections, our signature print collection featuring our dog motif with tiled head and bow tie, a Shetland wool collection and a quintessentially British Liberty print collection.
You can find the whole range at www.teddymaximus.com
How does your Teddy Maximus carrier benefit city dog owners?
Being a city dog owner, I’ve toiled the tube, buses and busy streets so know what it’s like to have your arms full and not much space! When having a small dog that’s so low to the ground you appreciate how vulnerable their little paws can be when lots of busy human feet are pounding the streets! After a long day in the city, dogs can also get pretty tired! When Teddy decides he’s had enough, nothing in the world will get him moving again! The luxury carrier is a really snug way of travelling, helping to put your mind at ease. People also love them for their little dogs in the house. Our Liberty print carrier was recently bought as a snuggly bed and is left open all day on the floor in the lounge, we love this idea! The carrier comes with a trigger hook to attach to your dog’s collar or harness, leather straps and a pocket for bags or treats! There is also a removable cushion.
Sounds like they are stylish and perfect for city canines.
Thank you! They have been really popular! It’s really exciting to see people enjoying the brand.
Who / What inspires you?
For everyday inspiration, I love people watching from a great café with a mug of hot chocolate and BIG slice of cake, there are some great stylish people walking around London with their pooches! For design, style and culture, I really LOVE the special exhibitions at the V&A, one of my first was a Vivienne Westwood exhibition that my parents took me to see, and one of my recent favs is probably the Made in Britain exhibition.
What is the future for Teddy Maximus?
Well we have our first Teddy Maximus wedding this Christmas, with one of our bow ties being worn by the bride and groom’s dog, that for me will be a really exciting moment! We have a partnership with the Dogs Trust, so for every dog bone toy bought online from teddymaximus.com we donate £1 – so we hope to grow that to enable lots more dogs to enjoy a safe and happy home. We’ve had some incredible feedback and many people are coming to us with specific requests and ideas for extending the lines so watch this space!
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Holly and Teddy, and we wish you all the best for the future.
Want to try something from the amazing ted max collection? Use this discount code for 15% off CITY15. Offer expires 26th December.
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What beautiful and fashionable products! Any dog would love them.
Thanks so much Kelly, thrilled to hear you love the collections! You can find the rest of the items on teddymaximus.com. Do you have any favs? x
Teddy Maximus is SO cute!! That was a great interview and they have some neat stuff!
Thanks so much Kelly, thrilled to hear you love the collections! You can find the rest of the items on teddymaximus.com. Do you have any favs? x
Hehe thanks Lauren, we think so too, but then we are bias! Really great to hear you enjoyed the interview, we loved it too! As a new start up it’s fab to hear the positive feedback, really appreciate it. You can keep up to date with all our news on Facebook, Twitter (@teddymaximus) and Instagram (@teddy_maximus). Hope to see you there! x
sounds like a fun line!
Thanks Nichole, it certainly has been a really fun thing to develop, we can’t think of anything better than working with dogs 🙂 you can keep up to date with our news on our blog page and any of our social channels and of course the wonderful City Dog Expert! x
Wow, these look like great products!
We think so also
Thanks so much Carleen! Really appreciate the comment! You can find out more on teddymaximus.com and of course City Dog Expert will have all the latest news too! x
The picture with the dogs wearing bowties is darling! And I like the bed patterns.
We do too. love bow ties
Hi there, that is defo one of our favs 🙂 just gone up on our facebook page as the new cover pic! So great to hear yuor feedback on the bed patterns, one for every season 🙂 x
That’s some really cool stuff for dogs. 🙂
Thanks so much
Hey there! Thanks so much for taking a look! We really appreciate the feedback! We are all about cool, fun, luxury style! You can keep up to date with all our news on facebook, twitter or instagram, hope to see you there 🙂 x
I want a mug of hot chocolate and a BIG slice of cake! ☺ What beautiful photos and products! So posh! Those carriers are the coolest I believe I’ve ever seen. My corgis wouldn’t fit, but my cats would (don’t think they’d stay in there, though).
I bet your corgi’s would fit. These are fit for Royalty
Thanks both! We are all about luxury style, so glad you think so too 😉 We have indeed had a very posh cat use hers as a bed 🙂 x
What fun products and amazing photos! Gorgeous. And, now, I want to go back to London.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH so when you go to London, make sure you save space in your suitcase for a bow tie or two 😉
Thanks so much Kristen! We are all about fun, luxury British style. We can keep you updated with your daily dose of London through our instagram, facebook and twitter and obvs through the amazing City Dog Expert 😉 x oh p.s we also deliver to the US!
These are some very beautiful products! It looks like Teddy Maximus uses high-quality materials too. I really like the dog purses.
We do too. Thinking of ordering a few 😉
Thanks so much Robin, we are delighted to hear your comments. All our products are tested by our very fussy dachshund – so if it doesn’t pass his style test then you won’t see it here 😉 x
Wow – what a beautiful line!
We think so too
Thanks so much City Dog Expert – you are the best! x
Hi Kelsie – great to hear your comments! So glad you like it! All our products have been really carefully designed and made in England with alot of love.
You can find the rest of the collection at teddymaximus.com and we deliver to most places! x
Great fashion-themed piece! I think these items look very pawesome and dey sound great too!
Thanks so much Mattie Dog
Hi Mattiedog, pawsome to meet you 😉 so great to hear you love our products, they have beentruly made with alot of love and thought, so it’s great to hear. We deliver to most places and you can find all our products at teddymaximus.com Hope to see you there 🙂 x
A super looking brand, Pepe and I will be trying out some of their lovely products very soon!
Make sure you order before December 26th to get the awesome discount
Thanks so much Julie! Can’t wait to see Pepe with his new Teddy Maximus products! xx
Gorgeous products!! Congrats on your success. Hope it continues.
I think Teddy Maximus will go far
Hi Carol,
Truly appreciate your support, thanks so much for reading! You can keep up to date with all our news across facebook, instagram and twitter and of course through the wonderful City Dog Expert! Keep in touch and do sign up for our newsletter so we can keep you posted 🙂 x
Beautiful Products. They look very fashionable.
Hip and Happening London is a good inspiration I think
@ city dog expert we love london – always inspired by the walks and dog owners of the city 🙂
Hi Suzanne,
thank you so much, super pleased to hear you like them! We are very much inspired by our life in London and the products have all beenroadtested in various places around England as you’ll see on our blog 🙂 you can find out more on teddymaximus.com (we also deliver to most places!) x
Oh… I love these products! They look like exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Lovely~
We love them
Hi Maureen, we are so glad you think so, all the leather collars and leads are handmade in a leather works in the Oxfordshire countryside, people love the stitching and smell of the leather 🙂 x
Love these. Wish my pups would fit into those carriers.
I wish I could fit into those carriers 😉
@city dog expert perhaps we should look at extending our product line 🙂 x
Hi Jessica! thanks so much! If you love these we also so large beds 🙂 you can find them at teddymaximus.com. Happy browsing! xx
Beautiful products, photos and the pup models are pretty darn cute too!
It was a cuteness overload
Thanks so much Sadie, we are delighted you think so! Working with dogs is just the best as I’m sure the wonderful City Dog Expert will agree 🙂 The blonde dachshund is Teddy who inspired the brand and the red one is his real life sis. For more daily doses of Teddy you can find us on instagram, twitter and facebook and also on our blog at teddymaximus.x
Great post and amazing photos!!! 🙂
It was such a fun interview, thanks for reading
thanks so much for inviting us, we were delighted to be asked! x
thanks so much! Great to hear your feedback! x
Wonderful interview, I can see that Teddy Maximus is a real quality company. And Teddy is adorable!!
Love & biscuits,
Digs Luv Us and We Luv Them
I defo want some Teddy cuddles now
Hi Cathy! Thrilled to read your comments, Teddy Maximus has been really carefull designed and made with alot of LOVE 🙂 so we are delighted you think so too! You can stay up to date with our news by signing up to our newsletter on teddymaximus.com hope to see you there 🙂 x p.s teddy also sends his hugs
Great interview and those look like some wonderful products for dogs.
We love them
Hi Sweet Puurfections! Fab to meet you, we loved doing the interview! Everything has very much been inspired by dogs & their owners with British heritage at the core of everything we do. You can keep up to date with all our news by signing up to our newsletter on teddymaximus.com or any of our social channels. Wishing you an awesome day! x
Those are some lovely products! Are they sold in the US as well?
We are not sure about international shipping but can find out for you 🙂
Hi Beth! Fab to meet you, thrilled to hear you love our new collections. Yes we do ship to the US. If you send me a note to hello@teddymaximus.com I can provide a shipping quote for you as our items vary quite alot in size! They’ll arrive in time for xmas for sure 🙂
Look forward to hearing from you! x
Great name, great looking items! If I still lived in London, I’d be in the shop =) I’m going to do the next best thing and visit the site. Thanks for highlighting this business.
Hi Mary! Thank you so much! The name was inspired by our dachshund who is maximus in name and in nature, quite a character! We are all about British heritage and craftsmanship. We do post to most places so send me an email to hello@teddymaximus.com and I can provide a shipping quote to you (as our items vary in size quite alot!). Everything will of course arrive in plenty of time for xmas. Hope to hear from you soon! x