How GOTA Pets built its brand with the help of the Vibeit platform
GOTA Pets brand is driven by a love for dogs and a commitment to creating high-quality, aesthetically refined products for pets. We spoke with the founders, Manca and Miha, who turned their passion into a successful entrepreneurial journey.
How did your journey begin?
Manca: The inspiration behind everything we do is our dog, Gota. That’s where our brand name comes from—Gota is the heart and soul of our story. The idea started more than ten years ago when my mother sewed the first dog cushion for our then-family pet. That cushion was the starting point—we refined it over the years, added new materials, and experimented with different shapes until we created the perfect product.
Miha: When we saw how well-received the cushions were, we started looking for additional products that would complement our brand. Today, we don’t just offer cushions but also other products for both dogs and their owners. Our goal has always been to combine functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability.
Driven by the desire to create high-quality and sustainable products, Manca and Miha gradually expanded their product line, ensuring comfort for both pets and their owners while maintaining a balance between functionality and style.
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Where do you manufacture your products?
Manca: Our cushions are handmade in Slovenia. We collaborate with local seamstresses who carefully and precisely craft them. Additionally, we recycle waste materials and sew them at home. As for T-shirts, hoodies, and caps, we produce them through Vibeit, which gives us greater flexibility in our offerings and allows us to respond quickly to demand.
Where do you find inspiration for your merch products?
Manca: As I mentioned, Gota is our biggest inspiration. She’s always with us, part of our daily life, and every product in our store carries a bit of her personality. We draw inspiration for the text on our apparel from funny moments we experience as dog owners—we want other dog lovers to relate to them as well.
Miha: Since we’ve personally tried many different products, we understand what dog owners are looking for. The illustrations and designs on our clothing are playful, fun, and, most importantly, reflect what it means to have a dog—love, laughter, and an unbreakable bond.
Why did you choose to collaborate with Vibeit?
Miha: When you start your business, you want to do everything yourself. But you quickly realize that’s not always the best decision. Setting up a website, finding reliable suppliers, and handling logistics takes a lot of time. Our goal was to start selling as quickly as possible, launch the website, and focus on product development. Vibeit allowed us to start selling immediately instead of spending months building a website and learning all the details.
Manca: Vibeit gave us the opportunity to focus on what we love—creating content, marketing, and developing new products. It also enabled us to form collaborations that further strengthened our brand.
With Vibeit, they could quickly start selling and concentrate on branding, advertising, and growing their business.
Why did you choose Print-on-Demand products?
Manca: When you’re starting out, there are many uncertainties, and one of the biggest is inventory. Ordering large quantities requires significant upfront capital, which can be risky. Print-on-Demand, offered by Vibeit, helped us avoid this—they handle everything from printing to shipping, allowing us to focus on brand development.
Miha: We first tested samples together, adjusted them to our preferences, and once we were satisfied with the final products, we launched them without having to invest in large inventories.
With Vibeit, they tested and refined their products before launching, ensuring a flexible and low-risk approach to introducing new designs.
What challenges did you face at the beginning?
Miha: Our biggest challenge was the Slovenian market. Since our cushions are handmade in Slovenia, they are more expensive, meaning we had to target a specific niche. We quickly realized we needed to expand our offerings with more accessible products to attract a broader customer base.
Another major challenge was dealing with import procedures, customs, and finding reliable suppliers. No matter how much you read, some things you only learn through experience. Here, the Vibeit team was incredibly helpful with their insights and advice. And, of course, setting up our online store.
With Vibeit’s support, they overcame initial hurdles, including import logistics and supplier sourcing, making the launch process smoother.
What key advantages of the Vibeit platform influenced your decision?
Manca: Flexibility. We handle part of the packaging and shipping ourselves, while Vibeit takes care of all merch product orders, saving us time and storage space.
Miha: They also offer warehousing services, which significantly simplified the entire process. It was also important to us that we could personalize our packages. Vibeit allowed us to include thank-you cards and customize the final packaging, ensuring that every parcel reflects our brand identity.
Vibeit’s warehousing services provided Manca and Miha with a seamless way to scale their business while maintaining brand consistency through personalized packaging.
What is your vision for the future?
Manca: I’d love to develop a new product for dogs with orthopedic issues since there’s a lack of functional yet stylish solutions for older dogs. We also want to strengthen our presence abroad—we’ve already translated our website into English, with the help of the Vibeit team.
Miha: We’ll continue searching for new ideas, focusing on products that we personally use daily. Our inspiration still comes from Gota and our travels—that’s where our best ideas are born.
Their future plans include expanding internationally and developing innovative products tailored to pets' needs, ensuring both functionality and aesthetics.
Any advice for new creators on the Vibeit platform?
Miha: Don’t give up. The biggest mistake is thinking everything will go smoothly and quickly. Creating a great product is one thing; selling it is an entirely different challenge. You’ll learn a lot along the way, so having a supportive team is crucial.
Manca: Making a product is the easy part; selling it is the real challenge. If you have a great idea, be persistent and find the right partners. Vibeit made our journey much easier, allowing us to focus on brand growth instead of logistics and inventory management.
With the help of Vibeit, the founders of GOTA Pets successfully navigated their initial challenges and focused on brand development. Their story is proof that with the right vision, persistence, and support, you can build a thriving business centered on a love for pets.
