Green Pet Furniture. Will you pay more?
Everyone likes to think of themselves as being "green-conscious", but when it comes to parting with hard earned dollars and actually making sacrifices, we must separate the sheep from the goats. As we must with the manufacturers themselves. It seems everyone has a "green" line, or (i love this one), a "greener" alternative. This is basically double speak for.....
"We're going to maximize profits by selling irresponsible, toxic products and (for those trying to have a conscience), we'll offer something technically a little greener so that they can buy something too." And it will all be made in our giant factory in China employing children, and dumping sludge into local waterways. Ok, this is sounding like a rant, so let's get calmed down and down to brass tax, or even better, your money and how you choose to spend it.
Making quality pet furniture out of responsible materials and labor sources costs more (quite a bit more) than using cheaper materials that look basically the same to the casual observer.
Making quality pet furniture out of responsible materials and labor sources costs more (quite a bit more) than using cheaper materials that look basically the same to the casual observer. I'm sitting right now at a (nearly brand new) table that I purchased from a local furniture store. It looks great, but already the chairs are starting to wobble and if I try to tighten the screws, they just spin and spin. I was going to make this table, but there was no time and this was convenient. I really don't know what's in the finish, or if it's off-gassing right now. I suspect it is. But it was a great deal so I bought it anyway, shame on me!
So when you're shopping for a nice cat scratcher or cat condo, or cat tree for your good friend "Fluffy", how much do you really value what it's made of, or where it's made? Having had some experience in this field, I can say "not much". The vast majority of consumers still care about price above all, then style/quality (appearance), then if it doesn't cost any more, how eco-friendly it is. It appears that those things that don't have a direct impact on us in the near term do not come into the calculus when the credit card is in play. Maybe you are the exception! :)
So, here at WhiskerStudio, we don't push "eco-friendly" too hard, after all most companies that are too "out front" with that message are probably "green washing" their pet furniture, or making statements that are technically true, but misleading. As it turns out, some of the greener materials available, while more expensive, are actually of higher quality!
So no "green guilt" marketing here. If you like they way one of our pet products looks and functions, and you believe the price is fair and in-line with our competition, they by all means let's do some pet furniture commerce! Just so you know, it will be made of cabinet-grade plywood with no added urea-formaldehyes, and high quality water-based stains and finishes. But you don't have to bank on it!






We have been hard at work developing some stylish new products, with affordability in mind. Of course we won't release anything to our friends until our expert testers have scratched, clawed, and climbed every bit of them. Here are some shots of our upcoming product called the Elevation.
