We’re Katie and Gaby, the women behind Bead Bar, a small, women-owned business born from our love for dogs, creativity, and community. After seeing a beaded collar on a coworker’s dog, we wanted something similar for our own dogs, Reina and Torshi, but couldn’t find anything that matched our standards for quality and style. We decided to make our own, using materials that were more durable and lightweight. When we wore the collars out to dinner, people immediately asked where they could get one. That moment inspired us to launch Bead Bar, and since 2024, we’ve brought our custom friendship collars to markets and pop-ups all over New Jersey, New York, and even Philadelphia.

Each event is filled with so much love and excitement, and over the past year, we’ve built a community of repeat customers and dog lovers who recognize our collars at dog parks, restaurants, and events. One of the most heartwarming moments was seeing a dog at the same restaurant where our idea first began, proudly wearing a Bead Bar collar. It’s incredible to see our work come full circle and to be recognized by people who spot our dogs and ask, “Is that Bead Bar?”

But every setup and teardown takes hours, limiting how many events we can do and where we can go. That’s why we’re raising funds to bring Bead Bar Mobile to life, a compact, food-truck-style van that lets us take Bead Bar directly to you. Think of it as a traveling bead bar for dogs, a cozy, colorful mobile studio where you can design your own custom collar and bracelet set right from the window. Your contribution will go toward purchasing a small van or kei-style truck, customizing and painting it with our Bead Bar branding, outfitting it with a workbench, storage, and a low service window, and expanding our reach to more communities, shelters, and dog-friendly events.

This is a big dream for a small business, but one we truly believe can help us grow sustainably, reach new customers, and keep doing what we love, celebrating the bond between dogs and their humans. If you’ve ever stopped by one of our pop-ups, made a collar with us, or just love what Bead Bar stands for, we’d be so grateful for your support, whether that’s donating, sharing, or simply cheering us on. Every contribution helps us get one step closer to taking Bead Bar on the road. From the bottom of our hearts, and paws, thank you.