A Doggone Cute Business Venture
Lei Woof owner Krystal Narusaki and Beau. Photo courtresy Krystal Narusaki
Tails are waggin’ for Krystal Narusaki, owner of Lei Woof. As a self-proclaimed dog lover and Kauai native, Narusaki took a leap full-force into the entrepreneurial world about a month ago making doggie lei for man’s best friend.
“I had been making doggie lei as gifts for family and friends for a while. I realized a few months ago there are so many products for dogs and I thought, why not a dog lei company?” Narusaki says. “With the help of LeiHut.com, I was able to get online purchasing available, and I’ve been busy ever since!”
All Lei Woof creations are made right here in the Islands, with exquisite crafts-manship and attention to detail.
“All my lei are modeled after popular Hawaiian lei – pikake, lokelani, kaunaoa,” Narusaki explains, noting that her dog Beau is the official lei tester and model.
Extra Small (10-inch lei) and small (12-inch lei) are priced at $8 each; medium (14-inch lei) and large (16-inch lei) cost $10 each, and custom-length leis are sold for 80 cents per inch as well. All lei can be purchased at Aloha Doggie Daycare & Grooming (525B Cumins St.) or online at leihut.com/vendors/lei-woof.
“Lei Woof is unique because of all the personal touches that I add (to each lei),” Narusaki shares, adding, “From creating the lei to packaging and delivery, I feel like I put a little bit of my own love into each order. I also try to provide outstanding customer service and make each customer feel like part of the family.”
Eager to add some island flair and aloha spirit to your furry friend? Catch Lei Woof July 7 at Paws in the Plaza at Waikiki Beach Walk, and Aug. 18 at Doggie Date Night in the Salt Lake Boulevard parking lot at Aloha Stadium. Narusaki will be more than happy to help find the perfect lei for your canine, as all lei are designed and made by hand.
With a slew of pet-friendly events coming up, Narusaki also has some short-term goals in mind. She hopes that Lei Woof creations will be picked up by other dog boutiques within the state, and hopes to grow her business’ Facebook page (face-book.com/leiwoof) as well.
“I love it when customers post pictures of their dogs enjoying their lei,” she says with a smile. “It’s awesome when someone says they love your product. At the end of the day, it makes me very happy and proud to say that I own my own business.”
For more information on Lei Woof, visit facebook.com/leiwoof or email knarusaki@yahoo.com. afolen@midweek.com
