31/10/2026
RIGHT, LET’S HAVE A LITTLE CHAT! 😂
RANT INCOMING!!!!!! 🙄
I just want to make something clear. I am a SMALL BUSINESS, not a charity funded by the National Lottery or some bottomless pot of money!
Sounds a bit strange, so let me explain… 😂
I receive endless messages every month asking for raffle prizes, free products, donations for fundraising events, you name it!
Now, I genuinely don’t mind people asking. I’d love to help everyone, and I’ve donated on plenty of occasions. I appreciate the people who raise money and support animals, and I think it’s brilliant.
BUT… unfortunately, I simply cannot help everyone. I’m running a business, not a charity.
HOWEVER, it’s some of the other requests that are really starting to take the biscuit!
🎄 EXAMPLE 1
“Hi, I need Christmas presents for my dog but can’t afford them. Could you send me some?”
ERM… NO! 😂
This has happened SIX times in the last month!
I’m genuinely sorry if you’re in a difficult financial position, but let’s be realistic. Your dog doesn’t understand Christmas. It’s not the end of the world if Fido doesn’t have a stocking full of presents on Christmas morning!
🏬 EXAMPLE 2
“Hi, we absolutely love your products and would love to stock them in our shop. Would you be able to send us a selection of products for FREE so we can try them out?”
EXCUSE ME?! 😂
So you want to stock my products, make money selling them, but expect me to supply your initial stock for absolutely NOTHING?
I'm a small handmade business. Every product takes time to make, materials cost money and postage isn't free!
🐶 EXAMPLE 3
“Hi, we’re pet influencers and absolutely love your snuffle mats. If you send us one for free, we’ll create some content for you!”
Oh, but wait… here’s the best bit…
They then want ME to PAY THEM to create the content as well! 😳😂😂
So let me get this right… you want free products AND payment for the privilege of receiving them?
I think I’ve missed the business lesson somewhere! 🤣
And these are just THREE examples from the last TWO DAYS. Believe me, the requests seem to be getting progressively worse!
SO LET’S REMEMBER A FEW THINGS…
Behind every small business is a real person.
Someone who pays for materials, packaging, postage, insurance, website costs, equipment and all the other expenses that come with running a business.
We don’t get our stock for free. We don’t get our time for free. We don’t get our bills free either!!!!!
I love what I do. I love making products for your dogs, supporting other small businesses and helping animal charities where I can.
But I also have a business to run, bills to pay and a living to make.
I didn’t start Blitz Snuffle Mats to spend my days handing out free products to anyone who asks!
A LITTLE REMINDER:
* I will help any charity if and when I can!
* If you want Christmas presents for your dog, budget for them.
* If you want to stock products in your shop, BUY them.
* If you want influencer collaborations, understand that businesses aren’t obliged to give you free products or pay you.
And finally, PLEASE stop making small businesses feel guilty for saying NO!
We’re not being horrible, selfish or unsupportive. We’re simply running a business.
WE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, NOT FREEBIE DISPENSERS! 😂
We’re not Amazon, we’re not millionaires and we’re certainly not the bloody dog enrichment equivalent of Santa Claus! 🎅
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. BUY FROM SMALL BUSINESSES. AND STOP EXPECTING SMALL BUSINESSES TO FUND EVERYONE ELSE!
Right, rant over. I’ve got orders to make and a business to run! 😂🐾❤️
Love,
Your slightly fed-up snuffle mat lady! x