Homebuildlife: The Shops at Target: Polka Dog Bakery

Polka Dog Bakery for Target

Polka Dog Bakery's founders, Rob Van Sickle and Deb Gregg, launched their pastry shop 10 years ago in honour of a one-eyed rescue dog named Pearl, and have been feeding the Boston dog population ever since.

Now part of the The Shops at Target initiative, which launched over the weekend, they talk to WGSN-homebuildlife about their inspirations and the collaboration that is set to make their brand a household name.

Polka Dog Bakery at Target

Van Sickle and Gregg believe that their commitment to fresh ingredients and quality control, borne of being a small and hands-on business, is the secret of their success. "In this environment, with dog food recalls and product safety concerns coming out almost daily, I think it gives our customers peace of mind to know exactly what they are feeding their dogs and where it comes from. Since we have our own kitchen, and source our own raw materials, we can track our products from the supplier to the bakery to the stores."

Polka Dog Bakery for Target

They describe their initial reaction to being approached by Target as "a mix of emotions: humility, excitement, nervousness and awe," and have nothing but praise for the collaboration process. "We worked closely with the team at Target for almost a year, making sure we not only brought to life the feeling and spirit of the Polka Dog Bakery, but to make sure the look and quality of the collection met everyone's standards and was truly representative of us and of Target."

Polka Dog Bakery for Target

The brand's new line with Target comprises treats, accessories and a collection of leads, with a focus on bright, fun colours and healthy, natural ingredients. "Of course, treats are Polka Dog Bakery's signature, so the natural treat line we developed with Target is especially exciting for us and is very representative of our brand. But the fun, nostalgic toys and the candy stripe collars and brightly coloured accessories speak to our overall style."