Zuma the Dog Launches New Website

SMALL DOG GROWS WITH NEW MERCH 

 Bertish and Company Ltd, the creator and owner of children’s character brand Zuma the Dog, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new website, www.zumathedog.com. A website update that was long overdue and tells more of the brands story.

 

Welcome to our Homepage

The site, now character lead tells the story of Zuma the real dog along with everything the character dog represents. It focuses more on diversity education, tolerance and antibullying, which has always been a part of the brands philosophy since its creation in 2009, It incorporates an activities section full of resources designed to help teachers and parents. These can be downloaded free of charge and used within a classroom or homeschool environment.

 

Diversity Education worksheets

There’s a contact section for all to get in touch with the brand for further educational resources and discussion. The blog section gives Zuma a voice to tell stories as he adventures with his human family. Written in Zuma’s point of view the brand hopes to give Zuma the Dog fans an insight into the Zumaverse in a subtle, humorous way. The site is light and bright with clean, concise easy-to-use functions and not to forget all the new Zuma the Dog merchandise now available to buy. Remaining true to the brands original philosophy the basic product range is kept gender neutral with seperate ranges for traditional customers. Keeping sustainability in mind, the new merchandise works on a make on demand basis, eliminating the need to buy in stock and keep the brand carbon footprint down with direct to customer distribution.

 “We are all very excited about this new website,” said Samantha Bertish, brand creator. “We really feel we can get Zuma the Dog’s story across in a big way and bring Zuma the attention he deserves. Our focus has been to grow our export market and with a website that works for both desktop and mobile shopping with international landing pages and currency options we really feel this can be achieved.” 

Bertish and Company has invited visitors to explore the new website. Paying particular attention to Zuma’s blog for funny and entertaining stories and the shopping page for all the new merchandise. 

 For licensees who want to collaborate with Zuma the Dog on new products for the website shop and concessions, please contact Brand Manager Sarah Camp at sarah@contagiousmediagroup.com

SMALL DOG GROWS BIGGER

 

Second concession shop opens for Zuma the Dog

Brand creator of Zuma the Dog and company director Samantha Bertish made an exciting visit to their second concession store at Pop Up Leatherhead in Surrey last week. Working closely with Mole Valley District Council, the Pop-up Leatherhead initiative is the second in a series of shops oraganised by The Pop-Up Shop Agents that aims to bring small brands into the high street who wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity. With a bright, modern interior, the shop creators bring a luxury feel to their customers shopping experience and, by bringing in exciting new brands it aims to increase footfall to rejuvenate high streets after what has been a devastating blow to many established high street brands over the past years.  

After the success of the Horsham store at the end of 2021 Zuma the Dog will be appearing in the new Leatherhead shop for the next three months, bringing his usual bright and happy products with him. Samantha Bertish spent the day in store to meet the shop managers, check on products and make sure everything in their concession conformed to all company branding. The shopping experience remains the same as Zuma the Dog combines conventional shopping with tech demands and with an exciting new website set to launch in the next month, the brand expects to grow with new licensed on demand products via its online and bricks and mortar shopping experiences.

“This store looks amazing, bright and modern.” Said Bertish. “The High Street location brings a lot of footfall and I can already see people’s interests are peaked by the store front and window display. It was lovely to spend the day with the store managers and other concession licensees, getting to know them and other products in store with Zuma. I’m also proud to be able to be a part of this initiative for a second time. I’m so grateful to The Pop-Up Shop Agents for all their hard work in bringing this project to life. Can’t wait to get stuck in with the next Pop-Up Shop project , wherever that may be.” 

The New Pop-Up Leatherhead shop opened in The Swan Center on the 18^th March, and Zuma the Dog will be available to visit in store over the next 3 months.

For licensees who want to collaborate with Zuma the Dog on new products for the shop and new website, please contact Brand Manager Sarah Ann Camp at sarah@contagiousmediagroup.com

 

All Change Ahead for Zuma

It seems like forever since the last time I put paws to keyboard to update you on life as the muse of a kid’s brand, so much has happened, including moving countries. Yes, that’s right, I left the beach of my precious Guincho Beach in Portugal and swapped it for the mountains of Switzerland. Mummy said it was a good move for everyone and I get to meet new doggy friends and learn another language. Language is important for a multi-traveling dog like me, so now I find myself learning to woof German and living on top of a hill with fields and trees all around. The view across to a mountain is breath taking and I have funny four-legged neighbours that eat a lot of grass, who wear these large bells around their necks, ding-donging all day and make a kind of Moo sound. I’ve never seen such a funny looking creature, but they keep themselves to themselves and I’m happy to watch them all do their thing.

I’ve taken my time to settle in. It’s been a big change. I’m enjoying the long walks through the forest and there’s always something that catches my interest. New sounds, new smells and lots of new people. I had a little run in with an electric fence while on a bog walk down a mountain, but I'm ok. Something new to learn about. I think I’m going to like it here.

With all the changes with our home, Mummy seems to have still found time to work and she tells me she now has a sales agent who will be working alongside her and the licensing agent to sell our clothing range into retailers within the UK. She seems to be very happy about that. She’s busy working on the Winter 2018 collection, creating fun styles for you and these items will be in stores and online next winter to buy.

Can you imagine how exciting it is to see your own face on the T-shirt in the front window of a shop?

Until next time

Much Love

Zuma xx

SMALL DOG DIGS UP BUSINESS AWARDS

With the most insanely busiest month I've ever known Mummy to have, I have spent most of it on my holibobs relaxing and playing with my doggy friends at the Quinta. I can see by spying on Mummy's social media she not only won an award for her business all about ME, but she got married too and has been travelling ever since.

This press release seems to popping up all over the place and believe it's something you should take a look at too.

Glastonbury based children’s brand Zuma the Dog wins big at business awards.

Brand owner Samantha Morgan-Bertish is celebrating after being honoured with two awards for her children’s brand Zuma the Dog. The awards for Small Business of the Year and Overall Business of the Year were presented at the annual Business Matters ceremony by BBC TV presenter Nick Wallis at Gatwick Hilton Hotel in a glittering ceremony earlier this month.

 A spokes person for the event said “Samantha showed dedication and hard work and a determination to make her business work, which is why she was chosen by our judges for these awards”:

I am surprised and ecstatic to be recognised for the work I have put in to get my brand to where it is today.” said Samantha. “With so many other deserving businesses out there I am truly honoured to have won these awards and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and business colleagues.”

Zuma the Dog’s clothing line was launched in Somerset in 2009 and has been gaining strength this year with its award winning books and a TV series which is due to start broadcasting on You Tubes Kids Cast channel this autumn.

Now, I can see on Instagram that Little Stuffed Zuma has been having the time of his life popping up all over Europe. Pop over and take a look at where he's visited. I wonder where he'll end up next?

Much Love

Zuma

XX

A Return to a More Serious Note

As I am nearing my four year anniversary since moving to Portugal I can’t help thinking about how much I have changed and grown as a dog. If you recall the post I wrote three years ago entitled “A more serious note” (15^th March 2013), about coping with the aftermath of domestic violence and how Mummy was seeking help for my behaviour while dealing with her own trauma. You would read how difficult times had become.

My life in England was very different. In my early years I was witness to a lot of unpleasant things. Lots of shouting and hiding in small places, violence and aggression. Things no puppy should ever see. When Mummy wasn’t around the unpleasant attention was geared towards me. I learnt early on that I needed to be there for Mummy and we formed a very close bond protecting each other. At two years old the dynamics in our home changed with the removal of our abuser, but being so used to playing the role of Mummy’s protector, traumatised and constantly being on a high state of alert I became aggressive and with this came isolation because I was not trusted to behave in public.

Fast forward four years and with love, kindness, understanding, persistence and a whole lot of therapy; Mummy truly believes I am a different dog. No need to be muzzled and kept on the leash. No need to be kept away from others. Instead of the dog that picks the fight, I am the dog who shows others how to behave. Of course I’m not perfect and I will always be there to protect my home and my family and if a puppy decides to steal my ball at the beach I WILL tell them off, but life is certainly a lot easier.

Daily Doggy Beach Party With My Buddies

Perhaps it’s because I am older and wiser, calmer, more experienced? I now have many doggy friends, who I learn from as well as teach. Time is a great healer as they say. Look at me now! I am the inspiration for the latest kids character and I even have my own children's digital series coming out soon. I am a star!

We are the lucky ones. Unlike so many, we are survivor's of Domestic Violence and it's now our reasonability to speak out against it and stop these terrible acts.

Thank you Mummy for not giving up on me.

Much Love

Zuma XX

Small Dog Digs up New Award

I am blown away by the amount of good news I'm reading about Mummy's hard work right now. It looks like her patience is paying off and here is another exciting announcement we have been celebrating.

This press release is out now about our good news.

Award winning Glastonbury based children’s brand Zuma the Dog announced as a finalist in Book Awards.

Brand owner Samantha Morgan-Bertish is celebrating this week after receiving the news that her book Zuma Likes to Dig, the first picture book in the pre-school series The Adventures of Zuma the Dog has been chosen as a finalist in The Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards. This exciting news coincides with the launch of her fourth book Zuma the Dog: The Dinosaur Guy, both of which are available to buy from Amazon worldwide.

 Books for the award were read and judged by children in 8 UK primary and secondary schools, a book award that is judged by the people that matter with honest opinions and feedback.

Always keen to have mummy read about me to me

“I am delighted and honoured that we have been chosen as a finalist for this award. It means so much to me that my work and dog character, Zuma is enjoyed by so many children.”

Zuma the Dog kids brand was created in Somerset in 2009 inspired by the family pet and has been gaining strength in recent months with licensing deals including a clothing range and an online TV show.

The winners will be announced on 1^st April.

Zuma Likes to Dog: Finalist in book awards

Search Samantha Bertish on Amazon to find all Zuma the Dog book releases worldwide. The Adventures of Zuma the Dog series is available to buy at all good UK book retailers.

I recommend you give my books a go. Your kids will love them and there's nothing better than falling asleep to a story about a dog. The perfect bedtime story all about me!

Much Love

Zuma XX