We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Cardenas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It started off as simply wanting to create an orange leash to match our dog’s collar. I couldn’t buy one at the time and I had seen some people making leashes with parachute cord and thought “I could do that”. Friends and family liked them and one thing led to another. I enjoyed the idea of working from home and being with my dogs all the time while doing something creative.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The thing I am most proud of about my business was building it on our own. We invested every dime for the first five years back into the business, this helped us order in bigger quantities and hire help so that ultimately we could get quality products created while maintaining budget-friendly pricing. One of the biggest challenges was developing the discipline to work at home. It is very easy to put off the work tasks for the day in favor of doing a quick load of laundry or running errands because the “work is always there.” I ended up setting daily quotas to accomplish so I could manage my time better. I love the fact that we have created a product that is long-lasting and fully adjustable to the user’s needs, I believe in my heart that this makes walking your dog a more enjoyable experience, as well as, helps the environment by creating less waste by not having to replace your dog’s leash often. Leashes by Liz was started in 2012, we handcraft quality dog products from parachute cord. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We love to hike at Chautauqua Park in Boulder! My favorite thing to do is to support other small businesses! We like to frequent food trucks and try new things so it would be a great adventure!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband was by far the biggest supporter. He was working at the time and would come home to help me finish products and help me sell them on the weekends. Our families have stepped in to help at different points with various tasks and have been an immense part of our ability to grow. But most of all, I dedicate everything we are to our dog Shaquille, he was my inspiration for creating a safe and comfortable product to use.

Website: www.leashesbyliz.com

Instagram: @leashesbylizco

Facebook: www.facebook.com/leashsebyliz

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.