PK9 Gear's Chris Loverseed on Handpicked with Naomi Simson

MELBOURNE, 25 October 2026 — Our founder Chris Loverseed joined Naomi Simson on Handpicked this month. The episode came out on 19 October, and we've put the link below.

Chris had questions for Naomi as a small business owner. One of them was this:

"Do people genuinely care about Made in Australia? And if so, at what price point do they stop caring?"

We make dog gear in Melbourne. Obviously, there's a difference between that and importing a finished product, but how do you explain it to someone deciding what to buy? That's part of what Chris and Naomi get into. She talks about showing people who makes a product, the work involved and why it matters, rather than expecting an Australian-made label to do all the explaining.

Chris also brings it back to the dog. A collar can look good, but the fit and the dog's comfort have to come into it as well. He's been training dogs professionally since 2009, and that background is part of the conversation.

Then there's the question of finding customers when you're competing with much bigger pet retailers. Naomi suggests looking at partnerships with businesses such as groomers, vets and other pet brands. They're ideas for Chris to consider, not new partnerships being announced.

It's about a 21-minute listen. Naomi has written about the interview here too:
https://www.naomisimson.com/podcast/made-in-australia-is-a-story-not-a-sticker-how-small-makers-compete-without-a-budget

About PK9 Gear

Chris Loverseed founded PK9 Gear in 2023. He is also the owner and head trainer of Positive K9 Training in Melbourne, Australia, and is NDTF-qualified.

Our range includes leads, collars, long lines, tug toys, flirt poles and training accessories. Our products are made in Melbourne, apart from our foam toys. We use materials and components from Australia and overseas.

https://pk9gear.com.au/pages/about-pk9-gear

Media contact
Chris Loverseed, Founder, PK9 Gear
chris@pk9gear.com.au
+61 409 759 759