Behind the scenes: The story of our paw print startup

A dream comes true

The creation of Hearts in Hands is a story full of passion, creativity and the desire to capture precious memories. Our founder and mastermind, Catharina Bond, had a groundbreaking idea during the Corona pandemic that was born out of a deeply personal experience. Here you can find out how it all began and how our startup has developed into what it is today.

The beginnings: An idea out of the crisis

Catharina Bond is not only a talented artist, but also someone who has often attracted negative attention in the past because of her wrinkled hands. But it was precisely these hands that played a crucial role in the founding of Hearts in Hands. During the pandemic, Catharina discovered that the many wrinkles in her hands were perfect for plasticine prints.

“Locally, our story begins in London; temporally, it has its origins in the middle of the pandemic. During my time at the Royal College of Art, I worked with 3D prints of palms. Due to the great distance from my family in Vienna and a tragic corona death in my circle of friends, I realized what great value a mere touch from a loved one can have. And so I started to cast the palms of my loved ones’ hands in a special modeling clay so that I could always carry them with me,” says Catharina.

The foundation of Hearts in Hands

What began as a personal project quickly developed into something bigger. Catharina wanted to make what had helped her the most during this difficult time possible for other people too. This is how a temporary art project became a start-up that can bring people closer together and be a support and companion in their everyday lives.

Anja Frei, who has been at Catharina’s side since the company was founded, took over the marketing, communication and customer service departments. Anja studied marketing and design and brought fresh ideas and energy to the team. Together they worked to build Hearts in Hands and turn their vision into reality.

The first prototype

The path from concept to the first prototype was full of challenges and learning processes. It was important for us to find a modeling clay that was safe for humans and easy to handle at the same time. After numerous tests and adjustments, we finally developed a special premium modeling compound with a fast curing time of only 2 minutes. This clay was not only skin-friendly and safe, but also durable and available in different colors.

The first steps

With the finished prototype in hand, we began to present our product at various markets and trade fairs. The response was overwhelmingly positive and we quickly realized that there was a huge demand for our handprint sets. It was particularly touching to see how many people appreciated the opportunity to create a tangible memory of their loved ones.

The extension: paw prints

In 2023, due to high demand and the desire of many animal lovers, we expanded our range to include DIY sets for paw prints. This expansion was a natural step for us as it fit perfectly with our mission: capturing precious moments and the special bond between humans and animals.

Our paw print sets, such as the popular “Pawee” set, have been specially developed to make creating paw prints as easy and enjoyable as possible. Included in the set are:

• 2 pots of premium modeling clay with fast setting time (2 minutes)
• 1 Step-by-step guide
• 2 wooden spoons (any conventional teaspoon will do)

Our material

Quick and simple

No firing necessary, 2 minutes curing time, no color stains, no residues.

100% safe for your pet

The material is skin-friendly and harmless, even if the mass, imprint or paw is licked.

Unique memory

A symbol of the everlasting bond between you and your faithful companion.

Large selection of colors

Find your favorite color for your favorite paw in our webshop!

The mission of Hearts in Hands

Our mission at Hearts in Hands is to capture the love and special moments between people and their pets. We believe that every paw tells a story and that these stories are worth preserving. With every paw print we help create, we want to capture a little piece of that love and bond.

A look into the future

We are proud of what we have achieved so far and look forward to inspiring many more people with our products. Our plans for the future include developing new and innovative products and expanding our range to offer even more ways to remember beloved pets.

Concluding thoughts

The Hearts in Hands journey has been and continues to be an affair of the heart. We are grateful for the trust and support of our clients and look forward to continuing to be a part of their special moments. Every paw print we create is a testament to the inseparable bond between humans and animals – and that’s something that inspires and drives us every day.

Author

Hi, I’m Anja!

I have been part of Hearts in Hands from the very beginning. Together with Catharina, I have made it my mission to give a piece of love to people who need it in the form of individual handprints

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