Our First Pop-Up Event!
Sunday, 15th June 2025 was a wonderful day I’ll never forget!
It was the day POINTER & HOUND hosted our very first pop-up event at The Welder Events space in Christchurch. It also happened to be my final week at my other job (great timing, Christina 🙃). To say I was stressed would be an understatement - but looking back now, I’m so glad we made it happen.
The Set-Up (aka: Six Hours of Controlled Chaos)
Originally, Rowan (my fiancé) and I planned to set up the morning of. But thanks to Sophie from The Welder, we were able to get in from 3pm the day before. And thank goodness we did - because it took us nearly six hours to get everything ready! Between merch displays, signage, fittings, and trying to make everything look cohesive and us, we were exhausted by the end. But there’s something so satisfying about seeing it all come together.
Morning Prep
Despite being absolutely shattered, I was up early the next day for a much-needed visit to my talented friend Stacey Banfield - a phenomenal NZ makeup artist who kindly did my makeup for the event. I LOVED how it turned out. And if you know me, you know I stress about everything, so having one less thing to worry about was a gift in itself. She also came along to the event and took some BTS videos for me while I was busy with customers on the day. Thank you so much, Stacey!
The Dream Team
I was lucky to have some amazing friends helping on the day - huge shoutout to Maddy, Hayley, Edward and Mackenzie. I genuinely couldn’t have done it without you. Having that support made the day so much more enjoyable, and kept things running smoothly!
Coffee, Pup Cups & Treats
We teamed up with the awesome crew at Tamper Black, who parked their coffee van just outside the entrance and served up delicious brews (plus free pup-cups with every purchase - because dogs deserve a treat too). Inside, we had Maree from Lick Of Approval as our guest dog baker. Maree and I go way back - we used to be stall neighbours at markets - and I’ve always loved her energy and her incredible dog baked goods. I knew I wanted her to be part of this day from the start.
And Then… The Doors Opened
Before 10am, we had a crowd control barrier in place to block the entrance - and just outside the doors was line of people and dogs stretching out across the courtyard waiting for us to open! I could’ve cried. I hoped people would come, but never imagined that many. It was overwhelming in the best way.
As soon as we opened the doors, the space filled up fast. We handed out free tennis balls, branded tote bags, and treats, and saw so many familiar faces (both two- and four-legged!) already decked out in POINTER & HOUND gear. It honestly filled my heart.
Sophie Henderson - our amazing photographer and soon-to-be my wedding photographer too! - captured some beautiful moments of the team, the dogs, and the buzzing atmosphere. I can’t wait to look back on these memories in the years to come.
Here is the EVENT GALLERY if you'd like to take a look at all the photos! And you can watch our event highlights video below:
Lessons & Reflections
All the dogs were beautifully behaved, and their owners were so respectful - it made the space feel welcome and fun, even with how packed it was. That said, if I’d known just how busy it would be, I probably would’ve planned for better indoor/outdoor flow and a more dedicated try-on area. But hey, that’s what the first event is for - learning!
This day reminded me why I started POINTER & HOUND. It’s not just about products. It’s about the people (and dogs!) who love them. It’s about community - and wow, did our community show up.
What’s Next?
This pop-up took months of planning, marketing, and a lot of behind-the-scenes hustle. It was absolutely worth it, but I’ll be honest - I need a breather before we do it again. When we do, it’ll be even bigger and better.
Until then, thank you to every single person and pup who came to support us. You made this day what it was: special, unforgettable, and full of heart.
Here’s to our community, dogs, and these special moments 🐾
— Christina
Founder of POINTER & HOUND