Bunnies by the Bay Finds Trusted Financing with C2FO Lending Connections

A Legacy of Resilience

Bunnies By the Bay began on Fidalgo Island, Washington, where two sisters and their Gram turned tragedy into creativity. After losing family members and friends to a devastating fishing accident in the Bering Sea in 1983, their Gram comforted them with stories of bunnies in her garden. From those stories grew a business rooted in imagination, craftsmanship, and resilience. Nearly four decades later, Bunnies By the Bay continues to create whimsical stuffed animals and gifts that bring comfort and joy to families worldwide.

That same spirit of resilience recently carried the business through one of its biggest challenges yet.

The Challenge: A High-Stakes Costco Order in Uncertain Times

When Bunnies By the Bay received a very large order from Costco, it was both an extraordinary opportunity and a daunting challenge. To fulfill the order, the company needed upfront financing to purchase raw materials and cover production costs.

Like many businesses, Bunnies By the Bay is inundated daily with unsolicited emails promising fast cash. “I get flooded with emails every day saying things like, ‘You’re approved for $1 million,’ and most of them feel scammy,” said Leigh Powrie, Director of Finance. Knowing she had a trusted partner in C2FO, she relied on C2FO’s guidance with their network of vetted lending partners.

The Solution: Trusted Connections Through C2FO

C2FO’s Lending Connections team took the time to understand both the opportunity and the challenge, then connected Bunnies By the Bay with a lending partner well-versed in the type of financing needed. 

For Powrie, the referral carried real weight. “With C2FO, I already had a trusted relationship. I didn’t have to waste time searching or trying to explain our needs to someone who didn’t understand. C2FO quickly understood and made the right introduction.”

She added that working through C2FO especially saved her time vetting which lenders were legitimate, and the referral made proved to be the right match. “My lender has been really supportive even when things were unpredictable.”

The Roller Coaster: Tariffs and Uncertainty

Just as production was underway, shifting tariff policies created complications for Powrie’s order as well as widespread uncertainty across the supply chain. What started as a straightforward order suddenly became a roller coaster. “We’ve experienced the full range of emotions with this order; tariffs, status changes, cost changes,and then full court press once the 90-day tariff hold window was put in place. It’s been wild,” Powrie recalled.

Through all of it, the financing held firm. While the environment changed daily, the support from their lending partner and C2FO allowed Bunnies By the Bay to stay the course.

The Impact: Growth, Stability, and Global Reach

Despite the turbulence, the order ultimately went forward, and grew. Bunnies By the Bay not only supplied Costco in the U.S. but also shipped to global locations including the UK, Mexico, Spain, and Korea.

By working with the C2FO Lending Connections referral partner, the company navigated a turbulent process and came out stronger. They fulfilled one of their largest orders ever, expanded into new markets, and built a financial relationship they can rely on in the future.

Two Stories, One Theme: Resilience

From its origins on Fidalgo Island to navigating modern supply chain disruptions, Bunnies By the Bay has always embodied resilience and hope in hard times. C2FO Lending Connections played a role in carrying that legacy forward, providing a trusted, well-matched financing referral that allowed their creativity and craftsmanship to shine on an even larger stage.

Learn how C2FO connects businesses to trusted financing: https://c2fo.com/supplier-solutions/lending-connections/

Bring home the joy of Bunnies by the Bay’s beloved creations: https://bunniesbythebay.com/