Home: Message List - dog care, a new market for U.S

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

aqueenary — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:04:39 GMT

this community is great.

but i am not sure that what kinds of benefits I can get from this blog.

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

Lighthouse24 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:00:45 GMT

I've had two clients in your business (both in Texas). One was a Veterinarian and we structured her plan for boarding business around her practice. The other one was probably more like you. She was an extremely outgoing and personably young lady (I'll call her "Lindy") who simply loved animals and wanted to open her own pet grooming, boarding, and supplies business.

We focused on promoting the grooming business first, and we did it in a very "grassroots" way. For a week, Lindy spent about 14 hours a day at local parks with her own beautifully-groomed dogs, talked to other dog owners, and made friends. Her first six customers were people who complimented her dogs, and asked her where she had them groomed. She simply smiled and gave them her card, and her business was off and running.

After a week of "getting to know" about 300 new people and dogs, Lindy began asking people who their vets were, where the dogs were boarded and groomed, and where they bought supplies (food, treats, toys, collars, etc.). She wrote down what they said (after they left) in a spiral notepad.

Armed with the information she'd collected, we "shopped the competition" to discover where Lindy could offer something better, cheaper, or more convenient in terms of grooming, boarding, and supplies. The next week while walking her dogs, she approached the people she'd met, explained exactly how she might be able to provide something better, and gave them a discount coupon for her business. The result: 38 new customers over the next four weeks.

Lindy also approached any vet that did not provide grooming or boarding as part of his or her operation, "dropped" the names of the people/dogs that she had met and that the vet knew, and left her business card behind. The result: 3 referrals in four weeks from vets who were treating newly adopted pets.

Finally, Lindy visited what we considered the "best" boarding kennel in the area, and her stiffest competition for new business. She made an appointment with the owner, and when they met, Lindy said that she, too, was in the boarding business and dropped the names of the people/dogs she'd met that the kennel owner knew. She told the owner, "Those customers love you and I know I can't provide them with better care than you do. Plus, I would never dream of trying to steal customers from you. But if you're ever full on a busy weekend or holiday and have to turn someone away, I'll hope you'll consider recommending my business. I promise I'll do my best to treat them as well as you would." The result: The next three-day weekend, Lindy got 11 boarders as overflow from that kennel. 6 of them became regular customers of hers for grooming, boarding, and supplies.

Aside from my modest fee and her free time, Lindy spent a total of less than $43 (gas included) on a "campaign" that netted her 53 new customers in a month. Not bad -- and since you're starting out with more money, a bigger market, and all this free advice, you might do even better than she did. Best wishes!

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

sparky2030 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:58:31 GMT

Hi
My name is Gino
I own a carwash, kind of different service than dogs but at the end is a SERVICE. i tried several companies for marketing and i lost a lot of money on the process and none worked for our wash. I found that we have a market of 5 miles radius at the most, 3 to be realistic, this means that no one from downtown will drive 15 miles to wash the car with us. I think this applies also to your dog care services, you need to focus on the 5 miles radius and start marketing that area only. we did the door to door hangers and they where very expensive and after distributing 12000 we only saw 150 back. what is working for us is the registered tape network, which is the printed coupons on the back of the supermarket ticket on this area (i don't know if they offer that in SF) and the best 2 ways to promote has been the in-store coupons and email direct to customers, but to do that you have to get them in first. I also tried printing coupons and sending part of my staff to set them around our area, on cars, businesses and apartment complexes, and we got a electronic board that communicates with our store front visitors and drivers that use the street in front of our property, washing a car is an impulse situation, so that is what is working for us. I hope this is helpfull. I wish the best and i hope you do great with your business, Gino http://www.sparklescarwash.com

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

Ed O'Gee — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:09:47 GMT

This is why this community is so great - helpful answers from Corp and DomainDiva.

Good luck with the dog grooming.

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

CorpCons08 — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:14:52 GMT

It is nice to know that people out thre still review the index cards put up on bulletin boards.
Great story DomainDiva, very nice. Thank you for sharing.

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

DomainDiva — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:07:03 GMT

We take our dogs to a youong lady that has a home based dog grooming salon in a conversted garage. She had pink postcards printed up and then she and her family members put these cards on doors within a several mile radius. She has now quite her part time job and becasue she does such a wonderful job grooming and the dogs ALL love her...business is growing.

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

CorpCons08 — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:17:21 GMT

You are very welcome aquee.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

aqueenary — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:15:24 GMT

Thank you so so much.

You help me a lot.

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

CorpCons08 — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:12:38 GMT

I would have to look into local listings for direct mail companies in the San Francisco area.
Typically the price is based on how many zip codes you are wanting to send to and the cost of producing the mailing.

I would also check out MetroGal's suggestion of networking at local dog parks, etc.

Re: dog care, a new market for U.S

aqueenary — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:10:56 GMT

Could u give me some suggestions on the direct mail?

Where can I find the cost of direct mail?