A Business Guide for Animal Lovers

The pet care industry is one of the fastest-growing types of businesses, representing a great time to get in on this lucrative line of offerings. Before you get started, make an honest assessment of your skills, knowledge, abilities, and interests. Stokeshire Designer Doodles is a source of inspiration when it comes to developing a pet-friendly business.

Why Pet Businesses Are Booming

People have always had soft spots for their pets, and in addition to caring for them in terms of food, medical care, and physical needs, they also consider them part of the family. According to Pet Business, they buy gifts, celebrate birthdays and holidays with gifts, buy specialty foods and grooming products, and even purchase strollers, clothes, and more toys than a toy box can hold. Depending on your particular areas of interest and expertise, there are a number of directions you could go. Start by creating a business plan that involves market research to make a determination about where there are openings for new businesses in the pet services industry.

Brainstorm Ideas

Once you know where there’s a need, the next step is to brainstorm how to fill it. There is a wide range of potential business options when it comes to a pet care-based business. For example, you could start with something as simple as a dog walking or pet sitting service in which you set your own hours, take on the number of clients you're comfortable with, and charge competitive rates that are in line or a bit less than competitors currently in the local market. You could also get a grooming license and work as a mobile groomer or start your own storefront. If you decide to go with a full-fledged pet-based business, you could open up a pet products store - either a brick and mortar or online version - and carry both common and unique offerings for a wide range of companion animals.

Branding Your Company

Standing out in a crowded marketplace is vital to success, and fortunately, you can have a lot of fun when developing your pet-focused brand. You can use plays on words, bright and energetic colors and packaging, alliteration, or even cute names for your products that are a combination of your company name and your product. Check out what successful pet companies are doing to brand themselves and make themselves stand apart from others in the marketplace. You could even use your own pets as your “spokespets” for your company and lend their imagery to your products! Get creative in coming up with something that’s uniquely yours.

Marketing Your Business

Of course, to be successful, you'll need to get your company name and your products and services out to the general public. You might consider collaborations with other small businesses that focus on pet products and pet care. A website is essential, particularly if you're selling products online. A social media presence is also a great way to attract pet lovers, particularly if you regularly post compelling videos, pictures, and stories, and invite potential customers to share theirs as well. You can also do grassroots marketing in which you participate in pet adoption fairs, pet welfare events, and activities, and demonstrate your commitment to companion animals.

Setting Yourself Apart

Because pet businesses are so successful, there are a lot of people entering the market, and as such, it's important that you’re able to set yourself apart from the competition. Investigate who is providing similar products and services and look for a way to differentiate yourself. Maybe you're offering something different, filling a niche, or offering more competitive pricing structures. Ease of access is also important, whether you have a storefront, mobile operation, or an online business. You want to make it easy for people to find you, do business with you, and be happy enough to refer you to others and to do business with you again in the future.

Sustaining Your Customer Base

Customer service is important in any business, but it is particularly critical when it comes to pet products and services. Make every effort to acknowledge the important role that animals play in the lives of their owners. This includes ensuring products are safe, appropriately priced, effective, and that you treat people and their animals with the same degree of care and attention you would if you were in a business where you provided child care or child-related products and services. Most pet owners consider their animals part of their family, and the more you can genuinely align yourself with that philosophy, the better poised your business will be. Also, when generating online invoices, use this free template to keep things accurate and professional.

Growing Your Company

You can sharpen your business skills and make your business even more successful by going back to school and enrolling in an online MBA program. This can help refine your economics, accounting, and corporate finance skills, as well as learn tips and techniques related to marketing, human resources management, and long-term strategic planning. You’ll also learn how to collect and analyze data that will give you a leg up on your competition. Online programs give you a lot of flexibility for balancing work and family along with your burgeoning enterprise. You can often study at your own pace from the location of your choosing, allowing you time to work, care for your family, or manage other outside obligations. 

Animals can add significant joy to our lives, and most pet owners want to provide their companions with the best life possible. An empathetic approach and a true understanding of how people feel about their pets can help you go a long way in this business. Pet owners are well attuned to attitudes and emotions, and going through the motions just won't cut it. You have to be a true animal lover for the line of work to work.

At Stokeshire Designer Doodles, our goal is to deliver a premium quality puppy that has been well cared for, trained, and handled before going to their forever homes. Reach out today to learn more!