050- Murphy & Me Pet Sitting
Brought to you by Time to Pet. Go to timetopet.com/confessional for 50% off your first 3 months.
Summary:
Korye Miller, from Murphy & Me Pet Sitting, tells us what it’s like running a pet sitting business for almost 16 years, how she keeps clients coming back, and how her views on policies have changed over time.
Topics on this episode:
Where did the name come from?
Transporting dogs
Why she posts her policies and how they’ve changed over time
Role of social media
How she takes her photos
Advice for retaining clients
Her favorite products and services
Main take away? Never be comfortable where you’re at. Keep up with the times. Be transparent with everyone.
About our guest:
Murphy and Me Pet Sitting was founded by dog owner, Korye Miller, in 2013 but the story actually begins in 2002 with Korye's very first childhood friend, Murphy. Murphy, a young and silly pup at the time, was adopted from a shelter as a surprise Christmas present for Korye from her parents. Once their two eyes met for the first time on that Christmas morning, it was the beginning of a wonderful and life changing relationship that neither of them could have imagined.
Growing up, Murphy was the pride and joy of Korye's life. They played together. They slept together. They lived life together. Dealing with all the confusion and change that comes with growing up can be tough, especially for a little girl, but rest assured, her best friend Murphy was there for every moment of it. The two became utterly inseparable. It wasn't long before all of Korye's family and friends loved Murphy too. With Murphy's vibrant personality and unquestionable loyalty, it wasn't difficult to see why. One unexpected day, Murphy was not acting like her usual self which began to worry Korye. Shortly after, Murphy was diagnosed with cancer. The news hit Korye very hard. She took Murphy to countless checkups and tried her very best to nurse her childhood best friend back to health. Sadly, after a hard fought battle, Murphy passed away in 2012.
The joy that Murphy provided to Korye is the reason why she decided to work with animals. Murphy taught Korye invaluable lessons about friendship and though she may be absent from her side, Murphy will never be absent from her heart. This business is dedicated to Murphy and will carry on her name as "Murphy And Me Pet Sitting".
Links:
Build your idea with Squarespace
Give us a call! (636) 364-8260
Check out our Covid-19 resources
Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, & TuneIn
Email us at: feedback@petsitterconfessional.com
A VERY ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE
Provided by otter.ai
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
dogs, people, clients, business, pet, walking, policy, pet sitter, leash, services, website, beach, easy, day, squarespace, playdates, instagram, sitters, run, truck
SPEAKERS
Khara, Collin, Korye
00:17
I'm calling and I'm Megan. And this is pet sitter confessional.
00:21
An open and honest discussion about life as a pet sitter
Collin 00:24
brought to you by time to pet. Being in business for 16 years is no small feat. And Korye Miller with Murphy and me pet sitting has a lot to share about her experiences over the years. Today's interview focuses on those experiences she shares with us things that she wish she would have known when she first got started, and her best advice to pet sitters out there. Tell us about what you do.
Korye 00:53
My name is Korye Miller and I own a pet care company called Murphy me pet and I am based out of San Diego, California. Yeah.
Collin 01:01
How long have you been doing that?
Korye 01:03
Well, I started penciling in cornado when I was 12 years old. So I've had a business for about 16 years, but I've had it licensed and professional for about nine years now.
Collin 01:14
Wow. That's quite a long time in this business. It seems like
Korye 01:19
Yes, well, when we move to cornado, I don't not know if you're familiar, but it's kind of like a small island and you can walk everywhere and I wasn't used to that. So I started kind of walking the dogs and walking my grandpa's dog around and meeting people and walking their dogs, but I never as a kid being able to walk places. I've never done that before. So it was really fun and really freeing and it was really fun to to take the dog places and meet people in like a small island like that a small community.
Collin 01:48
Yeah, I'm sure that's pretty foundational and how you interact with people and some of your expectations that you have as far as running your business to this day.
Korye 01:58
Yes. 100%
Collin 02:00
So I got to ask, Where did the name come from Murphy and me pet sitting?
Korye 02:05
Well, I had a basset hound. Her name was Murphy. She passed away in 2012. But she was my first dog I ever had. She was a 90 pound basset hound. So, you can imagine this large breed on these little tiny legs was funny. Yeah. But I took her everywhere with me like, she was like my little co pilot, so everyone would always kind of say, oh, there's Korean Murphy. There's Korean Murphy. It was just kind of like we were just a package. Everywhere I went with her. I was walking dogs doing overnight, she was always with me. So I kind of came up with the name of Murphy and meatpacking, because I kind of played on it was kind of both of our business was where the name came from, because we both worked it.
Collin 02:44
Oh, that's great. That's, that's so sweet. And, you know, I know as in 2012, but, um, you know, that's, that's, I'm sure that still impacts you and you think about that to this day. So you know, how did Murphy you know inspire you to Continue working with pets and other animals.
Korye 03:03
Well, I would say because getting a dog at a young age at 12, and just kind of learning the responsibility of taking care of her and having something that only relied on you, it really helped impact my also just my way of business as well, just being responsible at a younger age. I've always loved animals, but I think she definitely taught me responsibility. And I think that that's really helped with the with walking dogs in our my business. And
Collin 03:31
then also that just that extreme level of commitment. It was not a fly by night kind of thing. It was a lifetime friend that you had with you. Yes, yeah,
Korye 03:42
yes. And it was also my first dog. I've always been that kid that had all the hamsters and the lizards and the cat and stuff, but she was my first dog, which I've always wanted a dog. So she was like, I mean, she was just like my best friend and I would say she taught me a lot and I was really happy to be able to name the business after her Because I just made it actually just a year after she passed away so so actually when I needed it wasn't even it was actually called Island dog walkers when I had her. But when I got the DBA and license and everything I needed him for a year
Collin 04:16
now what a great memory to keep moving forward into Oh, yeah. So what offer these days
Korye 04:24
so I offer playdates walks, visit overnights, and I just recently started doing full service bathing, which isn't even on the website yet is very brand new.
Collin 04:35
So what what made you want to offer bathing?
Korye 04:39
Well, you know, it's kind of funny. I was kind of getting frustrated because I had my I have my little dog Lily now she's a six pound rescue Chihuahua. And you know, everyone being busy. I was trying to get her I'm trying to get somebody to come to my house to wash her because I didn't want to have to bring her to the groomer. They sit in cages forever and then also, just find me Time to take her and pick her up. And I was sitting there going, gosh, I just wish someone just came to your house. And then I kind of just dawned on me, I was like, Oh, I could do that, like, I should do that. I just started doing it myself. Because I've just like there has to be other people that think the same way as me. Or they don't have the time to bring the dog or they just don't want to have the dog sitting in cages all day. Sure, the groomers either so that's why I kind of it's brand new, it's going to be on the website by the end of this week. Oh, that's very brand new thing.
Collin 05:30
That's fantastic. So how are you marketing that new? How do you plan on marketing that new service?
Korye 05:36
Well for right now, because that's not my kind of because it's not my primary thing, you know, the playdates and the walking would be the main things that I do. I'm kind of doing a little bit of like a soft launch with it. So I'm just doing an email to my primary clients. I'm doing a little bit on the Instagram, but that's kind of for now all I'm doing to get the word out and then it just kind of becomes a domino effect of word of mouth. I like it we'll get out and that's all I'm gonna go about it for now.
06:03
Sure, yeah especially is a potentially like an add on service whenever you're doing drop ins or playdates or those kind of things of just a, by the way if you'd like to do that's Yeah, that's great. Yes.
Collin 06:16
So when you're transporting dogs for the playdates and these walks, you know, how do you do that? Do you have any special harnesses or equipment that you use when when moving the dogs in your car?
Korye 06:27
Yes, um, so I actually went kind of full all out with this for the dogs but I have a truck I have a Tacoma and what I did is I added a cab to the back, and I also completely carpeted the bed and the walls of the truck. So it's all secure for them and on the kind of like the little tie downs that already come on the truck. I attach a double sided chain to those and the dogs get clipped in either by their harness or by their color. And I also have a crate that's clipped in with one of the changes Well, depending if it's a puppy or tours, or things like that, I'll put them in the crate. But it's kind of all for the dogs. And, you know, we, the dogs are primarily on the small island like I was talking about. So the speed limits not more than 25. So we have all the windows open. I mean, the dog stick all their heads out there on the cheese and they just bought it and people say it's like an attraction that people can look at photos. I mean, it's hilarious. The dogs absolutely love being in the truck.
Collin 07:27
Oh, that's how many dogs can you fit in there were at one time.
Korye 07:32
It always depends on the size but mainly with, you know, large and medium dogs. Probably I could fit about nine in the back in the actual just the bed of the truck comfortable with their chains and all tied up. Sure.
Collin 07:46
Wow. So was that a system that you could just kind of developed over time or was that something that you envisioned from the very beginning?
Korye 07:53
No, it did develop as we got busier with the playdates I used to have a car and it was it would be a mess. I mean, the dogs were Trying to jump to the front, they were chewing up the seat belt, it was just it. It just wasn't working. I used to do that in the beginning when I just had a little bit of dogs I would take and I would do the little dog seat belt and it was easy but when I became really busy with this and got a lot of dogs, it really didn't work anymore. So I ended up getting the truck and the truck was completely just for the dogs. That was the whole point of the truck and, and everything and putting the chains in there. It was kind of funny because when I first got it I had leashes attached with the double sided but it was actually just the kind of the fabric leash not the chain. And I had one dog in there who, too just ended up chewing his leash off. And then he said all the rest of the dogs as well. learning experience with the truck. I think I have it down now with the change but it was really funny. I opened the back and I just see every dog was all there. And he chewed everyone free. So I'm still learning but I think we're kind of at a point now where it's very secure and I have everybody kind of down pat works properly I've certainly been the great that to the carpet so I kind of have it a good structured system now with them but I took a little bit to get it together
Collin 09:10
yeah well that's a great reminder for you know people just starting out or people who've been in it a long time have you know, it's a learning process and you may think I nailed it this time but there's always gonna be that one dog that's like nope, nevermind
Korye 09:24
yeah and to me Yeah, it was one of those things yeah, I'd tell people you know, just as a thought before you get regular leashes always consider maybe getting a chain when it when they're attached in a car or anywhere to be honest because they can chew those don't they can choose straight through a straight through a leash if they want.
Collin 09:39
Yeah, given enough time and boredom or initiative, they can Yeah, it doesn't take them any time at all.
Korye 09:44
No, or they're just anxious. They're excited, especially if they know they're going to the beach. Like I take them it's kind of like a like a kid going to Disneyland. I mean, they are so amped up and excited that they can chew those Lucia through within five minutes of getting from their house to the beach. They they can do a lot in that
Collin 10:00
Yeah. So so on that, for your your playdates when you're transporting these dogs, are there set areas that you take them to or do you kind of is it whatever is closest to particular clients.
Korye 10:13
And so all of my clients are primarily in cornado, which cornado like I was saying it's a small island. So pretty much anybody is gonna live right by the beach at the same beach. It's just very small area small town. So I take them to cornado dog beach, which I love to because it's a very safe beach. It's actually ranked one of the best beaches in San Diego as well and cleanest and just friendliest. And so I just kind of got lucky actually how that worked and how everyone was by the beach and I used to sometimes take them to the party if it was raining, but I do notice that there's a little more conflict with dogs at parks than the beach so I stopped doing that and we just we just do dog beach. I wonder why do you think that is? A I heard him a trainer that I spoke with that possibly because They're a lot smaller than the beach and some dogs tend to get a little territorial it wasn't ever my dogs because I always do pepper you know testing with them make sure their baby but it just is a lot smaller The beach is huge there's the water there's so much more to do. I didn't know there's little tips sometimes with the park making it smaller. Oh,
Collin 11:20
yeah, it's a it's a good good note to have for some you know, people making sure that they are thinking of all of their options. You don't just have to go to the local dog park if there are other wide open areas where dogs are allowed off leash, you know, venturing out and trying those just to see the experience.
Korye 11:36
Yeah, you definitely want to test it because in a situation like that you're it's a very high risk situation in certain in depending on where you bring them so you're gonna want to put them in a situation that's the least likely something's gonna happen when you're out there with eight dogs. Yeah, so that's why we just I just stopped the park. What happened? Twice? No, no, no, my dogs have ever gotten hurt but Where you just see that little tip that little, a way of dogs behaving that you can tell might escalate. And I've seen that a couple of times where I'll immediately I take the dogs and get them out. I don't want to even be a part of that. So but at the beach I never run into that because we go early and it's always just the people we know. It's always the locals and we never have problems.
Collin 12:19
I'm curious how you how you manage eight dogs on a beach without too much mayhem or chaos?
Korye 12:28
Well, we have so I always tell people the biggest payoff would be when we did all it is is when they get out of the trunk because they are so excited. They are jumping out the phone over each other. They're so excited and then walking up is a little bit tricky, but I always say it's all about structure and knowing every single dog's exact behavior so I know certain dogs I know need to be on one side and certain dogs need to be on the other because they I put two puppies on one side us walking up they're going to be playing the whole time and tangling up the leashes so All kind of structure them in the way that they're gonna, they're gonna more likely walk better up on the actually the easiest part is when they're off the leash. Yeah, the easiest part of the whole thing because they stay with me, I think they kind of think of me as like the pack leader. And I feel like the dogs do respect me, they really do they stay with meeting, they actually they never leave, they're always with me and stay together, I never have a problem with them, even new dogs, they just want to catch on quickly with how it works.
Collin 13:28
Sure, and you mentioned there, like, the most important part of that is having a structure having a system and making it predictable for them so that they know and and the crazy part is you mentioned was just getting out of the truck and to the beach. But once they're there, you know, just dealing with that excitement. So, you know, making sure that you're observing the dogs that you're with, especially when you have multiple around you so you know, those little things and I love hearing that of Oh, this dog needs to go on this side. This dog needs to go away from this
Korye 13:59
dog. Move on, they all have something and bringing up things that you're just taking them out of the barn as easy as that, you know, you it, there's a lot more that goes into it even as even when I tie them up. I have ones that go in certain spots, I have ones that have to get picked up before others, because they're weird. They're just dogs, they have to do weird things. And somehow that one gets weird with the truck. And if anyone woke up person walks by she gets upset about it. So she has to be tied in the back. So it's just you just have to learn them you start to you know, all their personality, you know, all their tics, all the weird things they do and then you just do anything to prevent that from happening and ways to help the situation.
Collin 14:39
on your website, you have your policies posted, kind of front and center, very easy to find. Why was it important for you to have them so visible like that?
Korye 14:50
Because I like to be very upfront with everything that I offer and the rules and also with even with my services, pricing, everything's in between Just on the website because I like when somebody goes to my website, they read the policy and my services and pricing. I like for them to 100% No, okay, this will work. For me, this looks like everything is going to work and we can move forward rather than me not really telling them everything and then we're already kind of halfway in and they're like, Oh, I don't really like the way that you're doing that, or I don't like that way the policy is going on, because they didn't know. So I just feel like it's an easy way for us to just make sure that we're a good fit for each other.
Collin 15:30
Yeah, I that's, that's very interesting, because I think a lot of people take the first you know, meet and greet to do the initial screening, but by being having everything out there, that's kind of a pre screening of it is Yeah, yeah. before they even call you or before they're even, you know, meeting with them to make sure yeah, it's
Korye 15:48
kind of like it's kind of a way to, to not really, really for them to not waste their time. You know, you don't ever just so then if they're like automatically they just go Okay, this will not work for me and that's okay. because not everything that I provide is going to work for everybody, which is also why I actually have a page on my website with referrals to pet sitters in the area that I trust, though, if if someone says, okay, that's not gonna work for me, because they read something on the policy, I say, okay, that's fine here, check out these pet sitters that I trust and see if one of them can provide something that you're looking for. So it just kind of makes it easy, and they don't have to waste their time. If they if I can, right off the bat, they can.
Collin 16:27
Yeah, and you know, something that comes up a lot of times in this is that, just like you said, it might not work for that person, and it might not work for you as the sitter, and so just being as transparent as possible, just makes that easy. And then, you know, you saying you've got the referrals right on your website, you know, I was looking at that, and I was like, I don't think I've seen any other person, you know, or, you know, that's not very common to have referral, right right there. So, you know, why was that? Why did you decide to put that on there? You know, and habits So that's well for other people.
Korye 17:03
Because like I said, I, I know that certain things that maybe I provide might not work for other people. And I would rather instead of just saying, okay, no, that's not gonna work, sorry. And the story, I would rather help them moving forward. Because, or say it was a situation where, say, I was booked. They were looking for overnights, and I was booked. So I was like, I'm sorry, I'm booked for those days, but here are my referrals. People respect that. And I've had people that would actually call me again, to ask for different days because they said, I appreciated you referring somebody and taking the time, and they end up coming back again for a different service to see if I was available against I always feel like it's just nice to help people out instead of just kind of leaving them dry that they're looking for.
Collin 17:44
Yeah, and you mentioned that there are other sitters that you trust. How do them
Korye 17:50
well, my first one she's actually my dog's pet sitter heifer, so she's my biggest one, the only person I trust my own dog honestly because she loved my dog knows her. I met her I am the other two I've met because like I said, where I am, it's kind of small, a very small community. So I've met them around, or they've called me to refer people and we just kind of met that way. But we're really all a pet sitters, we're kind of really good at just supporting each other. And it's not really a competition of who's gonna have many dogs, we just support each other and refer, you know, we can't do something we're like, Well, here we have this person that we trust, and we kind of build a bond with each other, which is nice.
Collin 18:30
Yeah, and sometimes that initial mindset is, it's all competition. You know, they're stealing dogs for me. But to then go, No, like, is we're community not competition with each other. And that's, that's so freeing, because as you mentioned, you know, you don't want to leave somebody in a lurch. So having someone you can trust to refer them out to that gives you peace of mind in the long run. And you know, you're continuing to help you.
Korye 18:55
Yes, 100%. And I always say I was like, there's so many dogs. There's enough dogs To go around, well, I'm not I'm not worried that I'm that someone's gonna take all my dogs. I there's so many dogs in San Diego, we're, we know, we all know that we're not worried we would just rather have what's going to work for each person better.
19:14
Yeah. And of how slowly
Collin 19:17
kind of a little bit back to your policies? Have you had any trouble with people not following them ever? And then, you know, kind of how do you enforce your policies? Or how do you work through that?
Korye 19:29
Well, kind of the reason I put the policies up was because people weren't following rules slightly, you know, I would kind of do it in a nice way where I would just let people know certain things if, you know, left base, like letting them know what time the schedule needs to be in and I would kind of remind them, remind them and it kind of would get where things are happening so often, that I kind of, that's why I ended up putting a policy up so it could just be in writing, and I really I put it, I also have some fees for things as well and it's not because I'm like, Oh, yeah, I'm gonna make an extra $5. But it's because that's kind of like an incentive that that gets people to kind of listen and know, like, Okay, this is serious because nobody wants to pay an extra fee for something regarding the amount is. But I had to pick it up because people kind of not everyone, but some people weren't listening to begin with. So that's actually
Collin 20:19
sure. Yeah. And as you mentioned, like the ease which, you know, at first I thought, you know, someone, okay, oh, she's just, you know, you're just trying to make these small little dollars here and there, whatever. But it, it makes people think it because, you know, it adds a little bit more pain to issues and kind of just self enforces that if people know, it's going to be $5. You know, it just, it adds one more hitch to that process.
Korye 20:45
Oh, yeah. And I and I like to say I would rather not make the $5 and 100% would rather me be able to make the schedule properly and get it sent out on time. So I would 100% would rather just people follow the policy then. Make that extra money here and there because someone's not following a rule, it actually makes it harder for them in the long run. So there's nothing really beneficial. For me. It's more just as an incentive to get them to maybe follow the rule. More likely,
Collin 21:15
it will Yeah. Because you know, when that fees being paid, it's causing you a headache in the long run for that process. You know, it's like, if nobody had to pay any fees, everything would be running smoothly. And as you mentioned, so have your policies, how have those changed over time to where they currently are?
Korye 21:36
Well, they change as things become issues. So I may have when I first put the policy up, there may have been four things and if you look at it now there's probably like, 10. But it's just because as things happen, and they're continuing to be a problem with not just one person but multiple people, that's when I'll start putting it up on a policy like even things that kind of sounds silly, on the policy, like maybe if you look at it, and you weren't the one who did it Like something as far as saying, if you're if your leashes and harnesses are not available, we cannot walk your dog because that has happened so many times that we've went to get a dog and the leash and harness and all the things that we needed weren't available. And we just kind of spent that entire time going over there and there was no leash or harness so we couldn't walk the dog so little things that that just come up and are becoming continuous problems all add on the policy, just for future for anybody else.
Collin 22:28
Yeah, well, it kinda reminds me if you ever look at a spray can and you look at the warnings on the back. I mean, one of the warnings is like do not use a drill press on this and you're like, why did they? Oh, it's because someone use a drill press.
Korye 22:39
No, that is 100% 100% why half the stuff you would read on the policy is on there you're kind of like that's weird, but because it does happen. It really does.
Khara 22:49
And it's a problem.
Collin 22:51
Yeah. So as you add backing Oh, that's a pet sitter may push back and go oh, that's that's being too strict. That that's Too much Has that ever been a concern for you? Or is it just been a? Well I need to cover this so it's not headache down the road?
Korye 23:06
Yeah, no, that was a concern for me. That's actually why the policy was only put up about a year and a half ago was because I was nervous. I was like, okay, am I gonna have people are gonna think I'm being too abrupt or mean or rude or or disrespecting them in a way for charging them and things like that. And that did run through my mind a lot. But at the end of the day, I'm, that's one of the best things I've ever done for my business was put the policy up. And when I did send the email reminder to all my clients, all my clients were actually very supportive of it, they respected it, they were happy, and even new clients will tell me, you know, we saw your policy, and they liked it because they thought, okay, there's organization and structure and that's going to be probably how my service is going to be with this person is organized and structured.
Collin 23:49
Yeah, and I think that's the really big takeaway from that is that it looks professional. It shows organization it shows for thought and planning handled. You know, they're, they're there for baby to you like, that's what they want, as you mentioned, like they want to see all of that has gone into. And that's also
24:09
Yeah. And it's Did you have any pushback at all?
Korye 24:14
No, no, I didn't actually, even the people who knew there's certain things on there that the person that did it had to be like that was the reason and they know, they understand there they know and they know that like, did it Okay, that's probably something I did and I'm not going to do that anymore. So no, there wasn't and, you know, it's also at the same time it's not, there is the one side of the when you run a pet care business, there's the one side that's the, you know, cuddly nurturing sweet you know, the dogs and getting that actual physical acid but you all you are actually running a business to and that should be taken kind of in a different way as well. And I think people know that.
Collin 24:52
Yeah. And I think as the business owner like that can kind of get lost in the shuffle from the day to day of because we Most of us started out just to spend more time with dogs and was something we all like, love and enjoy doing. And then we find ourselves Oh, and I have to run a business on the side it seems like and
Korye 25:09
oh, yeah, completely. So I always think it's a completely separate thing. There's a passion and then there's the business that you're forced to enjoy as well because 10 gets put in there regardless you you don't get just one. It has to come together. You need to get the taxes you get all that stuff and you do have to learn that I think no matter what your passion is, or whatever business you're starting.
Collin 25:35
Have you heard about time to pet Claire from acting critter sitters has this to say
25:39
time to pet has honestly revolutionized how we do business. My sitters can work much more independently because they have ongoing access to customer and pet information without relying on me. I save hours upon hours of administrative time on billing, processing payments and generating paychecks
Collin 25:56
if you are looking for new pet sitting software for your business. give time to pet a try. As a listener of pet sitter confessional, you'll get 50% off your first three months when you sign up at time to pet.com slash confessional
Korye 26:13
yeah
Collin 26:15
I'm curious what role social media plays in your business and and in marketing specifically?
Korye 26:23
Oh, well, my social media I'm very active on my social media. I wouldn't say that I necessarily use it to market I'm not over in your, you know, trying to get 1000 people looking at something but more I like it as a more intimate way of so my clients see their own dogs, they just they enjoy seeing that kind of stuff or seeing their dogs photos up. And also, I think a really good thing about an Instagram or social media, things like that. Is Sam getting a new client? It's almost like a portfolio. So it's almost I have a client and go to that page table. Okay, so she's worked with many different dogs. She's you know, and kind of Just they can review the stories and things like that they want to help them feel more comfortable with what they're getting themselves into. But it's kind of for fun. It's just to my clients love it, they love seeing their dogs and, you know, it's just it's like, it's a cute little way to kind of keep everybody updated on their dogs as well.
Collin 27:17
Yeah, I know, I I've never thought about it in that context of it's like a portfolio kind of proving and showing the work, the quality and the pets that you've taken care of. as a as a one, one stop shop to just see all of that in one place. And I think that kind of changes the, the algorithm in my brain at least as far as Oh, it's not necessarily direct marketing to people. It's it's showing interested,
Korye 27:43
right? Yeah. Especially you know, as you guys are, you guys don't have employees either when you're just doing it alone. We can't take 1000 clients, so I'm not on Instagram, trying to buy you know, all the wars because I can't take on that many clients. It doesn't matter. So I My social media is it's for fun, it's cute. It's just the way to migrate. It's a way to kind of keep the community and my clients involved as well as other people as well.
28:08
Mm hmm. Yeah, no, that's a good point is as as a as a sole proprietor, it's just yourself out there. There's no point in trying to go and drum up thousands and thousands of business you know it big clients, because now your referral links would be really hot, I guess on your website, but it would be
Korye 28:27
no, you can't Yeah, you can't take on I did it more for maybe big corporate type of businesses. But for businesses that are small, that's not really what your goal is. Media In my opinion, at least for me. Oh,
Collin 28:41
yeah. Wait, my Yeah. Megan, Megan, I have that conversation. A lot of when we're trying to grow or see where how we can expand. It's like, we just have to remind yourself like, I can't sit every dog in the city. I can't sit every dog in the city. I don't want to sit every talk in the city.
Korye 28:56
Exactly. You have to especially as by yourself, you have to think a wage wage. You can expand in different ways, which is also going back to the full service staff. That was why another reason why I did that was because that was a way I could expand because I can kind of get my hours a little bit more with that rather than it being walks during the day that primarily has to be between 12 and four when people are at work as I can do another time. So you just banned to, but that many
Collin 29:22
Yeah, in other ways to provide maybe new services to existing clients, you know, so like the bat, the bathing one is a great example of that, that one you don't necessarily have to take on new clients to do that can be something existing clients take advantage of. And it's another growth area.
Korye 29:38
Yeah, and it's a lot more flexibility as well as far as when you can do it too. As far as when it comes to a walk. People kind of need those locks at this certain time, the bath, that can be something I could do at 7pm for someone and that's fine. It just was a way for me to kind of work around 24 hours in a day,
Collin 29:56
right? Oh, that 24 hour limit.
Korye 29:59
Yes. Women? Yeah.
Collin 30:02
So kind of with social media, you know, your your website, how important is that to your business? Do you find most people find you through your website? Or is that a or some other place?
Korye 30:15
It's very important, I would, I would probably say the most way people find me is word of mouth. But my website is extremely important because it's the way it's where somebody can go to find everything you need to know, is right there. So then I'm not stuck having to kind of write out these constant replies, that might not even seem very professional, because I'm just, you know, kind of blabbing about what I do, as opposed to going to a website that's completely organized, has the exact pricing and everything on there. So my website is very, very important for that, but I would say probably the way I get my most is from
Collin 30:51
a big question. I think that a question that gets asked very frequently in a lot of pets or support groups and things like that is where to host a website. sight and how to go through that process. Do you have any advice for somebody looking into?
Korye 31:06
Well, so Squarespace, but I'm kind of lucky because my my fiance is a web developer. Oh, okay, happy. So I can't even really speak on that because he does everything for me even on Squarespace, I would have no idea what I was doing. I couldn't even just put a photo in my website. So I got lucky in that aspect. But I can kind of do changes very quickly. I can add new things. But there is Squarespace and you can learn it. I haven't, but I know that it's an easier way for people who maybe are familiar with code or things like that. But there's also true if you're really just getting started and you don't want to do all that extra or pay the money for square Squarespace right away. I do know people who make a Google account and they actually will give you a free website that's very, very basic and very easy. But they will give it to you Free.
Collin 32:00
Yeah. And with that, I mean, that's a great way of saying like, okay, I don't know where to start, I need something that's, that's easy. And most importantly, in this case, free and basic. So let's start with that and then start building to a paid or a little more advanced kind of website. But just having someplace to direct everybody to, as you mentioned, have a central repository for location information that people are going to be searching for.
Korye 32:28
When it's brave, somebody asks a lengthy question or something, you can always direct them to a link. So if someone's asked me, What are your services all y'all say I'll give them a link and it'll say mercury poisoning comm slash services, and it goes straight to that section or the same when people when I have to give a referral, instead of me writing out or having to memorize everyone's phone numbers, I just send them straight to the page. So it's just a really professional, easy, clean way to get your information across to everybody.
Collin 32:54
Yeah, and on that note, I one of my one of the tabs that I noticed right off the bat was you have a gift Started tab that I think is really cool. Could you tell us about that tab and why you have it there?
Korye 33:08
Well, so the Getting Started tab. So that's where on there, I actually had an application prior to the meet and greet. So you fill out an application online and ask about, personally about the client about the pet, and also that information as well. So don't have you feel all your information now. And then you're also going to check the boxes that you've read the policy, and that you agree to set them out for the vet stuff if something were to happen, and then that says, so they'll send that in. I can review it first. So say it's a nice way because I can review it and see there's something immediately I go, Okay, this won't work, or, you know, whatever reason, or I'm booked whatever it will be, we can even skip the point of the meeting. It wasn't gonna work as well, and I can refer them or it's gonna work perfect. And then I have a really good idea of what I'm walking into before I meet with the client. Rather than me kind of going in blind like, okay, I just know they have a golden retriever and her name is Tim, I kind of know exactly what I'm getting into, I know what, what I need to ask because I've had this person fill out an entire application. And then after we do the meet and greet and everything set in stone, then I send them a follow up email with an invoice and schedule attached to it and I have them confirm the schedule, to know that we are 100% on the same page with what I'm doing and then we then then
Collin 34:29
this that have really speaks to your desire for that transparency of you know, this tab it shows you the three steps that are going to take place in this entire process from from prep to that application, the meet and greet then that invoice that's coming it just clears all the air and so everybody knows what to expect it's not some weird black box that they're going into of will they respond what you know, it's, I really like I just have a word that lays it out on the on the Instagram side of things, you've got some really adorable pictures posted. How do you go about?
Korye 35:08
Well, I find it really important actually to take good photos of the dogs, when especially even not even just to post them, but even when you're sending them to the clients, because I just think that it's more fun for the client to get a cute photo not of just a photo of the dog running and it's blurry and it doesn't, you don't really know what you're looking at. Yeah, clients love that I have people like oh my gosh, I've had people who will print a now and put them in frames. And I'm one of my, I would say I always make sure that the background has something type of color that pops or something that's popping in the photo with the dog is going to make it look either. I'll make kind of these weird, high pitched noises to make them look at me. You know, you kind of look like a nut but it's the way that the dogs will look at you. But I actually find it very important to take good photos of the dogs, especially the ones that you're sending to the client because it just kind of shows a little bit that you're taking the time You're not rushing it. Did you get a photo real quick and move on with the day you're you're really taking the time to send them a quality picture of their pet.
Collin 36:08
Now, are you finding yourself using your your cell phone predominately for those are DSLR or what? Okay, yeah, no, I think a lot of people think, oh, if I've got to take good photos, I've got to go spend six grand to get the lens and glass and all that stuff in the body. And like, No, you start with what you have and take your time to do them.
Korye 36:28
Well, yeah, and iron stay on it, you know, you're already spending about two grand on an iPhone. I mean, you better have a nice camera on here, these aren't cheap phones. So you know, and especially they have those new ones. Now the pros that are amazing the way they take photos as well. And I think they take perfect photos as long as you do, you can edit them on the actual photos on your phone, or if you're putting on the Instagram, you could edit through Instagram as well just to kind of maybe sharpen things up or brighten up certain colors. But you can do all that through your phone or through the app. Instagram app you don't, you don't really necessarily need I mean, unless you're, you know, a photographer or something. But if you're just posting them and sending them, they can come up at night, just on the phone. Yeah,
Collin 37:09
yeah, I never would have guessed how important photography is in this business. When we first started, I'll scroll back through and look at some photos when we started eight years, eight, nine years ago, and I just cringe and I go, Oh, we sent dogs. Yeah. But because it is so nice whenever you walk into someone's home, or they show you they're so they're so excited with that they printed one off and they framed it and you're just like, oh my goodness, like that's, that really do show that it's so meaningful to somebody to have that photo of their their best friend.
Korye 37:38
No, it isn't. It's just and I also just think it just shows that you're taking the time and you're not really rushing it, you're kind of actually taking time to send quality find out.
Collin 37:49
So So after all these years in the pet care industry, what would be some advice you'd give to somebody who is looking to retain their grit their best clients
Korye 38:01
Um, I would say to never get comfortable where you are. Never just say, Okay, I'm done. This is my max and this, I'm happy here, you always have to keep improving yourself, always finding ways that you can do something better. Keeping up with the times, you know, like maybe eight years ago when I was doing this, there wasn't like a big Instagram thing I don't I'm not even sure if Instagram was even around. But just things like that keeping up with what people are doing so that you can keep everyone involved. I would say always prioritizing your long term clients and doing little things for people that maybe you don't even think that that's that big of a deal but it is like as far as sometimes on holidays, I'll give little goodie bags or things like that for the dogs. Or when I'm done with visits all these little cards, thank you cards with bones, or little cat toys as the cat. Just things like that. Just doing little things in and day out. When you guys had mentioned before, on On one of your episodes about the thing with if somebody were to tell you, you don't need to poop in the yard, but you do it anyway. Yeah, it's the same with you if you if you feed a dog and then you clean the bowl after, even if you can tell the person's never clean the bowl before, just things like that people really do notice it and it goes a long way. And it just shows that you're kind of committed to this and you you really care because you're doing more than what's even expected. Okay, that's what
Collin 39:24
Yeah, it really is huge. Because it does, you know, it's not to say spend every waking moment stressing over all these little things. It's just, oh, I'll never I'm done with it. Or, you know, I'll make sure the water is topped off and refreshed even though it doesn't look like it necessarily needs it. You know, just those things to take your time and show as you mentioned, that you're paying attention in the CI when they do care.
Korye 39:47
Yeah, exactly, I guess so when you're sending the photos or even the little caption that you put under it. You know, I'll even just send little cute things like okay captain's water bowl has been filled on he's had his breakfast. most important meal of the day, like just funny things like that, that people just think are cute. And you just took that extra time, you know, add the cute little emojis just things that just show that you didn't just say, Okay, here, okay, left and it's blurry photo and that's it like you took the time you sat down, you really wrote out something cute that they'll enjoy you even know and just that you really took the time to make sure that
Collin 40:20
Yeah, and I will say that can be really hard because whenever you're busy, it's you sometimes you're just like, I gotta go, I gotta go, I gotta go. And you can. Those can get lost in the cracks when you're moving from client to client, but really being in the moment, when you're with the client, you're with them. And in writing those great things, you know that that takes some some, some training. I feel like because it doesn't always come naturally.
Korye 40:46
Yes. Yeah, it does. It does. I've even to this day, I've always been improving on the way that I'm saying things or things like ways I feel like it's just cuter or funnier, just kind of just a way that they feel like they're the only client you have Even though you have a million others that you're going to work that are texting you on the side and changing up things and just causing a whole thing, you're just just them making them feel like they're just the only one at that moment.
41:13
What do you wish you would have known
Korye 41:16
that it is my business and not my clients business to stand by my rules and stand by my prices and what I offer? To know that I can say no, if I don't think that somebody is going to be a good fit for me or the client, and just going with your gut. If you don't feel like something's gonna work, or or you don't have the time for it, that you know, to say no, don't try to just take everything just to accommodate everyone or just to feel like you're just filling up your day, make sure you actually can put in the time for certain things, because that's something that I did. When I first heard off, I kind of just took everyone and it wasn't that necessary. I even had the time to do that many dogs. So just knowing to say no. And to go with your dog.
42:06
That's that dirty two letter word. No, it just doesn't feel good to say,
Korye 42:11
Oh, I could never say no, that was my big. Someone could tell, I could tell us back then I could tell someone my price was, you know, $40 or something and they'd say, Okay, I'm paying you 25 and go, okay. Because I was just like, oh, okay, sure. Okay. That's what I say, you know, you could say no, and that's, I think that's why I'm so big on having things set out now, is because I just want things to be set the way they're supposed to be. And that's it. That's just how it goes. Yeah. And
Collin 42:37
in for you know, I, the what, what's really nice about that is, you know, if you're the kind of person that has a hard time being firm and saying something to somebody face, having a pre written an out there for them to see that you can just send a link so that it's already said and done. That that is that's such a huge weight off your shoulders, you know, at least it can Be of Nope, it's already there. I can just stand it's ready to go.
Korye 43:04
No, I definitely agree with that. And even if I have to add these to an invoice because somebody was late or they didn't do something on policy I don't want to do that I had that doesn't make me happier comfortable to do that in any in any sense of the word. But it does make it a little bit better that I can send an invoice and put the link to say yes, this was on the website and there's no and then there's no back and forth. And I was like, okay, that's how it was, and you can't really see anything back. Yeah, makes it a little bit more uncomfortable. We can hide behind the links. If I have to hide,
Collin 43:37
which you know, like you said, You don't like having to do that. But you are standing by your business. It's your business, not your clients and you can run it the way you want to. And then having everything all those systems in place just really helps that process runs so much smoother.
Korye 43:54
You I really does and I think that like I was saying I think that's why you know mainly why I have so much on my website like that. Because for so long, I just didn't do that. And then I kind of regretted a lot of things I did or things that I maybe should have got paid a certain amount for, but I didn't because I didn't speak up or, or stand up for myself on what my prices were. So now I'm just, I'm happy that things are just out there and there's a link and it's easy and that's that's kind of what it is. That's kind of something that I wish back then. I guess it would be younger, especially being younger. It was really hard to set prices because you're a kid who takes you seriously sometimes when you're 16 years old walking someone's dog and telling them your prices it was a little intimidating in it and it still is to this day to me enough to tell certain people my prices Yeah, or you know or something it may be they seem a little put off by it isn't always intimidating, but it is it does help when it just all written out and you send the link and it's easy.
Collin 44:52
Yeah. Yeah, I agree that that feeling of kind of holding your breath when you tell somebody your your your price, you know It's still there some days and it doesn't always it doesn't go away. 100% I don't think it does, there's always that, how's this person going to respond when I drop this number on them because they want their dog to be with me for you know, taking care of their dog for four weeks, you know, that kind of thing or whatever. You know, it's, it's but having it there, you know, it just it makes it a little bit easier. It gets the wheels greased and helps it fly just just a tiny bit more. It's not 100% but it does help.
Korye 45:26
Yeah, good. And then you know, if somebody moves forward, if they fill out an application, I know Okay, they've already looked at prices and they're okay with it. Yeah, we don't have to have that weird conversation of are you okay to send XML because you want you know, four four services a day that's gonna probably cost you know a lot. So I already know they're okay with it because they've read it and they've seen it and they've agreed to it so they I know they understand and so it's a little bit less intimidating going into
Collin 45:53
thinking through what you use in your day to day taking care of the pets and in walks and all that That I was wondering if you have any favorite products that you'd like for people to know about or services that you currently use.
Korye 46:08
I'm calling my favorite thing that I have right now is called a pet corrector. And it's just a jar of compressed air. So it's really just a sound. It's not meant to be sprayed on a dog or anything like that. It's a noise. So, fan walking, I, a lot of the dogs and walk are aggressive, which is why they don't want to play but the ones I Walker a little bit aggressive, whether it be to dogs, or people or cars, or anything like that. So I have this thing called a peck factor. So if I'm in a situation where say we're walking and there's a dog right across the street that kind of just turned around the corner and we don't have enough time to really, completely get away without the dog already getting in that state of mind of Oh, there's a dog I'm going to get aggressive. So it's this compressed air that you just leave it and it's it's really piercing noise that it immediately distracts the dog's attention. With just enough time for you to get out of the situation you're in. So it just kind of fit that mold out of to that kind of that craziness that they get in when they see a dog and they don't like that dog, it gets them out of it for a second. And it's a way for you to get in control of that situation again, because you've kind of lost control. Once you've the dogs on enough point, you've lost control, not that the dog can go after the dog, but you've lost the control of the dog's mindset. So you do that, and then you can kind of get the dog to look at you again. And you can move on. And it really, really helps especially when you're walking aggressive dogs, especially because you could do everything to be proactive and make sure that you catch a dog coming but sometimes they just come around the corner or have a cat comes running out of nowhere. Back to the opponent or dog that senses we have that a lot in corn that older dogs will run right up the fences and start soaking and you don't even see it coming. So things like that and it just really helps China just distract the dog really quickly and you can get out of the situation.
Collin 47:59
Yeah, cuz you can Be so vigilant on a walk when you're dealing with all that to to have this of it's just a split second but it's just enough as you said to get back in control and get the dog refocused on you so that you can move on.
Korye 48:15
Yeah, just it's just switching the mindset for a second if you want to get out of it, I have one dog that doesn't like people they don't like dogs. They don't like bite. They don't like statues in certain senses. They're weird lips. So this is really helped with situations like that. And, and it's also nice because it's not something that hurts the dog doesn't it's not something goes directly on the dog. So it's a very, kind of a nice way to be able to get out of it without doing something.
Collin 48:40
Well, Korye I really want to thank you for taking time out of your busy day and coming and talking with us about your your experience in the past 14 years and and how you operate it and I think it's fascinating and really focusing on being transparent with everybody is just I really hope that that that Help some, some people get get past maybe some mental barriers that they have to just get things posted and get it out there. If people are interested in following up with you getting in touch and seeing your work on Instagram and stuff, how can they best do that?
Korye 49:17
Um, well, you can just follow my Instagram and it's mostly in the pet. And it's just the outline some Murphy in the pet sitting and you can find me right on Instagram, you can find me on the internet. There's not a lot better than me pet sitting. So there.
Collin 49:33
Yeah, yeah, you're pretty easy to find with that name. One. Wonderful. Well, Korye again, thank you so much for coming on today. We really do appreciate it.
49:43
Thank you very much for having me.
Collin 49:46
There was a phrase in that conversation that has stuck with me ever since I talked with Korye and that was stand up for yourself. And I can't imagine a better way of describing just exactly what we have to do. Day in and day out. out, especially in this day and age is stand up for ourselves and our businesses. Now more than ever, we are having to justify services, we are having to push back on the idea of what is or what isn't necessary. And what we're shooting for is a mindset of being fully transparent with everybody at all stages of the process really sets the standard, and I so much appreciate her describing why she had to do that. It's not that she likes pushing back or likes having to send those things, it's that it really makes the process a lot easier when you do have to. When you do have to charge somebody something instead of having to write out a bespoke phrase as to why it happened. Just a quick link and off it goes to the policy that's already posted and they've already agreed to those kind of simple mechanics in a business and just for personal clarity really, really helps and goes a long way to smoothing the process ensures that everybody has a good experience when they interact with you and your business. This episode is made possible by our friends at time to pet. If you missed it earlier, it's time to pet.com forward slash confessional when you're ready to make that switch. As always, we would love to hear from you. So check out our website, pet sitter confessional.com for all of our social media links and phone number to get in touch with us and contact us. Let us know how you were doing.
