All tagged good

529: Giving a Crap with Erica Krupin

What does it take to run a successful dog waste removal business that goes beyond just scooping poop? In this episode, Erica Krupin, owner of Kroopin's Poopin Scoopin, shares the behind-the-scenes realities of managing her growing business. She emphasizes the importance of providing an exceptional customer experience, from building trust through reliability to creating peace of mind with professional services. Erica dives into the challenges of hiring and retaining great employees, explaining how paying well and setting clear expectations helps her maintain a high standard of service. She also talks about the complexities of pricing for quality and managing company vehicles, highlighting how investing in these areas ensures long-term success. With her down-to-earth approach, Erica offers valuable insights into what it truly takes to lead a thriving, people-centered business.

528: Stop Watching the Weather: Embracing Action Over Perfection in Business

Are you too busy watching the weather to make real progress in your business? In this episode, Collin explores how overthinking and waiting for perfect conditions can paralyze business owners, preventing us from taking action. He discusses the dangers of getting stuck in analysis, the fear of imperfection, and how to strike the right balance between planning and executing. Learn the importance of focusing on core goals and remaining adaptable to change. Join him as he shares insights on taking proactive steps to grow your business, no matter the circumstances.

523: From Touch to Trust: Building Better Dog Relationships with Garrett Stevens

What are the silent ways dogs communicate with us? In this episode, Garrett Stevens, owner of Stevens Family Kennels and Dog Language Center, dives into the four pillars of dog language: touch, space, movement, and energy. He emphasizes the importance of non-verbal communication in understanding and managing canine behavior. Garrett also shares practical tips for conducting behavioral assessments and creating a balanced, calm environment for dogs. Ultimately, he reminds us that between a stimulus and a response, there is a space where meaningful change can happen

517: Why Flexibility is Key with Korye Bradshaw

How do you successfully balance a growing pet care business with the demands of motherhood? In this episode, Korye Bradshaw, owner of Murphy and Me Pet Sitting, shares her journey of evolving her services to meet the needs of her clients while maintaining a strong focus on her family. She discusses the importance of vetting and selecting the right dogs for her group outings, ensuring safety and harmony. Korye also emphasizes the value of consistency and routine in creating a stress-free environment for both pets and pet sitters. Listen in to learn how Korye has adapted her business over 20 years, embracing change and staying true to her core values.

503: The Subtle Art of Dog Behavior with Fanna Easter

Are you struggling to understand a dog's anxious or reactive behavior? Fanna Easter, owner of Positive Pooch Behavior, dives into the nuances of canine anxiety, distinguishing between general anxiousness and separation anxiety. Fanna emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes rather than just managing symptoms, highlighting the role of pet sitters in observing and responsibly handling these behaviors. She also discussed the critical nature of professional collaboration between pet sitters and behavior consultants to ensure the best outcomes for pets. This insightful conversation provides essential strategies and knowledge for pet care professionals aiming to improve their understanding and management of complex canine behaviors.

493: Seeking Genuine Engagement Over Vanity with Kate McQuillan

Are you engaging with the right clients? Kate McQuillan, owner of Pet Sitters Ireland and Pet Business Owners, emphasizes the importance of market research and understanding your audience. She highlights how local content can drive meaningful engagement and how a consistent blogging strategy can significantly impact business growth. Kate stresses the value of genuine customer engagement over vanity metrics and the need for efficient operations to meet client expectations.

485: Creating Client-Centered Services with Hannah Alsup

What does it mean to create a client-centered pet care service? Hannah Alsup, from Three Dog Pet, explores how to incorporate a wide range of services to meet the unique needs of each client. From pet sitting and personal assistance to dog training, Hannah explains how personalized communication and flexible services can empower clients to make informed decisions about their pets. She also touches on the importance of setting boundaries for both clients and staff, while offering tips on integrating mental stimulation and training into pet care routines.

459: Try, Fail, and Adjust with Marie and Justin Plummer

Marie and Justin Plummer, the entrepreneurial duo behind Winston Salem Dog Care, share their journey from a small start-up to a thriving business with 17 employees. Their discussion delves into the nuances of hiring staff with a focus on professionalism in the pet care industry, while also maintaining a deeply personal touch. They highlight the importance of iteration in refining their hiring and onboarding processes and the role of technology in facilitating growth. The Plummers' story is a testament to the power of creativity, flexibility, and continuous learning in building a business that not only succeeds but also brings joy and satisfaction to its owners and clients alike.

455: Effective Use of Google Ads with Maris Sonnabend

How do you use Google ads effectively? Running an effective Google ad campaign takes more than just clicking a few buttons. It requires focus, trial and error, and a willingness to lean heavily into your brand. Maris Sonnabend, owner of House of Paws Pet Care, shares her experience of embracing a branding that isn’t for her but has enabled her to target a specific avatar. She walks through the importance of focusing on one guiding principle to keep everything you do focused and intentional. Maris also discusses her philosophy of testing to determine what will and will not work in her business.

443: Being Serious About Business with Kerri-Ann Griffith

How do you help potential clients see the value you provide? Connecting with the right clients is an art form as you refine who you are for, and who you are not. More than simply selling yourself, it’s about connecting at an emotional level with a client’s needs. Kerri-Ann Griffith, owner of Nashville Kitty Sitter, joins the podcast to explain how she runs a boutique business, while also finding clients who have never used a professional service before. Kerri-Ann shares why emergency planning is so important, and how it helps you become a better business owner. She also talks about how she uses her show business background to make the most of her meet and greets.

431: Counting the Costs with Jill Jaffe

How much does it cost you to walk a dog or stay overnight in a client's home? While we typically consider expenses such as gas, insurance, and experience, what else should we include? Jill Jaffe, owner of "Fur Paws' Sake," joins the show to discuss why she's so passionate about offering "almost overnights" instead of actual overnights to her clients. Jill draws on the lessons she learned from her spirited little pup, Lily, emphasizing that running a business involves more than just financial costs.

429: Being a Problem Solver with Kevin Johnson

What problems are you solving for your clients? Kevin Johnson, owner of Planet Paws Pet Care, views his entire role as being the problem solver for his clients. Kevin transitioned from being a defense attorney to running a successful pet sitting business. He emphasizes the importance of communication skills in building trust with clients and identifying their pain points. He believes in being a problem solver and guiding clients to the right services, even if it means referring them elsewhere. Kevin also highlights the value of networking, joining the chamber of commerce, and filling gaps in the market. He and his wife work together in the business, with her focusing on marketing and business operations. Kevin participates in events to raise awareness of his business and engage with the community.

420: Balancing Data and Intuition when Making Decisions

How should you use data when making decisions in your business? Data and quantitative information provides invaluable surety when we look to solve problems in our business. However, there are limitations to the accuracy and applicability to the data we collect. Ultimately, we are at the interplay of facts and figures and emotions with our customers. We break down how this impacts making good decisions and practical applications to use today!

393: Working From Your Passion with Stephanie Brown

How do you know it's time to bite down and go 110% to make your dream a reality? We all find our own motivating forces in our lives. For Stephanie Brown, owner of Happy Trail's Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Services, she found her motivation in her family. She shares how her business has evolved and how it wasn't always easy to leave services behind. Stephanie focuses on client education and fostering relationships through a personal touch. She also gives great advice around implementing a power hour to stay organized in your business and how she's navigated bringing on a manager in her business.

392: Finding P.R.O.F.I.T in Your Business

Are you profitable in your business? More than just finances, truly being profitable is about finding balance and building relationships when running your business. We break down the six aspects of being profitable and the major roadblocks to achieving them. From vague mission statements to your pricing structure, there’s a lot that could be holding you back.

374: Lockboxes 101

Have you thought of using lockboxes? We discuss the benefits and implementation of lockboxes for managing client keys. We break down the reasons for adopting lockboxes, communicating the change to clients, and tailoring the approach for new and existing clients. We walk through our process of implementing them and how to address potential issues.

343: Learning to Step Back with Justina Allen-Yancey

What’s the hardest part of being a pet sitter? The challenges certainly change as we grow and evolve as a business. Our role as the business owner and entrepreneur is to overcome them. Justina Allen-Yancey, owner of Justina’s Pet Sitting, joins the show to share how she approaches challenges. Justina works on her training and services to market guilt free pet parent lifestyles to her clients and focuses on being reliable. She also talks about the gear she loves for winter and how she specialized in rabbits and guinea pigs.

299: The Key to Great Communication with Chrissy Neumyer Smith

Are you great at communicating with your clients? Chrissy Neumyer Smith, host of the Creating Great Grooming Dogs podcast, sheds light on what it takes to ask great questions of our clients. Chrissy explains the importance of using the right words and definitions for clear communication so we can give the right care. She also gives us the four questions we should ask everyone before we start services with them, and how it's ok to assume the dog may have issues that need to be addressed. Chrissy shares the relationship between behavior issues in dogs and burnout in the pet care industry, and what we can do about it!

277: Pet Sitting in South Africa with Alexiane Arcens

Pet sitting is a global community, with different flavors and markets across countries. Alexiane Arcens joins us to share what being a pet sitter is like in South Africa. She shares what challenges she and other sitters face in Johannesburg. Alexiane encourages others to price according to their skills and why client education is a big hurdle. She has endeavored to raise the bar in South Africa and has put together the very first pet sitters conference for Johannesburg.

095- Jessica Abernathy with NAPPS

Jessica Abernathy, President of NAPPS, comes on the show to share about their 2020 conference and her encouragement and excitement for the future of the industry. Jessica also describes the importance of taking time right now to dig into your business and where opportunities are opening up.