We have stayed open as usual and our area is still growing so we have only seen a slow down in business because people can't travel. As for new clients, they're still calling. We count ourselves super lucky and grateful for our location.
Getting new clients has been very easy for us. When a dog checks out, we include a Thank You note and ask for a referral and many oblige us. I have a sales background, so I also have been received very warmly by people walking their dog at a local park. They Thank Me for stopping them. I also have a Facebook business page as well as an InstaGram page with videos and educational posts almost every day. Clients and prospects alike, give me great feedback and referrals . Some referrals come for daycare every week of the year that we are not away!
I’m not sure what other pet sitters and dog trainers are doing. I have reduced my rates for both training and boarding starting in March to help financially anyone who may be struggling. People still need to travel for business and family emergencies. We are trying to do are part to make this possible
That is a very good question but not an easy one to answer. Covid has hit dog walkers and pet care businesses especially hard. I am currently posting flyers and have increased social media outreach. I have been lucky enough to pick up a few new clients as well as doing more dog training versus dog walking. I am very interested in pivoting my business to develop a new line of pet harnesses, leashes and collars.
You can appeal to new dog owners as there seems to be an over abundance of dog adoptions during this time. I’ve always advised others to find something unique that you offer that others don’t, to appeal to pet owners. Lastly, have all of your ducks in a row before hand. Fees, policies, references, etc. good luck!
I have a private small dog walking service. Unfortunately since the pandemic my client's are all working from home and don't need my services. Except here, I haven't been advertising.
Though I am still open, but I am operating at about 75% below what I am used to, I am branching out of the pet sitting and doing Etsy and other online selling via social media of pet portraits, and other paintings I do on canvas and slate. And also making custom dog coats and cat toys and other pet related garments. I also am going to try and get a roommate to share my house by March. It is either that, or I close for good and sell my house and move out of state to an area that I can afford.
We are very active in our community, including the Chamber so we attend those meetings to keep people up to date on the activities here at the kennel. We are getting quite a few new clients from referrals from our current clients. We've also created brochures with a small $ coupon which we've walked neighborhoods putting in newspaper boxes (with the permission of the local newspaper company, be sure you do NOT put brochures in mail boxes as that is NOT legal). The new clients bring in the brochure with the coupon attached so we know how many new clients we are getting through that means. We write an educational article for one of the regional magazines monthly, which brings us quite a few new clients.
Appealing to cat owners for cat sitting as well as dog visits and walking first responders dogs. Good luck. I use my reviews to do this... no paid advertising.
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We have stayed open as usual and our area is still growing so we have only seen a slow down in business because people can't travel. As for new clients, they're still calling. We count ourselves super lucky and grateful for our location.
Getting new clients has been very easy for us. When a dog checks out, we include a Thank You note and ask for a referral and many oblige us. I have a sales background, so I also have been received very warmly by people walking their dog at a local park. They Thank Me for stopping them. I also have a Facebook business page as well as an InstaGram page with videos and educational posts almost every day. Clients and prospects alike, give me great feedback and referrals . Some referrals come for daycare every week of the year that we are not away!
I’m not sure what other pet sitters and dog trainers are doing. I have reduced my rates for both training and boarding starting in March to help financially anyone who may be struggling. People still need to travel for business and family emergencies. We are trying to do are part to make this possible
That is a very good question but not an easy one to answer. Covid has hit dog walkers and pet care businesses especially hard. I am currently posting flyers and have increased social media outreach. I have been lucky enough to pick up a few new clients as well as doing more dog training versus dog walking. I am very interested in pivoting my business to develop a new line of pet harnesses, leashes and collars.
You can appeal to new dog owners as there seems to be an over abundance of dog adoptions during this time. I’ve always advised others to find something unique that you offer that others don’t, to appeal to pet owners. Lastly, have all of your ducks in a row before hand. Fees, policies, references, etc. good luck!
I have a private small dog walking service. Unfortunately since the pandemic my client's are all working from home and don't need my services. Except here, I haven't been advertising.
I am not sure what other pet Sitters are doing. I am working on starting to build dog crate furniture as an extra side job.
Though I am still open, but I am operating at about 75% below what I am used to, I am branching out of the pet sitting and doing Etsy and other online selling via social media of pet portraits, and other paintings I do on canvas and slate. And also making custom dog coats and cat toys and other pet related garments. I also am going to try and get a roommate to share my house by March. It is either that, or I close for good and sell my house and move out of state to an area that I can afford.
We are very active in our community, including the Chamber so we attend those meetings to keep people up to date on the activities here at the kennel. We are getting quite a few new clients from referrals from our current clients. We've also created brochures with a small $ coupon which we've walked neighborhoods putting in newspaper boxes (with the permission of the local newspaper company, be sure you do NOT put brochures in mail boxes as that is NOT legal). The new clients bring in the brochure with the coupon attached so we know how many new clients we are getting through that means. We write an educational article for one of the regional magazines monthly, which brings us quite a few new clients.
Appealing to cat owners for cat sitting as well as dog visits and walking first responders dogs. Good luck. I use my reviews to do this... no paid advertising.