All tagged community

622: Who Are You Beyond the Leash?

622: Who Are You Beyond the Leash?

Collin

What defines you—your own values or the labels others place on you? In 622: Who Are You Beyond the Leash?, Collin explores how identity shapes the way pet sitters run their businesses, set prices, and build relationships. He shares personal stories of being labeled “the dog people” and how that narrowed perspective almost overshadowed other parts of life. By reflecting on both external and internal labels, pet sitters can reframe limiting beliefs and reclaim their full identity. Collin offers practical exercises to help listeners move beyond labels, strengthen client trust, and protect themselves from burnout.

604: Marketing Pet Sitting in a Modern Experience Economy

604: Marketing Pet Sitting in a Modern Experience Economy

Collin

How should pet sitters adapt as client expectations shift? Camp Bow Wow is celebrating 25 years as a market leader in daycare and boarding. Their recent brand refresh and national pet parent survey offer valuable clues about where the pet care consumer mindset is heading — and what we, as dog walkers and pet sitters, can learn to better serve clients and compete in an increasingly emotional and experience-driven marketplace. In this episode, we explore insights from the survey, including the rise of the emotional experience economy, the power of community connection, and the growing demand for convenience and polished brands. We share why marketing outcomes—not just tasks—is now essential, and how refining the client experience can help us stand out. With practical examples, we discuss how small pet care businesses can thrive alongside big brands by leaning into our unique strengths.

507: Hospitality and Heart with Ken Botts

507: Hospitality and Heart with Ken Botts

Collin

Does hospitality translate from restaurants to pet care? Ken Botts, owner of Creekside Critters Pet Sitters, shares his journey into the world of pet care. He discusses the importance of community engagement, effective hiring practices, and the parallels between providing excellent service in restaurants and pet sitting. Ken emphasizes the role of heart-driven hospitality in building trust with both human clients and their furry companions.

494: Staying Top of Mind

494: Staying Top of Mind

Collin

Are you struggling to stay top of mind with your clients? We share our effective client engagement strategies, from personalized interactions to consistent communication. Discover the power of community outreach by building relationships with local businesses and participating in events. While in-person marketing is important, enhance your online presence through live social media sessions, email marketing, and SEO-friendly content. As always, it’s about exploring a variety of marketing strategies to ensure your business remains visible and relevant, even during slow periods.

475: Creating a Business to Prioritize Yourself with Shannon Hendon

475: Creating a Business to Prioritize Yourself with Shannon Hendon

Collin

How can you navigate the twists and turns of life through fostering community? Shannon Hendon, founder of Ocala Pet Sitting, takes us through her 18-year saga of transforming challenges into opportunities. From altering her career path away from vet school to implementing cool new services like kitty cam rentals, Shannon's story is a masterclass in adaptability and passion. She also discusses the power of community, the evolution of her business model as she adapted to personal challenges, and her dedication to setting new standards in the pet care industry.

451: Offering Pet Detective Services with Annalisa Berns

451: Offering Pet Detective Services with Annalisa Berns

Collin

Ever wondered what it takes to be a pet detective and how you could add it as a service to your business? Annalisa Burns, The Pet Detective, sheds light on the unique skills and training required for pet search and rescue. She discusses the challenges and emotional aspects of tracking lost pets, emphasizing the critical role of understanding animal behavior. She shares about the growing demand for pet detective services across the U.S., and ways to add it as a service, or a grow a business around it.

447: From Leashes to Lattes with Alisha Riley

447: From Leashes to Lattes with Alisha Riley

Collin

What does it mean to embrace change while staying focused on the client experience? As your business grows, you may face necessary changes that push you out of your comfort zone. Transform any doubt in your abilities into motivation to learn, grow, and discover new methods. Alisha Riley, the owner of Alisha’s Pet Playcations, exemplifies this. She restarted her business after relocating across the country. In her journey, she discusses the importance of integrating oneself into the community and leveraging personal connections through your network. Additionally, Alisha shares her decision to start a coffee shop driven by a very special mission.

433: Pizza, Pets, and Planes with Lauri Partanio

433: Pizza, Pets, and Planes with Lauri Partanio

Collin

How can a pet care company make a profound impact on a community? In today's episode, Lauri Partanio, owner of Professional Pets Florida, highlights two innovative initiatives. First, "Pizza for Pets", collaborates with local eateries to feature at-risk shelter animals on pizza boxes and takeout bags. This effort alone has saved 39 animals from euthanasia. Additionally, Lauri introduces her "Flight Nanny" services, ensuring pets are transported safely to their new homes. By tuning into the needs of clients and partnering with local businesses, Lauri redefines community engagement through pet care.

428: Why You Should Join a Chamber of Commerce

428: Why You Should Join a Chamber of Commerce

Collin

Have you thought about joining a chamber of commerce or other local business support group? We had been throwing the idea around for a while and very recently decided to do it! Today, we break down what a chamber of commerce is, some of their benefits, and how we plan on getting the most of out it!

412: 4 Lessons From 4 Years of Podcasting

412: 4 Lessons From 4 Years of Podcasting

Collin

We just celebrated four years of podcasting! We can’t believe where the time has gone. What started off as a to share from our experiences quickly turned into a while of showcasing the amazing people working in the pet industry. We’ve been honored to share their stories and learn from the best of the best. We break down four lessons we’ve learned and how they’re impacting our own business, and the importance of tackling big problems.

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

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

Collin

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.

379: Building Resiliency with Pack Pals NY

379: Building Resiliency with Pack Pals NY

Collin

What does resiliency look like in your business? Abagail, owner of Pack Pals NY, discusses how she is building her business through policies, procedures, and retaining the right staff and clients. She explains how it's important to create a sustainable and happy environment. Abagail also suggests to make decisions backwards and start with what’s best for you first. As she prepares for the birth of her child, she shares why making changes to your business is scary, but also necessary, to keep it resilient and relevant for the future.

349: Pride and Passion with Savanna Westwood

349: Pride and Passion with Savanna Westwood

Collin

Your commitment is a promise to others to render service or provide them something. When the return value on your commitment starts to decrease, it’s time to rethink those decisions. As a business owner, it takes knowing your limits and having strength to say, ‘No’. Savanna Westwood, owner of The Savvy Sitter, shares how she thinks through what to commit to and how to know when you’re overcommitted. She also discusses what it means to have pride in your business and why it’s important to view yourself as a founder.

342: How to Foster Community Connections

342: How to Foster Community Connections

Collin

How do you build relationships with other businesses in your community? As a service industry, we rely heavily on social media and partnerships with other businesses to stay top of mind with potential clients. Today, we break down how we’ve been approaching other businesses in our service area to start fostering long lasting relationships. We also give some easy ways to start a conversation, so you don’t feel awkward about asking for their help.

329: Meeting High Standards with Lauri Partanio

329: Meeting High Standards with Lauri Partanio

Collin

Finding your niche is a great way to establish yourself as an expert and the “go to” company for that need. It also means dealing with much more particular, and sometimes demanding, clients. Lauri Partanio, owner of Professional Pets Florida LLC, has made it her mission to meet the needs of medically needy and senior pets. Lauri explains the way she’s partnered with pet-friendly companies to grow awareness and be a member of her community. She also shares how she has implemented lockboxes for her clients, and the freedom it brings.

328: Rocky Road in 2023?

328: Rocky Road in 2023?

Collin

Monetary policy and interest rates are slowing the economy down, and most suggest a recession is in the work in the next 12 months. How do we digest this data and apply it to your business? What does this mean for the pet services industry? We break down several key questions for you to think through in your business. We also address the very real need for a support network and the psychological toll a recession takes on small business owners.

325: Hosting Pet Loss Memorial Events with Coleen Ellis

325: Hosting Pet Loss Memorial Events with Coleen Ellis

Collin

How do you host a pet loss memorial service? Living in a ‘death avoidance’ society, many are uncomfortable with the idea of facing death and the passing of a pet. As pet sitters, we can position ourselves as leaders in the community of hurting people who have lost their pets. We can create safe spaces for them to grieve and find others to support them in their mourning work. Coleen Ellis, founder of the Two Hearts Pet Loss Center, joins the show to share what it takes to put on an effective pet loss memorial service. She gives details on elements you can include, and ones to avoid.

320: Considerations for Hosting an Event

320: Considerations for Hosting an Event

Collin

We recently put on a pet loss memorial service in one of our service areas and learned a lot! This was the first event we have ever hosted so we were a little nervous. We share how we planned the event and what the main goal of it was. We also talked through how we plan to improve it next time, and give some things to think about if you were planning an event of your own.

304: 5 Advertising Methods That Won’t Break the Bank

304: 5 Advertising Methods That Won’t Break the Bank

Collin

How are you advertising your business? While you may be tempted to pay for advertising, you don’t have to! Advertising and marketing your business doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, or any! We break down our five favorite ways to advertise your business, without breaking the bank. In the end, it’s about being shareworthy and building relationships. Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I make my business more attractive to potential clients?”

275: Putting Your Value First with Heidi Lewis

275: Putting Your Value First with Heidi Lewis

Collin

The lessons from the pandemic continue to highlight the importance of self reflection and knowing your ‘why’. The last couple of years have taught Heidi Lewis that she wanted to run a different kind of business. As the owner of Heidi and Hope Pet Services, she set about defining her boundaries and understanding what she didn’t want to do anymore. She has focused on converting clients from overnight to drop-in services and hiring staff so she can have more breathing room in her life. Heidi shares how she’s building relationships with local businesses and why she will always put her value first.

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