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438: Don’t Stop Believing…in Marketing

What should you do with your marketing during a busy period? While it may be tempting to take your foot off the gas, we think it’s the perfect time to keep going! Running your messaging year round will help develop brand awareness and even out the ups and downs that come with running a dog walking and pet sitting business. We break down the reason stopping marketing during busy periods can hurt your business, and the kinds of messaging to focus on to get the right clients once the slowdown comes.

371: Stepping Away with Claire Aither

Claire Aither, owner and creator of Pet Sitting MKE, hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and kept her business running. Claire joins the show to share what preparing to leave was like and how she (and her team) worked through the hurdles that came. Claire explains her process of re-entering her business with fresh eyes and how she brought back a better version of herself.

370: Experimenting Well as a Business Owner

Do you experiment in your business? Being a business owner means making changes, both big and small, so your company adapts to the constantly changing environment. But how do you do that well? By experimenting! On this episode, we share ways to approach making changes in your business so you get the most out of them. From setting time frames to recording data and results for later review, there are best practices you can do to optimize the results.

352: Carrying Mental Burdens in Business

How is your mental health doing? It’s a new year, so it’s a great time to assess how you are doing. With so much anticipation for 2023, hopes remain high for booming business. However, busy business doesn’t mean a happy heart. Life happens, which impacts you and your ability to run your business. We break down a recent poll we ran, what it says about the state of the industry, and how we can move forward!

346: What’s in Store for 2023?

What’s 2023 looking like? The economic outlook is shaping up as a mixed bag. We walk through ways to stay nimble as a business, through planning and staying open to new opportunities. We also share how we’ve been approaching planning for 2023 and why it’s critical to take a wholistic approach that takes both your personal life and business into account. 

328: Rocky Road in 2023?

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.

320: Considerations for Hosting an Event

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.

263: Start the Journey with Claire Aither

How do you stay on mission in your business? Claire Aither had to make a choice, go into a career she wasn't comfortable with, or find something else. A cheerleading grandma and passion for pets led her to start Pet Sitting MKE. Claire talks about how her support group helped her deal with insecurities when she first started her business. We also discuss why she decided to stop accepting new clients and no longer take overnight care. Making hard decisions is made easier by knowing what you actually want/need from your business, and whether they are aligned with your purpose.

242: Defining Your Company Culture with Riti Sobilo and Jen Austin

Have you ever thought about going green in your pet business? ♻️ Maybe you've looked into it but thought it was too much work. It turns out there is much more to being eco-responsible than simply buying bio-degradable poop bags. When being eco-friendly is at the core of your business, the impacts go much deeper. Riti Sobilo, Growth Officer, and Jen Austin, General Manager, of Green Paws Chicago, share how to “go green”. We also discuss how to grow a great company culture through allowing your staff to embed their values and why they invest so heavily in their staff.

224: Emotional Intelligence with Wayne Hartley

What’s the difference between a manager and a leader? How do you juggle wearing all of the hats? Wayne Hartley, owner of Happy Hearts Pet Care, joins the show to break down his mindset around working with his team and the role emotional intelligence plays in his business. From using fear as a motivating force, to how he views success, Wayne shares how he makes his business run. Wayne also talks about what it’s like running a mobile grooming service, and all of the bumps that come with that. He gives some great advice for how he recharges and taps into inspiration when running his business.

181: Facebook Changes and Separation Anxiety

iOS 14.5 was released and is already having an impact on targeted ad campaigns in places like Facebook and Instagram. As small business owners, many of us have relied on these powerful targeted ads to get in front of potential clients. We share some simple things to do in response to these new changes. We also discuss a new bug in Google My Business listings that impacted our business, and how it was corrected. We finish off the episode by discussing how the pet care industry can respond to the rapid increase of separation anxiety in pets (and their owners)!

058- Lessons from Covid-19

What are some lessons we can take away from how Covid-19 has impacted our business and us personally? We sit down to discuss some of the lessons we're seeing and experiencing. They'll look different for everyone, so let us know what lessons you're taking away from all of this!

049- Kitchen Confessions

On this Kitchen Confession, Collin and Meghan discuss some of their thoughts on what it’s going to look like reopening, questions they’ll be asking clients, and what procedures will stick around even once everything is fully opened again.

042- Content Creation with Dan Reitman

Dan Reitman, owner of Dan’s Dog Walking and Pet Sitting, returns to the show to share some ideas for content creation and sharing posts as a pet business with the world on lock down. We also discuss the importance of strengthening community and staying on top of your mental, emotional, and physical health.

036 - Kitchen Confessions

On this episode, we talk a lot about preparing for what happens next after Covid-19, seeking out local tax and CPA experts to guide you through the confusing world of pandemic relief funds, and how to keep your social media relevant and engaging while you’re sheltering in place. Plus, we give some of our recommendations on what we’re listening to and doing these days.

032 - Opportunities and Resiliency

A LOT has happened since last week. On this episode we cover some of the opportunities out there in pet care, the importance of community in times like these, and what being a resilient pet care provider looks like.