The One With the Business Building
Around the holidays, I took two weeks off, not because I had anywhere to go or even because I like the holidays but because it's the only time of year that you can get 10 days off for the price of 6. So I used the time to work on dog training.
Most of you probably know this, but the training company that I work for left the pet store chain that it had an exclusive contract with. So that means that we had to find new places to find classes and places to refer us. My boss, who is the only one who does it full-time, is nearly bankrupt for the first time in her 17-year dog training career.
To help rebuild the business, each of us who works for her has an area. Mine is the South Bay. We are responsible for going to any dog-related businesses in our area and finding out if they refer a trainer. If they don't, we try to get in the door. At first it was really hard because many of the businesses, especially the vets, which are like the holy grail of referrals because so many people listen to referrals from their vets, refer a company that uses Dog Whisperer methods. Those methods are very harsh and dangerous in the wrong hands. Our company is a positive-only company, and those of you who know Muggsy can just see how effective those methods can be. Yes, you can train an aggressive dog without beating the crap out of him.
Anyway, it was hard to get in the door. But one day last week, I scored two groomers, a boarding place and, yes, a veterinarian. All in all, I've found eight referrals. But I was so excited about the veterinarian because they're so hard to get, and once you get one, they're an incredible resource. This vet asked me to come back and meet with him about our methods, and my boss and I went on Friday. It went incredible. Not only had he already been giving out our brochures, but he wants to hold classes there, and he gave us his grooming room to use for training. I basically have my own mini-training center. Coupled with the pet store that I got right down the street to do a class at, I was joking that I have a monopoly on Crenshaw (the street). Then, my boss pointed out that the location was a highly-trafficked one, right across the street from a huge shopping center that has a Pet Smart and is at the intersection of two of the largest travelways in the South Bay. It's a premier location that will really help me build clientele. I'm really excited. Plus, this is something that if I do well, it will be a good starting point when I'm ready to own my own business.
Most of you probably know this, but the training company that I work for left the pet store chain that it had an exclusive contract with. So that means that we had to find new places to find classes and places to refer us. My boss, who is the only one who does it full-time, is nearly bankrupt for the first time in her 17-year dog training career.
To help rebuild the business, each of us who works for her has an area. Mine is the South Bay. We are responsible for going to any dog-related businesses in our area and finding out if they refer a trainer. If they don't, we try to get in the door. At first it was really hard because many of the businesses, especially the vets, which are like the holy grail of referrals because so many people listen to referrals from their vets, refer a company that uses Dog Whisperer methods. Those methods are very harsh and dangerous in the wrong hands. Our company is a positive-only company, and those of you who know Muggsy can just see how effective those methods can be. Yes, you can train an aggressive dog without beating the crap out of him.
Anyway, it was hard to get in the door. But one day last week, I scored two groomers, a boarding place and, yes, a veterinarian. All in all, I've found eight referrals. But I was so excited about the veterinarian because they're so hard to get, and once you get one, they're an incredible resource. This vet asked me to come back and meet with him about our methods, and my boss and I went on Friday. It went incredible. Not only had he already been giving out our brochures, but he wants to hold classes there, and he gave us his grooming room to use for training. I basically have my own mini-training center. Coupled with the pet store that I got right down the street to do a class at, I was joking that I have a monopoly on Crenshaw (the street). Then, my boss pointed out that the location was a highly-trafficked one, right across the street from a huge shopping center that has a Pet Smart and is at the intersection of two of the largest travelways in the South Bay. It's a premier location that will really help me build clientele. I'm really excited. Plus, this is something that if I do well, it will be a good starting point when I'm ready to own my own business.
posted by Rachel at
4:16 PM
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