Franchised Dog Businesses & Pet Care

[Andrea Schneider]

I just read an article about franchise dog businesses opening in Portland. The two that come to mind are Fetch! Pet Care and Nature's Pet. Fetch! is all about taking care of people's pups and the other is a franchise dog store.

It's becoming clear that big companies are partnering together, and becoming strategic partners, in serious aspects of the dog business world. What effect do you think this will have on our own local businesses? Do you think it matters?

I always like the small, locally owned businesses and go out of my way to support local businesses when I shop and look for services. Do you think this will effect our local dog business economy?

This is a good one for discussion in our Forum.

[Eileen Machida]

I know a local company in Atlanta, GA that has 30,000 clients, and hundreds of sitters, who pay a license fee for the right to use the company's logo and web site. This looks an awful lot like a franchise, even to the point that the sitters are Independent Contractors, as they are with Fetch! Pet Care. Other pet sitting businesses in Atlanta, including a Fetch Pet Care franchise would have a difficult time competing with a business that large.

So the question then becomes, is it size or a perceived disadvantage? In the above example, if size is the issue, the "bad" guy is not the franchise and the franchise has the same barriers to entry that other small businesses have. I think what really matters is the kind of personal relationships that the franchise holder develops in the local community. If the franchise holder donates time or money to human societies, gets involved in adoption events or other charitable causes, would the fact that the person is part of a franchise stop you from patronizing it?

[Andrea Schneider]

Hi Eileen,

Great points. I agree that relationships and service are keys to success. I do see the larger franchised businesses will have much more to spend on marketing, advertising and promotion. They have strong strategic partners to help develop their business.

Up until now, the pet industry has mostly been small independent shops and services, often one person "shows". They work really hard just to make a go of it. I can see the financial value, for an independent contractor, to sign up with a franchise, it can make the heavy lifting much easier and probably includes health insurance too.

What most caught my eye was the emerging trend, (outside of Pet Smart, etc) to capitalize on a very strong and growing industry - the pet industry. It is one of the few industries that can actually say it is growing at a good clip. I'm sensing some changes, which in turn, probably will have an effect on how the littler guys do business.

I do agree, how you conduct business and are perceived in the local community, is everything, regardless of size. That's always been true. We have a great way of finding the best, usually. However, it further supports my theory that small businesses can't afford to be invisible, regardless of how they choose to be "seen" by others, given choices. The franchises have much bigger marketing and promotion budgets, no doubt.

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I hope we get some more!

[Houseof16paws]

Funny you should ask about this. As I am a petsitter/dog walker myself and take my business serious, I along with a few other pet care providers are wondering about this ourselves.
Some are worried that Fetch will close many small petsitting businesses. However, I am like the thought that Portland is all about "Shop Local" I have been seeing this message all over Portland in the last few months.
I am going to stick with this and try to encourage all pet owners to shop local. Tthat includes, pet stores, vets and petsitters/dog walkers.
With big companies like this, you are never getting the same person twice and you lose the personal one on one. (IMO). Pet owners may save a buck or two, but is it worth it in the long run?
It remains to be seen.

[Eileen Machida]

What franchises have is a pre-made (maybe cookie cutter) brand. But they do not have an unlimited budget. In fact, Part of the disclosures required of a franchiser is to disclose the actual cost of operating the franchise. This money, including the franchise fee, comes out of the franchisee's pocket. Marketing and publicity are the responsibility (for most franchises I checked) of the franchisee. About the only thing you get is the logo, and for some franchises, you get less than that.

I think that size or national brand has nothing to do with offering cookie cutter service. It has to do with their business model. If the business model dictates personalized service, then the local owner will be required to offer that type of service. Wine Styles is a franchise and I am impressed with the level of personal service I get.