When Mark and Sherri Schalk became pet parents for the first time in 2006, they realized there was a lack of attractive grooming options. At the same time, they were looking for a viable franchise opportunity. Aussie Pet Mobile stood out as a natural fit. By Lizzy Yeserski
When Mark and Sherri Schalk became pet parents for the first time in 2006, they realized there was a lack of attractive grooming options. At the same time, they were looking for a viable franchise opportunity. Aussie Pet Mobile stood out as a natural fit.
“I wanted to have my own business and be in control of my adventure,” Mark explained. “In the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, people love pets. They’re an extension of family. We had just acquired our first dog and were experiencing the inconvenience of going to the salon, so it was a combination of putting two and two together. I was looking for a good, solid business concept that we could work from home.”
The leading global brand for mobile pet grooming, Aussie Pet Mobile, provides exceptional experiences for fur babies everywhere. With the ingenious heated Hydrobath™, groundbreaking design and roomy, stress-free environment, the mobile units offer pets lavish, one-on-one pampering from trained and certified groomers. The best part is, they don’t have to leave the comforts of home!
Even better, Aussie Pet Mobile’s scalable business model lets franchisees expand as quickly as possible, aligning with their needs and dreams.
In the past few years, the Schalks have seen firsthand how lucrative those growth opportunities with Aussie Pet Mobile are. “We’ve been experiencing just phenomenal growth over the last three-and-a-half years,” Mark said. “We’ve just refreshed our fleet, and we’ve acquired five vans, so we’ve gone from four to nine vans. We’re on a path now to join the million dollar sales club in 2022!”
Besides financial freedom, Aussie Pet Mobile has afforded the Schalks greater flexibility. When Sherri began experiencing health problems in 2018, she was able to concentrate on getting better. The duo hired a strong manager, a former groomer who’d been part of their team in the early years. That meant that after 12 years of overseeing day-to-day operations, Sherri could retire and shift into a consultant role.
“I’m very happy. As I say, I’m vice president, and I use my VP ‘stuff’ if I want to make sure Mark’s listening to me!” Sherri joked.
As for Mark, his role has remained constant as he focuses on the business side and aspects of advertising and finance. He also commands recruiting efforts, which became easier when the pandemic put stress on local salons. Mark has retained top talent and assembled an outstanding team, whom the Schalks value and treat like family.
Together, the couple is looking forward to ongoing success. “We want to continue to grow and serve the Charlotte community with the best services possible,” said Mark.
Outside of the greater Charlotte market, the Schalks’ territory includes Fort Mill, one of the fastest-growing parts of South Carolina. Because corporate protects regions, the Schalks don’t have to worry about competing with any other Aussie Pet Mobile franchisees.
That allows the Schalks to fulfill their mission of delivering delight to pets and families. “You know, in these times when everyone is so separated and there’s isolation, I see that our team goes out every day and brings happiness and normalcy to people’s lives, and they just bring joy with the services,” said Mark. “To me, that’s very rewarding.”
Lizzy Yeserski