When Jeff Lichterman took ownership of a Nashville Aussie Pet Mobile franchise in 2017, he had no groomers, a fleet of four vans in various states of disrepair and an almost non-existent roster of clients. Lichterman was already running a successful Aussie Pet Mobile in Memphis and he poured all his energy into turning around the struggling enterprise in Nashville. By Jessica Jones
When Jeff Lichterman took ownership of a Nashville Aussie Pet Mobile franchise in 2017, he had no groomers, a fleet of four vans in various states of disrepair and an almost non-existent roster of clients. Lichterman was already running a successful Aussie Pet Mobile in Memphis and he poured all his energy into turning around the struggling enterprise in Nashville.
“The secret to running a successful franchise is not complicated. You just have to work hard at it every single day,” Lichterman said. “You have to set goals for yourself, personally respond to every single call that comes in and place an enormous emphasis on customer service. If you treat people the way you want to be treated, there’s no way you won’t succeed.”
Applying that philosophy worked. In his first month of business, Lichterman doubled the prior owner’s $11,000 in sales. Three years later his monthly stats are in the six-figure range.
“We now have 17 vans and 25 employees and there’s certainly room for more employees,” Lichterman said, describing how he used internet reviews and personal referrals to pump up his business. “I think our extremely personalized service has truly been the secret to our success. We take care of your fur babies as if they were our own.”
Founded in Australia in 1996, Aussie Pet Mobile established its global headquarters in the U.S. in 1999 and has grown to become the No. 1 brand in mobile pet grooming worldwide. Offering a full-service grooming experience in the comfort and safety of the pet owner’s driveway, the company takes pride in its policy of never using cages, kennel dryers or harsh chemicals during the grooming process. With more than 300 units serving millions of dog and cat owners in the U.S., the franchisor uses environmentally-friendly products and employs innovative tools like a heated Hydrobath and the Fabulous FURminator, which is a popular de-shedding tool.
“My team and I are all animal lovers so we treat our clients and their pets like family,” Lichterman said as he pet Partagas, his own Australian cattledog-lab mix. “We have a passion for what we do and our customers appreciate that.”
For information about an Aussie Pet Mobile franchise opportunity, visit aussiepetmobile.com/franchise-opportunities.
– Jessica Jones