While other industries struggled during 2020, the recession-resistant pet industry proved to be just that, resistant! With front-line workers needing doggy daycare and overnight boarding more than ever, Hounds Town USA not only survived the COVID-19 pandemic, but we thrived! By Lana Mazin
While other industries struggled during 2020, the recession-resistant pet industry proved to be just that, resistant! With front-line workers needing doggy daycare and overnight boarding more than ever, Hounds Town USA not only survived the COVID-19 pandemic, but we thrived! Now, with more and more people returning to work, our facilities are packed, with most locations breaking revenue records. Not only that, but we are also growing quickly and are on track to open 40 new locations across the country this year!
So why is Hounds Town USA experiencing such outstanding success when there are other doggie daycare franchises out there? It all comes down to three things: experience, thoughtful design, and marketing.
We did not blindly fall into this industry. In fact, Our “Unrivaled Canine Expert,” Hounds Town USA founder Michael Gould, has over 40 years of direct canine experience. Michael was a former NYPD K-9 unit handler and commanding officer for the Nassau County Police Department. As part of his dedication to this industry, Michael passes his experience and knowledge onto franchise owners, ensuring that even if you don’t come from an animal background, you will still understand how to work with dogs and train your employees.
Not only do we bring credibility to the industry, but we also allow you to join our proven brand for less than other doggie daycare concepts. At Hounds Town USA, our initial investment starts at $339,300 compared to the $1 million-plus you may find with other brands. At Hounds Town USA, everything is designed with dogs in mind, not their owners. We use simple, cost-effective, and dog-friendly materials, allowing our franchise owners to break even sooner and enjoy larger profit margins.
Designing locations in this manner also allows for the management of a Hounds Town location to be extremely simple. Most of our owners have multiple locations, and some run their business semi-absentee while keeping their career or pursuing other passions.
The Number One question a new business owner is always going to have is “How do I find customers?” At Hounds Town USA, we have developed a three-tiered marketing plan designed specifically to ensure owners have customers the day they open. By cultivating a customer base primarily through Facebook groups, we have seen the average number of new dog evaluations in the first 10 days of opening increase 133% year over year! Each new location we’ve opened has had more new evaluations than the last. And, since, 96% of new dog evaluations become new customers, our owners are primed for success from Day One!
Find more information about Hounds Town USA at houndstownusa.com/franchising.
– Lana Mazin
Lana Mazin has worked at Raintree, a franchise development organization for over four years. By overseeing and evaluating numerous franchise concepts, Lana prides herself on helping franchise consultants determine the best options to present to their clients. She holds a master’s degree in marketing with a focus on brand development from the University of Colorado, Denver. For more information on Raintree, please visit raintreesales.com.