indoor dog training gym

Breakthrough Expansion Supported by New Hire Matt Collins, Vice President of Franchise Development, as Zoom Room Eclipses 50 Franchise Openings This Year

LOS ANGELES — Zoom Room, an industry-leading dog training destination, proudly announces the grand opening of its first-ever New York City location, Zoom Room Chelsea. A monumental achievement within the company’s rapid expansion, the Chelsea opening marks 50 open units this year, while Zoom Room remains well on their way to surpassing 200 units signed nationwide at the close of 2023. With nearly 600,000 dogs living in New York City, Zoom Room is poised to make a strong impact on the canine community and their human families by introducing them to a new kind of training method and environment.

“Zoom Room Chelsea represents a pivotal milestone in our journey. Our commitment to fostering the bond between dogs and their owners has been at the heart of our expansion,” remarked Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room. “This marks not just an opening but a testament to our motto: we don’t train dogs, we train the people who love them. We’re thrilled to bring our unique approach to dog training to the vibrant landscape of New York City.”

Zoom Room Chelsea promises to deliver a one-of-a-kind dog training and socialization experience, setting a new standard in positive training methods that equally prioritize both owners and their furry companions. With an emphasis on socialization, this approach is tailor-made for the widespread diversity that makes up the unique population of New Yorkers. Zoom Room Chelsea visitors can look forward to a comprehensive array of group or private training classes, and indulge in signature social events such as Doggy Discos, Pup Pilates, and more.

More than a revolutionary facility, Zoom Room Chelsea is aims to act as a genuine community hub, enriching the lives of dog owners and their four-legged friends. Located at 129 West 25^th Street, Zoom Room Chelsea will be opening its doors on November 18, and welcome visits to enjoy a space that fosters quality time, celebrating a special bond that transcends conventional training to promote experiences that enhance the lifestyle of the community.

The Chelsea location is just the first in a series of developments planned across the Northeast, solidifying Zoom Room’s expansive trajectory and serving as a testament to the success of its business model for a diverse set of communities.

Underscoring Zoom Room’s commitment to fostering better dog/human relationships across the country, the company has recently brought on experienced franchise executive Matt Collins, who will serve as Vice President of Franchise Development. In this role, Collins will lead the franchise development team in identifying and growing Zoom Room’s network of franchises as the organization continues to rapidly expand nationwide. Collins has over thirty years of franchise business experience. Prior to joining Zoom Room, he served as the US Director of Franchise Development at Tropical Smoothie Café, Inc. for all franchise sales activities across the Southeast, Northeast, and Midwest.

“Our commitment to creating a profitable and rewarding venture for franchisees remains unwavering. Zoom Room’s innovative approach to canine training and socialization has a wide appeal to all dog owners, ensuring a strong market presence and customer base,” said Matt Collins, VP of Franchise Development. “I look forward to working with our talented team to identify, mentor, and act as the go-to resource for potential franchisees. Together, we will shape the future of dog training and create new opportunities with passionate entrepreneurs who share our vision.”

For more information on Zoom Room, visit https://zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.

Innovative Dog Training Franchise Further Cements Business Model Success and Unique Pet Socialization Technique by Surpassing 50 Units Opened in 2023. 

LOS ANGELES — Zoom Room, the venture-backed pioneer redefining the human-canine bond, celebrates a new milestone in a transformative year with the opening of its 50^th unit, each serving as a community hub for dog owners and their pets. The company’s remarkable expansion comes hand-in-hand with equally impressive achievements, as Zoom Room receives recognition among Inc. 5000’s Top 40 Fastest-Growing Consumer Services Brands in the U.S. and Entrepreneur’s 2023 Top Franchises for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The success of opening 50 franchise units underscores the viability of Zoom Room’s business model, which centers human education and socialization-forward training methods. The company continues to blaze a trail forward within the industry by delivering unparalleled pet training services to dog owners and building a deeply committed network of franchisees nationwide. Recent developments and openings have taken shape in key locations including Chicago, Florida, Texas, and beyond.

The resonance of Zoom Room’s impact has earned the company a coveted spot as #38 in Consumer Services on the Inc. 5000 list. The brand’s strategic approach to business expansion, coupled with its unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction, has propelled it onto the national stage as a prominent player in the pet sector.

What has proven to be a lucrative, rapidly-expanding business is supported by a foundation of core values that are reflected in another recent win for Zoom Room within Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This accolade is a testament to the brand’s efforts in fostering a professional environment where every individual, regardless of background, finds opportunities to thrive and contribute.

“Our mission at Zoom Room has always been to make our business synonymous with dog training and redefine the way dog owners think about the industry,” said Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room. “We are incredibly proud to continue exceeding expectations as we expand our reach and create more spaces that enrich the lives of both dogs and owners.”

To bolster its commitment to franchisee success and unmatched client experiences, Zoom Room has strategically expanded its leadership team with the addition of Herb Heiserman as VP of Design & Construction and Michele Ramos as Director of Multi-Unit Operations.

The onboarding of both new hires enhances Zoom Room’s multi-unit development strategy, which has been a cornerstone of its business model, enabling franchisees to capitalize on the company’s immense value proposition. With eyes set on widening its geographical footprint, the company welcomes existing and prospective franchisees to join in the movement to transform the dog training landscape.

“As we celebrate the milestone of reaching 50 franchise units, we extend our gratitude to our dedicated franchise partners, passionate staff, and loyal customers who have experienced firsthand what makes our approach unique,” said Anthony Polazzi, Director and CFO of Zoom Room and Founder and President of APFC. “We’re not just offering prospective franchise owners a highly profitable business opportunity; we’re inviting them to join a revolution that is positively impacting dog owners, building communities and is poised to reshape the pet industry.”

Zoom Room’s extraordinary accomplishments emphasize its attractiveness as a franchise investment opportunity. Entrepreneurs seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking business model can leverage the brand’s proven track record, diverse offerings, and commitment to growth as a pathway to success.

For more information on Zoom Room, visit https://zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.

Seasoned Executive Brings 30 Years of Experience in Retail & Hospitality to Fast Growing Dog Training Franchise. 

LOS ANGELES — Zoom Room, the venture-backed, revolutionary indoor dog training gym, announces today the appointment of Herb Heiserman as Executive Vice President of Design and Construction. This announcement comes on the heels of the company signing its largest multi-unit deal, continuing an incredible growth path, and looking toward tremendous expansion ahead.

This leadership addition comes at a pivotal moment in the business’ trajectory, as Zoom Room is anticipated to increase its national footprint to 200 units in the next year. Heiserman, regarded as a leading figure in design and construction across the retail and hospitality fields, brings with him an unparalleled depth of experience that will be critical in the development of these imminent franchise locations.

Heiserman has a strong track record of driving meaningful business growth. Prior to Zoom Room, he served as Managing Principal at Streetsense, specializing in the real estate, retail and hospitality industries. During his time there focusing on architecture, interior design, branding, and development, the design firm grew exponentially with a staff increase of 350% in a 6-year period. With a Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland, Heiserman spent over 25 years as Principal and Owner of The Heiserman Group, a second-generation firm started by his father in 1972. He grew the company into a nationally recognized firm, overseeing all phases of project design and administration for regionally and nationally expanding retail and restaurant clients.

Having worked with the likes of Starbucks, Whole Foods, Panera, Banfield, and more, Heiserman has a keen understanding of how to craft an optimal, experiential retail space from a consumer’s perspective. He will leverage his strong background in this area to finetune design across future Zoom Room training facilities.

“We are so pleased to welcome Herb to the Zoom Room leadership team as we evolve to even grander heights,” stated Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room. “The Zoom Room customer knows that when they enter one of our locations, every aspect of the experience has been developed with careful thought and intentionality. The architectural flow of each facility is a central aspect of this, and we want every location to spark joy in all those who walk through the door. Herb’s extensive experience in the hospitality industry makes him uniquely suited to be at the forefront of developing these spaces.” 

Heiserman has a clear vision of opportunities ahead for Zoom Room. Immediately aiming to build out the business’ design and construction department, he will cultivate meaningful connections with contractors and architects on behalf of the franchise community. A key aspect of his structural impact will be the simplification of the process franchisees undergo when opening new locations. Whether through cost efficiencies, design solutions or construction timelines, Heiserman will support a more seamless franchisee experience.

“I’m honored to join Mark and the incredibly passionate team at Zoom Room during this exciting phase of growth. As new and existing franchisees are recognizing the undeniable success of the business, my role will be to make their development journey as easy as possible,” said Herb Heiserman. “A lot of business owners are owners for the first time and there are often so many steps in the process that they haven’t done before. I hope to guide them to the best path forward to increase their ability to succeed, learn how people move through environments, improve design and efficiency for better results, sales, and training.”

The onboarding of Heiserman strengthens Zoom Room’s position as a prime opportunity for investors looking for a scalable and efficiently-run operation in the thriving pet industry. With a business model that continues to prove efficacy through its rapid unit growth and more 5-star ratings than any other dog training business in America, Heiserman’s appointment by Zoom Room signifies an even stronger dedication to delivering unparalleled dog training facilities.

For more information on Zoom Room, visit https://zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.

Ripe Opportunity For 10-Unit Expansion in South Florida Proves Salient for Prospective Franchisees.

LOS ANGELES — Zoom Room, the venture-backed, revolutionary indoor dog training gym, announced today the largest multi-unit deal since the company’s inception in 2009, closing a 10-unit franchise agreement with its very own Director and CFO, Anthony Polazzi. The deal will create a major footprint for Zoom Room within the Southeast and fuel tremendous expansion for the company, beyond the quadruple-unit growth reported at the onset of 2023.

The global pet services market size was valued at $24.92 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9.21% from 2023 to 2030 according to Grand View Research. Despite inflation and Americans cutting back on discretionary spending they have maintained or even increased their expenditures on their pets. When it comes to pet care 68% spent more in February 2023 vs. January 2022 according to the US Pet Market Outlook Report. Projected to reach over 200 units in the next year, Zoom Room continues to be a brand to watch within the category.

Beyond serving as Zoom Room’s Director and CFO, Polazzi is also the Founder and President of AP Franchised Concepts, an investment firm focused on growing emerging multi-unit franchises with a successful track record across a variety of industries. APFC invested in Zoom Room back in 2017 and remains a minority company owner. Polazzi’s deep knowledge of Zoom Room and the factors that drive success in the system, coupled with over 20 years of experience in acquiring and advising businesses, will guide his team to build out the initial locations in the South Florida market. As a longstanding integrated partner of the business and now the largest multi-unit franchisee at Zoom Room, Polazzi recognizes the efficacy of Zoom Room’s business model and the lucrative opportunity it presents franchisees for long-term gains. With an impressive growth trajectory, Zoom Room attracts those looking to scale as business owners though no previous experience in dog training is required.

“Dog training where pet parents are actively engaged during the sessions is not as well-known in the pet services industry as daycare or grooming, yet the economics of the Zoom Room business model are more attractive and the opportunity for growth is much greater,” said Anthony Polazzi, Director and CFO of Zoom Room and Founder and President of APFC.  “As the pet industry overall continues to boom, on top of the community-driven values consumers come to expect from pet brands, I expect investors in other states will sense the urgency to develop multiple Zoom Room units in key regions across the country, like what we’re doing in Florida. To foster future multi-unit owners, we’re bringing on a seasoned multi-unit operations specialist to oversee and streamline this process. Our growth is only going to continue to explode as the Zoom Room approach becomes the new standard in dog training and socialization.”

Zoom Room continues to align itself with those who are interested in expanding and investing in the dog training business. The company pioneered a new style of training and emphasizes socialization, positive reinforcement, human education and the value of interactive learning, to deepen the bond between dogs and their companions Most recently, the company more than tripled its presence across the U.S., from eight states in 2020 to 30 states, and quadrupled its unit size in a two-year timeframe.

“Anthony and I have cultivated a remarkable partnership, diligently working to expand Zoom Room over the past six years. He has been an invaluable collaborator, closely attuned to the intricacies of our business. Whether it be his keen insights into Zoom Room or his exceptional track record in developing multi-unit operations, his unwavering commitment serves as the ultimate affirmation of Zoom Room’s solid foundation,” stated Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room. “Witnessing Anthony’s journey come full circle, now emerging as the foremost multi-unit franchisee, is truly exhilarating. Our unique and rapidly growing concept, coupled with the opportunity to secure exclusive territories, makes this the ideal moment to embark on the franchisee path with Zoom Room—owning entire territories or metropolitan areas as a franchisee developer.”

At the close of 2022, Zoom Room had nearly eight as many multi-unit developers as there were in 2020. This latest multi-unit deal further proves the fruitful path ahead of Zoom Room and is reflective of the opportunity the business presents prospective franchisees.

For more information on Zoom Room, visit https://zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.

The Organization Redefining Dog Training Celebrates Quadruple-Unit Growth Since 2020.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — Zoom Room, the venture-backed, revolutionary indoor dog training gym, announces today the signing of their 100^th location. Closing out 2022 having quadrupled unit size in a short two-year timeframe, the company skyrockets into the new year with the continued mission of transforming the dog training landscape.

With the pet industry projected to reach $277 billion by 2030, Zoom Room is trailblazing the path forward through its model of positive training and socialization. Boasting more 5-star ratings than any other dog training business in America, the organization has seen a massive 70% growth in same store sales since 2019. For the nearly 5 million consumers that also became new pet owners in that same timeframe, Zoom Room provides a space like no other with a diverse offering of training services and events that place an emphasis on owners as much as their dogs.

In addition to its unit growth, Zoom Room is increasingly diversifying its geographic footprint, tripling its presence across the US from 8 states in 2020 to 27 states at the close of 2022. Looking ahead, the company aims to maintain a rapid growth trajectory, with a particular focus on expansion across all major metropolitan areas. Franchise openings in 2023 will include Chelsea, NY, San Diego, CA and Houston, TX. “Our long-term aspiration is to firmly establish Zoom Room as the premier destination for dog training,” said Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room. “As we continue to expand across major cities, we’re eager to enhance our reputation as a dependable resource for dog owners in the US and worldwide.”

To support the growing needs of the business, Zoom Room also recently welcomed several new hires across operations to support the infrastructure beneath executive strategic leads, Stephanie Knepp and Liz Claflin.

“Pet franchises present exceptional investment opportunities due to the recession-resistant spending, increased demand, and unique price elasticity,” said Anthony Polazzi, President of AP Franchised Concepts, the Venture Capital firm backing Zoom Room. “With an average EBITDA margin above 30%, Zoom Room’s tremendous profitability and growth show no signs of slowing down.”

Not only did 2022 reflect record sales for new Zoom Room franchisees, but the incredible success of the business inspired a significant number of the brand’s single-unit franchisees to sign up to become multi-unit franchise owners. As the company welcomes new signees through 2023, it will continue its best-in-class practices for onboarding. Zoom Room extends genuine 360^° support to its franchisees, beginning with a dedicated real estate team to identify a site with optimal demographics and assistance in navigating business formation and financing.

“Zoom Room has given me the opportunity to build a business that I love,” said Brad Weaner of Zoom Room’s Centerville, OH franchise. “We are thankful for our community’s tremendous support and their excitement to embark on a new journey with us. Together, we will fill the world with happy, tired dogs.”

“I love that by owning two Zoom Room locations in the greater Seattle/Bellevue area I am able to meet so many wonderful dogs and their owners,” said multi-unit franchisee John Jansen. “This is such a fantastic community, and the support we’ve received has been above and beyond what I could have imagined. I am very much looking forward to expanding into more neighborhoods in the near future.”

For more information about Zoom Room, visit https://zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.

Experienced Executives Appointed to Strengthen Operations of Revolutionary Dog Training Organization.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — Zoom Room, the venture-backed, revolutionary indoor dog training gym, announced the promotion and hiring of two experienced executives in leadership roles that will help to strengthen and support the brand as the organization continues to expand nationwide. As the pet industry continues to experience unprecedented growth, Liz Claflin has been promoted to the franchisor’s newly developed position of Vice President of Strategic Projects, while Stephanie Knepp has been appointed as the Vice President of Operations. In their new roles, Claflin and Knepp will be responsible for project management and operational business support for Zoom Room.

With years of service in law enforcement, Claflin was ready for a change when she learned of Zoom Room’s unique business model. Claflin’s next act became a reality in 2013 when she opened a Zoom Room location in Walnut Creek, California. After operating the dog training gym and realizing the potential of the brand, Claflin joined Zoom Room as a company executive to make a more substantial impact in helping grow the system. Having served as the Vice President of Operations for Zoom Room from 2017 to 2022, Claflin has now moved into the role of Vice President of Strategic Projects where she will oversee projects requiring substantial institutional knowledge of the system, helping to benefit current and prospective franchisees. Claflin will be closely working with CEO Mark Van Wye and other members of the executive team.

“After ten years with Zoom Room, I’m excited to step into this new role and create enhancements to Zoom Room’s unique system that will immediately impact our mature and new franchisees in positive ways while creating a more efficient and nimble operational process for our internal team,” said Liz Claflin, VP of Strategic Projects. “My most immediate goal in this position is to create an advanced knowledge base platform to provide franchisees instant access to best practices as well as to assist in the creation of an engaging, asynchronous learning system that will provide education to franchisees and their staff on topics from dog training to product knowledge and merchandizing.”

Knepp has been brought on as Vice President of Operations of Zoom Room. With her home base in Arizona, Knepp brings years of experience in operational services having started her career in lifestyle amenity management as well as additional operational experience in spa and beauty services. In her new role, Knepp will be overseeing the operational support of all Zoom Room locations as the leading member of the operational team. Knepp will assist in general operations of open locations, the development and launch of new locations, on-boarding and training of additional support team members, assisting with the franchise sales process, and implementation of system-wide enhancements.

“I am thrilled to join the Zoom Room team and support the brand’s overall growth of the support system as Zoom Room expands nationwide. In this new role, a top priority is to get locations that are currently in site development to business launch – offering our modern approach to dog training, making it a lifestyle, to communities across the country,” said Stephanie Knepp, VP of Operations. “I will bring a fresh perspective to the table and provide our franchisees with the advice and guidance they need to succeed.”

“The pet sector has always fared well, even during the most economically-challenged times; the recent boom in dog ownership is unprecedented, and we are expanding our Zoom Room executive team to keep up with this demand. The Vice President of Strategic Projects role was created to oversee high-impact projects that will ensure that Zoom Room provides the best experience it can for its clients and be the best business to own and operate for our franchisees. No one is better suited than Liz to fill these new shoes,” said Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room. “As our newest hire, Stephanie will be taking up the reins to helm Zoom Room’s core business operations and to oversee the operational support of all Zoom Room franchises. I am confident that with her depth of experience in operations, Stephanie will excel in this role.”

For more information about Zoom Room, visit https://zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.

Revolutionary Dog Training Organization Exhibits Impressive Expansion Nationwide.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — Zoom Room, the venture-backed, revolutionary indoor dog training gym, announced its strong growth since the beginning of the pandemic, including the signings of 30 new franchise agreements, quadrupling its footprint within the year. Zoom Room entered 2020 with nine locations in four states and now has 41 units open or in development across 14 states (15 operational and 26 in the process of opening). By January 2022, Zoom Room expects to have 20 units open and 30 in development for a total of 50 locations.

“The pandemic has accelerated the trend of retail flight while increasing the number of entrepreneurs looking to start a new venture. The pet sector has always fared well even during the most economically-challenged times; the recent boom in dog ownership is no exception. We credit our extreme growth curve to astute investors responding well to Zoom Room’s ability to serve the needs of dog owners with a demonstrably profitable business model, thus meriting our brick-and-mortar place in communities across the country,” said Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room.

PetPoint, a software program utilized by some 1,200 shelters nationwide, shared that within the past year, pet adoption rates have increased 700%, and Americans are expected to spend a record $100B on their pets this year. Despite the economic uncertainty during the global pandemic, Zoom Room was well-positioned and prepared with their safety protocols in place as the demand for dog training remained high. Zoom Room built a sense of community and transformed dog training into an infinitely repeatable affair with its mission of positive reinforcement methods, emphasizing socialization while focusing on the relationship between dog and owner.

“Zoom Room has seen a tremendous growth in sales with an increase of 99% in same-store sales compared to the prior year,” said Anthony Polazzi, President of AP Franchised Concepts, the Venture Capital firm backing Zoom Room. “We’re excited to support Zoom Room in expanding into multiple markets where the pet industry is booming. Zoom Room has one of the strongest and healthiest profit margins and is truly a company to watch within the franchise industry.”

Zoom Room offers genuine 360° support to its franchisees, beginning with a dedicated real estate team to identify a site with optimal demographics and assistance navigating business formation and financing. Offering retail zoning and requiring only 2,700 sq. ft., Zoom Room is replicable, scalable, and feasible for any city or suburb. With an unusually low startup cost in the pet space, the franchise brand includes easy build-out and low payroll costs with staffing needs limited to only two people at a given time. The company also provides meticulous training as well as state-of-the-art marketing support for its franchisees.

This unparalleled framework and support the Zoom Room franchise system provides won over five-unit franchise developers, Ken and Cindy Mizell, who own and operate locations in North Dallas. “We fell in love with Zoom Room’s unique concept, whose sole purpose is to build and foster the bond between pet parent and dog through classes that emphasize socialization, positive reinforcement, and education. We immediately recognized the profitable business model that could be attained through Zoom Room’s small retail footprint requirements, low payroll costs, and economies of scale that being part of a franchise system offers.”

With impressive profitability and growth trajectory, Zoom Room, a true industry disruptor, attracts those who recognize that the pet industry is the best-kept secret for investors, even though absolutely no prior experience in pet care is needed. The model’s six-figure profitability is driven by passionate loyalty. Clients are retained for years with lifetime spending almost 50x the cost to acquire. Zoom Room boasts more 5-star ratings than any other dog training business in America, plus a willingness-to-recommend score comparable to the level of Apple or Amazon.

James Gies, franchise owner of a Zoom Room near Orlando, made the decision to invest in his own Zoom Room training center after years of experience in overseeing a chain of boutique dog services. “The thriving pet industry provides a substantial opportunity to build a profitable and sustainable business getting to do what brings joy to my life while making an impact in the community. As new dog ownership continues to rise and pet adoptions continue to soar, I plan to capitalize on the success of my Winter Park location and expand with two additional Zoom Room locations.”

After reading about the meteoric rise in the pet food industry and the projected correlated growth of the whole pet industry over the next ten years, corporate marketers, Mark and Kate Scholz, decided to match their family’s commitment to the community and their love for dogs with the potential for immediate profitability. “We knew Zoom Room was the right franchising choice for us and signed up for three units, and are already thinking about adding two more. Our locations are in Austin, Texas and we just love our dogs here! At Zoom Room, we can add to the community by providing a safe and authentic space for dogs and their owners to socialize, learn and be active.”

For more information about Zoom Room, visit https://zoomroom.com/. For those interested in learning about franchise opportunities: https://zoomroom.com/franchise/.