While pet parents have pampered their furry friends for ages, there has been a drastic increase in pet spending recently, with owners being more mindful of the quality of services they’re purchasing. According to the American Pet Products Association, 70% of U.S. households own a pet and $123.6 billion was spent on those pets in 2021. By Brianna Bohn
While pet parents have pampered their furry friends for ages, there has been a drastic increase in pet spending recently, with owners being more mindful of the quality of services they’re purchasing. According to the American Pet Products Association, 70% of U.S. households own a pet and $123.6 billion was spent on those pets in 2021. Amy Reed and Leslie Barron, co-founders of Woofie’s, have seen the effects of that explosive growth, with their brand offering the high-quality services for which so many pet owners are looking.
Woofie’s is a premier provider of professional pet-care services, including pet sitting, pet transport, dog walking and mobile grooming. Woofie’s offers pet parents a highly personalized alternative to traditional boarding facilities and brick-and-mortar grooming salons. Since 2004, the brand has built a team of trusted pet sitters and dog walkers, with groomers added in 2011, and has grown to two corporate locations and six franchise locations, with 12 territories in Virginia, North Carolina, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
Even though almost two decades have elapsed and several locations have been added since being founded, Woofie’s has remained committed to its original mission of giving back to its community and ensuring every customer experience is an exceptional one.
“We hold multiple community events and fundraisers for local animal shelters and animal rescue groups. Giving back to our community is a key component of the Woofie’s culture for our corporate locations, and it is something we also share with our franchise owners. Franchisees can select the image of the dog on their mobile grooming vans, either showcasing their pet or holding a casting call/fundraiser for dogs in the community,” said Reed.
Reed added that franchise owners can create events with their mobile pet spa vans by providing nail trims and bath services for dogs at local farmers markets or by hosting Yappy Hours at restaurants, wineries and breweries.
Franchisees who invest in the personalized pet-care brand gain access to multiple revenue streams and invaluable resources. In addition, franchisees have the steadfast support of Woofie’s parent company, Authority Brands.
“Having Authority Brands as our parent company allows us to leverage their resources, expertise and capital in scaling franchise systems so we may better support our franchisees. Our priorities are to onboard our new franchise owners as efficiently and effectively as possible and to provide them with the best training and ongoing support to ensure their success as a Woofie’s business owner,” Reed said.
Woofie’s provides a comprehensive marketing program and handles the recommendations, budget, vendors, execution, billing, and reporting so franchisees can focus on operational excellence and customer service. Also, the brand’s relationship with BuyMax has resulted in agreements with approximately 200 vendors nationwide, helping franchisees save money on the products and services they need to purchase for their business.
Everything that Woofie’s does is with the franchisee in mind, from its marketing strategies to its customized client management app that helps franchise owners communicate with their clients and complete tasks, such as scheduling, invoicing, reporting, and payroll processing.
“We are an emerging brand, and we want our franchise owners to have a voice in our system,” Reed said. “We are providing them with the proven processes of the Woofie’s business model and the power of the Authority Brands infrastructure, but we also appreciate the value and perspectives they bring as business owners to our overall system. We are so excited to work together to build the Woofie’s brand.”
Brianna Bohn