Do you enjoy being around animals and want to start a business of your own? With pet owners holding their pets in such high esteem these days, a pet related business can be your ticket to success. Pet businesses with a bright future run the gamut from doggy day care centers to pet training and grooming services. Once you decide which pet related business is for you, you'll need to develop a marketing plan to bring in clients and their pets. Here are some ideas on how to market a pet business:
Co-Market with Veterinarians
Regardless of what pet related service you choose to offer, co-marketing with veterinary offices in your area is a recipe for success. Ask if you can place brochures in the waiting room or display a container of business cards at the counter where customers check out. This should give you lots of targeted marketing without costing a fortune.
Market at the Dog Park
If you're offer a dog related service such as training or doggy day care center, you'll want to become a regular at your local dog park. When you visit the park take along a generous stack of business cards. Mingle with dog owners while introducing your business in a low key, unobtrusive way. You can also talk to dog owners to see what additional services they would like to see offered.
Sponsor a Charitable Event
Attract the attention of the community and do a good deed at the same time by sponsoring an event for charity. For example, if you do dog grooming, hold a Saturday event where all of the proceeds collected for the grooming goes to an animal rescue organization or your local SPCA. Send out a press release to local publications letting them know about the big event.
Co-Market with Other Local Pet Businesses
Team up with pet stores and other non-competing pet businesses in your area. Do joint advertising in a targeted, local community publication. By featuring both ads in one space, you'll cut your advertising costs in half. You can also team up with other pet businesses locally and sponsor special pet related events in your area.
Do Your Research
Go to your local library and ask the reference librarian to help research which areas of your city have the highest density of pets. Once you have this information, prepare flyers advertising your services and distribute them door to door.
Give Something Free
Give customers an incentive to use your service by offering something free. For example, if you have a pet grooming service, offer a free photo of the freshly groomed dog for the dog owner to take home. Customers love getting something for nothing.
Running a pet business can be lots of fun and potentially quite lucrative when you market successfully to your audience. Why not give these pet business tips a try?
