Dog’s life proves profitable
DAILY GRIND Pampering your pooch is a booming industry these days. Karina Abadia talks to entrepreneur Andy Evans about his latest venture that provides natural snacks for dogs.
They say you are what you eat. Surely the same applies to your best friend, right?
Andy Evans started a dog treat delivery service called Bow Wow Box about three months ago, after noticing a gap in the market for pet owners.
‘‘We’re seeing quite a large movement away from glutenous and wheat-based foods to a more natural diet,’’ he says.
‘‘The same is being replicated in what people are feeding their dogs.’’
The Grey Lynn resident didn’t spend too much time researching the market. He just went with his instincts and launched the business.
‘‘What we’re trying to do is give people stuff they won’t see in their regular supermarkets.
‘‘All the treats are natural and don’t have fillers or anything like that. It’s along the raw diet vein that dogs should be eating.’’
Subscribers receive a box once a month containing a toy, dog treats and chews from around the world.
Business is going so well that Evans already has plans to expand.
Cat lovers will be able to purchase the Meow Wow Box from next year.
Evans, 42, got into the pet business in 2007 when he bought the dog-minding company Guardians.
He spent three years consolidating the business, before giving up his job as a business development manager.
Guardians covers five franchised territories across Auckland and Evans looks after 60-odd dog minders in the central area.
The selection process is rigorous and a lot of effort is put into suitable matches, Evans says.
‘‘You have to take into account the environment the dog is being put into and what the minder is capable of, as well as the needs of the dog. You can’t place a twoyear-old boxer with a 75-year-old retiree, for example.’’
Evans spends much of his working day at his Customs St office responding to enquiries from customers, franchisees and minders.
He also gets out of the office to assess the suitability of potential minders’ homes.
It’s a bit of a juggling act running two businesses, but it’s worth it, he says.
‘‘I can do what I want, when I want and how I want.
‘‘There are opportunities to grow the business and it gives me the ability to have that work-life balance which is so important.’’