Shannon Anello
Shannon Anello, shown with Brylee, her 4-year-old St. Bernard/Newfoundland mix, launched Furball Fitness Dog Walking & Pet Care in 2015. make it home during lunch breaks or get worried if the boss puts a project on their desk right at 5 p.m. They can call us and get peace of mind that their furballs will be fed, taken out to use the bathroom, walked and played with, even when they can’t be at home.
Q: With so many clients requiring services on nights and weekends, what do you do to attract and retain highquality employees?
A: Working with animals usually sells itself. Caring for these animals is naturally rewarding and fun. But I have also tried to create a really strong team culture. We are not all in an office together. We’re out separately caring for all of our clients’ pets. So having regular staff meetings and fun team activities help build that team bond. I want employees to feel important and valued, and I welcome everyone’s feedback, ideas and suggestions. Our customer service is the core of what we do, so I wouldn’t be able to be successful without a strong team.
Q: What plans do you have in place to create a doggie day care? What services do you see adding to your Title: Owner, Furball Fitness Dog Walking & Pet Care About: Provider of dog-walking and petsitting services by insured, bonded and CPR-certified pet sitters.
Employees: Seven
2016 revenue: $69,000 Website: furballfitness petcare.com business?
A: Having a doggie day care has been a dream of mine since I started this business. Luckily, we’re now close to making that dream a reality. It will be really valuable to our clients, and it is the next step in becoming a full-service pet-care company. We are currently looking for a building. ... Once we find the location that best fits our and our clients’ needs, we will begin construction. I’m hoping we can open in 2018.
Having our own facility will allow us to expand our pet-care offerings. I would like to hire a groomer, offer in-house dog training (we currently rent space or go to a client’s home) and have a small retail shop selling our favorite products. I have a few other unique services/ ideas, but I don’t want to say what they are quite yet. I have to save some surprises for the grand opening.
Q: How did your marketing background help you launch this business?
A: I feel my graphic-design and marketing background helped me differentiate Furball Fitness from its competitors. I had the knowledge and capability to create a brand and website that were recognizable, professional and relatable for my clients. In a really competitive industry, I think this helped my company stand out and contributed to my early success. From there, it’s all about creating trust and an experience that drives repeat customers and referrals.