How to make a very tasty living out of a dog’s dinner
DOG lover Dave Hume discovered a new way of working with the help of his pet Toby.
Dave, 58, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, says: ‘ Our dog’s continuous scratching seemed linked to food. We tried him on Trophy pet food and it stopped within days. Realising this was a franchise, and an opportunity to start our own business, I became a Trophy franchisee.’
The f ormer music i ndustry consultant, now often referred to locally as ‘ Dogfood Dave’, delivers pet foods, accessories and advice to nearly 500 customers. Wife Maureen, a former BT account handler, helps with booking orders.
‘We started with stalls at summer fairs, country shows and markets, offering samples and information on diet and pet foods,’ says Dave.
‘Trophy provides nutritional and product training including updates on the latest diet developments. It helps to feel comfortable with selling, but talking to people who share our love of dogs makes it easy, and food is an increasingly important topic.
‘Growing any business at first is hard work, but the food itself and our high level of customer service means dog owners return and recommend us.’
Sue Reid, sales and franchise director at £13,995 Trophy, says: ‘We look for people with a passion for pets, good customer service skills and the motivation to work hard.’
Existing franchise Barking Mad Dog Care has just launched the Barking Mad Professional Mobile Dog Grooming franchise. The £11,950 i nvestment i ncludes a City and Guilds level 3 training, and the franchisor handles calls and messages on the groomer’s behalf.
Getting on with people i s as important as having a way with animals. ‘You must care about people as much as pets and always be available for clients in a crisis,’ says Monica Loosley, founder of Pals4Pets, whose franchisees offer a range of pet services. Her London franchise areas are for sale individually, mostly below £10,000, or as a whole for £150,000. New territories elsewhere cost £7,500.
Trophy, 01367 243 434; Barking Mad, 01524 276 476; Pals4Pets, 0208 201 1606.