How I Started Puppy Poo Patrol
Toward the end of wintertime, I was dreading the spring clean up of my back yard. I was brainstorming, trying to think of something I could do to occupy my free time. My husband owns a black car transportation company and it was steadily growing, causing him to be gone often. I was bored sitting home, alone. I sort of put the two together - dreading the spring clean up of pet waste in my yard, and tired of sitting at home with nothing to do. I presented the idea of becoming a pooper scooper to my husband. He was surprised and also quite skeptical. I can understand his skepticism, fully. But I had to try!
The idea was born. Now what?
I started researching the idea of pet waste removal and found that there were already a few companies in the market. However, there seem to be any in our specific area. Not that I could find, anyway. This gave me the confidence that I could create a unique and high-quality service for pet owners in my community. I began by coming up with a name (my daughter and her boyfriend helped me narrow it down!), creating a business plan, which included market research, financial projections, and marketing strategies. I also spent time researching the best tools and equipment for the job, such as buckets, rakes, disposal bags, and sanitizing solutions.
Once I had everything planned out, I started advertising my services on social media and local community forums. I offered a free trial service to my first few customers, which helped to build trust and loyalty. Then, boom. I landed my first client.
I remember meeting her for the first time like it was yesterday. It was my first official day on the job, and I was sooo nervous about meeting her. However, as soon as I met her, I knew it was going to be a great experience. She was friendly, warm, and welcoming. Little did I know that four years later, she would not only still be a client, but also a dear friend. This woman is one of the strongest and most amazing individuals I have ever met. Her positive outlook on life is infectious, and she has taught me so much about resilience and perseverance. I am grateful to have met her through my business and am proud to call her my friend. To date, she is one of my biggest cheerleaders. I can also remember finding a penny in her driveway. I picked it up and said to myself, "Find a penny, pick it up. All day long, you'll have good luck". Superstitious, I know. But, I still have that penny in my jewelry box, and I sure do feel lucky!
I went into the yard to clean after her two precious pups; Birdie and Boomer. I was there for probably close to 3 hours. To give perspective, I can scoop a yard like hers now, in about an hour or less. I think I went over her yard a million times because I was so scared I was going to miss a pile. After the millionth time of going over her yard, I concluded that it was indeed clean. She paid me, we talked for a while an I was on my way. She immediately left me my first review on social media. Any time there was a request for a pooper scooper in our community Facebook group, she recommended Puppy Poo Patrol. This led to more clients!
Several months later, we were approached by a local pet waste removal company. The message started with, "Hi there, my name is Jess, and I am an owner of Belly Rub Boulevard, LLC.". My heart absolutely sunk. The message was quite long and I had no idea what it had in store. My eyes skimmed it, but it was a blur. I couldn't read it fast enough. I was at my sisters house, in her basement eating chips and cheese listening to her friend talk about Colorstreet nail products. I remember every single moment and how it made me feel, as if it happened yesterday. I read on.
..."As we are starting to grow we are leaning more towards growing our pet sitting/walking services and selling our waste removals business. I have no idea if you have room to take on our weekly clients or not. I’m not sure of your prices to see if they’re comparable. I just see good reviews on your business and want to hand off our schedule to someone who will take care of the amazing clients we have. Just thought I would reach out!"
Omg!!! She wants me to take over her waste removal clients and she chose ME, PUPPY POO PATROL based on my reviews! After learning about other pet waste removal companies in the area, I realized Belly Rub Boulevard was very loved in the community. I also learned that there were indeed a few pet waste removal companies in our area. This was huge for me. OMG THEY CHOSE ME. I can't get over this. In my eyes, this was a huge compliment. One that I still think about, all of the time. I credit them for helping my company grow. But what do I do now? I am so nervous. How am I going to take on 34 new clients, essentially over night? I only had about 20 weekly clients at the time. Scary, but also like a dream come true! It made me think of my favorite quote, "All dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them" -Walt Disney
Boy did I feel unprepared and slightly uncomfortable. I was also scared. Time to plan. I immediately bought a truck to work out of, had it wrapped. I also joined a facebook group for pooper scoopers, and worked hard to be the very best I could be. I didn't want to just have a pet waste removal company. I wanted to have the very BEST pet waste removal company in our area. I had big shoes to fill and this was just the beginning.
Today, I am thrilled to announce that our pet waste removal business has grown tremendously over the years. We now have over 200 loyal clients who trust us to keep their yards clean and their pets happy. We have also expanded our team to include two talented and experienced pet waste removal technicians who share our passion for providing exceptional service. As we continue to grow, we are committed to maintaining the same high standards of excellence that have earned us the trust and loyalty of our clients. Our yearning to continue our growth is driven by our desire to make a difference in the lives of pets and their owners by providing a service that not only keeps yards clean but also promotes the health and well-being of pets and their families. We are excited about the future and look forward to serving even more pet owners in the years to come.
In conclusion, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of my clients. I am truly humbled by the trust and support you have shown me over the years. Your kind reviews, patronage, and referrals have helped my business grow and thrive, and I could never have achieved any of this without you. I promise to always exceed your expectations and provide you with the highest level of service possible. And if for any reason I fall short, I promise to make it right. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support and loyalty. I look forward to many more years of serving you and your furry friends. HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY, PUPPY POO PATROL!