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Business in a small Country Town

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Business in a small Country Town Empty Business in a small Country Town

Post by Paws 'n All Mon Nov 19, 2012 4:13 pm

Hello all,

I do need some advice to drum up more business. I opened my shop at the end of July this year doing mainly dog grooming (20 years experience) and because of shire regulations, some pet supplies attached. I quit my vet nursing job as my new boss (she bought the clinic) was a real bully and made it impossible for me to stay. I love my work now and nothing beats being your own boss. I owned a "work from home" business in a Perth suburb about 12 years ago which was extremely successful.
During my nursing studies I groomed for my first boss till I finished my cert IV. A couple of years later the clinic was sold and I worked as vet nurse only for over a year and they hired a girl as groomer. This girl took a 6 months holiday and is about to return to work. During the 6 months the vet send all grooming clients to me as there was no other groomer around. What baffles me is where are all the clients now that I used to groom when I did the grooming. They all seem to have disappeared except for some. Some have wondered off since the new vet started as they were too expensive. I rang some of my old clients and spoke to some in the street and heard they have someone coming up here from 3/4 hours away. She is mobile and charges less as she has less overheads, I guess. Some prices must not include a bath. During the conversations I had they told me they had been using her and didn't just want to go somewhere else now -me. I felt like saying this girl is close to the city and has lots of opportunity to get clients and what about supporting local businesses and leaving their money here in town?? When I opened I got lots of encouragement from locals and I do get quite some pple coming in off the street but it is not enough to make it successful enough and I now worry about winter when clipping dies down for 3 months or so.
I do have a good reputation and people like me, but the economy is not what it used to be.

What can I do in a country town of 3000 or so people with lots of designer dogs and farm dogs to get them to come back to me? I will try rescue organisations in the area and see if I can drum s/thing up there. Any other ideas?
Cheers
Gaby


Paws 'n All
Paws 'n All

Location : WA
Posts : 11

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Post by C.C Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:03 pm

I too live in a fairly small country town and after 5 years am only just starting to book out up to a week in advance. Mind you winter is usually pretty dead. I work from home so I have very low overheads. I suggest you run a small line add in the local newspaper,that helped me at the start. I also made a voucher so the local pet shop could give them out with the pups they sold, offering the first groom free on puppies up to 16 weeks.Naturally there is always letter box drops but that didn't work for me. Unfortunately you just got to try and hang in there until word of mouth kicks in,or hopefully the mobile decides to quit
C.C
C.C

Location : South Australia
Posts : 146

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Post by Susanne Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:25 am

which town are you located in?

I am in a small country town SE of perth, population about 100, I am mobile and travel up 150km to work in a town, I am busy all year round, my business continued to grow through the GFC, you need to look at your marketing strategy and make sure you are offering a service that the others aren't, consider going mobile.
Susanne
Susanne

Location : Western Australia
Posts : 366

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Post by mim57 Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:56 pm

hi i am also in a small country town and working for 8 years reciently the only vet has employed receptionist who is also now grooming its a pain i cant get new clients anyone suggest how to compete desparate and dog less
mim57
mim57

Location : q.l.d
Posts : 2

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Post by Susanne Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:20 pm

what are they offering that you aren't?
Susanne
Susanne

Location : Western Australia
Posts : 366

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