Name: Erin
McBride
Opening Date: March 20, 2012
Brand: Fetch! Pet Care
A: I live in West Beverly, IL.
Q: What was your career before franchising?
A: Before franchising, I was working
for the Chicago Public Schools as a project manager. Currently, I am working
with Grace Educational Resources
where we provide educational books to schools, which I will continue to
do part-time while operating Fetch!
Pet Care.
Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: One day on the train ride home from
work, I came across an article in the Red Eye about Fetch!
Pet Care. Even though I was going to school for
nursing at that time, I had been exploring career options in
pet care. As
soon as I read the article, I knew that working with Fetch! was exactly what
I’d been looking for.
Q: Why did you decide to open your own
business in this industry?
A: I’ve always
had a passion for caring for animals of all types. The Red Eye article showed
me that it really is possible to do what you love for a living. I began to
research Fetch! and countless other
pet franchise opportunities. I was
excited to learn how successful Fetch! is in the
pet industry and inspired to see
how much Fetch! owner and founder, Paul Mann, loves his job. At that point, my life changed course and I
immediately began paving my way to become a business owner and
pet care professional.
Q: When choosing a franchise, what were the
criteria you used to make your decision and choose Fetch!?
A: I looked at other franchises that
were similar to Fetch!, but overall, I realized that Fetch! was the best one out there, as I was able to work
out of my home and the franchise cost was low. Their tagline is “we’ve got your
tail covered” and they really do! Fetch!
has a ton of
pet services like
pet sitting and
dog boarding, and really strive to make their pet and human customers
happy. The support Fetch! provides their franchisees in phenomenal. When Paul Mann actually called me personally to
thank me for choosing Fetch!, and encouraged me to open my location, that was
the deciding factor. Normally you don’t get a call from the CEO of a company,
and I thought for Paul to make that connection with me was extraordinary, and
it showed exactly what kind of company Fetch! was.
Q: What makes your business different?
A: I plan to market Fetch! and it’s
pet sitting business to the extreme, really creating great visibility for the brand and our
services so everyone in my community is aware that they have fantastic options
when it comes to
pet care. I
personally hand pick my
pet sitters and will only hire those that I would trust
with my own pets. It takes a special person to dedicate their time to animals.
My clients consider their pets a member of the family and it is my utmost
priority to ensure the sitters caring for those pets uphold the same
importance. Fetch! sitters are unique in that they provide one-on-one attention,
establish a lasting, positive relationship and maintain a consistent and safe
environment for the pets they serve.
Q: How does your business connect with the
community?
A: I will be joining my local chamber
of commerce, attending any and all pet-related events, from parades to adoption events and
everything in-between, including sponsorship of such events. My
pet sitters and I
will partner with local shelters in the area, volunteering and advocating pet
adoption, foster care and health and wellness.
Q: Are there any prominent industry trends
that you are experiencing right now?
A: I think pet supply pickups and
delivery, as well as pet taxi services, will be big in my territory.
Q: What are some of your achievements that
you think will help you along the way in your business?
A: As a project manager for Chicago
Public Schools, I believe I have great management skills, as well as fantastic customer
service experience. Every job I’ve ever had has had a customer service element.
Also, my love for animals is strong and deep. As long as my family has allowed
me to, I’ve always fostered animals, and working in the
pet care industry will
only strengthen the bond I have with pets, including my customers’ pets!
Q: What are your expansion or development
plans for the next year or two?
A: Within 2 years I would like to run
another territory for Fetch! and, of course, increase business.
Fetch!
Pet Care was founded in Berkeley, Calif., in 2002
by Paul Mann, who wanted his pets to remain in his home instead of kenneling
them while he traveled. Finding no professional company suitable to the task,
Mann started his own firm with the goal of providing as-needed, reliable, and
loving care to pets of all kinds. Today, there are more than 3,000 Fetch!
professionals operating in 1,500 U.S. communities.
FETCH! Pet Care is the nation's largest and most
trusted provider of professional
pet sitting and
dog walking services, serving
thousands of pets and pet parents from coast to coast. Comprised of pet lovers
turned business owners, each independently and locally owned Fetch! focuses on
taking the stress out of finding a sitter and adding convenience to customer’s
lives by doing all of the legwork for them. Fetch! matches you and your pets
with the most qualified, experienced pet professional possible
. For more information, visit www.fetchpetcare.com.
