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Archive through January 17, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Apr. 2008 ~ June 2008: Career Group: Starting a Brand New Business--Advice... : Archive through January 17, 2008 users admin

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Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 11:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Good point, Who.

That's a cute idea! I'm taking Hercky for a walk, the best time, I find, to let my brain wheel around and think about things! Thanks!

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 12:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Sorry so late to the party, Herck!

Name and tag line ideas:
The Pet Whisperer
"Take Out or Eat In Services Available"

Leash Lady Pet Services
"Leash the walking to us"

Furry Friends Services
"We take care of both ends of your pet"


Just some random thoughts:
"No need to quibble over your dogs kibble"
"Your litter sitter"

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 12:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Huk, thanks for those! I love the Leash Lady! Very clever and so cute! Then the 'both ends of your pet' line. Hahahahhaha! You are funny.

The 'Furry' term is a problem cuz there is a lady in the development who actually walks her parrot outside (on her shoulder). I wouldn't want to miss out on bird care, though I doubt it is a big segment of the business.

Well, I did ruminate a bit while walking Hercky. Taking off on Who's Homebodies, how about HomeBuddy? Since it will be listed under a Pet Sitting Organization, then I think other copy (including a tag line) could clarify who it's for and what the services are.

Justavice
Member

11-22-2005

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Justavice a private message Print Post    
HomeBuddy: Managing Food, Fitness and Feces for those with Feathers, Fur and Fins!

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Feces!??!!!! Hahahahha!!!

Justavice
Member

11-22-2005

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Justavice a private message Print Post    
needed something with an F

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Gotcha. Thanks, Justavice!!!

Citruscitygal
Member

08-07-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Citruscitygal a private message Print Post    
Hi HP~
So happy to see you back on the board. I used to have a client (doing her accounting) that had a pet sitting business. I'll see if I can find her files and check for any organizations she belonged to or anything that might help you.

A thought on advertising - i.e. the sign in the back window of your car. I have a friend who is starting a personal assistant service. She is exploring the idea of the magnetic signs that are placed on your car doors. Perhaps more visible than the back window and should be removable if necessary.

You certainly are getting a lot of wonderful information & ideas. I think with all your preparation and planning you won't really need it, but Good Luck in your new venture!!!

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 2:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Thanks, CCG!! Good to see you around here, too!!! I sure am getting a lot of good advice here. And I do, do, do need it. With you on the door signs. Yes, I've seen those and may do that at some point, too! (Sounds safer than something on the back window.) I'll come visit you you shortly. (Hubby is sick with a virus and is whining.)

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 6:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Herc, check out http://www.mybeautifuldogomat.com/. They've modified the logo somewhat (what I'd done was a lot cleaner than what they are using. Then again, I did it something like 8 years ago, so I'm glad they did update it a bit.

My pet sitter is Pet Granny 92103. She's sole owner and fortunately loves my bratty cats. And dang if she doesn't have a web site (http://www.petgranny92103.com/). She doesn't do dog walking, she concentrates only on in-home visits. I've had a couple of other pet sitters (before her time, and when I've had to travel while she's on vacay), and she's truly the best! She really does care about my kids. And I've been using her so long now, that if I get stuck in the Bay Area on a day trip, I can call and ask her to make a quick visit for me. (She has a set of keys and knows their routine.)

I got her by word of mouth (actually, when my previous pet sitter decided to retire, she recommended Margo). And in the small world file, I actually have known her husband longer than I've had her taking care of the kids!

CCG's magnetic sign idea is exactly what you should do. You can run around town with it on the car, and if you need to switch cars, it's easy to move the sign to another car. Or remove it completely if your car is in a wedding processional! <grin>

There is a national organization for pet sitters (petsitters.org), and many local organizations. I'd google pet sitters associations and your city and see what comes up.

(I just saw a cute name... Raising Spot!)

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 7:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Oh, Costa, that is great. I'd love to see it bigger, but what a great logo and slogan ("Keep America Clean. Wash the dog.") Hahaha! I really laughed looking over their site.

I adore the humor of your pet sitter's logo! Though I think her web page is very copy heavy, I like what she had to say. I will be stealing a couple ideas from her bulleted items, I think.

Julieboo offered to do something for me already, Costa. Did you have any clue she did graphics? I didn't! So please don't put yourself out just yet; her artwork may do the trick.

Here's a sample of her work, which she sent me:

logo

I love the humorous, 'cartoony' approach. The lines are clean and I think this logo must copy readily.

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Friday, January 04, 2008 - 7:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Oh--also, Costa, with you on the magnetic car door signs. Never considered that I could switch cars with them. Brilliant! Also, that is just the organization I had found myself. So we are on the same page with that! Thanks again for mentioning it, cuz it just reinforces my confidence I am proceeding properly.

Got a callback late this afternoon from State Farm Insurance today regarding the bonding I requested. The gal there learned they do not do MY kind of bonding. Recommended I go to an insurance broker--and supplied a few names. So I will try to contact one of those companies tomorrow (if not open tomorrow, then on Monday) to keep things rolling.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 8:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
In case you are interested in looking at more names, I found a local pet site, SD Pets. They list all places the mag is available, and some have cute names (although they may not apply to a dog walking service). For example, South Bark is play on South Park (a sorta 'hood here). And I love Bone Appetit although it probably works best for a pet food store, and Wag'n Tails (sounds like wagon trails?). Anyways, more food for thought.

One thing to consider for your name/logo... Media Beagles actually looks like it might be a PR company. And using a dog breed in your name may limit you to some extent (if I have a Golden, will I want to use someone who has beagles in her name?). The cartoony approach is cute, just be careful it's not "too cute." (I tend to avoid cutesy, but that's just me.) Or, is Media Beagles just a sample, and not anything you were thinking?

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 9:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Yes, Media Beagles is just a sample.

I love South Bark! We actually have a nearby restaurant, Bon Appetit'; that would have probably irritated the hell outta the owner anyway! Ha. I will check out the site. Thank you, Costa! That was very, very kind of you to continue to think here with me.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 11:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
LOL. Actually, due to major deadlines at work and other life incidents interfering, I'm a month behind on reading the "currents" section of the daily paper (this is the section that has gossip, news, and the funnies). There was an ad for SD Pets on the back page of this section for the 12/1 issue, and it included the list of places where you could pick up a free copy of the mag. I pulled it last night and stuck it by my computer to see if there was an online listing, and there was! So it wasn't that much effort on my part! And I laughed because I think if I wasn't so far behind my paper reading, I'd never have thought of it! :-)

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 12:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Tail Blazer

Your Fur Baby's Friend

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 9:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Hey, thanks, Costa. Every extra thought thrown this way is such a nice thing. So don't mimimize that!

Those are cute, Color! Still haven't settled on anything. Got waylaid by a virus here that hit Ed and then me. But I am finally emerging from the swaddling of my bed covers and getting my limbs moving.

Called one of the brokerage firms that my insurance company recommended on Monday. After missing each other twice, we finally talked today. He'll have quotes for me by Friday or Monday. I am now working on the licensing. The Delaware Business Development Office has changed its site. Ack! But I found I can now register online. The only problem is I have to decide upon a name to complete that step. So I am gonna HAVE to make a decision right away if I want to get on with things.

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 11:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Ok, please weigh in on what I think will be my name and tag lines:

YOUR-PLACE PET EMBRACE
Bonded, Insured, Dependable North Wilmington Pet-Sitting Service.
Loving, In-Your-Home Pet Sitting.Feeding.Bathing.Dog Walking.Free Extras!


Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 8:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
I like the Pet Embrace part, but not so sure about Your-Place. At quick glance it almost looks like "in your face" which is NOT the image you want to project."

Why not just Pet Embrace?

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 8:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Well, heck, it rhymes. And it tells the customer it's in their home, but in a less wordy way. I am very glad you shared your reaction, though. I certainly will rethink that if others also have that same reaction. I don't care for 'Pet Embrace' alone. I love Huk's 'Leash Lady' name, just thinking it might make potential non-dog pet owners skip over me.

Found out today from my broker that the liability insurance will be $500 a year for a million dollars in coverage. He can break that up into 2 payments, and I can live with that. He also told me I can't get bonded--as only employees can be bonded (or contractors, for the 'work' they produce.) So heck, have to alter that tag line a bit now, too. I doubt most people understand that and hope the missing 'bonded' term is not off-putting.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 9:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
I like Pet Embrace too. And it should be in sparkly aubergine letters on your business cards :-)

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 9:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Maybe it will be easier to see all three I've been pondering:

YOUR-PLACE PET EMBRACE
Insured, Dependable North Wilmington Pet-Sitting Service.
Loving, In-Your-Abode Pet Sitting.Feeding.Bathing.Dog Walking.Free Extras!


Or

Leash Lady Pet Services
Leash the Walking To Us!
Insured, Dependable North Wilmington Pet-Sitting Service.
Loving, In-Your-Abode Pet Sitting.Feeding.Bathing.Dog Walking.Free Extras!


Or

HomeBuddy
Insured, Dependable North Wilmington Pet-Sitting Service.
Loving, In-Your-Abode Pet Sitting.Feeding.Bathing.Dog Walking.Free Extras!


Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 9:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Mocha!!

You mean, drop the 'Your-Place' part?

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 9:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Oh I like Leash Lady too. Uh ok I'm no help lol. Oh I can send #2 to you to help out in the summer. Are you far from Dover? Cuz he can stay with my dad up there...

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 9:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Yep drop the Your Place.