Today we’d like to introduce you to Joette White.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Joette. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It was really a perfect storm situation. I had been helping the original company founder run the business and enjoyed the operations side of things, because it allowed me to interface with all of the sitters and clients. I had always loved animals and believed in the power of good old-fashioned customer service — so I knew I could grow the business more, if given the chance. When the founder expressed her desire to sell the company, I knew it was a huge opportunity, so I jumped at it. I knew it was a bit of a risk but I saw the potential in the business and thought I could grow it into something even bigger and better. 17 years later, I have never regretted the decision to buy Park Cities Pet Sitter. The business is much larger now than it was back in 2000 but the fundamental principles are exactly the same as they were the day I bought it. We take great care of our staff so they will take great care of our clients — it is a formula that works and will not change.
Has it been a smooth road?
I wish I could say it was a smooth road from day one… but in reality there are always challenges. It is how you handle those challenges that will make or break you. Continuing to grow my business — amidst great adversity is one of my proudest achievements. It is this ability to keep moving forward despite life challenges that really characterizes my business success. I am not afraid to admit my flaws and mistakes and I have made mistakes in both personal and business arenas. But, I have learned from my mistakes and been willing to change when things were not working and as a result, I have a thriving business to show for it. I think this is why many pet sitting business owners have sought me out; I am successful but human at the same time. I am relatable as a human being to my peers and to my staff even while running one of the largest pet sitting businesses in the country. My pattern has often been two steps forward, one step back — but I am still making great progress and am a better businessperson every single day.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Park Cities Pet Sitter story. Tell us more about the business.
We are an in home pet care service. We care for our clients pets and home while they are away for pleasure or business, or perhaps cannot make it home from work during the day.
Park Cities Pet Sitter has been setting the standard for personalized pet care in the Metroplex since 1992, making us one of the oldest and most trusted pet care companies in the DFW area. When you have been caring for pets as long as we have, those years of experience truly set us apart from anyone you may be considering to take care of your beloved pets and home. You see the benefits of our experience through our safety practices, in our policies to handle emergencies (because unpredictable things can and will happen) and in our emphasis on working together to provide the best service experience, each and every time.
Our pet sitters are professional pet care employees. As professional pet sitters for a local-based company, they are interviewed in person, undergo background checks, are bonded and insured, receive ongoing training and have local team-members to assist them in emergencies.
When you choose Park Cities Pet Sitter you get a mature, professional, reliable pet sitter whose focus is caring for your pets in the manner they are accustomed. Plus a strong local team in the background supporting them. Our average staffer has been with us almost five years — which means they are experienced, they love their job and they enjoy being a valued team member.
My relatability has also been a critical success factor in running my business and why it has continued to grow as well. I am very real with my staff and care for them very deeply. I have staff that have been with me over 20 years and the average is 5 years. I try to do do all I can for them so they are happy and then they keep my clients happy. They really love what they do and that makes me extremely proud!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
For many years, the typical pet sitting business really was not a professional business at all. It was one or two people with a passion for animals but no real business sense. Some started as a hobby, like this company and grew into a real business because of the need for something more professional then just the neighbor kid next door. As the pet industry continued to grow, a few more people focused on developing professional businesses offering real jobs. The industry still remains mainly individuals but that is changing. In the last decade, we have really seen the growth of larger businesses and even a few who have franchised. There has definitely been a shift in the industry recently. We are seeing these tech companies coming in, like Wag and Rover. The problem with these types of business is there is no real vetting of the potential pet care provider. They never meet them in person and many of these folks are not looking for anything long term, so you don’t get any consistency on the client side. While they do some surface vetting… it is not enough for me and the clients we cater to. When it comes to trusting someone with your precious pets and home… which is your personal, intimate space you have to be very careful who you choose. It is a lot of responsibility and a lot of liability on our end. And, we take it very seriously and that is why our vetting process is lengthy and includes meeting and training each candidate in person.
It will be interesting to see where this industry goes in the next one to two decades.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pcpsi.com/
- Phone: 214-828-0192
- Email: pets@pcpsi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkcitiespetsitter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Park-Cities-Pet-Sitter-Inc-300134640612/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PCPSI
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/park-cities-pet-sitter-dallas
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