How to leave lockdown and leap ahead of your pet business competition!
‘Whoever is first to the field will be fresh for the fight’
Sun Tzu!
To help me create compelling content I tend to read a lot, and read from a lot of different sources. So, as well as the different business and fiction books I read, you’ll also see me with my head stuck in an old quotations book, Brewers book of myth and legend or even a WWE magazine (that I may, or may not have bought last week)
Anyway, in this blog I’ve got a takeaway from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War that I think you’ll find particularly relevant as your pet business comes out of lockdown.
This comes from chapter 6 – Weak Points and Strong;
Sun Tzu said
‘Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted’.
(Sun Tzu, 5th Century BC)
This ties in well with the advice I’ve been giving to my pet business owning private coaching clients over the last few months, which is if you haven’t already, then now is the time to put yourself ‘OUT THERE’ and start reminding people about the life-changing services you offer.
The marketing actions you take today will affect what sales you make in the summertime, autumn and beyond and as Million Maker Dan Kennedy says ‘Money is attracted to speed’.
Arriving at the battlefield first means you will not only you steal a march on your competitors, but you’ll also create movement and develop some much needed momentum. With momentum on your side then other dog walkers, trainers and groomers in your town will always be playing catch-up.
So, what can you do to ‘arrive’ early and get fresh eyes on your business?
Well, some kind of ‘seasonal summer special’ promotion will generate interest and intrigue with dog owners in your town, who are always looking for new ways to ‘treat’ their dogs.
If you make the promotion ‘lockdown related’ then it will also appear ‘relevant’ to your target market.
Dog walkers could offer a ‘Lose Fido’s Lockdown Flab and get fit for summer’ promotion. Doubling up on the walks a client buys to give the dog more much needed exercise (and increasing your fees accordingly)
Dog trainers could do a ‘leaving lockdown dog training essentials’ course where you double down on recall training, which is even more important with new social distancing rules. This is essentially the same training you usually offer, but the social distancing element makes it more relevant.
Dog Groomers could do a ‘Leaving lockdown Summer Spruce up!’. I know most groomers , like hairdressers are experiencing unprecedented demand at the moment, but even if you are busy then this could be a handy ‘upsell’ to offer more value and make more money after lockdown.
So, there you go. Three ideas to help you help you get started with a summer pet business promotion.
By the time the enemy, sorry the competition arrive and try to copy, you’ll have moved onto the next thing which leaves them constantly playing catch-up.
The trick is to start early, which means start NOW!
What are you waiting for?
For more pet business marketing tips and advice sign up to my FREE Pet Business Report HERE
In 2011 Dom Hodgson revolutionised the pet service industry with his first business Pack Leader Dog Adventures, the UK’s first, award winning ‘dog adventure’ company. Now a respected dog trainer, author, speaker and mentor to pet business owners, Dom’s calling is to help dog walkers, trainers and groomers to excel with their marketing, so they can help change the lives of more dog owners with their amazing skills.
Take that leap today. You won’t regret it.