The Exit Interview: 6 Questions for Rachel Bowers About Running an Award-Winning Dog Walking Company
An interview with my favorite boss
EMMA:
Rachel, your ‘mom and pop’ (literally-speaking, as your mom and dad have long been coworkers of yours) dog walking and pet care company, Brooklyn Bark, has thrived (NY Magazine Best of Pet Care, Platinum Paw Award Winner Pet Sitters International) and struggled (see: pandemic work-from-home renaissance) and has now been acquired by Houndry. The business will continue to serve Brooklyn’s loyal and longtime clients, but you will be moving on to what’s next.
I’m so happy you’ve agreed to share the fruits of your 14-year experience with my readers! I’ve loved learning from you as my boss since October 2021 and I have a few questions for you before you go.
1.) What do people most misunderstand about the pet care industry?
RACHEL:
It is not always a sunny 75 degree day filled with well-behaved pups where you will be raking in millions of ‘side cash’.
It takes a special person to do this job. You need to have physical and mental strength and adaptability. Every day, hell, every hour is different and you have to adapt and find SAFE solutions.
Since you do not need certification in this industry, anyone can print a business card and call themselves a ‘professional pet care provider’. This opens the field to more people, but the larger on-demand apps capitalize on this. The big apps make money when services are booked. They do not care how the service is. They just want to “Boeing-it” by massive advertising and not ensuring quality and safety are there. The more people on the app, the more money they make. They WANT the average person to think you can make tons of easy money as a side hustle for not much work. They do such a good job advertising that service providers and consumers on these apps are left in the dark on what really happens behind the scenes.
EMMA:
2.) If there were three things you could instantaneously teach every Brooklyn dog owner today, what would they be?
RACHEL:
DO.NOT.USE.A.RETRACTABLE.LEASH.
Not all dogs are friendly or want to say hi - don’t let your dog wander to strange dogs. You know not what the other dog is going through. They could be a recent rescue or new to the city.
Know dog body behavior and be present when you are at the dog park. Be your dogs’ advocate.
EMMA:
3.) What do our dogs wish we understood?
RACHEL:
I wish I knew. Maybe that is the answer – that dogs wish we understood them better.
EMMA:
4.) What is your proudest moment (or two) as an entrepreneur and female CEO?
RACHEL:
This is hard. We have many awards so each one is so special. Also proud that we almost hit $2 million pre-pandemic. Been on TV- NY1, Fox, Pix11.
EMMA:
5.) Do you know what you'll do next?
RACHEL:
No idea. My husband already informed me that I need to get a job 'cause I’m driving him nuts with partially completed projects that are scattered around the house. “Honey… why is there a drill and drill bits in the bedroom…?”
I have other pet sitting businesses reaching out for help/advice so maybe I can make money consulting or teaching [dog and cat] CPR/First Aid classes.
EMMA:
6.) Didn't you work with Fedex or something on route-creation? Who have been your mentors and teachers in this process?
RACHEL:
When I was at Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Business Program, I had a business advisor who wanted to optimize our routes. He wanted us to utilize software similar to UPS to plot out the most efficient routes. This looks great on paper, but we are not delivering boxes. We are dealing with moody creatures who can bite, scratch and enforce their will upon us, which can greatly impact the schedule. Sure, it looks like you can walk Fido and Fluffy together 'cause they are in the same building and booking at the same time. But alas. Fido HATES Fluffy with a passion and you will have an ER visit in your future if you try to pair them.
Or dogs not wanting to walk in certain weather conditions.
Nor do we have “cannot deliver” options. If we can’t get in to care for an animal, we do not have the luxury of putting the box back in the truck and trying again the next business day. That animal needs us and we need to figure out a way in.
EMMA:
Thanks for stopping by, Rachel! Congrats on all you’ve achieved! Thanks for all you’ve taught me!
