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Nice to meet you. |
Amanda CrookDog bedrooms made out of wood and sheet rock sounded like a great idea at the time. An outside area on asphalt with river gravel? Yes, that would be perfect. Hire every single person that shows up in response to a "help wanted" ad...splendid plan! When you start a dog daycare with little knowledge of the business, just 7-months after graduating college, you're bound to make mistakes. What I didn't realize at the time was that in order to get to where I am today, I'd have to make every mistake. I'm proud to say that I didn't let one mistake go to waste. Today I run an amazing business; the standard in dog daycare. I have two facilities, over 50 employees, bring in multi-million dollar sales and boast the safest playgroups. Please keep reading to learn more about me, my business, and what I have to offer to others either starting a new business or wanting guidance with an existing one.
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My Family
Not only has a lot changed with the business since opening day in 2001, a lot has also changed in my personal life. In 2008, my long-term boyfriend became my husband. Just a year after marriage, Pawtropolis needed him full-time and he was happy to help. Despite him having a B.S. in Genetics, helping to run a doggie daycare ended up being a perfect fit for him. His official title is "Facilities Manager" (because "Emotional Rock for the Owner" didn't seem very professional). He helps keep the facilities looking beautiful and running smoothly. He also dabbles in a little Human Resources and generally just helps where and when needed. It was in 2012, while I was pregnant with my first child, that we decided to expand to a second location. Evelyn was born during construction and was eager to help in anyway she could. Just 3 short weeks after her first birthday, my mother-in-law died unexpectedly. This was also just months after my mother was diagnosed with cancer. If opening a 17,000 square foot facility wasn't challenging enough with all of that, 2 months after the grand opening of that second location we found out we were expecting twins! To put it mildly, it was a struggle that first year. My mother's health kept us on an emotional roller coaster and my twin pregnancy, though everything went wonderfully, was still physically and emotionally demanding. Once we realized my mom wasn't going to survive her battle with cancer, our ultimate prayer was that she would make it to see the twins born. And though that prayer was answered, Grayson and Lydia only got to share this world with their "granny" for 3 short weeks.
These personal hardships and losses (and blessings of children), made the running of a successful business all the more stressful. I had to learn to lean heavily onto my managers and give them a freedom to work like they had never had before. That fact alone has made Pawtropolis an even stronger business. My managers take ownership of their roles. They know that I'll give them room to make decisions but still be there for them to give support and guidance. This great management team has allowed me the freedom of time to be with my children while also running an amazing business. Here's a picture of our little family: Me, John, Evelyn, Grayson & Lydia.
These personal hardships and losses (and blessings of children), made the running of a successful business all the more stressful. I had to learn to lean heavily onto my managers and give them a freedom to work like they had never had before. That fact alone has made Pawtropolis an even stronger business. My managers take ownership of their roles. They know that I'll give them room to make decisions but still be there for them to give support and guidance. This great management team has allowed me the freedom of time to be with my children while also running an amazing business. Here's a picture of our little family: Me, John, Evelyn, Grayson & Lydia.
My Background
It all started with a Dalmatian puppy; a puppy I had wanted "forever" (seemed like forever to a 15-year old). Lacey was bought for me as a present. Wanting to do everything right, I enrolled into a local dog training class. My instructors, Judy & Barry Rowland, were competitive in American Kennel Club obedience. Since Lacey and I excelled in the class, they encouraged me to register for my first competition. Despite being nervous the whole weekend, I ended up having a great time and even placing against some of my older competitors. This marked the start of my path. I continued competing with Lacey and getting more and more involved in dog sports. While attending the University of Georgia, I started "Home Alone Pet Care." This was a tiny business that had me puppy sitting up to 6 dogs in a tiny 2-bedroom condo (don't tell my landlord). I'd like to say that I dreamed of owning a dog business from day one, but that wouldn't be true. Even in my senior year, I hadn't quite decided what I wanted to do for a career. I continued to compete and train both my dogs and others as I worked my way through college in order to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UGA. After sending out over 10 applications to zoos all across America, I thought, "hey, maybe I could just start a doggie daycare." I was only a couple of months from graduating, and with nothing to lose, began working on my business plan. I started with no professional help. I found a rental space that was "build-to-suit". I went in and used the random construction pieces laying around to layout a floor plan, moved that to a piece of paper and....voila...my first location was designed. At the same time, I was working as a bartender at a nearby restaurant. I told one of my regular patrons about my idea, the name of my business, and my logo idea. Right then and there, he sketched out my logo on a napkin (little did I know he was a pretty famous artist in town). Here's a picture of the ribbon cutting followed by a picture of my wonderful husband (then boyfriend) working on those bedrooms I mentioned that were made from wood and sheet rock.
I opened the doors to Pawtropolis on December 1, 2001, just seven short months after graduating from the University of Georgia. There were days we were so slow that I was both the receptionist and the playgroup supervisor. Despite the slow start, when people ask me how long it took before we became profitable, I tell them that we were profitable from day one. From opening day, I was able to pay myself a salary, pay my staff, cover my expenses and still have money to save. I knew that when my lease was up in five years that my next step would be to buy my own land and build my own building. That day came none to soon since my first location began busting at the seems in just a little over a year. The first few years running the business were my hardest, but fortunately my clients saw something in me that made them look pass the rusty crates stacked on top of each other with box fans that served as my "drying room". They had to look pass chewed picket fencing and an asphalt parking lot that served as the dogs' potty area. They were able to do this because they knew me. They knew my heart and they knew my love and passion for the animals in my care. While I was going through all of this, you never could have convinced me it was all for a purpose; that I was going through all of these trials and errors for something much bigger than myself. When my husband John and I received a phone call while we were in Hawaii on our honeymoon that a foster dog that had been in our care died of rabies...well...let's just say, seeing that as a "positive learning experience" was impossible to do. It actually hasn't been until recently, as we look upon this great business that we've built, that we've been able to recognize that all the things we previously thought of as "bad" were actually preparing us for the role we have now. Pawtropolis is a first rate facility, with an extensive training program developed for staff, and is the standard in care for dogs and cats. I offer consulting for people all over the country, based on real-life experiences. Our policies and procedures were developed after learning what works and what doesn't first hand. That wealth of knowledge allows me to mentor others in the industry. With Pawtropolis being a thriving business with multiple locations, this means we'll continue to learn and make improvements which can be passed on to others. Having Pawtropolis also allows us to provide a training facility for others looking to gain hands-on experience with playgroup management. Please humor me a bit as I brag below about the amazing business that we've built known as "Pawtropolis, The City That's Gone to the Dogs and Cats too!"
About Pawtropolis
As I mentioned above, Pawtropolis has been profitable from day one. Since opening in December of 2001 (a horrible time to open a business if you recall), we've consistantly increased sells year after year. In our first year in business, the Georgia Small Business Developement Center, who was instrumental in helping with my business plan, featured me and Pawtropolis in their annual report that highlights their successes throughout the year. Just a few short years later in 2005, the United States Small Business Administration honored me as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
In 2004 I began to get envolved with the American Boarding & Kennels Association (ABKA). I was announced the Georgia ABKA Representative in 2006. Shortly after, the ABKA presented me with the Community Service Award in 2007, recognizing the rescue I founded, Helping Paws Rescue.
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Also in 2007, I was nominated for the Georgia Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award. I was honored at the event by being one of the top three finalist. Though I didn't win, I loved being clumped into a group of amazing women that are using their businesses to make a difference in their community.
In 2011 the University of Georgia began an awards ceremony recognizing the top 100 Fastest Growing Businesses owned by UGA alumni. It's easy to be a "fastest growing business" in your first few years of business, however, in 2011 Pawtropolis had been in business for 10 years and yet we were still fortunate enough to be included. Since the start of the award in 2011, Pawtropolis has been honored in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017. Over 700 businesses are nominated each year, making the award even that much more of an accomplishment.
Pawtropolis started in a rental space, occupying 6,500 square feet in a strip mall. Within just a few short years we outgrew the space. March 2007 marked the next step of my dream when I moved into my own facility built to my specifications on land that I owned. That made Pawtropolis a 12,000 square foot, stand-alone business. Surely that would be big enough, right?
I once heard it said that many small business fail not due to lack of growth but due to the inability to keep up with demand. This was beginning to happen to us. 12,000 square feet wasn't enough to keep up with the demand of the Athens community. I had always wanted to expand but thought expanding meant going into a completely separate market, making for long commutes and a long-distance management structure. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the Athens market could support two Pawtropolis locations. Located just 15-miles from our westside location, eastside Pawtropolis opened in November of 2015. Eastside Pawtropolis boasts 17,000 square feet, an indoor heated pool, an outdoor in-ground pool, a fresh air circulating unit, and many more amenities that make for an upscale "kennel." I designed this location using grid paper while sitting in my car waiting my turn at an agility competition. With each building I've been able to change things that don't work, improve things that do, and really design a facility that meets all of my needs, my staff needs, and the needs of my clientele.
Pawtropolis started in a rental space, occupying 6,500 square feet in a strip mall. Within just a few short years we outgrew the space. March 2007 marked the next step of my dream when I moved into my own facility built to my specifications on land that I owned. That made Pawtropolis a 12,000 square foot, stand-alone business. Surely that would be big enough, right?
I once heard it said that many small business fail not due to lack of growth but due to the inability to keep up with demand. This was beginning to happen to us. 12,000 square feet wasn't enough to keep up with the demand of the Athens community. I had always wanted to expand but thought expanding meant going into a completely separate market, making for long commutes and a long-distance management structure. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the Athens market could support two Pawtropolis locations. Located just 15-miles from our westside location, eastside Pawtropolis opened in November of 2015. Eastside Pawtropolis boasts 17,000 square feet, an indoor heated pool, an outdoor in-ground pool, a fresh air circulating unit, and many more amenities that make for an upscale "kennel." I designed this location using grid paper while sitting in my car waiting my turn at an agility competition. With each building I've been able to change things that don't work, improve things that do, and really design a facility that meets all of my needs, my staff needs, and the needs of my clientele.
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Take a peek at my business Pawtropolis. Stay a while and watch the live webcams provided to clients to watch their pets, and begin to envision what your facility could become.
Eastside Facility Contact: 706-850-8744 Westside Facility Contact: 706-227-7887 |
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"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
Hebrews 12:11 - NIV
Hebrews 12:11 - NIV