A franchise match for the dog lovers – Dogdrop

Dogdrop provides convenient and flexible dog care inspired by a new generation of dog parents who want a better quality alternative that fits their lifestyle. The modern, well-designed locations offer open play with a highly-trained staff, so dogs get the right mental and physical stimulation even if they’re only at Dogdrop for an hour or two. The flexibility of their payment options and encouragement of short, “quick stop” stays increases the accessibility of their services and opens up the market to users who don’t necessarily need all-day dog care.

Their super convenient, top quality physical locations and monthly memberships are designed to give urban pet parents more flexible, on-demand access to quality dog care anytime, anywhere, with a brand they can know and trust no matter what city they’re in. In this interview with Shaina Denny – CEO & Cofounder, we discuss about her futuristic and scalable franchise that is all set for expansion. 

1. How did you enter the franchise business?

Before opening the first location, we knew there was demand for a service like Dogdrop across the globe. We created strong operational processes from the beginning so we would be ready to scale a model that could be taught and repeated. In late 2021, we teamed up with Oakscale to prepare for franchising and sold our first multi-unit territory in 2022.

2. Where and how did the idea of your concept come from?

Shaina had just moved back from China and got a puppy straight away. She was working a non-traditional schedule, running all over town for meetings, and realized immediately she needed support. She asked many other friends/ acquaintances who had dogs from recommendations and saw they ran into the same problem. There wasn’t a solution out there for this new generation of dog owner, who wanted to take their dogs most places, but still needed support. That’s how she came up with the idea initially.

3. What inspired the brand name?

Cofounders Greer and Shaina were brainstorming ideas for names. They talked about words based around convenience and quality of care. We wanted people to just be able to quickly drop off their dog and trust us with them. “Dog….drop,” Greer said. Immediately, both cofounders agreed that was the perfect name for the business. It was clear, easy to remember, and said what the business does.

4. What is the story behind the brand’s logo?

We wanted a logo that presented authenticity and our brand. We are at the intersection of tech, pet, and retail. It was important for us to stand out and not be another kitschy pet brand, but lean towards something more modern, tech focused without taking ourselves too seriously.

5. What makes your brand different from your competitors?

Traditional dog daycare is generally: outdated, expensive, one location, inconvenient locations (large warehouse on the outskirts), overcrowded with many dogs, poorly designed, and most of all traditional dog daycare is designed for someone who works 9-5.
Dogdrop is convenient dog daycare where we focus on the quality of care, highly trained staff members, quick curbside services, real time text updates with our locations powered by our proprietary technology.

6. What are the essential qualities that you look for in a franchisee?

Strong people and people management skills! We are in the hospitality industry and Dogdrop prides itself on delighting members and providing a high-touch experience. The team of Droperators at each location are also highly trained and have a unique skill set. It’s important for our franchisees to be able to identify, train, and retain our amazing staff.

7. What was the major challenge you faced in your career and how did you overcome it?

I worked in China for about 3.5 years, which was exhilarating, yet I found many day-to-day challenges of things that would be easily overlooked in the United States. Between language, work culture, and other customs, I had to learn to adapt to the environment I was in and be flexible.

8. What is your best achievement?

Our biggest achievement is satisfying customers. Being able to sell franchises, secure investment, and build Dogdrop does not work if we’re not able to add value to our end user. We absolutely love building something that people incorporate in their daily life and continue to learn and stay ahead of the curve to meet people’s needs.

9. How does your business day start?

Every day starts with taking my dog outside, Poppy! We love to get fresh air and start the day off right by clearing our minds and starting with a clean slate. After that, I typically review my daily goals and write them down so I can stay accountable for myself.

10. What was your best moment throughout your franchise career?

Selling our first multi-unit territory to a very experienced operator was a huge validation point for us.

11. Where do you see your brand in the next 5 years?

We see hundreds of Dogdrops across the US and beyond while providing the best care for people’s dogs and having the opportunity to work with high-caliber franchisees to realize their investments.

12. Any tips you want to impart to our readers who want to be in the franchise industry?

Go slow to go fast. It’s okay to take time to put the correct processes in place and test them.

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