25 years of success for Aussie Pooch Mobile – Australia’s first dog wash franchise
Who would have thought that when 16-year-old Christine Taylor decided to start a part time dog washing business in her parent’s back yard, it would turn into a business that is still booming 25 years later and is one of Franchising’s biggest success stories?
Yes, Aussie Pooch Mobile Dog Wash and Grooming is celebrating their silver anniversary this year – 25 years!
How did Chris start Aussie Pooch Mobile Dog Wash and maintain her success for so long, through recessions, ups and downs and other concerns that invariably crop up in any business?
“To start with I was just washing dogs at home, which I loved doing and it earned me some extra money. But through word of mouth my business grew rapidly and before I knew it there was demand from further afield, so it made sense to expand my services to include mobile hydrobathing, travelling to customers’ homes to wash, care for and pamper the family dog,” says Chris.
So the business was launched as a single mobile hydrobath in 1991 operated by Chris, and once people saw the benefits to their dogs, success was instant. Chris created and launched the Aussie Pooch Mobile Pty Ltd in 1992 and was the first person to franchise a mobile dog washing business in the world.
After huge success in Australia, Chris realised a global need for her business so after more research, launched as ‘The Pooch Mobile’ overseas. There are currently Pooch Mobile franchises in the Malaysia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and the USA, with a total of almost 200 operators worldwide.
Chris’s motto is, and always has been “To be successful first you have to fall in love with what you do.” And it’s a motto all of her franchisees live by. Ask any of her franchisees and they will gladly talk about their passion and love for working with dogs, and how lucky they are.
Throughout the years Chris has snared a swag of awards including Franchising Woman of the Year, Queensland Young Achiever of the Year Award for Career Achievement and Queensland’s Telstra Business Woman of the Year in the Business Owner Category. In 2012 she was inducted into Australia’s Franchising Hall of Fame and most recently, this year being inducted into the Australian Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame.
Another huge accolade is that both Griffith University in Australia and Harvard University in the USA, have co-written a case study on Aussie Pooch Mobile’s success, which is being taught in business and franchise degrees.
But it is Chris’s innate business sense to anticipate what customers need that keeps her at the top of the field.
Chris has been diligent in making sure that Aussie Pooch Mobile Dog Wash and Grooming listens to what their customers want, are conscious of the environment and actively involved in fundraising and the community. Their hydrobath processes are environmentally friendly, as are their products. Not one to be left behind Chris developed her own healthy Pooch Cookies and skin care ranges focused solely on promoting the very best wellbeing of each dog they look after.
Twenty-five years on and Chris’ vision is enjoyed by customer’s and their pooches just like you. Demand is so high for that personal touch, love and care that some operators even have a waiting list, especially with the additional services offered by Aussie Pooch Mobile including medicated washes, aromacare, flea, tick and worming treatments, doggy massage and facial.
Not one to rest on her laurels, there will be more initiatives in the future and Chris will make sure Aussie Pooch Mobile always offers the latest and best, which will only benefit the increasing number of people using at-home services.
“Studies show that our leisure time is rapidly decreasing,” explains Chris. “So more and more people are outsourcing and having things done, such as washing the family dog, by professionals who come to their homes, and I don’t think it’s a trend that’s going to change any time soon. That means we will always be looking at keeping up with what our customers’ want.”
If the last 25 years is anything to go by, Aussie Pooch Mobile is going to achieve even bigger and better things in the future and propel their status as leaders in the pet care industry even further.
Aussie Pooch Mobile Dog Wash / 1300 369 369 / Visit our website / Follow us on Facebook