Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Skelton.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After having issues finding exceptional in-home pet care for my own floofins, Portia and Priscilla, I left the corporate world with a mission to create “A Kenneling Alternative” for fellow pet parents.
I spent 8+ years in the architectural, engineering and construction industry as a professional services marketer while pursuing my MBA at Northern Illinois University in the evenings. After graduating, I found that spending my new found spare time at PAWS Chicago working with homeless animals was a rewarding use of my time.
After moving to Elmhurst, IL, I saw a real need for a professionally run in-home pet care alternative. As both a passionate animal lover and businesswoman, the creation Floofins & Company was the perfect combination of work and play. I have built an exceptional team of Pet Care Specialists and constantly strive to keep up with the latest and greatest practices in the pet care industry. I love to connect with clients to meet each of their pet’s unique needs.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course not. 😉 I started Floofins & Co. as a one woman show and about two months into opening became too busy to take on more work. The first Fourth of July I remember starting my day at 6AM and ending at 11PM with one meal under my belt thinking, it is definitely time to build my team! But that was the plan anyway so I knew I was on the right track. The tough part is to find the right people. This is a very personal business. We have keys to client’s homes and care for their precious pets. This isn’t the type of business that can or should blow up overnight because it takes a lot of time to find the type of people that you would trust with this amazing responsibility. We continue to grow slow and steady making sure we don’t sacrifice quality for fast growth. As a small business evens simple life changes can be a struggle. My husband and I recently had our first child and while he is amazing and fun it was a struggle to find the right people to delegate some of my office responsibilities to so I can balance my time and continue to ensure Floofins & Co. stays on the right path.
Please tell us about Floofins & Co.
Floofins & Co. is an in-home pet care company providing pet sitting, dog walking, and other personalized in-home services in the Western Suburbs.
Vetting the team… embracing technology! Floofins & Co.’s pet care team members are professionals and that is what makes me most proud of what we have built. We hire experienced, patient, mature, responsible, honest and reliable caregivers. All the things you want in someone providing care for your fur kids and your home.
Floofins is…
Educated: Employees are trained per our Floofin University program (providing a foundation in dog, cat, bird, rabbit, reptile/ amphibian, fish and small and furry creature care). They are also Red Cross dog and cat first aid & CPR trained and offered ongoing continuing education.
Professional: We are a NAPPS certified company & member.
Protected: We are licensed, bonded and insured.
Pre-Screened: Employees are ORION surveyed, background checked, drug tested and references are checked prior to hire.
Managed: Floofins maintains a fully staffed office with after-hours support. Local sitters are able to focus on the pets in their care, not scheduling, tracking and billing.
24/7: Easy 24/7 online access allows you to make new reservations, edit current reservations, update your pet care instructions, and check your payment history at any time.
Accountable: Because our staff utilizes GPS tracking technology in the field, electronic checks and balances provide piece of mind to our clients and our operations staff to ensure visits are progressing smoothly and per client expectations.
Real Time: Floofins provides real-time confirmation that your visits have been completed. No worrying about whether or not someone showed up. Online Pet Care Journals allow you to learn about your pet’s adventures while you are away. You can also communicate with Floofins staff via our online Pet Care Journal comment boards.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I really can’t think of much as it has all been a fabulous journey of learning and changing. The pet care industry is currently kind of like the Wild West. It is new. It is booming. There billions of dollars being spent and everyone wants a part of it. Large conglomerates like Mars are buying small family owned pet food companies. Tech companies are creating the “Uber” apps of dog walking.
I love that we started small and have organically grown by focusing on quality staff and professional care. I believe there will always be a place for the small locally owned in-home pet care companies where we vet, train and know our sitters personally and truly work together as a team focusing on the pets in our care.
I am sure we will continue to make changes to how to do things and update as ideas flow in from clients and staff but overall I don’t mind the exercise. I always say keep what we are doing right and “rinse, wash, repeat” to fix what we can improve upon.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.floofinsandco.com
- Phone: 630-478-8915
- Email: info@floofinsandco.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floofinsandco/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/floofins-and-co-elmhurst
Image Credit:
Photo of Owner/Founder – Devon Harper.
Floofins & Co.
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