Improve Your Bottom Line; Bring Your Pet to Work

These are difficult economic times for everyone, but can be especially hard if you are the owner of a small business. A solution that is being employed by many bosses is bringing their pets to work with them.

Trying to set yourself apart from your business competitors can be tough. If you visit, ‘Henry’s General Store’ in Princetown, WIS., Alcott, the resident coonhound, will greet you. Local business rivals have seen their revenues drop, but Henry’s has experienced a tremendous growth, in part, due to Alcott’s charming ways. The pooch’s owner, Ms. Koutoujian, has found that people are now stopping in to say hello to the dog. Pets are a great icebreaker. Instead of the usual ‘may I help you’ from a shop owner, now the conversation can start with the pet and hopefully end with a sale.

Pets are a great icebreaker…the conversation starts with the pet and hopefully ends with a sale.

Many small businesses have a staff of one on the premises at any particular time. That can make from some lonely hours. Having a pet around the office or shop can give you someone to talk to, and also a bit of protection.

Setting the tone for a company is a blend of many ingredients. A calming touch can be added by the presence of a pet. In Wayzata, MN., a high-end custom-furnishing salon has two Whippets as part of their sales staff. The dogs are allowed free roam of the show room. They lounge on the expensive furniture and generally make themselves at home. Instead of potential clients being repulsed by a little dog hair on the pieces, they find it very refreshing. They can see how the furniture will work in their own homes. The proprietor, Ms. Johnson, has found that the word of mouth advertising the dogs have generated is better than she could ever have imagined.

Not every pet is ready for a change in its employment status. If your pet is fearful of strangers, is not fully housebroken, doesn’t like alterations in its routine or would prefer to hide under the bed when strangers come over, you may want to reconsider taking this pet to work. If you are not the business owner, it is not a good idea to surprise your boss with this a new protégé.

For the health of your business, remember nothing warms the heart like a cold nose. And for the good of your pet, see your veterinarian at least yearly because it is “Your Pet…Health Matters.”