Hey pet pros!
What’s the best way to spend your pre-holiday season?
With holiday booking reminders already dashing through your feeds, September pulls you in a million directions.
We asked pet pros how they’re using their September:
- About a third said their month is still non-stop. They’re attending expos, boarding late vacationers, or finally getting workable weather for pet care in hotter climates.
- About a third are slowing down to think ahead. They’re catching up on bookkeeping, prepping clients’ holiday gifts and cards, adjusting rates, and locking in holiday bookings.
- About 1 in 10 used downtime for something restorative. Meaning actual rest, not admin. Try some of their self-care ideas below.
Whichever describes you best, consider this your fall business reset.
Step 1: Celebrate a Summer Win
Before you look ahead, look back. (High beans🐾, you survived the summer!)
What went well? A grooming transformation, a proud team moment, a record number of visits, moving your scheduling online? Whatever it is, it’s worth a little hoopla.
Step 2: Show It Off!
Now put that win somewhere others can see it! Submit a photo plus your summer win, and you could be featured across our social channels and website as Pet Pro of the Month.
🐱 Pspsps: We’re happy to tag or link to you. Give your business page a boost just in time for holiday bookings!
Step 3: Name One Thing to Improve
Before the holidays hit, pick one thing to tighten up, whether that’s scheduling, follow-ups, or pricing and service updates.
Need help? Our blog can lend a hand:
- Want more repeat clients and reviews? Our pet care referral program guide has email templates and real examples.
- Refreshing your holiday marketing? These dog walker ad ideas (with real examples found in the wild) work for most pet pros.
- Ready for an admin tools upgrade? Check out pet pro-recommended business software.
Remember: small and doable beats big and overwhelming.
Step 4: Get Ready for What’s Next
A handful of you mentioned an expo in your fall plans. If that’s on your radar too, check out one of these conferences:
- Groom Expo (Hershey, PA): Sept. 10-13
- CANIS Conference hosted by APDT and more (Schaumburg, IL): Oct. 7-10
- PSI Pet Sitter World (Albuquerque, NM): Nov. 6-8
Can’t make the trip? Most post session recordings afterward.
Step 5: Plan for Self-Care
Pet pros tend to be hard-working to a fault (raise your hand if you feel called out ✋). It’s probably why rest rarely showed up in your answers without “but I’m also catching up on admin.”
The ones who do take a break have one thing in common: they block off time before clients can fill it. Here’s how they’re spending it:
- Going on a vacation with family or friends
- Taking their own dogs on a day trip for a hike or to the beach
- Deep-cleaning or catching up on equipment maintenance (if you really can’t sit still)
👀 Sneak Peek: Stay tuned to the PCI blog this month for holiday pet care prep tips. Your September break may be a working vacation, and we’re here to help either way. But remember: taking care of yourself isn’t indulgent. It’s how you stay in pet care for the long haul.
Until next time,
