Replicating Retail Success
Return to main page
Digital Library > Building and Inspiring an Organization > Strategic planning
"Replicating Retail Success"
In addition to trimming nails and shearing fur, Animal Spirit provides animal-health resources and sells pet food and accessories. Indeed, Animal Spirit has become somewhat of a neighborhood destination for pet lovers and their fur-covered, four-legged charges.
Here Melissa Warren details Animal Spirit's current challenges:
I don't want to turn what I like to do into something I don't like to do. Part of that is not grooming so many dogs. Our growth is limited if we just offer grooming — we can and are willing to groom a limited number of animals a day. Whereas our competitors typically groom 30 dogs daily, we do only 10. But I am interested in other means of growth and am now trying to figure out how to make a partnership sprout into a corporation. What makes that happen?
Around our fifth anniversary, I would like to see us at two locations. But I am afraid that I will not be able to duplicate the quality of our flagship retail outlet. How can I juggle being in two places at once, and how can I effectively manage a staff at two separate locations?
Right now we are so neighborhood-oriented, and I know the names of 75% of the people who walk in. I enjoy that atmosphere, and I am having a hard time negotiating my ambition to grow and my need to be in touch with the community that nurtures my business.
How do I find employees I can trust to act as "me" at a second store? How do I know how much debt to take on to get a second outlet up and running? I started this with less than $10,000. Revenues are now well into six figures, but I am concerned about how to finance growth.
Related Articles
Extreme Measures — Managing With Style
Born or Bred? What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur
Network Your Peers to Open Doors
Global Demand for Senior Execs Skyrockets
Partnering Pays

Articles in our Entrepreneur’s Resource Center appeared in print and online newsletters published previously by the foundation. More than 1,000 articles can be found in the categories below, addressing timeless challenges faced by entrepreneurs of all types.