Local Doggie Daycare Franchise Hounds Town USA Opens 6th Location
Fully interactive doggie daycare franchise Hounds Town USA has opened its first out of state location, the first of many. Hounds Town – South Jersey Shore opens its doors July 2nd, and has already been booked by locals for doggie daycare and boarding services.
The pet care facility, the 6th for the New York-based Hounds Town USA, opened in a mere 60 days, after CEO & Founder of the Hounds Town brand Mike Gould, and President of the company Jackie Bondanza purchased the building in April. “Our build out began at the beginning of May, and by June 25th we were taking customers,” explains Mike. The 3,700-square-foot facility features 20 “town homes” for dog boarding, two double luxury suites, three playrooms, a full service grooming salon, and 1/2 acre of outdoor play. “As soon as we closed on the building, we began build out,” says Mike. “Although this space is on the smaller side of our typical locations, we were able to complete build out before our target completion date.” Being a strong project manager, and a smart and involved business owner is essential to achieving this, says Mike.
The build out process and costs associated with the brand are significantly different (and drastically less expensive) than other pet care franchises for several reasons. “The Hounds Town brand has a DIY aspect to it,” explains Jackie. “Franchisees can choose to do many aspects of the build out themselves if they are handy, or they can have contractors do the entire project. We don’t use over-the-top, pricey, and unnecessary building materials, which is a strategy that we established from the very beginning and have stuck to. Less build out costs mean more money in owners’ pockets, and that is what we focus on for our franchisees and owners,” says Jackie.
The new corporate location was completed not only on time, but under budget. “A 90-day build out within the budget disclosed in the FDD is absolutely possible,” says Mike. “We’ve done it several times now with two previous corporate stores we have opened and sold as turn-key, so this isn’t theoretical. I feel we provide a real opportunity for qualified candidates to get in on something big without having to fork over their life savings.” The manageable build out costs, coupled with the down-to-earth feel of the brand, have proven to be successful market differentiators for the growing brand.
Hounds Town plans to continue to open corporate stores across the country as part of their growth strategy. “We will continue our expansion with a two-pronged approach: by partnering with passionate entrepreneurs who see the tremendous value in our brand and the booming pet care market; and by continuing to open corporate stores and selling them as turn-key locations,” explains Jackie. The brand’s sales team already has qualified candidates lined up for the South Jersey Shore location, which began boarding dogs before its official opening July 2.
Hounds Town USA has five locations in New York, and three additional New York and New Jersey locations in the build out phase.
For more information on Hounds Town – South Jersey Shore, visit www.houndstownusa.com. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit www.houndstownfranchise.com.