In the heart of Ottawa, Canada, Shannon Pot, the proud owner of Spotted Pets, has forged her path as a dedicated dog walker and small business owner. Armed with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Shannon learned how to connect with her community through art and her passion for animals. Shannon's journey from student to employee to entrepreneur is an inspiring tale of determination and creativity.
Getting Started in Pet Care
Shannon's love for animals began in her childhood, surrounded by dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs while growing up. A few years ago, she started working for a local pet care business in Ottawa, where she learned the ins and outs of pet care. After gaining experience through the business and receiving positive feedback, she decided to venture into the pet care business independently. With a degree in visual arts and a passion for entrepreneurship, Shannon applied her creative skills to her business, embracing the administrative aspects and creating her own advertisements.
Recognizing the importance of building relationships in the pet care industry, Shannon turned to Instagram as her primary tool for growth. By connecting with local businesses and showcasing her services through reels and engaging content, she found a personal touch that resonated with her audience. The platform's visual nature allowed her to use Canva effectively, designing everything from business cards to t-shirts and fostering creativity in her promotional materials.
Discovering PetPocketbook
Shannon's quest for the right software led her to PetPocketbook, which stood out for our user-friendly design and comprehensive features. Unlike other options that felt complicated and difficult to learn, getting started with PetPocketbook was easy. With a one-on-one onboarding session to kick things off and ongoing support to help her business grow, a partnership with PetPocketbook was an easy choice.
The software's versatility allowed Shannon to maintain order in her business, addressing her organizational challenges. The report cards, invoicing, and client profiles streamlined her day-to-day operations, contributing to an enhanced experience for her clients. Shannon was able to put her own personal touch into the software too. She created beautiful illustrations of each of her clients which can be seen in her schedule below!
Social Media Strategy and Community Support
Shannon's success is rooted in her honest and genuine approach to business. Given her artistic background, she’s able to create engaging content that resonates with her audience on social media. Her posts encourage support for local businesses and emphasize the importance of referrals and word-of-mouth. Her close-knit dog walking community often even refer clients to each other based on each professional’s unique strengths – this way, they can ensure that pets are getting the best experience from the individual who’s best fit to care for them.
In one recent project, Shannon created a comic of all the local businesses that help keep Shannon going as a busy on-the-go dog walker. You can check out Buy Doggy Style for their custom hands-free leads; Healthy Pets HQ where she stocks up on poop bags; Derand Motorsports where she found her Taubik e-bike; Singing Pebble Books where she buys her favorite stickers; and her favorite coffee shops Art House, Happy Goat Coffee Company, and Café Qui Pense.
Looking to the Future
Shannon envisions a future where Spotted Pets remains a local, personable business. She also plans to pursue a master's degree and continue expanding her skills in illustration and web design. As a community-oriented individual, Shannon hopes to not only grow her own business but also contribute to the success of others in the industry. If you’re interested in checking out some of Shannon’s artwork, or would like to support her by purchasing her work, check out her website or send her a message on Instagram!
Shannon's journey with Spotted Pets and her partnership with PetPocketbook exemplifies the power of passion, creativity, and community in building a successful small business. Her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring petrepreneurs.
For more stories from others like Shannon, check out our blog!
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