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Messages archived from the Scoopers & Friends Discussion Board, going back to May of 1998. The discussion board board is an online forum about the business of pet-waste removal. Browse the messages, CLICK HERE TO SEARCH by keyword, or click here to participate in current discussions.
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Thursday, 14-Jan-99
18:00:27
Ya never know where they'll come from
... Well, we've been plugging along faithfully for about 5
months now. We got four customers in the first 4 months, then
suddenly in the last two weeks we've picked up 7 new customers.
Funny thing is, they've all come from different sources. One
even said he was responding to our display ad in the Hydrant. I
asked him for a copy since I'd never heard of it and wondered
how we got a display ad there. Turns out one of the therapy
animal groups we'd helped recently put it in their newsletter
for us. Other customers came from flyers we'd put up at various
places clear back when we first started. Another came from a
referral. One came from an old humane society newletter from a
couple of months ago. Wierd. But fun.
Message Date/Time:
Wednesday, 20-Jan-99
13:38:31
Re: Ya never know where they'll come from
... Great, Linda! That's an excellent example of synergy in
marketing -- the cumulative effect of many elements combining to
increases awareness of your service, build confidence in
prospective clients, support satisfaction among existing
clients, creating word-of-mouth -- all combining to support the
attitude that your business is for real, and that you are a good
business do deal with.
I imagine that right now there
are some new customers signing up, because of the recent snow
covering the ground for a couple of weeks, and the current thaw
suddenly exposing all the accumulated waste.
I expect
that in just a few weeks the spring rush of new customers will
begin, too. I hope everybody will have their equipment,
vehicles, and time/labor resources all ready for an increase in
business!
Message Date/Time:
Friday, 15-Jan-99
21:52:01
press release really work.
... we just had are first press release .and already we
received three new customer. and Ihope a couple more .
dogs poop we scoop (arizona)
Message Date/Time:
Wednesday, 20-Jan-99
13:32:07
Re: press release really work.
... Congratulations! Great going! While it's true that not
every news release gets picked up and used by the media, and
there are even times when a news article doesn't produce new
customers instantly, the news release remains the single most
powerful tool for the promotion of a small business at the
lowest cost.
A news article about your business has
impact that goes beyond the immediacy of gaining several new
customers, too. Seeing your business featured in the news
promotes awareness of the existence of your business, and most
importantly it builds credibility.
A great many people
who would normally ignore advertising will read and accept every
word of the same information if they read it in a news article.
This impact can last for years; many new customers say that they
first heard about a pooper-scooper service in the newspaper or
on the tv news, even if they don't sign up for service until
many months or even years later.
Being in the news also
makes existing customers feel good about their decision to hire
you, and gives them increased confidence the the reliability of
legitimacy of your company.
All together, the impact of
getting your business into the news is far greater than a simple
comparison of the cost of buying the same amount of media space
as advertising. The confidence and credibility created by a
news article is something that advertising (even if you had the
money to buy it) simply cannot produce.
So, yes, even a
few new customers resulting from your news release is a good
thing. And the cumulative effect of news articles from time to
time, along with repeated exposure in classified ads and other
marketing efforts, together with word-of-mouth and referrals
from satisfied customers -- these are the solid steps, taken one
at a time, that lead to long-term acceptance of your company in
your market.
Again, good
job!
Matthew
Message Date/Time:
Wednesday, 20-Jan-99
17:02:59
web pages!
... Hi from us up here in the winterlands of Winnipeg, Canada.
Just a question, who on the list has a web page? I am working on
mine, just changed the address actually, and wanted to have a
look at some of yours.
Mine is big time under construction,
but here is the address
anyway:
http://www.mts.net/~scoopydo/
Cheers,
Scoopy
Doo
Message Date/Time:
Wednesday, 27-Jan-99
00:26:59
Re: web pages!
... Your web page is looking great!!!!!!!!!
Easy to move
thru it and interesting.
and a note to everyone else your web
pages are loking good too. Eveyone keep up the great work.
Message Date/Time:
Thursday, 04-Feb-99
18:25:56
Re: Re: web pages!
... Thanks for the compliment, Deb!
(Head not getting
through the door now.....hehehe
Pet
Message Date/Time:
Saturday, 23-Jan-99
14:06:57
Children tailing along
... I have been researching the possibility of the pooper
scooper business. I would like to know if you professionals out
there think it would be realistic to have a toodler tag along?
I'm looking for the business to be part-time to help supplement
our income. Thanks for your advice.
Message Date/Time:
Sunday, 24-Jan-99
20:13:09
Re: Children tailing along
... Please reconsider. A little one will just slow you down.
Besides, if the little one is walking, she or he do doubt would
want to help. Like picking up with own hands. I can think of so
many reasons to say this would not be a good idea. The big
problem is the dogs. Ninety-nine percent of my dogs are the
best, I love them all. However, one should never trust another
dog and a small child. Again I can think of many reasons way
dogs and small children should not mix in the yard that does not
belong to you.
I am sorry, I know you wanted to hear a
firm yes.....but I just have bad feelings about it
all.
R. L. Sherwood (Dr. Doo Litter)
Message Date/Time:
Monday, 25-Jan-99
00:58:51
Re: Children tailing along
... R.L.Sherwood (Dr. Doolitter) set the proper tone of
responsibility, I think.
I hestitated to reply with what
may seem to be a discouraging note, but R.L. is right about some
of the problems you would have if you try to bring a toddler
along. I think it's probably not a realistic idea.
You
might have a problem with your automobile insurance if you were
to bring along a toddler or other passenger. If you have
commercial insurance to cover your vehice on the job, then it
may prohibit passengers while the car is being used for work.
If you don't have commercial insurance, it's possible that your
personal auto insurance won't cover business use of the vehicle.
That's something to check with your agent about.
R.L. is
right about the probability that at least a small proportion of
your customers will have some dogs that are difficult to get
along with, aggressive, or nervous. You wouldn't want to expose
yourself or a child to that kind of risk; it could be
dangerous.
Those are some of the potential problems if
you take the toddler into the yard with you. But I wouldn't
advise leaving a toddler alone in the car or truck while you are
cleaning the yard.
Toddlers naturally tend to get into
things, not to mention their uncanny knack of getting OUT of
things --- the vehicle, for instance.
It would be great
if you could arrange for the child to visit a friend for an hour
or so, whenever you have customers to serve. Especially if you
are just starting, you might have only a few customers a week in
the beginning.
After that, as your customer list
grows, you will be generating money that you can use to pay for
more regular child care, possibly enough eventually to hire a
route worker so you can work in your office while someone else
does the field work. Then you could have a child with you in
the office as you work.
:)
Matthew
Message Date/Time:
Sunday, 24-Jan-99
18:53:05
Is there a pooper service in the Dayton, OH
area
... My wife and I are seriously considering this business in
our area. Located in the southeast area of Dayton area
(Beavercreek specifically), I know there is a service in
Springfield and Mason area. Will this area support additional
services. We are well aware of the increased awareness of this
venture and even though we missed the ground floor we want in on
some of this action. Any advise would be greatly
appreciated.
Message Date/Time:
Monday, 25-Jan-99
13:24:32
Re: Is there a pooper service in the Dayton,
OH area
... The closest services to Dayton, as far as I know, are
the ones you mentioned on the message board. I asked Pat
Wilder of PooPbGone in Mason if she goes to
Dayton, and she
says she doesn't really include that area in her services,
although she might arrange something with a customer if they
really need service and nobody else is available.
I know
that there was a service in Dayton some years ago. I remember
there was a small article in the Dayton newspaper at the time.
But that service, Tidy Dog was its name, apparently didn't last.
I don't know why.
Persistence is very
important, as is a dedication to customer satisfaction. These
two principles are a lot easier to talk about than to put into
practice, sometimes. :) I do believe that they are probably the
two most important factors in becoming established,
though.
Matthew
Message Date/Time:
Wednesday, 27-Jan-99
07:03:58
Re: Is there a pooper service in the Dayton,
OH area
... Hi Bob,
I sent you an email reply. If you have any
more questions, feel free to email me. You may want to read
some of these messages from other scoopers on this message board
. . . it will help you out a lot . . . packed full of valuable
information. Also, if you are really serious about getting into
this business, I would invest in Matthew's manual - worth every
penny!
Take care!
Message Date/Time:
Wednesday, 27-Jan-99
14:14:07
Pet Supply Delivery
... Hello, everyone-
For the other scoopers out there
who provide other services as well, I have a question for anyone
that provides food and/or supplies:
How did you go about
acquiring the food and supplies? Our personal experience has
been that we cannot (yet!) buy in the quantity that wholesalers
require.
I was wondering if anyone found themselves in
that same boat, and what they did to remedy the
situation.
Thank you!
Message Date/Time:
Wednesday, 03-Feb-99
10:50:19
Re: Pet Supply Delivery
... I think it's a great idea to deliver food and supplies.
But as you point out, the details can be a little tricky. It
takes more capital to get started, compared to waste removal,
and you have the problems of maintaining inventory. Questions
... Hi Everyone Re: Questions
... With respect to the "poop sticking" question - it surely
does cling to the shovel from time to time (mostly when it's
wet- otherwise, just trace amounts cling). Re: Questions
... Hey, Rick. No phone call from me, I'm afraid. I'm so busy
I can hardly see straight. Pooper-Scooper
... Hi! I'm doing a project for school which involves designing
an improved "pooper-scooper". It must be portable, operate with
one hand, and be large enough to contain the contributions of
one large dog during a three-hour time span. Any comments on
existing pooper-scooper equipment and/or ideas on new ones would
be greatly appreciated. (No matter how simple) Re: Pooper-Scooper
... check out the poop hound. Re: Pooper-Scooper
... Take a large bleach bottle. Hold it by the handle so that
is laying flat & sideways. With a knife or scissors, cut out
part of the top to bottom so that the bottle resembles a scoop
(that you are holding by the handle). It's a little difficult
to explain what it looks like over email, but I am sure you will
be able to visualize how to cut the bottle :) New Kid On The Block
... Greetings to all of you! I have been checking out this
website for a couple of weeks and I am gearing up to start this
business in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. I don't think
there are businesses like this there--let me know if you know of
any!! I tried to order Matthew's book a while back and it didn't
work. I really want it! E-mail me with info on how to order
please. The Poop Hound
... Just a quick FYI... I work with a company called Hound Dog
Products. (They do mostly lawn and garden stuff.) But, their
latest Product is called the Poop Hound. It is a patented,
ergonomically designed Pooper Scooper--the best n the market
today! Re: The Poop Hound
... I've seen that. Not a bad idea, but not appropriate for
commercial work in my opinion. My workers scoop about one half
ton per week. Gotta have serious gear for serious
work. Re: The Poop Hound
... Iwould like more information on your product for the
possible of introducing into the australian market Re: Re: The Poop Hound
... Hi John
I
started to offer delivery of dog food several years ago. It
seemed like a natural to take the food to the customer and then
take it back when the dog was done with it.
I
was working from an office in my home at the time, so I rented a
"U-Stor-It" type of place at $30/month and started to line up
wholesalers. In order to have enough orders to buy wholesale, I
was going to start with a single premium brand of dog food and
intended to expand to other brands later.
As it turned
out, there were already dog food delivery services available in
my area, through some of the pet-supply shops. They could offer
lower prices than I could, as well as more immediate delivery (I
would have delivered on the same schedule as my clean-up routes)
and a wider selection.
I decided that those guys could
offer customers better service for the delivery of food and
supplies. So I re-focused my efforts on the waste removal
service. That also gave me a lot better profits for the time
and money invested.
Message Date/Time:
Wednesday, 27-Jan-99
15:45:09
In his book, Matt has the typical pointed
blade on his shovel. What about flat bladed shovels?
Better
than, same as, worst than pointed blades?
Also most shovels
are a little on the heavy side.
Does everyone just buy a
regular weighted shovel?
Does it matter?
Haven't been
able to find Lotus Approach yet. Any other software that does
basically the same
thing. (under $100 please!).
Finally,
after you scoop, doesn't some of the poop ever stick to the
shovel? Do you wipe this off before you spray?
Getting ready
in Florida!
Message Date/Time:
Thursday, 28-Jan-99
18:46:45
#1) Rather
than clean off the blade with the costly disinfectant/water
mixture from the garden sprayer, we purchased a 2nd garden
spray. It was something like $9 on sale, and MUCH cheaper than
the disinfectant we use... Anyway, we fill the 2nd container
with only water. We use just the plain water to "hose off" the
blade thoroughly, THEN we spray with the cleaner/water mixture.
It takes much less.
#2) Also, we coated the shovel blade
a few times with polyurethane. It keeps the blade from becoming
rusty, and the slick surface makes it a snap to clean!
I
hope this tips have helped :)
Erin
Message Date/Time:
Saturday, 06-Feb-99
09:44:16
First, read the book again.
Then try some stuff and see what you like. Hard and fast rules
are for people with no imagination. People with no imagination
work for someone else
Flat blades will hurt you.
It's an unnatural angle. Use a round shovel or a rake.
Look
for a bulb shovel or the shovel Matt recommends, they're
lighter.
Lotus Approach is part of SmartSuite and
although you can buy it stand alone, you'll want a wordprocessor
and possibly a spreadsheet. Computers are not a necessary tool
for this job, but, properly used, will save time and reduce
silly blunders (but won't eliminate them, alas).
Don't scan.
Matt shows examples. Use them to make your own stuff. After
all, it's your business.
Definitely wipe off your tools
before spraying. Scrape the edge against your scoop. Takes a
little time to aquire this skill, but is worth the effort. It's
a dirty job, but you and your tools should be clean, clean,
clean.
Message Date/Time:
Friday, 29-Jan-99
01:07:28
Thanks
Message Date/Time:
Friday, 29-Jan-99
14:40:17
it is a new (patented)
product
selling at target stores.
-john
Message Date/Time:
Friday, 29-Jan-99
17:43:23
Good
luck,
Erin
Message Date/Time:
Friday, 29-Jan-99
11:15:48
Also, I've read the archived messages but I
haven't found specific information on "tools of the trade" and
prices that you guys charge. I'm extremely interested in the
pricing aspect because I want to be the office worker and have
field workers work for me. How much do I pay them? How can I get
anyone to do this work for me?
Looking forward to
hearing from you!
[Moderator's Note: The Order Form page
of the Pooper-Scoopers website was not working for a couple of
days earlier this month, but it's working now.]
Message Date/Time:
Friday, 29-Jan-99
14:38:33
It has a lifetime warranty and allows for quick,
easy, clean pick-up using bread, newspaper or other bags.
Retail Price is $24.95.
Please email me if you have
questions or want more information. This could save you a lot
of time, grow your business and save you from having to bending
over to scoop.
Best regards,
john larson
Message Date/Time:
Saturday, 06-Feb-99
09:32:13
In general, tools designed for dog owners to scoop
poop are not good tools for the pro.
Message Date/Time:
Friday, 19-Feb-99
06:56:03
please
reply
Message Date/Time:
Saturday, 27-Feb-99
20:36:18
Being a long time dog walker trying to do the
right thing and using plastic bags I came up with a design for a
DOO-IT! and POO-BALL. Commercial and Industrial Viability study
gave it the thumbs up and should do well if I could find
somebody to make and market it. (without going into too much
detail) it's a plastic item, shaped to scoop and seal, not snag
on clothes, minimise antagonism from non-dog public because if
you have one of these highly visible very lightweight items
you're obviously a responsible dog owner. Keeps the Ranger away
because he can see from a distance you're doing the right thing.
Hygenic disposal of contents and easy no-touch
cleaning.
This design came from dealing first hand with
the problem on a daily basis for years.
Do you know
anybody who would be interested in manufacturing and
marketing?
all the best
Deirdre