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Don and Mary Lynn Gagnon, owners of Pet Estates Inc., a pet resort based in Melrose, N.Y., in September launched a new consulting service that offers everything from training to custom-built pet condos. The husband and wife put their pet resort up for sale in order to give them more time to focus on the consulting service.
“Our plan is to really get out of the boarding aspect of it, either sell the business or lease it out, and go into the consulting business,” said Mary Lynn Gagnon. “What we want to focus on is how to do a low-volume, high income village design.”
The Gagnons began their pet business with a traditional boarding kennel for cats and dogs. Since then, their kennel has evolved into a low-volume design comprised of small houses, condos and townhouses for pets.
Pet Estates Inc. consulting service aims to help a business owner build or convert a kennel based on the Pet Estates design.
According to Mary Lynn Gagnon, from a financial perspective, a low-volume village design costs less to start and operate than a traditional kennel, because it isn’t as large and doesn’t require as many employees. At the same time, business owners can charge more than a traditional kennel because clients are receiving a higher quality of care.
Payback takes about 18 to 36 months, depending on the type of facility constructed, according to the company.
Pets themselves benefit both physically and emotionally from cage-free boarding that’s more like a home than a kennel, Mary Lynn Gagnon said.
“The other benefit is when the pet owner comes in, they can go in and set them up so the transition isn’t so stressful,” she said.
The Gagnons plan to start a registry of those who use the Pet Estates design.
In addition to the commercial market, they are also reaching out to those interested in starting a small, backyard business or using the Pet Estates design for home use.
For more information, visit www.petestates.com.
Posted November 24, 2008 |