July 2017

22 APAC / July 2017 , AE170099 Premium Pet Care In 2006, Pet Sitting Plus commenced business and began to provide the Central Coast with a professional, reliable mobile in home pet care service. In 2017, Pet Sitting Plus were awarded Best Pet Sitting Service Provider - Central Coast in APAC Insider’s Australian Enterprise Awards. We invited owner of Pet Sitting Plus, Bronwyn Price to tell us more about the award- winning business. In 2008, the previous owners of Pet Sitting Plus had an opportunity to move overseas. Bronwyn Price, who had worked for them purchased the business and continued to build it and maintain its reputation on the Central Coast. With the excellent standard of service continuing, the trust and confidence of pet owners continually built, as Bronwyn’s professionalism, reliability and experience moved the business forward. In 2011, a client nominated the business for an award with the Master Dog Breeders & Associates of Australia. Pet Sitting Plus won the People’s Choice award for Pet Sitter/ Dog Walker of the Year. This was further recognition for the business as a leader in the Pet Care Industry in Australia and the Central Coast. Industry Membership Pet Sitting Plus is a full member of Pet Sitter’s International, the recognised international leader of this industry. Pet Sitter’s International has a code of ethics and, quality standards of excellence that must be adhered to by all members. What They Provide Pet Sitting Plus is a professional pet sitting business, providing the Central Coast with pet sitting, dog walking, companionship service and house sitting services to families, busy professionals and people going away on holidays. Animals that are minded include: dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice. Bronwyn explained to us more about the company, their mission and what marks them out as the best possible option for their clients. “Here at Pet Sitting Plus, we are a full pet care service. We design a personalised care plan for pets, providing their care in a loving, caring, reliable way ensuring clients have a worry-free time away from home, whether it be at work or on holiday. “Pet Sitting Plus’s mission is to continue to provide an uncompromised standard of pet sitting service second to none to our clients. Always ensuring that our clients pet’s care, their privacy and security of their home is our top priority. We aim to be friendly, professional, reliable and trusted. Our aim is for our clients to have a great experience with Pet Sitting Plus from their initial contact to their final contact for their service. “Pet Sitting Plus has an excellent reputation in the community. For the past nine years, I have been running this business. Both vets and pet shops know that we are trusted and professional, and they do not hesitate to refer their customers to us. We also stand out because we are already an award-winning company.” When discussing trends within the industry, such as how Australia continues to have one of the highest household rates of pet ownership in the world, Bronwyn reflects on how Pet Sitting Plus have adapted around recent changes, including those in technology. “Pet owners consider their pets as members of the family and value their animals therefore, they prioritise their health and wellbeing. With an increase in humanization of pets, a trend that is showing no signs of waning. The markets need for pet sitting services, are strongly shaped by the customer’s desire to have their animal retain an emotional strong bond while they are away. Therefore, because people want the best for their pets, there is an increasing demand for pet care services. “In 2015, Pet Sitting Plus started using pet sitting software designed specifically for this pet industry. This allows me to centralize management of client data, invoices, and staff communication via apps. This has been a valuable addition to the business for time management and efficiency.” Looking ahead, Bronwyn praises the passionate staff at Pet Sitting Plus. Revealing how she hopes Pet Sitting Plus will continue to grow, Bronwyn also envisions what the future holds for the multi award-winning business. “My staff are experienced with pet care and work with me on the job, so that they know the standard of work we wish to uphold. Each member of staff is handpicked through an interview process and in an induction programme. They get experience on the job working with me. My business advertises for new staff through the local college where Animal Studies Certificates are run, so we attract people who are passionate about animal care. Plus, we are often approached by people who want to work for us. “As the pet industry in Australia keeps growing, the need for our service is secure. The future for Pet Sitting Plus is to ascertain being a leader in the local area, in the industry but also through our professionalism and keeping up with trends and technology.”