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dog poop and why it really needs to be
cleaned up, especially if you’re wanting to
have your family out in that space.”
But there are downsides to owning a
business, which for Rick was having to don
many ‘hats’, which included learning sales
and marketing. “That was the toughest
part,” he says, noting in the beginning
having mental health issues sometimes
made those tasks even tougher.
However, through perseverance and
continued networking with other business
leaders, including becoming a member
of aPaws (Association of Professional
Animal Waste Specialists), Rick and Sherry
have poised The Poop Valet for even
more expansion, which could include an
external location where they can store
and service their trucks.
“I would say about one per cent of dog
owners in our area know about us, so
that means there is a ninety-nine per
cent chance for growth opportunities,”
he says, adding Orangeville, Fergus, Elora,
and London are potential target markets.
“We’ve got 80 clients, but I think we could
PHOTO BY THE POOP VALET easily have 600 to 800 in our area.”
Being champions of good mental health,
I did some research and found out there Fast forward 18 months and The Poop the couple would also like to be able to
were hundreds of companies in the U.S. Valet now operates from the couple’s offer sustainable employment to those
that do this, but around here it’s just not Hespeler home with two trucks and living with mental health issues and
a thing so I saw a niche and thought why serves approximately 80 clients weekly continue to promote community groups
not grow it?” or biweekly, as well many one-time that provide them with assistance and
service calls. Also, the company is now
those that help animals.
Although the couple hold degrees from working with land property management
Wilfred Laurier University and had little companies to install and service pet waste “We donate gift baskets regularly to dog
experience in operating a business, Rick stations and collects approximately a ton rescue organizations or charities that
dived right in and welcomed their first and half of dog waste a month, which in are specifically pet related,” says Rick.
client in December 2022. partnership with another local business is “We also give a quarterly donation to an
organization that’s really important to me
The company name evolved following disposed of at a local landfill. called Partners with Paws.” The Breslau-
another campfire gathering. “By the end of this year we’ll do based group provides trained service
“This was only supposed to be a couple more than $100,000 in revenue, dogs to assist those with mental health
of mornings a week, just to get me off which isn’t bad for a part time issues.
the couch, but it just took off,” says Rick, hobby,” says Rick, joking he never As dog ‘parents’ themselves – thanks to
crediting an article by Cambridge Today their lovable mutt ‘Murphy’ – Rick and
for generating much interest in this new “brings his work home”. Sherry are proud of the service The Poop
venture the moment it was published by But the one thing he doesn’t joke about Valet provides and have learned to take
the online news outlet. is how this niche-market organization the various reactions they receive after
He ran the business alone for the first six not only enhances the overall living people discover what their business does
months before Sherry, who works for the conditions for pets and their owners, but in stride.
Region of Waterloo, agreed to help him also offers viable solutions for dog lovers “There are those negative nellies out
part time with the administrative side of facing physical challenges or senior pet there, but just I tell them we’re just like
things spending several hours evenings owners living on their own. Both Rick and a landscaper or any other lawn care
and weekends doing paperwork, as well Sherry agree this is one of the best parts service,” says Rick. “We get every reaction
as pitching in to do some scooping. The about being in this business which they you can imagine. From, ‘What a great idea’
couple have successfully implemented a say helps create a more environmentally to ‘I can’t believe it’, or ‘That must smell
CRM (customer relationship management) healthier community. so bad’. I always tell them it smells like
system to enhance the customer “I think of the impacts of what happens if money.”
experience with onboarding, and to you don’t have a clean yard,” says Sherry.
maximize route density and improve their “One of the things I’ve learned through all Visit www.thepoopvalet.ca to learn more
communication and payment processes. this is how much bad stuff (toxins) is in or call 519-835-7667.

www.cambridgechamber.com Fall 2024 31