My name is Biancha. I am the owner of the Pet Planet Southwood, and we are just opening my second store (Pet Planet Oakridge). I purchased my first store over six years ago, and it was the absolute best decision for me.
I worked for Pet Planet for four years when I was doing my business degree in university. After completing my degree, I moved into a career job – and found it to be mundane and repetitive, day-in and day-out. I have always had a passion for animal health and wellness, and loved my Pet Planet job so much that I reached out to the former owner to see if she would be open to selling to me – she was, and I’ve been the owner ever since!
I love that it’s such a big part of my community. It’s the best job for a super busy mom of three (my youngest is three months). I can be flexible with being a mom, while growing as an entrepreneur.
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BeTheBoss.ca: What made you decide to own your own business instead of being an employee of a company?
Biancha: I have a business degree and always loved the thought of making my own schedule and routine: working the way I wanted to and when I wanted to. Having a job which required me to be there for eight hours every day, even when my work was finished, felt so restricted. I work more hours now then I ever did, but I absolutely love being able to control my schedule.
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BeTheBoss.ca: What made you choose (brand) from the opportunities you looked at?
Biancha: I always knew I wanted Pet Planet. It’s local, built from the ground up, and so welcoming to pet guardians. It has a little bit of everything, so everyone feels welcome, no matter your budget or needs. It also is the brand that most embodies putting pet health at the heart of what we do. We are franchisees, but we truly deeply care about pets. I always wanted to be a part of that.
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BeTheBoss.ca: Can you describe the support you have received/continue to receive from the (brand) head office team as you got started and on an ongoing basis?
Biancha: The support you receive from Pet Planet is not anything I ever experienced prior. They are always willing to work with you, to create something you’re comfortable with, and the best part is they really want you to succeed. I have only had positive experiences with them;when you’re unsure of something, you never have to be afraid to ask. I believe that they will take us places to make us all successful, and I appreciate how hard they work for us.
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BeTheBoss.ca: What do you like best about this business?
Biancha: That it is a really rewarding job. When a customer comes back in and says, “hey what you recommended worked amazing for my dog or cat, I don’t know what I would have done without your help!” that really gives you a smile on your face the rest of the day! Seeing your customers dogs come in from when they are puppy to when they have grey around there eyes and are in their last days, and the owner says we had to come in to say goodbye to our favourite place, brings tears to my eyes still. It’s an honor to get to be such a big part of so many customers and their pets’ lives.
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BeTheBoss.ca: Has business ownership held any surprises for you?
Biancha: Yes, I bought this business November 2019, so two months later we were in lockdown. It was a scary time, but this business is really made with good bones and structure when you put the effort into it. I survived, even with loans and staff changes. It makes you grow a lot as a person!
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BeTheBoss.ca: Has it met or surpassed your expectations, and if so, in what way has it done so?
Biancha: It has met my expectations in every way. As a former employee here, I knew a lot about what to expect. My favourite is how much customers care about you and your business – for example, they see me at the grocery store and ask how my kids are doing. It’s a great community that you get to build when you own a Pet Planet.
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BeTheBoss.ca: Describe what an ‘average’ day is like for you as a business owner?
Biancha: My average day is waking up early and placing my orders before my kids wake up, and planning what needs to be completed at the store that day. I have a call when my team gets into the store to check in, provide an update, and relay any new information. I normally head into the store with my son Jackson (he’s 3 months) and stay however long he will let me stay. I normally grab the deliveries for the day and do them around 4 pm, and then spend the evening with my family.
When my girls were older, my schedule looked a bit different, I would place my orders in the morning before they got up and then head into the store. I worked until early evening and then headed out to do deliveries before coming home.
I frequently work on the weekends, and I cover staff shifts if they are sick.
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BeTheBoss.ca: What aspects of the business were particularly important to you when considering this opportunity? (feedback from other owners within the brand, H.O. support, business model, flexibility, growth potential, etc.)?
Biancha: Stability. I didn’t want a boutique pet store that brings in something different every month to stay cool or popular. I wanted a pet store with products that were consistent in no matter the market, and that stayed local to our mission of “helping pets live longer, happier, healthier lives.” Pet Planet is a strong business that stays constant, which makes it reliable.
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BeTheBoss.ca: What are the biggest advantages that (brand) gives you in your business? (e.g. marketing, negotiating with vendors, support, etc.)
Biancha: Marketing is huge - they curate it, so it works for your area, something you don’t have a lot of time to do when you’re in the store.
Another big one is our supply chain. Pet Planet negotiates with vendors and maintains in-house supply to make ordering easier. We also get better pricing and terms.
