Hello all.
A few months ago I decided to risk it all and go into business for myself. A local cat boarding business was for sale and I took a line of credit on my house and bought it. It is the Cat Hotel in Burbank CA.
It had been successful prior to my acquiring it and was thriving.. Then the economy took a slump and we have been hit hard. Just covering rent and bills has been a struggle. This is where I need the TDK white light and good thoughts sent to Cat Hotel.. (And for all of us who are struggling right now). I admit is is hard work and I am worried.
Any ideas for networking or publicity are welcome.. Contact me through the Cat Hotel website ( the email address is there) www.cathotelburbank.com
Thank you all, caroline
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat
Cat Hotel (and TDK white light)
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You have my prayers Caroline and {{{HUGS}}}. Is there any inexpensive way you can add a product line of some sort or rent some of your space to a vet? I have an aquaintance who has a karate school but rents one of her rooms to a feline vet. We'll all be brainstorming for you Caroline.
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Did you make a video and post it on your website, Catster Caroline? Look at the publicity of some of the ones we have seen on youtube if nothing else. Advertise in Cat Fancy, thru your local vet clinics/hospitals, got to be other places like feed stores. Your website is done wonderfully, love the picture.
Posted 1 year ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
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Wow! Is it at your place that Lucky is being cared for? Sending you loads of white light and many hugs and prayers for your success.
Posted 1 year ago by paulajeanne #
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Caroline,
Prayers for you and your business! I know it's difficult for any business during this time, but it's especially hard on small, independent companies. Get "word of mouth" out: advertising flyers in vet offices, laundromats, grocery stores, etc. A coupon for a repeat stay may help, too. Wishing you lots of luck.Posted 1 year ago by LadyKat of IA #
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First Caroline, I had heard of the Cat Hotel!! I'm in S.CA. and congrat's on having a Cat Hotel kitty featured as The Daily Kitten!!! I will do my best to get word about you hotel to my fellow kitty lovers here in the S. CA area...Wouldn't it be great to get the endorsement of someone like Bob Barker!!! Maybe if you start sending letters with brochures out to Animal Loving stars maybe it could get you alot of business from a crowd that travels alot and has lots of money!!! Just a thought...
Oh and you need some video on your website, or at least pictures of the different areas... -
What a great web site you have! I hope it all turns around right for you really soon, it looks like such a great place to board a cat. If I didn't live 3000 miles away I would use your services. Lots of white light and good wishes to you.
Posted 1 year ago by DancingCatHill #
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Sending positive energy, prayers and TDK white light for you and the success of your Cat Hotel! It really looks like a great place. If I wasn't 5000 miles away, I would certainly bring Tikka there. We are very lucky that we have friends who can usually take Tikka while we are away, but I hate to think what we would do if we had to be away for a long trip and our friends weren't there! I would love to have someplace like the Cat Hotel where I could take her and feel she was being well cared for and looked after!
Posted 1 year ago by Rubia in CA, 4/28 #
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Wow, that is an awesome website and what a wonderful service you are providing. I would take flyers to all of the veterinary clinics that you can hit. Also, our paper has a classified section for "pet services". If yours has one you could probably put a low cost ad there.
Posted 1 year ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Congrats on your business Caroline, sounds very interesting. In the big city here(Fort Smith), I see business circulars, newsletters and a small paper called the "The Thrifty Nickel". I think for a low fee you can advertise in these papers, they are distributed out to all local businesses, like grocery stores and restaurants, etc. for people to pick up for free. Do you have anything like that in your area? Just a thought. :) Good luck on getting the word out.
Posted 1 year ago by Renee in Arkansas #
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Sending positive thoughts and prayers for you and the success of your Cat Hotel! Looks and sounds like a good place to bring one's cat. Seems like you have gotten some good tips here.
Posted 1 year ago by SylvesterMiasMomma #
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Prayers for your business--lots of good advice above. It is probably due to people not going on vacations due to the cost of fuel, either car or plane.
Posted 1 year ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #
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Good Luck!
As others have mentioned you might want to add a retail line, maybe you could partner with some of the talented people at TDK on a consignment of their kitty related craft items.
Look at the model of the pet daycare for dogs. They often have a "3 Dog Bakery" associated to sell treats. Maybe start your own line of kitty treats.
Also Grooming.
Celebrity endorsements are also a booster if you can get it without strings.
In lieu of that, how about the local TV and Radio if they have a pet of the week adoption. See if they will feature Lucky and his story.Posted 1 year ago by ailuromaniac #
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God Bless you. We need cat lovers in this world who love and want to care for them. You might try increasing your business by contacting some of the areas that have been hit so hard recently by the storms - Texas and surrounding areas. I know those agencies are overloaded, and have raised funding to try and help those poor animals, but need places to send them to. They have sent any down our way (I live in Fla.) but pretty much I think they would send them anywhere they could find a good place. You may be able to partner with a local rescue agency that finds homes for cats, but maybe you could be paid to board them until that happens. Just a thought.
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Is there a fax of the day program in Burbank? we have one in Tupelo,MS. A fax is sent to participating businesses on a daily basis. It has fun facts, sale coupons, restaurant info, special event info, etc. Good luck with the Cat Hotel and congratulations on Lucky being the kitten of the day!
Posted 1 year ago by tinafishfrombirthplaceofElvis #
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Caroline..I think your business is located in a perfect place. I think it's a matter of getting the word out to the right circles. Asking to leave business cards in beauty salons (where kitty mamas go to get beautiful) Veterinary offices may also be willing to hand out your business card or hang up a flyer. I'm sending you Prayers and TDK White Light that things will pick up for your business. {{{hugs}}}
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Caroline, in my town the water company will allow businesses to include a flyer on a one time basis in the water bills that are mailed. You might check to see if they do that. Also, I would check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if you can put fliers in their welcome packets. Do you have an organization that distributes packets to new residents? We do here (I think its called Welcome Wagon) and many businesses put their fliers in those packets.
Posted 1 year ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Caroline, you've gotten some fantastic suggestions from everyone! There are a couple I'd add.
Do you know anyone who does web design? There are a couple things on your website that might improve initial appearance. For instance, on your home page, the text that says "Cat Hotel" has really deep, dark shadows; it makes the words hard to read. Love the graphic, though!
In addition to YouTubing some video of your business, and getting several additional good photos, can you get any customer testimonials? Any way you could get Betty White, Bob Barker, or anyone else prominent and involved in animal activism to come by and take a look at the place - preferably during an open house to which you also invite a bunch of veterinarians, pet therapists, etc?
Is there any sort of way that you can bill your company as "the next best thing to staying at home?" And explain the pros & cons of having a solitary cat staying at home for 2 weeks while the owner's away, vs. staying at the Cat Hotel?
During an economic downturn, it's especially important to be able to differentiate your services and business from others. Are there any additional services you might be able to provide? Some businesses do well when they add pick up & drop off services (one less thing for the owner to worry about, esp. when running out of town on short notice). Is there any way you can offer your services to people having short hospital stays? (For petsitting some 16+ years ago, I once interviewed a client about her pets & home while she was awaiting surgery the next day.)
Or perhaps you could offer an additional location where various non-profits adoption groups could house several foster kitties, if they absolutely, positively run out of foster homes on a very short-term basis?
Good luck!!
Posted 1 year ago by anncetera2 #
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bump
Posted 1 year ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
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I am wondering if there's some way you can build on what has happened with Lucky. Are you able to foster a few kitties on a regular basis? Just throwing ideas around here but how did they know to bring Lucky to you from the Kodak theatre? Could you maybe somehow become the place that also rehomes little Hollywood strays, who turn up on studio lots etc? I'm sure celebrity animal lovers would be happy to help publicise something like that. This is possibly a totally nuts idea, if so, please ignore it. I'll still be sending positive vibes that the Cat Hotel becomes a great success!
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We do foster rescues at Cat Hotel, I myself am a stage tech (seeking to move on , hence Cat Hotel) The Kodak sound man is one of my union brothers... When he found Lucky someone told him I was a cat lover and gave him my phone number..He would have kept him but his wife is allergic to cats... I have 8 of my own but I may keep him anyway.
Everyone's ideas have been great.. and thank you all!
I'll be sending a letter to the landlord asking for a temporary rent reduction ( I sure wish I owned the building!)
Let's hope that works.
TDK folks are the kindest ever. :) -
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One other thing we have here in NYC is the CityPetGuide
www.citypetguide.comI'm not sure if you have something similar, but it's kind of like a mini telephone directory for all kinds of pet services...It's given out free of charge at several pet stores here..I don't know what they charge for listing, but maybe you have something similar in your area?
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