Is Self Serve Dog Washing Recession Proof?

Let us start by saying this: most data and research we have read indicates that the pet industry as a whole won't suffer much if the U.S. economy continues to lag. Don't get us wrong, when speaking with pet store owners, groomers and the like, a lot have seen a drop in sales over the past 24 months. But overall, the pet industry market is strong. We think most pet owners will cut back on other personal luxury items before they cut back on their pet spending. But we think pet owners will become a bit more selective with their product purchasing and will look at all grooming/dog washing options available in their town.

Here is why we think self serve dog washing services are recession proof:
- It saves money! - Self serve costs fractions less than paying for someone else to bathe your pooch weekly
- Convenience - Self serve give folks the flexibility of convenience - we do it when we have the time to do it
- Cleaner dogs - Self serve provides option to clean the dog every week - it does not replace traditional grooming services which are typically done once per month(s)
- Demand is out there - Self serve is in greater demand because of how active dogs are these days - i.e. dog parks, dog beaches... a dog owner needs to wash their four-legged friend after visits to the public places because fleas/tick and diseases are real threats - we want our dogs to be active - but we need an quick, easy and affordable way to wash and dry them
- Efficiency - Self serve is quick and simple - only takes a few minutes versus 30-45 minutes at home including the clean-up process ... time is money... get it done. Us Americans are always on the run and never have time for this dirty chore until now
- Fun for the entire family! - Self serve has now become a fun family event - bring the kids, enjoy the chore

Pet owners are embracing self serve dog washing. With or without a recession, self serve dog washing will always be in great demand in our opinion.

Pet Industry Trends

We thought it would be a good opportunity to share with everyone the trends we have been witnessing over the past 6-12 months as it pertains to various vertical markets that are expressing interest in coin-op serve dog wash.

1) Groomers Struggling: What we find interesting is that recently, we have been receiving a lot of inquiries for the coin-op dog wash from groomers. Their reasoning is that they are seeing a decrease in traditional grooming revenue because of the slowing economy. The funny thing is that some of the groomers who think self serve dog wash equipment is a competitor are finally 'seeing the light'. They are realizing that a majority of dog owners wash their pet at home and are looking for an easier solution without the clean-up. In our opinion, dog owners will be cutting back on the amount of times they pay $70-100 to have someone else groom their dog. Groomers are now seeing the coin-op self serve dog wash as a complementary product that can help increase revenues and exposure.

2) Self serve dog wash store fronts are charging on average $12-20 to use their indoor self serve dog wash facility. The difference in price is based on the size and weight of your dog. Some will provide you with shampoo options, others will charge extra for higher-end products. Also, we have found that their tubs are typically made of plastic or fiberglass and some require you 'lift' your pooch into the tub. And most of the time, when you actually have the time to wash your dog, they are closed.
We think you will start to see coin-op self serve dog wash store-fronts opening up offering a more competitive price, open 24x7 (like the 24x7 fitness centers) and providing the dog owner the conveniences for which we look.

3) Residential and Commercial Real-Estate companies (REITs) are starting to seriously consider adding a more pet friendly environment by offering dog parks and the like. We are receiving a number of inquiries from REITs about the coin-op self serve dog wash, as it's a natural fit for them. Plus this value-add amenity will certainly be a differentiating factor for dog owners during their evaluation process.

4) Laundromats are looking to add another Profit Center. They have the space and the utilities... it seems to make sense ... they have coin operated equipment, why not add the dog wash. Google laundromats and dog washes and see for yourself how many are already out there. It's a nice fit.

In the coming weeks, we'll talk about other businesses expressing interest and other trends we are seeing in the self serve dog wash market.

Washing my 100 lbs lab today

I took the boys to the local Pet Clin self serve dog wash today for their weekly washing. I must say, I figured out how to get Ike, the 100 lbs black lab, done in the 14 minute cycle. Now keep in mind, this includes 3 minutes of shampoo time, 2 minutes of flea & tick, and another minute of rinsing. The key is after I was done rinsing, I wiped off the access water with my hands, literally ringing out his legs... then I quickly towel dried him and used the rest of the 6 minutes with the dryer on the high speed. When the cycle ended, he wasn't 100% dry but dry enough to get him in the truck and after a shore drive, he's back home under my desk and smelling very nice. It's such a life savor for me and is much more pleasant to have a clean dog around the house.

One other suggestion: brush out the old fur BEFORE you begin the wash cycle. I use a rubber square brush for thicker coats. He looks that much better when he's finished and I don't see as much black hair on the floor. Can you say Swiffer? ...well, I certainly don't have to swiffer as often any more.

How can the kids help with dirty chores?

A great way to get the kids involved in family activities and up off of the couch is to have them wash fido at the local self serve dog wash facility. Kids love using the dog wash and it provides them and way to get out of the house with Fido and do the dirty chore with minimal effort and cost. We see it happening a lot here in Tampa at our self serve dog wash units. The kids come first with the family, they learn the ins and outs of washing the dog, and are giving more responsibility by their parents by having them wash fido weekly on their own. Imagine that: a dirty chore that can be done by your son or daughter for under $10 ... and they (the kid and the dog) actually like it! What do you all think about this?

Self Serve Dog Washing Can Be Simple

Self Serve Dog Washing Can Be Simple
I always struggled to wash and dry my 100 lbs. black lab (Ike) and 25 lbs. beagle, Adidas, and refused to pay a groomer a ton of money ... plus it was inconvenient to have to drop him off and then pick him back up... so what I did was research and travel the world to find the most simple and affordable way to get this chore done. Hello, my name is Erik and welcome to my Self Serve Dog Wash Blog. For those interested, I would love to pass along my experiences to all current and future pet owners to improve the overall quality of life for us and our dogs. I will also be sharing some interesting pet industry news and welcome your feedback. I have been researching coin operated self serve dog washes for over two years including travels to Europe and Australia. Let me tell you, these dog washes are life savers! No more back pain and no more clean up for me. Plus, Ike and Adidas are the cleanest pooches in town these days. Living in Florida, we have these set up outside and they are open 24x7 - typically at a car wash or other business. For under $10, Ike is clean and dry in about 14 minutes!! Next, I'll share with you all some tips we've found to improve your quality of your 14 minute wash. If anyone else has seen these coin operated self serve dog washes, please let me know. Until then....