Photos courtesy of Sunnyside Plays MAPRRCIHL 2 0 1 7 I BOROMAG.COM 35 BARK & BONE Tech-savvy convenience with personality! Having worked for two small companies during her first three years in the business before launching Bark & Bone in 2013, Olivia Bruno developed a unique perspective to create a business model that’s technologically savvy while also providing excellent service to all of the precious pets in her care. “The pet care industry has really blown up with several large and well-funded tech companies gaining a lot of market share in the last couple of years,” she said. “The problem with those types of services is that they may have great interfaces and customer support, but the quality and level of expertise of the actual sitters taking care of your pet is totally inconsistent. “What I’m working to accomplish in western Queens and north Brooklyn is a service that combines the ease of use of a tech startup with the personability and compassion of a local business.” Bark & Bone has an online system that allows clients to create profiles for their fur kids and write as many detailed instructions as they would like. They have online scheduling, a very lenient late booking and cancellation policy and an online and mobile-friendly communication system. The company, a team of 10, also provides report cards for every dog walk/cat sitting visit completed. “My goal is to really create a business model that’s fair and compassionate to one of the most ignored parts of the pet care industry — my walkers — as well as the animals! Because I walked dogs for so long, I know what it’s like to stuck out in the rain, snow and heat, with nothing but a bicycle and a backpack full of doggy gear,” Bruno said. “There are so many services out there that have very high turnover rates for their staff, which not only reflects poorly on the business owners but it’s also upsetting to the animals to have a revolving door of random handlers.” SERVICES OFFERED Dog Walking: The company offers both small group and solo walks. “We walk small, personal groups of two to three dogs with similar temperaments,” she said. “Solo only walks can be requested for an additional fee.” Pet Care Visit: “If your puppy is too young or energetic for a traditional walk, our sitters will come to your home for a play date, feeding and potty visit.” Cat Sitting Visit: Feeding, playtime, medication, brushing and litter scooping are involved in this feline-friendly visit. Overnight Dog Sitting: “Our team members will stay with your dog in the comfort of their own home overnight.” BARKNBONE.COM EMAIL: [email protected] FACEBOOK:BARKNBONENYC INSTAGRAM: @BARKNBONENYC Photos courtesy of Bark & Bone
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