In many ways, Bill and Nancy Sloan have a family like any other. They work hard, enjoy having fun together and love their pets. Until recently, Bill worked in real estate and Nancy was a nurse. But they both wanted something different. They wanted to build something as a family — for their family, pets included.
So, they reached out to a franchise broker with the idea of opening a family-friendly franchise. Right away, the broker recommended Pet Supplies Plus, a pet store franchise that sells all kinds of pet products as well as grooming services. As a Pet Supplies Plus Franchise Owner, the broker explained that this could offer their family the fun and flexibility they were looking for.
For the next five months, Bill and Nancy visited every Pet Supplies Plus they could drive to. After seeing what ownership could look like for themselves, they were ready to bring their family in on the idea. In the fall of 2021, the Sloan family sat down for a call with the Pet Supplies Plus team. An hour later, they were all smiling and agreed to move forward.
Getting started
Bill and Nancy looked at several real estate locations before finding a good fit. They wanted it to have a neighborhood feel, convenient parking, lots of light and be well maintained. Pet Supplies Plus flew out a representative from Atlanta to help, and the Sloans found a perfect location in a local shopping plaza.
The Sloans had no trouble getting team member applicants. Just like their location, however, they wanted to be sure everyone was a perfect fit. Thankfully, they had two qualified candidates right at home. Bill and Nancy hired their daughter to manage the store and community events and their son to manage the office, payroll and suppliers. From there, they hired an assistant general manager as well as two staff members with pet and retail experience.
One area the Sloans really deliberated on was finding a great groomer. They wanted to be sure the role was filled by someone who cares a lot about animals and could do the job with joy. After considering their options, Bill and Nancy decided to send their staff members to grooming training. In the end, the Sloans feel good about the team they’ve hired and are excited to help them grow.
Grand opening
The Sloan’s held a soft opening of their store in March, 2023. This gave them the chance to get comfortable with operations before their grand opening on April 29 in Norton, Ohio. Though they just got started, Bill and Nancy say they’re already considering opening one to two more locations.
“We are excited to build something as a family,” they say.
Watching everyone work together and take on a role that suits their strengths has bonded them together as a team. Though Bill and Nancy invested the start-up costs, they say they wouldn’t be here today without the guidance and support of their family.
The best is yet to come
Opening a franchise is no small decision. But for the Sloans, it was the big leap they needed to find something different. Partnering with a proven franchise can make all the difference. Pet Supplies Plus has been ranked the #1 pet franchise by Entrepreneur for nine years running. Not only do they offer an impressive $2.7M AUV* but you’ll have the chance to have fun working with pets every day.
To find out why Pet Supplies Plus is a top franchise to own, simply fill out the form below. Our franchise development team will be in touch to answer all your questions.
*This information can be found in Item 19 of the 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document issued by PSP Franchising, LLC. The data reflects the calendar year beginning January 1, 2021, and ending December 31, 2021, and shows the data for 248 Reporting Financial Stores which were open and operating for 12 months as of December 31, 2021. There is no assurance you will do as well. If you rely upon our figures, you must accept the risk of not doing as well. This is not an offer to sell you a franchise. Franchises are offered by prospectus only.
