March 26, 2010

Tragedy to Triumph - The Story of the Largest Dog Care Franchise

Camp Bow Wow is a $40 million dollar business and the largest dog care franchise in the United States. Susan's guest this week, is Heidi Ganahl, the founder and CEO of Camp Bow Wow and author of the book, Tales from the Bark Side: My Journey from Wayward Stray to Top Dog. This is a woman who truly had to recreate herself after personal tragedy and financial adversity and her story of how she did it is a true inspiration and guide book for many of us who find we are also facing personal and professional challenges.

Episode Segments:

Wild About Pets: Heidi's Story Heidi describes Camp Bow Wow, and what distinguishes it from other doggy day care centers. We then learn about the tragedies she endured, how she was able to work through those challenges, and some of her failed business attempts. (Photo courtesy of © 2010 Camp Bow Wow®)
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Wild About Pets: The Building of Bow Wow Heidi talks about how she developed the concept of Camp Bow Wow, her learning curve, and how the business was built by a community effort. She also has some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses, and how to balance family life with business. (Photo courtesy of © 2010 Camp Bow Wow®)
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Wild About Pets: Starting your Business Heidi shares some more tips and advice about staring a biz, including answers to some of the most common questions she gets, the biggest mistakes you can make when satring a business, and why you shouldn’t be afraid of failure. Plus, learn about some of the upcoming events from her Bow Wow Buddies foundation. (Photo courtesy of © 2010 Camp Bow Wow®)
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Links to Related Websites:

Look While You Listen! Click here to view the photos Susan & her guest are discussing.

Locate A Camp Bow Wow In Your Area Camp Bow Wow® Premier Doggy Day and Overnight Camps® provide a fun, safe and upscale environment for dogs to play, romp and receive lots of love and attention!

Order Tales From The Bark Side The Dog Gone, MUST Have Book to Start a Business! In Tails From the Bark Side, Heidi shares her extraordinary and inspirational story of overcoming personal tragedy, facing adversity, and turning her passion into a pet-industry franchise success story.

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Heidi Ganahl Heidi Ganahl is the founder, President and CEO of Camp Bow Wow, the largest pet care franchise in North America. Through her personal and professional tragedies, from the loss of her young husband to losing a million dollar insurance settlement, Ganahl has faced extraordinary adversity. She responded by turning her life-long passion for dogs into Camp Bow Wow, the nation’s largest pet care franchise company, and created the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives and health of dogs. In 2000, after a series of trials with only $83,000 from her husband’s crash, Heidi was encouraged by her brother to take a leap of faith and start Camp Bow Wow. She invested the last of her savings -- $83,000 -- and opened the first camp in Denver in the Fall of 2000. In 2003 Ganahl started franchising the concept and by 2007 sold over 200 franchise businesses. Today, Camp Bow Wow is the largest women owned franchise and pet industry business, the largest doggy day care company in the world and a $40 million leader in the $47 billion United States pet sector. Heidi Ganahl's Website