Successful businesses build relationships
By Joan Janzen
Small Business Week is recognized on the week of October 15-21. Those businesses have a big impact on our economy thanks to the contribution of hard working entrepreneurs. One of those entrepreneurs is Barbe Dunn from Kindersley.
She was owned and operated Sonshine Kennels for twenty-five years, opening her business in 1998. It all began when she was approached by someone who rescued dogs, who asked if she would consider taking over the dog rescue.
Barbe Dunn at Sonshine Kennels has been boarding and grooming dogs for 25 years. But more importantly, she has been building long-term relationships within the community. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
“I said if I was going to do that, I would board dogs,” Barbe said. “But I didn’t do the dog rescue.” Instead she began boarding dogs and cats, as well as providing grooming services.
“Someone from Swift Current came out and taught me how to groom dogs, so I never had to go away to get training,” she explained.
Sonshine Kennels started out on 12th Avenue East, as a small kennel with a capacity for seven dogs. In 2003 they moved the business to their current location, two miles north of Kindersley, and can now accommodate 39 dogs.
Of course there’s always challenges when you own your own business, one of which is acquiring competent employees. “I’ve had amazing people work for me, but it’s not like a normal 9-5 job,” she said. “But it has advantages for people who want flexibility, because you can set your own hours.”
“I tell people who come to work here, the two most important things are to ensure the dogs are secure and the facility is clean,” she said. She currently employs three part-time staff.
When asked if she puts in long hours, she replied, “Oh yes! The dogs are in and out four times a day. Basically we’re open twelve hours a day, sometimes more. And you need to be constantly checking for wear and tear at the kennel that needs to be kept up.” She also grooms three to four dogs every day. But there are also advantages to being a small business owner.
“I have the flexibility to come and go and don’t have to answer to someone else, although I do have to be here for certain times,” she explained. “It gives me the opportunity to take time and talk to my customers. It’s fun because we’ve known some people forever, since they were kids.”
It’s obvious that it’s more than a business venture; it’s about forming relationships and gaining people’s trust. “That wouldn’t happen if I was working at someone else’s business,” she speculated.
In order to ensure everything runs smoothly she has set hours for drop off and pick up, which they strictly adhere to. “You have to have set hours. And someone has to be here at those times,” she said.
The kennel also has a policy in place requiring all animals that come into their care to have all their shots up to date. This provides safety and health for the pets and the kennel.
Customers come from as far away as Elrose, but most are from the local area. When people bring their dogs to board, Barbe offers to groom them during their stay. “It helps them out and pet owners think it’s awesome,” she noted. “We’re always looking for ways we can do more.”
Although the long hours, work and dedication are vital for the success of a small business, Barbe says there’s another critical component, and that’s the many loyal, long-time customers from the community.
“We always try to provide service with integrity so that people can rely on us. We have a basic facility but people like it,” she said. “If we can provide consistent, quality care for their animals, they will always come back and we work together with them to meet their particular needs.”
“We build relationships with people. Often we walk with them through the death of their pets. It’s about long term relationships,” she concluded.