Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Landis.
Hi Allie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I had moved to Texas from Georgia to help my family when my father became ill. I left my dog walking job in Atlanta and was devastated I had to leave my dream job. We lived out in Fayetteville (small farm town of 258 people in between Houston and Austin) and I was having a serious culture shock going from Atlanta of 5 million to Fayetteville. We decided to move to Austin so I could still be close to my dad but also find a job in a city. Summer of 2019, I slipped and broke my wrist (my dad used to call me Grace as in graceful because I am so accident-prone.) I searched local dog walking companies and found Let’s Walk Austin’s website. It didn’t say they were hiring, but I still sent a fun and memorable cover letter hoping maybe they’d need an additional walker. I scored an interview and Steve (previous owner of Let’s Walk Austin) asked to meet at Opa. I was so excited but also terrified, my entire arm was in a cast and I was about to convince someone why I would be a great walker. Steve did a double take when he saw me walk into the coffee shop with a bulky, pink camouflage cast. When he asked about the cast, I joked back “What cast?!” as if he couldn’t see it because of the camo, lol. It lightened the mood and we had a great interview. I sent him my recommendation letter from my Atlanta company to which he said was extremely impressive and emailed me that night that I got the job! I shadowed with him for the first two weeks and then was on my own!
Before Covid, I was averaging about 8 miles a day after each day of walking. Covid hit right as my father passed, which actually worked out so I was able to go back home and be with my family. I still had clients paying me for not even walking because they wanted to continue to support our business, it was extremely heartening. Business slowly picked back up by August (still nothing like it was before Covid, but I was so thankful to have walks!) Then in January Steve asked if we could meet at Bouldin Acres one day, I was panicking… He said he was moving to Tennessee to follow his dream of opening a nonprofit pig rescue and asked if I had any interest in purchasing the company from him… I WAS THRILLED! We spent the next two months going over our system and the numbers and I officially took charge on April 1st! I have a marketing degree from college and have a semi-famous Instagram dog – who got her publicity for her LOVE of chick-fil-a. So the chance to have my dream job AND own it/market it was everything I’ve ever wanted. I just recently perfected my logo (a silhouette of Maisy and I walking thru Austin) and am waiting on my marketing materials to come in the mail to really blow our company out of the water. BUT, since owning the company for 2.5 months now, I have added eight new clients without doing any advertising… I am so ecstatic! I feel so blessed to love what I do AND be the owner/alpha.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have faced minimal challenges – thankfully! Dogs, just like people, have some separation anxiety from the months we all spent at home during Covid. The dogs I walked before Covid are totally familiar with me and our routine again. But the new clients I’ve picked up in the two months of owning the company have said their “pandemic puppies’ have anxiety. A couple of my clients were even nervous about leaving their pups, but I can confidently say, each one of my new clients have said I put them totally at ease with the updates, reports and photos I send them with each visit! I’m extremely attached to my heeler and lab, I am very particular who I leave them with so I make sure I am exactly who I would want walking/sitting my dogs!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a local, women-owned business (now) who will take the absolute BEST care of your animals! We believe consistency is EXTREMELY important for dogs, so I take pride in ensuring the same walker will be coming into your house each time. And by having our own set of dogs to walk each day, we really get to know and bond with each one. We provide our clients with a GPS tracked map of our exact route, the precise minute we clock in and out of their house, a detailed report of how the walk went and adorable photos that our clients react to daily! The feedback I receive after our first walk with their dog(s) is so rewarding – clients are blown away by the detail, dedication and love we put into our work. I was walking one of our dogs in the pouring rain one day and a woman in the neighborhood who always sees me walking pulled up next to me and asked, “you even walk in the rain!?” Yes, unless it’s dangerous, there are no days off, dogs gotta go! I’ve received four client inquiries just from referrals in the last month and they each said the friend that suggested Let’s Walk Austin mentioned the professionalism, commitment and the best photos they have ever seen of their dog. This includes our dog sitting services as well. Being able to trust someone in your home and with your animals is KEY to enjoying your vacation/work trip. I am one of those dog moms that worries when they leave the dogs behind, so I make SURE to be exactly who I would want with my animals. I have had two clients tell me it means the world to them that they are able to take off and travel and know their fur children are in safe and GREAT hands. It’s scary to leave your animals behind (and with a stranger for the new clients) but each one of our clients appreciates the ease we can put them at knowing we are taking care of their family like our own. I also want to mention, Let’s Walk Austin also has cat clients (that’s why I incorporated one in my logo – to target my cat people!)
How do you define success?
In a short definition – a happy, healthy dog and a happy, satisfied client! Success for my company is going beyond my client’s expectations for their pet care. Being able to put my clients at ease while they are away/at work by giving their dog(s) exactly what they are looking for – whether it’s potty breaks, exercise or socialization! Success is returning clients and client referrals. It is such a compliment and I feel I have fulfilled my role when my clients continue to use me day after day, week after week and year after year. Putting your animal in the hands of someone else is nerve-racking, I am successful when I can completely relieve the owner that their fur baby is not only extremely taken care of but also adored and loved like our own.
Pricing:
- Standard 30 minute walks are $20.00 and for each additional dog is an extra $4.00
- 60 minute walks (for my high energy pups!) are $30.00
- Weekends and outside of office hours (9:00 – 5:00) there is an additional $5.00
- Overnights vary depending on location. Anywhere from $80 – $125 and include a morning and evening walk!
Contact Info:
- Email: allie@letswalkaustin.com
- Website: https://www.letswalkaustin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letswalkaustin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letswalkaustin/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lets-walk-austin-austin
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=lets+walkl+austin&source=hp&ei=b1HJYLn7GoaqtQXD_KzYDQ&iflsig=AINFCbYAAAAAYMlff9SwomyDn1qHaxqUby0ZCx6ph9Bt&oq=lets+walkl+austin&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyDQguEMcBEK8BEA0QkwIyBggAEBYQHjIGCAAQFhAeOg4ILhCxAxDHARCjAhCTAjoFCAAQsQM6CAguELEDEIMBOgsILhCxAxDHARCjAjoCCAA6BQguELEDOggILhDHARCjAjoICC4QsQMQkwI6AgguOgoILhCxAxAKEJMCOggIABCxAxCDAToECAAQCjoHCC4QsQMQCjoECC4QCjoNCC4QxwEQrwEQChCTAjoICC4QxwEQrwE6BAgAEA06BAguEA06CAgAEAgQDRAeOgYIABANEB46CAgAEA0QBRAeOgoIABANEAUQChAeUIEMWOUbYKAdaAFwAHgAgAHAAYgBpA2SAQQxMi41mAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpeg&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwj57ur2_ZrxAhUGVa0KHUM-C9sQ4dUDCAo&uact=5#lrd=0x8644b53256c8ed39:0x946651bcdc5ac285,1,,,
