pet food franchise

Skills for Every Great Pet Food Franchise Owner’s Success

As the owner of a pet food franchise, you will feel the pressure of being at the top. However there are a few things that, as a leader, can lighten the load. As you run your pet supply franchise, think about your day-to-day responsibilities and if you’re applying any of the following skills. If not, think about where and when you may be able to try them.

1. Give Power To People Doing the Work

Many pet food franchise owners think that because they own the business, every decision has to be made by them, whether it’s something huge that will affect the franchise as a whole or just giving a discount to a customer on the front line. Stress can be alleviated simply by giving those who are working the front line the authority to make certain small-risk decisions instead of having to call you every time. Considering giving your employees a little more training or ruling on certain things and freeing yourself from those smaller responsibilities.

2. Create Role Clarity
As an employee, it can be extremely frustrating to have a title for your job, but not know what the responsibilities of that job are. To create simplicity and understanding in your pet food franchise, create a list of duties and descriptions for each role. While some flexibility is alright, don’t try to flex the meaning of the roles too far. A quick way to frustrate employees of your pet supply franchise is to tell an employee their job is one thing then to discipline them for not doing something unlisted on their description—let alone something they’ve never been trained to do.

3. Share Leadership

If you’re pet food franchise feels like it’s becoming a little too big to stand on your shoulders alone, consider creating another management role for co-leadership. A great way to alleviate the pressure and even team build in your pet supply franchise is to share responsibility, train another in leadership, and to let them take over—especially when you’re unable to be at the ‘head’ of your pet store for any reason.

4. Stop, Look, Listen
An extremely important thing for any pet food franchise owner to do is stop, listen to the employees and the customers, and to encourage talk among your employees. By encouraging talk with your employees, you elevate comradery and team morale. You minimize the chance for strained relationships within your pet supply franchise, and even create a nice working atmosphere that individuals are stoked to come to every day. Make it safe to communicate by allowing others to speak without repercussions, but do not accept bad mouthing. There is a respectful way to speak and that should be encouraged over blatant bad-mouthing.

5. Be Passionate About Your Pet Food Franchise

It’s your pet food franchise. Put your heart into it. Your employees will feel your passion (or lack thereof) and adapted it into their own behavior. Create a mission statement that you truly believe and hang it somewhere handy to remind you and your employees why you’re there. Your passion, as a pet supply franchise owner, is a powerful tool; use it to share your heart for the pet industry and influence your employees.