Episode #395: Prepare Your Pet Business for Hurricanes with Jennifer Jasmin

  Is your pet care business truly prepared for emergencies? Ever wondered how to ensure Pet Hurricane Preparedness and keep clients' pets safe during natural disasters? In this episode of Bella In Your Business, Bella sits down with Jennifer Jasmin from Friendly Critter Sitters. Jennifer shares her journey from Air Force weather forecaster to thriving pet care entrepreneur, illustrating how she combined her meteorological expertise and passion for pets to comprehensive pet hurricane preparedness course. Her innovative approach equips pet owners with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle various disasters, not just hurricanes. Beyond her course, she has an inspiring story that will resonate with all pet care business owners. In just two years, Jennifer has grown her business to  300 clients with seven pet sitters, and she's STILL hiring for more. Jennifer opens up about her personal growth, discussing the challenges she faced, the fears she overcame, and the power of pushing past boundaries to achieve both personal and professional success. Don't miss out on this empowering episode filled with practical advice, strategic marketing insights, and inspiring stories. Whether you're a seasoned pet care professional or a newcomer, this episode offers vital tools and strategies to enhance your preparedness and authority in your area. Tune in now to revolutionize your approach to pet care and disaster readiness – and take the leap towards becoming the ultimate pet care expert in your community! Timestamps: [00:00] Intro of Guest; Jennifer Jasmin [02:00] Jennifer's Course on Emergency Preparedness [03:30] Jennifer's Background [05:10] Hurricane Course Details [07:00] Special Discount for Listeners [10:00] Positioning as an expert in emergency preparedness for pets [11:30] Personal Growth and Business Expansion [13:45] Challenges and Mistakes [16:00] Overcoming Fear Notable Quotes: "I created the course to help people with emergency preparedness for their pets. It's not just for pet sitters; it’s for anyone with a pet. Whether you're evacuating or dealing with disaster aftermath, this course prepares you for everything." "In order to be the go-to in your community, you need to leverage what makes you unique. For me, it was combining my meteorology background with pet care to provide a valuable resource for fellow pet owners." "Don't let fear stop you. Push past your fear because that means it's something that really needs to be done. Whether it's in business or personal growth, jumping past your fears opens up new opportunities." "It's about jumping now. Has everything I've done been perfect? No, but those mistakes have led to incredible growth and opportunities." Resources: Better Marketing With Bella Follow Jennifer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/furriendlycrittersitters Follow Jennifer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/furriendly_critter_sitters/ Hurricane Course: www.furriendlycrittersitters.com/hurricane-course Use Code: 'Bella' Did you love this episode? Make sure you never miss an episode! Head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify to subscribe to Bella In Your Business. Transcript: Welcome, everybody, to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today we're going to kind of flip the script. So many times, I tell you how to really be relevant in your area, as every area is different. In order to be an expert and have that perceived luxury service, to be the go-to in your community for pets, I always talk about doing things in your community, going to events, and creating blogs that are specific, like hiking areas. Well, today I've got Jennifer Jasmine, and she is from Friendly Critter Sitters. She's done something pretty cool. Jennifer's been a jumper for a while, and I wanted to bring her on to inspire you to maybe do the same thing or something similar in your area. It’s noted that Jennifer is in a hurricane area, and this is what prompted her, but I'm going to let her tell you that story. So without further ado, Jennifer, welcome to the show. Hey, thank you for having me. I really created a course that will help all pet parents. Whether you're a pet sitter or a pet owner, and you're not even in a pet care business, it walks you through everything about how to create an emergency kit, what to do if you need to evacuate, what happens when you come home and have a lot of disaster, and how to take care of your pet around that. So, I created the course to help people. I noticed a problem when I was with my pet-sitting business. A lot of people were asking me, "How do I prepare? What happens if a hurricane hits? Do I use your services in the middle of a hurricane?" I've actually walked dogs in the middle of a hurricane. I'm sure many of our listeners have, too. It was just crazy to me as an Arizonian who doesn't have to deal with hurricanes. So when did this idea inspire you to create the course? I'm sure other people have thought about it or maybe sent out an email or posted something on their social media. What made you want to take it to a complete course? Because I have weather experience. I was in the Air Force as a weather forecaster, and I'm close to getting my meteorology degree. Just the math in the last couple classes kicked my butt. But I've been a weather nerd my whole life, and combining my interests in weather and pets felt natural to me. So, I figured I could really help people with this. That is really cool. How long is the course? How is it administered? Tell us more about the makeup of it. There’re six modules, and each module has two or three lessons. You can do it in a weekend. It's about 90 minutes of video. You also get a printable worksheet or binder to put all your contacts in. It includes a hurricane checklist for your emergency kit, a place to write down emergency shelters that accept pets, and hotels that are pet-friendly. The binder is a $30 value included with the course. That’s really cool. How much is the course? I’m curious. It's $79, but until the 21st, it will be $59. I will also offer a coupon for listeners – use code "Bella" to get 20% off the $79 price. Thank you for extending that. I want to talk more about how this positions you and what it gives you to talk about. From a marketing standpoint, it's a tool you could use to break the ice with many rescue groups in your area, shelters, pet stores, dog boarding centers, etc. Have you started thinking about how you’re going to market it? We have a hurricane disaster cleanup crew that helps when houses burn down or flood. They've been covering a lot of hurricane stuff. I reached out to them because they help with hurricanes, and many people they work with have pets. Having this course helps many people in the community. What great credentials you have by combining meteorology and pets. So what do you hope to get from this besides educating people? I hope to create more courses and help people realize that I'm more than just a pet sitter. I'm certified in a lot of things, and continuing education is a big part of my business. That’s really good. So, what would you say to anyone listening right now who is thinking, "I wish I would have thought of that?" What makes you unique, and what can you do to help serve your community while bringing fulfillment to your life? Think about what unique things happen in your climate or seasons and how you can position yourself as an expert. You can post on Nextdoor or social media about upcoming hurricanes and preparedness tips, using tools to start building relationships with people. I would start by looking at what new people in your area might question and how you can solve that question. For example, new people arriving with pets who have never experienced a hurricane would have many questions. One thing my course covers is that a pet sitter should be the third contact in an emergency because they might not be able to make it to your house due to other commitments. I remember a couple of years ago, we had a massive hurricane come towards Florida, and I had a meteorologist friend from the Weather Channel come on to do a weather report specifically for pet sitters. It’s crucial to bring this information to the front and put it out there as a public service announcement, building relationships in the process. Tell us a bit more about your business. How long have you had it, where is it located, and what do you currently work with? We’re on Space Coast Florida, by Cape Canaveral on the eastern side of central Florida. We’ve been in business for about two years, celebrating our anniversary in April. It’s so much better than I imagined. We’re nominated as the best pet sitter in our county and receive positive feedback regularly, which is very encouraging. Tell our listeners about the growth. Where did you start, and where are you now? My initial goal in the mastermind was to have 20 clients, thinking it’d be the best in the world. Now we have 300 clients, seven pet sitters, and we’re hiring more. It’s crazy! That’s amazing. I want people to understand that we have many listeners just starting out. Everything you’ve done hasn’t been perfect, right? No, I made some mistakes. What would you tell your old self to avoid? Probably don't hire too many people too quickly. I hired three people in a month, and they weren't the right fit. I should have waited to find the right fit instead of jumping in immediately. Right, right. People think hiring is one step, but it’s essential to understand what you’re looking for and find the right fit. Bad hires are inevitable, but they teach us valuable lessons in creating the right team. What else is there? Is there one more thing you would tell yourself before starting your business? Don’t let fear stop you.