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Get Ready for the Busy Boarding Season
by Monica Dixon Perry, CVPM
VMC, Inc. Evergreen, CO 80439
Now is the time of year to begin planning for the busy boarding season.
As we approach the holiday season, clients will start making boarding reservations
if they have not already. It's important if you offer boarding services to plan
in advance so that this revenue center can be as successful and profitable for your
practice as much as possible. Here are some quick and easy steps to get you off to a great start.
- Begin to assertively promote your boarding services and encourage clients
to schedule their boarding reservations now. You can post a friendly reminder
at the bottom of your invoices, on your website and/or your hospital marquis.
- Focus in on incorporating value added services to your boarding program to
enhance your client's interest and desire to board their pet with your hospital
versus elsewhere. For a minimal fee, you can offer "VIP" Services such as
individual play sessions, extra walks, cuddling or brushing sessions, movie
night, snack time and/or social hour as additional services while the pet is in your care.
- In addition to scheduling a holiday boarding appointment, encourage
clients to schedule their pet's holiday groom. You may offer a complimentary
conditioning treatment for every pet that schedules a grooming appointment in
conjunction with their grooming appointment. An inexpensive complimentary service,
but something clients will appreciate and value.
- Plan to for additional or season help. This will be a great time to call
upon student volunteers if you have an active volunteer program or to encourage
high school and/or college students to apply for holiday hours. Often your primary
employees request time off and if you have adequate coverage over the holiday season,
not only can you be more supportive of their requests, but you will have the
assurance of adequate support and help during these traditionally high volume months.
Don't take for granted the potential that you and your practice have with
stepping up your boarding services. Clients have many options as to where
and who will take care of their pets while they are away. Why not capitalize
on this great opportunity and have clients so excited to board their pets at
your facility that they make reservations for the 2008 holiday season upon
checking out this year! The above tips will certainly capture the attention
of your clients and offer a great place for their pets to board while creating
a great and fairly effortless way to increase income as we approach the end of 2007.
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