After nearly 20 years in law enforcement state service, my
husband and I ventured into our passion, our dogs. Without any
business experience I left a very rewarding career in state law
enforcement and launched a business we both had passion for. With
no road map to follow, the single rule we relied on above anything
else, was that our store would never stock a product that we did
not fully believe in. All food and treat ingredients are thoroughly
examined and approved before we allow anything in the store.
We pride ourselves on customer service. We are extremely
knowledgeable on our products and the best ones to feed for
specific pet needs and their ultimate health.
Over the years our advertisement has become our customer base.
The best money can’t buy! We believe an honest, unadulterated
species correct meal, for our beloved pets, is the best remedy for
every malady. By feeding them right and removing all of the poisons
the industry subjects them to, we reveal a healthier pet with
renewed longevity.
FranchiseExpo: What is Ben's Barketplace franchise
opportunity all about?
Sally Romero: Everything about Ben's
Barketplace® - from the food to the marketing to the franchise
management – is about keeping it simple. No games or gimmicks.
Bottom line, we build healthy dogs and cats utilizing the highest
threshold nutritional food products available. We avoid anything
that compromises their health in the process or our image. The pet
industry enjoys a unique customer, a mute customer that cannot
complain. Therefore we are their advocates, it is our
responsibility to learn and understand exactly what is required for
them to flourish and thrive! about
Ben's Barketplace.
FE: Who is your ideal candidate for a Ben’s
Barketplace franchise?
SR: Ben's Barketplace® actively
seeks highly-qualified individuals to become franchisees. Prior
business experience, coupled with personal financial
qualifications, individual motivation, and a track record of
success are important factors in our evaluation process. Having the
finances is a big part of the equation, but a genuine passion like
ours is a must as well. If you don't, please seek a different
franchise. Our franchise will not be for you! You have to be an
honest, strong, hard-working, ethical individual, who respects
yourself and others. You've got to take specific, detailed, &
disciplined direction extremely well. You can't have a criminal
history. You've got to love life and dogs and cats! Last, be
excited to work harder than you ever have in your life. It is a
very rewarding business!
FE: What type of training and support do you
offer Ben’s Barketplace franchisees?
SR: All new franchisees participate in
a 5-week training program. This consists of 2 weeks of training and
3 weeks of real life management experience by way of our
apprenticeship program in a franchised location. Once completed,
franchisees receive regular updates to their training, including
on-site reviews.
FE: What are some of the advantages in being a
Ben’s Barketplace franchisee?
SR: Some franchisees would consider
opening their own independent pet stores. However, they soon
realize that our
franchise system is due to a proven track record of
growth, sustainability and the ability to negotiate favorable
pricing from distributors. The Ben's Barketplace® system
gives franchisees a distinct brand and tremendous buying power.
Our customer consultations separate us from ANY competition.
They would not have these resources if they were not a part of the
Ben's Barketplace® system. Franchise storeowners also have
confidence in knowing that if they have a question about a product,
service, or system, their franchise support team is only a phone
call away. We will develop a strong relationship and pass on
our knowledge from our decade of experience in the industry, in
addition to nearly 20 years of experience maintaining the optimal
health required for law enforcement K9's to perform at peak
levels.
Our franchisees are confident that the Ben's Barketplace®
system is secure in accessing and providing the necessary research
into the most highly qualified product selection. Ben's
Barketplace® franchise systems is very rigid regarding product
selection to insure and maintain the health and quality of life for
pets. This is our passion and this is our goal.
Our Ben's Barketplace® franchisee's feel like they have opened
their own independent store with the benefits of a franchise system
and the support they require.
FE: Are you a member of any
Associations?
SR: IFA, VetFran
FE: Tell us a little about the pet
market?
SR: $58.04 BILLION WAS SPENT ON U.S.
PETS IN 2014, WITH A 30% INCREASE IN U.S. PET SPENDING OVER THE
LAST FIVE YEARS! THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO $60.59 BILLION
IN 2015, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PET PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION
(APPA).
Our passion is to be the most health conscience and innovative
pet supply retailer in America. In doing so, our franchisees
understand our faith and commitment to them. The health and
longevity of customers’ pets fosters peace of mind in knowing that
Ben’s Barketplace® is a reliable resource for healthy products for
their pets. This is the fastest growing section of the
pet market. We take this responsibility seriously and
provide the support necessary for our franchisees to grow their
business by being a reliable resource for their customers.
FE: How successful is your company today and
what are your future growth plans?
SR: Ben’s Barketplace® continues to
enjoy a 15% growth per year. We are targeting expansion into the
western states, with goals set for controlled development in each
state to ensure our franchisees are provided with the strongest
support to achieve success no matter where they are located.
FE: What are your franchisees saying about the
business?
SR: Ben’s Barketplace® has just recently
been rewarded with the ability to franchise in western states. Our
first level franchisees will enjoy the rewards of our franchise
expansion and participate in our long-term goals and their ultimate
success.
FE: What advice do you have for someone looking
to acquire a Franchise?
SR: Show a genuine interest in a Ben's
Barketplace®. Schedule a phone call with us. This will
be an informational call to ascertain what you are seeking in a
franchise and to become better acquainted with each other. We can
then share with you the next step in process. This will help you
with your due diligence and create transparency to ensure you are
comfortable with your decision. During the Education Process you
will learn more about the Ben's Barketplace® brand, the support we
provide, and get a glimpse at some of the vendors we work with.
During this process we also want to learn more about you to make
sure you are the right fit for our brand as well. You will have the
opportunity to speak directly to the Ben's Barketplace® family and
get to know us better. We will have questions for you so we can
ascertain whether you're the right fit for us.
FE: In your opinion, why do you think that Ben’s
Barketplace would be a great opportunity for
someone?
SR: A Ben's Barketplace® franchise
requires a lower initial franchisee investment than many other
businesses. Because a Ben's Barketplace® franchise is not
exceedingly complex to duplicate, and does not require a large
staff or inordinate amount of equipment, our format delivers a
higher yield per square foot through operating efficiencies,
including lower product and equipment costs, and reduced labor.
Whenever possible, we negotiate pricing arrangements with our
suppliers on behalf of our franchisees. In many cases this allows
our franchisees to benefit from volume discounts.
