Client Spotlight: Robin Elms
Robin Elms, CEO & Founder of WOOF Adventure, has always held a passion for dogs. With a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science and seventeen years of experience training dogs in pet daycare agencies and veterinarians’ offices, she chose to start her own business. In 2000, Robin started a dog training company but realized soon after that she did not have the business expertise needed to run a successful enterprise.
After hearing about Washington CASH from a family self-sufficiency program, she realized, “this is what I need.” After reestablishing her business in October of 2008, she began business development training courses in January of 2009. Washington CASH offered Robin the support and resources necessary to get her business off the ground. Since entering business groups in March of 2009, she has made use of the peer loans available to group members, using the capital to increase advertising and marketing initiatives for her business. For example, Robin was able to brand her company van with Woof Adventure signage. “I just can’t say enough good things about CASH. They’ve helped me move into a whole other level with my business.”
WOOF Adventure is a dog service company which provides outdoor adventures and training for dogs in the Seattle area. Robin brings a behavioral expertise to her approach in dog training. “When dogs walk with me, they automatically receive training.” Whether a dog is dealing with aggression, anxiety, or phobias, Robin will bend over backwards to find the solution to the issue.
Robin was recently accepted into Washington CASH’s Business Accelerator Program, which serves as a conduit for increasing revenues by widening networking opportunities, eliminating isolation through a strong community of business owners, and providing individual office spaces. The mission of the Accelerator is to help microenterprises grow their part-time business to full-time, sustainable ventures. “The Accelerator gave me the professionalism I was looking for. People see that I am really serious with my business.”
Owning her own business has been extremely rewarding: “There is a different kind of fulfillment as an entrepreneur than in working for someone else.” Robin runs her business like a family. “The business is about the dogs, but it’s also about the WOOF Adventure family. For my customers, these dogs are their ‘fur children.’ As a dog owner, I understand that. Dog owners need to know that their pets are in capable hands; with me, they do.
In line with the family feel of her business, Robin, who does not currently have employees, envisions her business moving into the co-op level which would allow each employee to have co-ownership. Currently, 90% of her business comes from referrals. However she says, “I have big ideas for marketing WOOF Adventures.” Listen to Robin describe her vision of dogs pulling people on scooters through downtown Seattle (let’s call it an urban form of dog sledding) and you can’t help but get on board.
