ONE HOUR TO A SHIFT IN PERCEPTION
CONFUSION NEAR AND FAR Not only did the financial well-being of many pet services businesses suffer, the emotional and physical wellbeing of the owners, management and staff was at major risk due to an invisible threat. A threat resulting in major stress. The type of stress that left unchecked, results in overeating, excessive drinking, unnecessary spending, illness, and emotional breakdowns. While some of the struggling business owners went into a wait and see mode, hoping beyond hope this was a temporary situation, others realized just how volatile the situation was and would continue to be. Feeling victimized by a faceless predator, it became apparent this was not simply going to go away. For many, the answer was simple. Turn on the news to get daily updates which inadvertently sucked them into a roller coaster ride of emotions, amplifying their feeling of helplessness.
PET SERVICES BECAME ESSENTIAL IN SOME AREAS A ray of light glimmered through when some pet service businesses were deemed essential. A huge sigh of relief crossed the lips of the owners of day care centers and boarding facilities who could make their services available to frontline workers. Although some businesses were struggling beyond anything they could imagine, others were emerging bigger and more solid than before. A surge in online shopping for pet products due to pet owners turning to the Internet for home delivery and parking lot pickup from brick and mortar stores, some pet service businesses are doing well. Yet, it wasn’t “business as usual.” There were restrictions owners had to adhere to that cut into their profit margins due to the increase of sanitation requirements. To minimize the financial impact to their businesses, many owners immediately
PET CARE PRO QUARTERLY | Q3 2020 | IBPSA.COM/PETCAREPRO | 29
