The zoom room opening a franchise in seattle soon

Date AddedAugust 25, 2010 12:42:37 AM

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Zoom Room Franchise When longtime Seattle residents Mark and Jaime Van Wye left Washington State, they always planned on returning. This spring, they plan to return in a big way.

Mark Van Wye is the COO of the Zoom Room, a CA-based company that celebrates the social aspect of dog ownership. The company was the brainchild of his wife, Jaime Van Wye, who created the Zoom Room with an extensive background in the pet care industry. Jaime Van Wye is the National Boarding Chair for the Pet Care Services Association, formerly the American Boarding Kennel Association, or ABKA.

For years, Jaime had assisted clients with opening their own pet care establishments, but she found that there was a shortage of facilities for pet owners who wanted to participate in agility training. Seeing the market potential for an indoor dog play facility, her idea quickly took hold in several areas, including Austin, TX; Culver City, CA; and Hollywood, CA. But the Van Wyes always wanted to return to the Seattle area, and this spring, they plan to open a Seattle-area Zoom Room.

"Jaime and I both have roots in Seattle," noted COO Mark Van Wye. "We have family in Kirkland, Sequim, and West Seattle, and we're extraordinarily familiar with the Seattle area. We both lived and worked there, and we're passionate about the area. It's such a dog friendly city, and Seattle is always rated so highly on the Humane Index. The Seattle Humane Society adopts out thousands of animals each year and Seattle is a very dog-friendly city that has always been compassionate for rescuing, placing, and caring for dogs. It's a city for people who want to be active with their dogs, enjoying their company."

The Zoom Room is similar to a dog park, but as an indoor facility, it is not restricted by inclement weather or by limited light during late evenings. Van Wye enthusiastically described the company's qualities. "There are opportunities for puppies to play there safely, learning awesome tricks, and it's a wonderful way for dogs and their owners to develop their relationships. We see old dogs, young dogs, deaf dogs, rescue dogs. We're also a canine event center, and we've seen fifty-plus people at an event with their dogs. We have a 90% retention rate with our clients because we continue to offer classes that keep them engaged with their dogs and with other dog owners."

For the Van Wyes, the Zoom Room was all about doing something that they truly loved.

"Our clients see the Zoom Room as a great way to get out and exercise and deepen the communication with their dogs," Van Wye noted. "And we don't train dogs - we train the people who love them. It's all about the bond between dog and owner."

With the opening of this new branch also comes an opportunity for a franchise owner. According to Van Wye, "We're not a cookie cutter company. We're selective, and we're looking after the growth of the business and for a 'home run' person to run this business." The Zoom Room is currently evaluating applications for a Seattle-based franchise operator, and Van Wye noted that the job is for "...a person who is reevaluating their career and wants to do something that they love. It's set up to be a successful business model that's also fun."

The Zoom Room hopes to be a neighborhood presence in the Seattle area, offering a weekly agility league, a therapy dog program, and a reading program for children. "We have a program where shy children can read to therapy dogs," Van Wye noted, "and it helps them overcome their shyness. The dogs seem to love it, as well!"

The opening of the Seattle Zoom Room promises to be an exciting event for Seattle-area dog owners and for the Van Wyes.

If you would be interested in owning and operating a Zoom Room franchise in the Seattle area, click here to learn more.

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