Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Gwynn.
Hi Andrew, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Hi There! Yes Andrew here. I’m brand new to San Diego and a first time entrepreneur.
In my personal life, I most enjoy being a dog dad to Sherlock, a German Shepherd + Chow mix. Some of my hobbies include quality time with friends and family, hiking, kayaking, car culture and sketching vehicles, photography, attending concerts, shooting hoops, reading, and much more. It’s a good day if I learned something new!
My career thus far has been project management, mostly in the transportation industry and startup environments. This includes Hanjin a once global ocean freightliner, Carvana a national online auto retailer, ATLIS Motor Vehicles a heavy-duty EV truck manufacturer; and now General Atomics a military defense contractor specializing in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University with a focus on Technological and Entrepreneurial Management. My LinkedIn page is linkedin.com/ajgwynn and has more details, including my resume.
I’m hustling to build a fresh take on dog boarding as a business and reaching out to share some details of my idea with you. So here goes!
Like many others who got a “Covid Buddy,” I often struggle deciding whether or not to leave my dog home as we rebuild our social lives as businesses and activities reopen. Every minute I get to share with him matters.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a place we could temporarily bring our pets while we catch a movie, have dinner downtown, or go to a game? Most daycare/boarding places close in the evenings or require overnight stays, rather than just 2-3 hours. Rover and Wag are great, but that takes time to request, confirm, drop off and is usually overnight if booked later in the day (and it’s awkward to disrupt someone else’s night, especially if plans change).
What if you could just… Park Your Pup?
Park Your Pup is an upcoming San Diego based dog boarding service, with a particular focus to provide convenient pay-by-the-hour care while you eat, shop, work, play or otherwise enjoy the city, knowing your pet is in good hands! Our mission is to provide quality care of animal clients in ever evolving ways with fun as a focus, so that our human clients can socialize and invest in the local economy with peace of mind that their furry friend is having just as much fun around the corner.
Our intent is to become a go-to resource for pet owners who have evening, weekend or otherwise last minute plans and don’t need a traditional sitter or boarding service for the few hours they go out. As the business evolves the hours of operation could expand into 24/7/365. I believe in promoting the local economy and intend to partner with businesses who could “validate the parking” by sponsoring an hour or two of pet boarding services to drive further traffic between each other.
My goal and dream with this project is to test the concept of short-term, convenient pet boarding in our new hometown of San Diego, and if when this proves successful, expand to a regional, then national, and/or global reach.
The current focus is on market research, building a customer base, and improving the business idea. Operations may be able to start 2023 if a location is found and funding is in place.
Having a project management background has allowed me to at least identify a lot of the needs and problems to solve as well as the general roadmap to create a true business model. As I refine my vision, I’m also seeking to get the word out, find business partners, investors, future employees, and friends through this effort.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Is any business built on a smooth road? This is my first attempt at entrepreneurship and doing it on my own in a new city, so that’s an ongoing (but exciting) hurdle. A few struggles include…
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Obstacle 1) I tend to be the type of person who gets motivation and energy from others, and I haven’t had much support yet
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Obstacle 2) I have significant personal debt and am not able to fund the business.
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Obstacle 3) My vision for this includes a facility to operate out of, so without that, I am not able to test the idea.
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Obstacle 4) I don’t know anyone in San Diego yet, so my reach to build an interested customer base is somewhat limited.
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Obstacle 5) I don’t have much experience with the legal, sales, or financial aspects of a business, so those are areas I’ll need to learn
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My interest in marketing/brand management has helped make this both fun and professional to continue working on. I’m loving the aesthetic, and as an introvert, I’m lucky to have access to a lot of creative tools, including AI and stock media, to develop the story. I just posted my first video advertisement!
I’d say what sets me apart from others is the level of detail, quality, and care that I strive to provide. I’m here to build a meaningful business and am keenly aware of the experiences for both customers and employees.
This project is very much an experiment to see if there’s a sustainable demand for such services. It is currently in conceptual design with the framework and foundation being created throughout 2022. Operations can launch mid-2023 once a location and funding is available. In three years we may see additional store(s) open in San Diego and in five years expand to other cities.
Please consider sharing our page and contact info with anyone you think would be interested in getting involved. I welcome support in any capacity, be it business partners, investors, a landlord, future customers, feedback, etc. At minimum a location and customer base are needed to test the concept.
Thanks and take care!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
My favorite apps…
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ClickUp (project management)
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G-Suite (docs, storage, email, etc.)
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Spotify (music and podcasts)
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Spark (email)
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DoorDash (food delivery)
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Kindle (eBooks)
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Google Maps (especially to pin places to go to)
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SkillShare (online learning platform)
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YouTube (unlimited content no matter what your interests are)
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Instagram (social media)
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Canva (content creation)
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CapCut (video editor)
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EventBrite (events and socializing)
My favorite books…
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There’s A Hole in Your Love Cup (a therapist’s explanation of childhood development)
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The Power of Now (mindfulness and learning to be present)
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Wherever You Go There You Are (mindfulness)
My favorite podcasts…
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Toni and Ryan (a hilarious Australian duo)
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SmartLess (a fun interview show led by Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes)
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Non-Technical (interviews with tech people about their non-work life)
My favorite resources…
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Sherlock (my dog and the inspiration for this)
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The people in my life
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The Internet
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TikTok (endless content about unique skills)
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Nature
Pricing:
- I’m targeting a pay-per-hour cost model initially at $15 per hour of boarding services
Contact Info:
- Website: direct.me/parkyourpup
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkyourpup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Park-Your-Pup-100776002657284
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzdpJVfwNWo9gVBmE3l3R6w
- Other: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b0840bbd-5bad-4457-bd82-7083edf3a0ae/downloads/Park%20Your%20Pup%20-%20Business%20Plan%20Slide%20Deck.pdf?ver=1659509467780
Image Credits
Andrew Gwynn
