We are super proud of our franchisees John and Elaine Warburton
We are so proud of our amazing Barking Mad Fife & Kinross owners, John and Elaine Warburton! They have been shortlisted for the 2019 bfa HSBC Franchise Awards in the Lifestyle category. The awards are the franchising industry’s most important form of recognition.
The event, hosted by the British Franchise Association (bfa), champions those in franchising who have shown exceptional business acumen over the past 12 months. To get shortlisted for the Lifestyle category, you must have shown how your franchise unit has thrived while you have still been able to work your business around your life, rather than the other way around.
Owners of six dogs, five chickens, three guinea pigs, two cats and two rabbits, it’s fair to say that John and Elaine are completely Barking Mad, so it made sense for them to run the franchise that provides an exceptional dog sitting service.
Working with dogs and dog lovers every day was John and Elaine’s dream
John and Elaine have owned Barking Mad Fife & Kinross for four years. In that time have shown significant year-on-year growth. They are particularly customer focused and have continuously received 5* Trustpilot reviews. Examples of incredible customer care that they have shown include not charging for looking after a pet for two weeks when the owner fell ill abroad and was unable to return home, and reassuring customers that their dogs would stay safely with their host families during a large snowstorm, embodying the theme for the most recent Barking Mad Annual Conference – ‘Together Towards Tomorrow’.
John and Elaine said:
“We are thrilled to be finalists and receive such high level recognition for the hard work that we put in to our business. For us, running our Barking Mad business allows us to choose how and when we work. Being Barking Mad is not a job, it’s a wonderful way of life for us!”
John and Elaine are delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award
Marketing and innovation
John and Elaine recently gained national exposure when looking for a wife for Prince Harry, a Newfoundland who was a regular customer. Of course, his companion had to be a Meghan. The campaign got exposure on STV and in numerous national newspapers, showing their innovation too, with Harry finally finding his Meghan.
But what is particularly noticeable is their ability to do all this without detracting from family life. They work the role around their daughter and other commitments. Although they work around 48 hours per week they are flexible, including being able to walk their own dogs during the day and fitting work around important family commitments.
Praise for John and Elaine
Pip Wilkins, CEO of the bfa, believes the pair fit the franchise model perfectly:
“John and Elaine embody Barking Mad’s 2018 conference theme ‘Together Towards Tomorrow’. Their attention to detail and dedication to their customers has seen them really grow their franchise.”
Andrew Brattesani, Head of Franchising at HSBC, stated:
“John and Elaine are living the dream working for Barking Mad. Working with animals all day, and looking after their own, gives them great pleasure, and for them to make a successful business out of this is testament to their hard work and passion.”
John and Elaine will go head-to-head against two other franchisees in the Lifestyle category from a company that works in performing arts for young people, and a seasonal decorators. The winner will be announced in Birmingham on June 27th.
Are you happy with your lifestyle?
Running a Barking Mad business allows our franchise owners to experience flexibility and a family-friendly lifestyle. If you are finding your current career unrewarding and restrictive, perhaps it is time for a change? All our franchise owners absolutely LOVE dogs! If you think that running your own home based business could be just the opportunity which you are looking for, why not get your paws on our prospectus and find out more about running a successful business working with dogs?
