Are you a dog person? Well, I can say that I am - and it led to my first entrepreneurial idea. This past summer, I ran into the issue of wanting to spend time with my brand-new puppy, Millie, while doing my homework. I did not want to bring her to the outside patio of a Starbucks, where she would be just as miserable and sweaty as I would in the middle of the summer. This led me to a new idea idea: how great would it be if there was a cafe that allowed dogs inside? After doing some research, I saw that the only one was in New York City - where I was interning for the summer. That weekend, Millie and I went to the dog cafe, and went in to talk to the owners. Their dedication and love for dogs inspired me to open one in a different location later on in my career. The owners mentioned the several legalities behind starting the dog cafe, and how it took over 2 years to get the dog cafe approved by the FDA and the city of New York! It helped me logistically consider starting something so complex later on. Meeting the two owners of Boris and Horton (the dog cafe) was a great experience, as they showed me how much dedication to an idea had paid off for them. Within a year of opening, they already have had one expansion, and are planning to further expand the space to meet demand.
I joined this class because I realized there is so much I have to learn about the business world. I plan on starting my own business one day (whether it be a dog cafe, consulting firm, or hedge fund), and hope to gain a bit of knowledge before my college experience is over.
The first picture shows the coffee shop side of the building, the second shows the logo (named after the owner's two dogs), and the third is of my puppy, Millie, eating one of their dog donuts on the dog side!
Melissa, this had to have been one of the coolest posts i've read yet! I'm a huge dog person, I actually just adopted a dog hours ago, and the idea of a cafe where dogs were allowed inside just touches my heart. That's so awesome that you had the confidence to go in there and talk to the owners, I'm sure that was an awesome learning experience before you. I hope you decide to open this dog cafe in the future, I'd probably even be one of your first customers!
ReplyDeleteHello Melissa, I have to say that the dog cafe its a great idea! I really enjoyed reading about your experience and how this type of cafe could expand in the future. I truly am a dog person and I really would like to take my dog to one of this places in the future. Keep doing great posts like this!
ReplyDeleteHey Melissa, your experience with the dog cafe has made me realize the idea is wonderful for dog lovers and I am surprised this is not more popular. For this reason alone, I hope you are successful in opening your own cafe. I am a dog person myself, and I would be glad to visit if the opportunity presented itself.
ReplyDelete