At only 19 years old, Lucy is our youngest franchisee to date! When deciding what kind of career she wanted to pursue, she knew that working with animals was a must. And, when Lucy’s dad saw We Love Pets advertised on Channel 4’s “Steph’s Packed Lunch,” he knew it was the perfect fit for her.
Why did you choose a franchise over setting up your own business?
I chose a franchise primarily because of the support it offers, and We Love Pets felt especially welcoming as a family company.
Why did you choose WLP?
My dad actually saw Ryan speaking on Channel 4 when talking about the franchise opportunity, and he felt like it was perfect for me. We had a look at the website, which was really informative and answered most of my questions – I realised We Love Pets was just what I’d been looking for!
Did you look at any other franchises?
No I didn’t look at any others, only We Love Pets.
What did the word ‘franchise’ mean to you before you came across We Love Pets?
I don’t really know, other than associating it with fast food chains. But when I spoke to Ryan, he explained that a franchise offers the opportunity to run the business on my own, with a support network of other franchisees and resources behind me. It was reassuring to know that I wouldn’t be alone!
What was your day to day like in your previous role?
This will be my first ‘career,’ so to speak, but I’ve been working at Sainsburys part-time for about a year. My day to day involves quite a bit of customer service, which I enjoy.
What was the final straw for leaving your previous job?
There wasn’t a ‘final straw’ so to speak, as I’m still working at Sainsburys now, however I am planning to move away from it as I launch the branch. And I knew that it wasn’t something I wanted to pursue as a career, so I started to look for opportunities that I could really invest my time and energy into, and that ideally allowed me to work with animals. Animals are my passion!
How long had you been thinking about changing your career?
Since I have the unique perspective of really just starting out in my career, I feel lucky to have found an opportunity that fits me so well!
Do you have any pets of your own?
Yes! I have a 6 year old golden retriever called Lola, two full grown cats – Misty (a Maine Coon) and Zeezu (a shorthaired black cat) – as well as a brand new Maine Coon kitten, Aquila.
What do you love most about your area?
Wakefield is just on the outskirts of Leeds, and it’s such a peaceful place to live! I actually live just behind a reservoir and it’s so nice to go there to hang out, or walk the dogs, in the summer. As we’re located in West Yorkshire, there are lots of lovely parks and fields nearby as well.
What have you done in the past that you think will help you in your new venture?
My customer service experience from Sainburys has helped me gain confidence in talking to people, and enhanced my social skills, which I think will really help me as I meet with customers and assist them with their pet care needs. I’ve also spent quite a lot of time volunteering in kennels, so I have experience in dog handling and working with animals.
What hobbies do you have?
I try to be as active as I can! I enjoy hanging out with my friends, skateboarding, visiting nice places and exploring my area. I also love volunteering in kennels and forming a bond with the animals I work with.
What’s an interesting/fun fact about yourself?
I used to do gymnastics and went on to tumbling & trampolining.
Which are your favourite animals?
My all-time favourite animals are tigers and lions, I absolutely love big cats. Runners up are definitely seals and otters!
What’s your biggest achievement in life?
I’d have to say that passing my driver’s test has been my biggest achievement to date.
What do you think will be the best part of your job as a We Love Pets franchisee owner and what are you most looking forward to?
I’m really looking forward to recruiting some good people and building a team I can trust! I think the very best part though, will be making bonds with the animals and their owners.
