Meet Shar Wilkinson of Sea Spot Walk in Huntington Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shar Wilkinson.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2015, I was working as a Credit and Collections specialist, and hating every minute of it. I spent my days on the phone talking to customers about money issues, and to get through my day, I would surf dog pictures online. Then one day, I heard a report about dog walkers and I thought to myself- that is the dream job, how do I make that happen?

I went home, spoke to my then boyfriend (now husband) about this crazy idea and he responded with, “write a business plan and let’s review it”. So I did.

I researched, planned, and consulted with friends who have MBA’s for about 4 months and finally felt that I had a good plan in place.

I then took the biggest, most terrifying step in my life, and quit my full-time job.

2 years later, I have 3 employees and my company is still growing!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The first few months of being open for business were some of the scariest times in my life. I questioned my decisions, I cried often, and I had night sweats and anxiety attacks on a regular basis.

They were also some of the hardest months because in order to get the word out about my services, I walked door hangers door-to-door and hung them at each house of over 1000 homes around my neighborhood. My legs were swollen and my feet ached like they never had before in my life- even though I have run marathons!

I tend to be a shy and reserved person, particularly when meeting new people, so talking about myself and my new business was an extremely difficult challenge for me (I would much rather hang out with dogs!). But, I attended local events and forced myself to be more outgoing and talk to people. Over time, this has become much easier for me, and although it still isn’t my favorite thing to do, I no longer struggle to do it.

Sea Spot Walk – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Sea Spot Walk is primarily a dog walking and pet sitting company, and we have recently begun Obedience Training as well.

We are different from other dog walking companies in our area because all of our employees have passed a background check, and are Pet CPR Certified. At all times, we have access to your pet’s veterinary information, and we always carry a first aid kit, as well as water for your pet. Every walk is tracked via a GPS watch, and at the end of the walk, a link to the map of the walk as well as a report on how your dog did, is sent to you via text message. We often include photos and short videos as well. Our Pack Walks are limited to 3 dogs at a time so that we can focus on what each dog is doing.

We pride ourselves on catering to your dog’s needs (as well as yours). We have flexible scheduling, and we can accommodate last minute requests.

Our Obedience Training programs are also based on our mission of catering to you and your dog’s needs. That is why we meet with you first to discuss your particular concerns, and then we create a customized training program for you. We do all of our training at your house, or in the neighboring areas (again depending on your dog’s needs).

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is achieving goals- no matter how big or how small they might be. I find that by setting goals, I am able to create a step by step plan to reach those goals, and then it is only a question of committing myself to working hard and completing the steps in my plan. Once I have completed a goal, I try my best to celebrate that achievement and really enjoy that moment. Then, I begin to think of a new goal to work towards!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.seaspotwalk.com
• Phone: 949-910-6048
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaspotwalk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seaspotwalk/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/seaspotwalk
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sea-spot-walk-huntington-beach

Image Credit:
Paz Kinnaman Photography

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