Wheelin dealers

Tag : Waste Oil Changer

Because mobile services represent the future, said Kevin Lauck, 37,who put his Aussie Pet Mobile franchise into gear March 17 anddelivers grooming services to homes and businesses.
"Let's face it. People are busier than ever before," Lauck said."It's not unusual for people to be talking to someone on their cellphone between picking up one child from practice and taking anotherto a Scout meeting."
"When you're that busy, what sounds better -- one call to someonelike Aussie Pet Mobile or making two hectic trips to the groomer"to drop off and then pick up a pet?
On-the-go businesses may have special expenses to deal with --outfitting their rolling workplaces, fuel and travel time. Butthere are also potential savings on rent and utilities. And if themobile service charges a premium, customers seem to understand thatthey're paying extra for the convenience, Lauck said.
Here's a brief look at his new business and two others that believethey're steering toward success:
Lauck had worked in financial services for 14 years when he decidedto make a change. "It's one of those things where you're eitherworking for someone else or you're working for yourself," he said.He began looking at possible ventures, "and this seemed like just afantastic opportunity."
"Being a pet owner and a pet lover … this had an appeal to itand it made sense to me, both personally and businesswise," Laucksaid. He bought his franchise from California-based Aussie PetMobile in December.
One of his first steps was to buy a Mercedes van and equip it withall the tools a groomer would need -- a fresh-water tank and wastetank, a power source, dryers, a hydraulic-lift work table and theequipment normally found at a similar fixed-site facility -- exceptfor cages.
Freshly coiffed animals go straight from the groomer's hands backto their owners, which means a little less anxiety for the pets,Lauck said. Owners may, if they choose, stay with their pets forthe grooming.
On a typical day, the service sees six or seven pets, Lauck said.Costs vary according to the location, size of pet and otherfactors, but pricing begins at $65. Lauck is not a groomer, but hasone on staff and another soon to be hired. He plans to add anothergrooming van in September and hopes to have a third within a year.
His service territory includes Louisville, Southern Indiana, andparts of Oldham, Bullitt and Spencer counties.
Rising fuel prices have affected his bottom line, but "it's justone of those things that is part of the cost of doing business forus. We know that we have to just work smarter," groupingappointments along an efficient route.
Long term, Lauck thinks mobile services are only going to grow inpopularity. As modern times "just continue to get more complex,people are looking for things that are going to make their livessimpler." On the Spot Oil Change
Michael O'Brien, his wife, Nancy O'Brien, and partners Julie andMelvin Young started On the Spot Oil Change in May 2004. "I'd beenin supervision for a lot of manufacturing companies for the last15-17 years, and just always wanted to have my own business," saidMichael O'Brien, who does most of the hands-on oil-change work.
At the time, there were hardly any competitors in the mobileoil-change business, he said, and "we went ahead and just went fullbore with it."
O'Brien started "with just a 12-foot-by-6-foot trailer that had allthe necessary stuff you needed to do oil changes" -- tanks for newand used oil, an air compressor, jacks, and various tools andsupplies.
As the business grew, he purchased and renovated two used 10-footbox trucks, equipping them for the business. He also added anemployee to work from the second truck.
In addition to oil changes, On the Spot does tire rotations andwill replace drive belts, wiper blades, air filters, headlights andother bulbs -- just about anything a fixed-site lubrication servicemight offer.
"The difference obviously is we come to you," said O'Brien, 42.
"It seems to be a good niche to get into," he said. "Everybodyknows it's all about saving time and personal service nowadays, andwe strive to do that."
On the Spot will drive to homes or workplaces, and does a growingbusiness in office-park work -- setting aside a day to provideservices at a particular business. Participating employees drop offtheir keys they arrive, and the cars are serviced while they work.
About half of On the Spot's business comes from individuals andhalf from fleet work. Prices are comparable to those at aquick-lube or full-service garage, he said: $30 for a standard oilchange and inspection, which includes cleaning the windshield andcoating it with RainX water-repellent. An exterior wash andinterior vacuum are available for an extra $20.
"If we do five or more vehicles per visit, you get $5 off pervehicle," O'Brien said.
The business has been hit by higher motor oil prices along with therun-up in fuel costs, he said. That "definitely adds to theexpense," and has pushed up prices. One goal is to secure morebusiness at multicar locations, such as office lots "instead ofdriving from one here, one there."
The company also hopes to expand to other cities eventually,possibly through franchising. "But one day at a time," O'Briensaid. "One step at a time." Evergreen AnimalHospital
It's rare to find a family physician who will do house calls thesedays. The same is true for veterinarians. Dr. Brett Hornback thinkshome visits are an important part of the services at his EvergreenAnimal Hospital.
Hornback, 46, a native of Versailles, Ky., comes from a farmingbackground, and "the natural thing was for me to become aveterinarian." He opened Evergreen in 1993 and expanded from "agoose-egg number of clients to several thousand today."
Most of his business is conducted at the hospital, which offerseverything from vaccinations to electrocardiograms, ultrasoundimaging and laser surgery. But soon after he launched his practice,he started getting calls from people asking for home services --often elderly owners or those with physical limitations or otherdifficulties preventing them from bringing in their animals.
He thought, "Well, gosh, there's a need for it. I don't really wantto advertise it … but I will be open to doing it," Hornbacksaid. Now once a week or so, he heads out in his sport utilityvehicle with a stethoscope, lab coat and his "little black bag: Itlooks like an old-time country doctor's bag that they would takewith them, just like you'd see on TV."
Sometimes he can treat the pet at home, but he will also take itback to the animal hospital, if there's a need. He will alsoperform euthanasia, if it's necessary. Owners often want a pet'slast moments to be "in their home, in its comfortable environment."
There's a house-call charge of $65 for the visit, plus the regularcharges for medical services. Hornback said he tries not to acceptappointments more than 20 miles away from his office and hasn'tseen fuel prices as a big drain on his business.
The house calls have helped build his practice, Hornback said.Sometimes pet owners have "just switched over and bring all theiranimals to me now because I provided that one small service forthem."