It's a dog-walk-dog world

As we continue to hurtle towards wherever it is we're going to eventually wind up, things are changing rapidly. The world around us and the way we operate within it doesn't look like it did even two years ago. As Louis CK, suggests in this oft circulated clip, maybe that's not such a bad thing. Many businesses that might have once wanted to rule the world are appreciating and protecting what niches they might already have. Where we as consumers benefit from that is an elevated level of customer service that simply doesn't exist in the Wal-Mart, McDonald's universe.

I have two friends who have started a business recently who are operating under that principle right from the very start. Anna DeCaria and Dené Williamson are the owners and operators of Healthy Paws, a pet care service here in Tampa. They have no intention of conquering the dog walking world, choosing instead to limit their services to customers in the downtown Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Island, Ybor City and Channelside districts. This allows them to provide personalized service to a manageable number of genuinely happy clients rather than doing a merely adequate job for a whole bunch of people who may or may not be merely satisfied.

Sure, it's tough times out there. But if we as consumers can reap the benefit of merchants providing better goods and service at the expense of convenience, maybe we're coming out ahead.

Healthy Paws can be reached by sending an email to info@healthypawstampa.com, calling (813) 340-3363 or (813) 382-2662 or by visiting their web site.