Business Feature: Little Tailwaggers
Our new blog series features Black-owned businesses from across the U.S.
Little Tailwaggers, Inc. is a new pet grooming business that opened in February 2021. Owner Keelin Brown operates his business at a storefront in Knoxville, Tennessee, offering pet grooming services to customers in Knox County and the surrounding area. Keelin spoke with us recently to share his story, and the challenges he faces as a small business owner in the current economic climate.
Keelin loves dogs, and that’s why he started Little Tailwaggers, Inc. He wanted to turn his love of dogs into a business that he’d enjoy every day and would create jobs in the African American community. He enrolled in dog-grooming training, opened his store in Knoxville, and set out to make his business profitable. The business just opened and he hopes to build it into his full time project, but like many small business owners, has other income streams while trying to get Little Tailwaggers off the ground.
His biggest challenges as a business owner have been finding funding and hiring staff. He wants to create jobs and opportunities for people of color in low income communities. He offers training to potential hires, and would like to change the fact that African American pet groomers are rare!
Little Tailwagger’s marketing strategies include social media (Instagram & Twitter), PR (which has landed them in news outlets in Knoxville), as well as neighborhood small business events. Word of mouth referrals have been the most cost-effective way to acquire new customers during the pandemic and the least costly in normal times.
We gave Keelin the broad outline of our software that makes Black-owned businesses easier to find, and he supports the concept. Speaking as the owner of a small business, he appreciates our efforts to make businesses like his easier to find and support at no cost to him. Shop For A Better World’s software will make businesses like Little Tailwaggers more discoverable online and help his business grow.
If you’re in or around Knoxville, Keelin has your pet-grooming needs covered.
For more store information, click here.