NYC’s First Self-service Dog Wash Spa

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nicola Leggo and Arlette Sarkissians, co-founders of Now You're Clean, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are the first Self-Service Dog Wash Spa & Boutique in NYC. We make washing your dog easy, convenient, affordable, and fun! We launched our first retail location in NYC's East Village in August 2021. Home to our self-service dog wash pod – a private bathroom for dogs, big or small. Inside the pod, dogs and owners get to access a professional spa-like service with a spacious, ergonomic tub and aromatic scents where calming music plays to reduce any bath-time anxiety the dog may experience. The wash products automatically flow directly from the machine with a touch of the screen. Our industrial-strength dryers make the process faster than thought possible. Our boutique houses a range of designer dog products and accessories for fashion-conscious canines. Our outdoor backyard area – The Buddha Club, is a private play membership for the ultimate pup and parent social life. - Arlette Sarkissians, Co-Founder

Tell us about yourself

Before starting Now You're Clean, I worked for 15 years as a Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant. For most of my career, I worked for one of the Big Four firms as part of their Consulting practice, where I advised Fortune 500 companies on their strategy and global transformation programs. My focus was the Consumer Industry, and prior to leaving the firm was responsible for developing and executing the firm's go-to-market strategy for serving large companies in the Consumer Industry - I consider myself very lucky to be able to draw so much from these experiences. - Nicola Leggo, Co-Founder

In addition to Now You're Clean, I founded Arlette Jewelry back in 2002. I still work in this business and continue to design, manufacture and launch lines of jewelry for women all over the world. I work with a team of talented Italian jewelers, and I've been fortunate enough to be able to create custom pieces for some very well-known figures. I really do love the start-up space - it gives you so much freedom to be creative and to craft your own path. - Arlette Sarkissians, Co-Founder

We started as roommates living in a small NYC apartment with Nicola's rescue dog, Mia. We personally knew how few options there were to wash your dog - you could either use a groomer or create a huge mess at home by attempting it in the bathroom. As we began to speak to other dog owners, it became apparent that this sentiment was shared by many.

During lockdown in 2020, we used our time at home to research other options, but all we found were a few "tub and a bottle of shampoo" style set-ups. In a dog-friendly metropolis like New York City, where pet owners value their dogs as members of their families, we knew that there had to be a better solution.

A bath is a basic hygiene need, yet when most owners think about washing their dog, they think of mess, stress, and expense. Many dogs also experience anxiety at bath time. Our focus is on creating the best customer experience (for both humans and dogs) so owners can enjoy washing their own dogs in an easy and fun way. We love watching bonds strengthen, and over time we've seen many dogs begin to relax and tolerate bath time better. When our customers say, "thank you for being here," it makes every hard day worth it, and we know we're doing something right. There's no greater motivation than knowing you are making a difference in someone's life. - Arlette Sarkissians, Co-Founder

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Watching the business come to life and a community build around it has been the biggest achievement. Now You're Clean started as an idea over a glass of wine. We took that idea and made it a reality, which is the most difficult part. There were moments we stood biting our nails while one of our crazy ideas was being built, praying it would come to life as we imagined it in our head. We thought about every detail and were told many times not to worry so much about the details (sometimes we should have listened, we've learned a lot)! But every day, we get to enjoy the reactions of our customers as they walk into the store and appreciate the effort, time, and love we put into making it their best bath time experience ever. Now we have an exciting road ahead to continue to innovate on the foundations we've laid, to make Now You're Clean even better, and push even harder to grow and take the business to the next level. Less than 12 months ago, we were not operational, and today we're three weeks away from opening our second location. It has been the most challenging time in both our careers but by far the most rewarding. We can't wait for what's next. - Nicola Leggo, Co-Founder

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The highs and lows of starting and owning a business can be a rollercoaster. Staying mentally and emotionally resilient and not succumbing to fear and doubt during tough days is challenging, especially in the beginning. We've learned (and continue to learn) that no matter how prepared you think you are, every day, there will be a new challenge or unanticipated situation to deal with. Instead, we now expect it and focus on solving them when they come. - Nicola Leggo, Co-Founder

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Always trust your gut feeling. If it feels good, go for it. The best decisions feel right to your core every time. If it doesn't, then pause for a minute – the opportunity will likely pass, and you'll be left with a sense of relief as opposed to regretting.
Don't focus on the competition; focus on being the best – by providing a service or product that you believe in first and most.
Chose the right people for your team that you can rely on and trust.
Meditate.

-Arlette Sarkissians, Co-Founder

Please follow us on social media @nowyoureclean as we are about to open a new location with more locations to follow soon.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.nowyoureclean.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nowyoureclean
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowyoureclean/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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