The Pitfalls of Entrepreneurship:

Starting and running a successful business is the American Dream for many people, even though the obstacles to starting a business are many. Taxes, employee benefits, bank loans, and all the other red tape pertaining to the startup of a business venture are just the beginning; staying in business and growing a loyal customer base is an even greater challenge for a young company, and many don’t succeed beyond the first year.

When it comes to local brick and mortar stores and service businesses, this is especially true. Relying on local clientele means a business must be competitive and provide superior customer service in order to retain repeat customers and gain word-of-mouth referrals.

However, even a successful local business that beat the odds cannot expect smooth sailing forever, as misfortune or disaster can strike unexpectedly.
Tom Fralia, owner of All Natural Pet Supply in Hazel Dell and Southeast Vancouver, understands this all too well. Fralia had a thriving business serving satisfied pet owners from his Hazel Dell location. However, even with happy, repeat customers and a thriving business, his store was destroyed over the course of merely 40 minutes.
Fralia’s and others’ businesses located in the Holly Park Shopping Center sustained severe fire damage this last January, devastating not just their storefronts but in most cases, their entire businesses.

While it’s true that there is much more to a business than the structure that houses it, the importance of the physical location cannot be underestimated. Insurance coverage often only reimburses a fraction of the losses, and replacing destroyed and damaged inventory comes out of the pockets of business owners.
Additionally, a shop keeper cannot simply move to another location and pick up where he or she left off; it can take months to secure a lease, move in and make it customer-ready. During this time customers will likely have gone to a competitor.

“Once someone visits a business three times, it becomes a habit to keep going there. Plus with other business’s rewards system and punch-card style customer retention tactics, it’s an uphill battle to get them back,” says Fralia.

The Holly Park Shopping Center will not be reopening any time soon, so if and when business owners reopen their doors, they will be essentially starting from scratch.
Though All Natural Pet Supply’s storefront was destroyed, Fralia remains fully committed to his business and his customers. A true entrepreneur, Fralia is finding ways to continue to serve his customers despite the serious setback.

Today, All Natural Pet Supply offers an online ordering service and Fralia is personally delivering pet food, grooming supplies, treats, and toys to his customers’ doorsteps. Customers can also place an order and pick it up themselves from his East Vancouver location or Canine Utopia in Hazel Dell.

He is even attracting new customers by offering $10 off their first web order by using promo code ANPS0419 through April 15th by visiting: https://allnaturalpetsupply.com/.
Fralia has always placed a high value on customer satisfaction, and luckily this tragedy hasn’t diminished his dedication. When the doors to All Natural Pet Supply in Hazel Dell open next year, he is hopeful that his continued commitment to local pet owners will help the business gain footing again.

Tom Fralia is the owner of All Natural Pet Supply in East Vancouver and Hazel Dell. For a limited time, new online customers can receive $10 off using promo code ANPS0419.

In store, present printed ad to receive $10 off kibble bags 12# or larger (limit 1) or $5 off raw food (limit 1) offer expires 4/15/19.

East Vancouver location: 3425 SE 192nd Ave #108, Vancouver WA 98683. (360) 694-7387
Canine Utopia: 1503 NE 78th St Ste 15, Vancouver WA 98665. (360) 573-0667
Order Online: https://allnaturalpetsupply.com/