Listen to this articlePress release: Central Bark
Central Bark, the premier dog grooming franchise and industry leader, continues its aggressive national expansion with the signing of new franchise agreements in Henderson, Nev. and Phoenix, Ariz. There are three new units slated for Henderson and a single location at Phoenixthese four new franchise locations mark the brand’s first entry into these markets.
Leading the expansion of the Central Bark to Henderson with a three-unit development agreement are longtime community members and an entrepreneurial couple Jennifer and Kevin Morss. After a 30-year career in social services where they helped homeless families, sexually exploited youth, those with HIV, and more, the couple was looking for a change. The family has always loved dogs and wanted to combine their passion for dogs into a business that would be both a cultural and philosophical fit. Enter the Central Bark.
“As we contemplated our move out of social services after three decades, we knew we still wanted to be involved in our local community, but in a different way,” said Jennifer Morss. “As lifelong dog lovers and foster dog parents, we knew we wanted to be in the dog industry, but it had to be a good fit. We looked at different dog businesses but when we connected with Central Bark, we knew right away that there was something special, unique, and better about the brand. The culture, commitment to dog safety above all else, and the tangible ability to quickly grow a business is exactly what we want. We can’t wait to open our first location in 2024 and look forward to helping the brand grow Henderson.”
Once open, Jennifer will assume day-to-day operations with Kevin providing ongoing support. Joining them in their new endeavor will be their black labrador Bella, white terrier Gizmo, a white cat named Rainbow, a pink axolotl salamander named Friend, and even their Russian tortoise named Tortellini.
In Phoenix, Daniel was happy signed a franchise agreement to carry the first Central Bark Arizona. With a background in IT and tech sales for nearly a decade, Glad was looking for a career change and a business that would allow him to work for himself in an industry he was emotionally connected to. He looked at various franchise options including coffee, fast food, and even golf, but there was something about pet services that caught his attention. A lifelong dog lover, and currently looking to adopt a new rescue dog, full time dog care seemed like a natural fit. After thorough research into the space, Central Bark stood out from the competition.
“While I do my due diligence, I keep coming back to Central Bark for three main reasons,” Glad said. “One, they value the safety and well-being of the dogs in their care over all competitors. Two, Central Bark possesses diversified revenue streams that are great from an ownership perspective but also provide the most comprehensive approach to whole dog grooming in the industry. And three, it’s the people. The culture, the collaboration, and the unified approach are remarkable. I knew right away that was something I wanted to be a part of.”
For 20 years, Central Bark has encouraged dogs and their owners nationwide to experience its Enrichment Dog Day Care, which combines Central Bark’s industry-leading day care expertise with the latest in science of dog behavior. Enrichment Dog Day Care provides a healthy and balanced blend of exercise, social group play, learning, rest, and love. To round out its approach to whole dog grooming, Central Bark also offers boarding, training, grooming, a boutique retail market, and additional services.
“We are excited to welcome Jennifer, Kevin and Daniel to our growing family of Central Bark franchisees,” said Tim Weiderhoft, Ed.D., CFE, chief development officer for Central Bark. “With every new deal we sign, we know we’re changing the dog care landscape. And now we’re moving to the beautiful Southwestern states of Nevada and Arizona. We’ve been strategic in our growth by design because we’d rather grow with the right operators like Jennifer, Kevin, and Daniel than sell for the sake of selling. With their incredible backgrounds and commitment to winning, we know they will be extremely successful.
Central Bark typically features approximately 6,000 to 7,000 square feet of indoor space and over 2,000 square feet of outdoor play area. Activities include small flexible playgroups, group work on skills, break periods and personalized one-on-one enrichment sessions. Enrichment add-ons give puppies the extra attention they want and the freedom to use their senses, safely exploring with their instincts as they interact with interactive toys, puzzles, and games .
