Missouri Small Business Development Centers  

  Missouri Small Business Development Centers ...
your success is our business
Saturday, May 17, 2008  
 
 
line

Entrepreneur Archive:
Westinn Kennels


Westinn Kennels—St. Charles, MO
Assisted by:
Virginia Wilson, University of Missouri Extension, St. Charles

getting the mail!Canine success that's going to the dogs!

Sharon West's very profitable business, Westinn Kennels, opened in November 1997 as a dog obedience school with 15 kennels. In April 2000, Sharon opened new kennels and turned the business into a boarding and training facility.

Westinn Kennels provides temporary homes for dogs while their owners are away on vacation or business. The kennel also features obedience classes as well as a competition ground for two dog sport clubs. Now, there are 68 runs in two kennel buildings, a grooming area and the dog school. Sharon has updated the obedience school with mirrors and a state-of-the-art floor.

Sharon with dogsWestinn Kennels specializes in caring for animals with medical and behavioral problems. Sharon has five full-time employees and three part-time employees. During the busy season, she employs an additional five to eight part-time employees. Sharon has a certification from Purdue University in applied animal behavior, and two of her employees are full-time professional instructors.


Service provided by Westinn Kennels includes boarding by the day or week, day care programs, potty training and grooming. The obedience school offers professional instruction in all types of pet training, including competition obedience classes. There are programs for board and train as well as private lessons.

Sharon is involved in several community service projects including dog bite prevention for children, nursing home visits and in the very near future a Dog Scout program.

In its first year, Westinn Kennels generated approximately $40,000 in profit and tripled that figure the second year. In October 1999, Sharon began a $140,000 project to expand and built two self-contained, indoor facilities with air conditioning and heating.

walking a dogToday, Westinn Kennels has grown from a client base of around 150 to over 4,000 clients. Clientele come from the greater St. Louis and St. Charles areas. Sharon is currently looking at another big move by expanding the business to include indoor agility classes and a facility large enough to hold dog events such as obedience and agility trials. A veterinarian, groom shop, pet supply store and kennel will also be housed in the same facility.
Virginia Wilson, Business & Industry Specialist, St. Charles County worked with Sharon when developing the business plan for the $140,000 loan for the first expansion and will work with Sharon on her current expansion project, which will be the only facility in the St. Charles and St. Louis areas to offer indoor agility training.

Westinn Kennels
7333 Weldon Spring Road
St. Charles, MO 63304
636-441-8948
westinnkennels@sbcglobal.net


Featured Entrepreneurs and Client Showcase Archive

Manufacturer

  • Able Products of Joplin - furniture manufacturerShowcase 2005 client
  • Billy Goat Industries of Lee's Summit - manufacturer of outdoor power equipment
  • Dynamic Industrial Services of St. Joseph - rebuilder of electric motors
  • Eyes of the World of Rolla - manufacturer of high-quality intraocular lenses for humans and animals
  • Eygon Enterprises of Lee's Summit - manufacturer of a special tool for truckers
  • Feather Light Lamp Manufacturing of Kennett - maker of high-quality lightingShowcase 2005 client
  • H2OVER Beverage Company of Columbia - canned drinking water distributor Showcase 2005 client
  • ISW Group, Inc., of St. Louis - manufacturer of a skin-care product for African Americans suffering with dermatological problemsShowcase 2005 client
  • Mo-Sci Corporation of Rolla - specialized glass manufacturer
  • The Newberry Group of St. Louis - developer of computer security systemsShowcase 2005 client
  • Paper Petals of Fenton - printing and custom design of note cards and invitations
  • Patric Chocolate of Columbia - gourmet chocolate maker Showcase 2008 client
  • Pogue Label and Screen of St. Louis - a specialist in printing labels on plastic containersShowcase 2005 client
  • Premier Foods of Milan - poultry processing plant Showcase 2005 client
  • Renewable Alternatives of Columbia - specializing in the engineering of phase change materials to ensure consistent temperaturesShowcase 2005 client
  • sComm, Inc., of Kansas City - developer of devices to assist the deaf and hearing impaired Showcase 2005 client
  • Sigma Aldrich of St. Louis - chemical manufacturer Showcase 2005 client
  • TechGuard Security of Chesterfield - provider of information network security products Showcase 2005 client
  • ValRich Foods of Jefferson City - produces and distributes La Casita salsas Showcase 2008 client
  • X-Com, Inc. of Warrensburg, - produces digital communications hardware and software for the Navy and other commercial applications and products

Professional, Scientific and Technical Service

Showcase 2008 client Starred clients were a part of the 2008 Client Showcase [more]

Showcase 2006 client Starred clients were a part of the 2006 Client Showcase [more]

Showcase 2005 client Starred clients were a part of the 2005 Client Showcase [more]

 

Accommodation & Food Services

Retail Trade

Educational Services

Health & Social Services

Construction

Agriculture

  • Oswald Ag of Tarkio - custom agricultural spraying service

Visit the current Featured Entrepreneur

 

University of Missouri Extension