About this project: This profile is part of the third installment of a series involving all 44 of The Business Journals’ newsrooms documenting the unprecedented disruption and the personal testimonials of small-business owners affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more here.
This year went from disaster to success for Charlotte entrepreneur Meggie Williams — all within several months.
The Skiptown founder is seeing success with the startup’s first off-leash dog park, bar, pet daycare and boarding center. That 24,000-square-foot space in South End opened in August. The concept continues to expand.
Skiptown recently added a self-serve bath and grooming space. It added heaters to the 15,000-square-foot, outdoor turf area for colder months. Williams said the company’s extra perks — seasonal pet photos, for example — add more value.
Williams said her team has established a baseline for operations and is building on that. Skiptown has grown to more than 2,000 memberships. Scaling the concept is the main focus.
“We definitely have our zest back of quick moving, making fast decisions, testing things out,” Williams said. “We feel really good where we are.”
The bar, with about 25 brews on tap, supports local breweries. Trivia Night is on Thursdays. It also rotates creative drink ideas. A trip to Belmont led to a partnership with the local Cotton Candy Factory and the cotton candy-inspired Candy Punch drink. Community impact is important to Williams. The factory is operated by Holy Angels, which provides support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Pet daycare has logged unexpected growth, Williams said. Skiptown had to readjust staffing to be able to accommodate more than 100 dogs, compared to about 40 initially.
It’s a different picture from nine months ago. The pandemic devastated then-Skipper’s dog-walking business. The flagship Skiptown location was under construction. Williams was forced to lay off 80 employees within two weeks. She sought emergency aid from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, receiving loans totaling about $450,000.
Skiptown’s recent traction has reinvigorated the team, Williams said. She is able to hire again. There are about 70 employees with more openings available. The company still offers dog walking.
Skiptown is eyeing six cities for expansion: Atlanta; Dallas; Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Washington, D.C.; and Columbus, Ohio. Williams wants to open a second location by the fall of next year. She said the team has identified potential sites and is taking in-person trips to see them.
“We’re trying to set ourselves up for the unknown, knowing that Covid is not done and there’s a lot more to get through,” Williams said. “This was another storm. ... There will be many others, and we will make it through them.”
TIMELINE
- March: Business drops from well over 200 dog walks per day to about 10. The company is forced to lay off 80 employees.
- April: The business seeks emergency aid from the SBA Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, receiving about $450,000.
- August: The 24,000-square-foot Skiptown opens in South End. More than 50 employees are brought back to work.
- December: Skiptown has more than 2,000 members with about 70 employees. Pet daycare services have grown to accommodate more than 100 dogs. Hiring continues.
