Unleashing Success: A Franchisee's Journey into the World of “Whole Dog Care” with Central Bark

Christian Lampone has always had entrepreneurial aspirations; now he’s making the leap to business ownership with a Central Bark franchise. For Lampone, the journey into franchising was more than just a career move — it was a realization of a lifelong dream fueled by a love for dogs and a desire to provide a much-needed service to his community.

"I have always wanted my own business; I always knew I wanted to own something,” he said. “This opportunity with Central Bark is a combination of my passion and investment strategy and my plans for the future. I have always loved dogs and wanted to work with them, and there is a huge need for it right now.”

With pet ownership soaring during the pandemic, Lampone recognized an untapped market demand for quality day care and secure overnight stays for pets, especially as their owners returned to the workplace. Lampone, who has  a personal affinity for large breed dogs and a commitment to animal welfare, saw Central Bark as more than just a lucrative business opportunity; for him, it’s also a platform to advocate for rescue dogs and provide them with nurturing environments where they can thrive. He looks forward to bringing five locations to Doylestown, Pennsylvania, in the coming years, with the first opening anticipated before the end of 2024.

Lampone is currently a User Experience Design Team Lead for a pharmaceutical marketing agency and feels his previous career experience will serve him well in business ownership, as will his extensive experience in owning and looking after dogs. However, he also looks forward to the support provided by the corporate team for his first foray into business ownership.

“I’ve had dogs for 30 years now and I'm very familiar with training them and caring for them, but in regards to running a business, to have a franchise behind you might cost money, but it comes with a level of experience that is immeasurable,” he said.

1851 Franchise spoke with Lampone about his journey into franchising and his plans for the future.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Lampone: I’m a designer. I work for a pharmaceutical marketing agency currently and I’ll continue to do so until I transition fully into my new business.

I’ve always wanted my own business; I always knew I wanted to own something. This opportunity with Central Bark is a combination of my passion and investment strategy and my plans for the future. I’ve always loved dogs and wanted to work with them, and there is a huge need for it right now. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Lampone: I didn’t know anything about it. Some people told me to just open something up for myself instead, but I'm very much a planner, and I want to learn and be trained to be the best. 

I’ve had dogs for 30 years now and I'm very familiar with training them and caring for them, but in regards to running a business, to have a franchise behind you might cost money, but it comes with a level of experience that is immeasurable. They’ve been doing this for decades and the corporate team brings their background of success to the table to help you succeed. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Lampone: During COVID, everybody got a dog and now everyone is going back to work so there is a high demand for care for these pets. The supply is limited for quality day care and secure overnight stays. In my area, the current wait is six to eight months out at the moment. 

I have a German shepherd and I have a rottweiler, which are both types of dogs that don’t tend to travel easily because they often don’t meet the requirements of hotels or things of that nature. My dogs have always really liked to socialize around other dogs and other people, so for them, it's a vacation as well. For me to be able to have a facility that can provide that level of comfort and security for the dogs is incredible.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Lampone: I’m hoping my first location will be open before the end of 2024, depending on the availability of commercial real estate. All the data analysis shows that there is a major need in my area for these services, so I am looking forward to opening four more locations after that over time.  I want to create a strong foothold with the successful business model in Doylestown, and then be able to expand that out to neighboring areas.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Lampone: I am dedicated to anything I do. I have a great attention to detail but, most importantly, I love dogs. 

Dogs need a certain level of attention, exercise and enrichment during the day and that's one of the great things that Central Bark brings to the table that I don't see in other day care or pet service  franchises. Central Bark combines its leading dog day care expertise with the latest in canine behavior science to create a healthy and balanced blend of exercise, social group play, learning, rest, and love. Central Bark also requires outdoor space for the dogs, which isn’t true of a lot of the other day care centers.

The biggest thing for me though, is just my love of animals. I’m huge on rescue dogs; I’ve had four rottweilers, two of which were rescues, and then I’ve recently rescued my first German shepherd. Central Bark gives me the opportunity to work with these dogs and so many others because we have a non-breed discrimination policy. Furthermore, Central Bark is a big supporter of local rescues and shelters and I can’t wait to work with them to bring those dogs into the fold and better socialize them to hopefully increase their chances and their opportunities of being adopted by loving families.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Lampone: Do your research. I have been talking to Todd, the director of franchise development, for at least 6 months and have asked a million questions. Make sure you find out as much as you can.

I knew I wanted to do something with dogs; there are countless franchises within each industry, so you need to find the right one for you. Find one that makes sense from an investment perspective, but also find a brand that you can buy into and get behind their values.

About Central Bark: 

The Central Bark franchise system was founded in 2003 and now operates under the name Barkley Ventures Franchising, LLC. For more than 20 years, the brand has grown to nearly 40 locations across more than a dozen states. The company has hosted over two million dog visits. Central Bark participates in VetFran, the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) veteran program, and offers a franchise fee discount to qualifying veterans. Central Bark is also an IFA MinorityFran participant. For more information about franchising with Central Bark, visit centralbarkusa.com/franchising or call 866-799-2275.