Trucking exec rolls into career change with new mobile pet grooming business

happy tails van 1

Happy Tails RVA recently launched in the Richmond region, offering van-based grooming for pets as well as dog walking and pet sitting services. (Photos courtesy of Happy Tails RVA)

A local executive has traded trucking for a vehicle-based business of a different breed.

Meredith Mexal recently launched Happy Tails RVA, which offers mobile pet grooming services as well as dog walking and pet sitting.

Mexal started Happy Tails after a 20-year corporate career in technology consulting, finance leadership, and most recently as a senior vice president at trucking company Daseke. She also had stints at Estes Express Lines and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Mexal took a buyout following Daseke’s acquisition earlier this year by TFI International. The self-described pet lover saw an opportunity to launch a business of her own that catered to people’s furry friends.

“I’ve always been a pet lover and cared about the animals,” said Mexal, whose family has three dogs and a bearded dragon. “One of the things I love about this business is people can disagree on a lot of things, but everyone loves pets. And the thing that’s been the most fun for me is this is such a positive way to go about your day.”

Meredith Mexal happy tails

Meredith Mexal

Happy Tails provides grooming services with a pair of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, which range across the region to bathe dogs and cats. The company also offers ear cleaning and nail trimming, among other services.

Mexal said the vehicles, fully outfitted with grooming equipment, each cost $130,000 and were purchased from Indiana-based Wag’n Tails. Mexal estimated that she spent $100,000 in startup costs for items such as marketing, website development and vehicle down payments.

Happy Tails started to see customers in October and has a service area that extends from around Ashland to Chesterfield, and from Goochland and Powhatan eastward to New Kent.

A bath-and-blowout package starts at $60 for dogs and $80 for cats, according to the company’s website. A 20-minute walk is $25. A typical overnight pet sitting stay is $130 a day.

Happy Tails has six full-time groomers as well as some part-time employees. The company’s vans operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Looking forward, Mexal plans to grow the business with the launch of an online retail store and potentially telehealth veterinary care. She said that by the end of 2025, she hopes to have five vans operating in the region.

She’s betting that with a range of services, Happy Tails can become a preferred provider for pet care and differentiate itself from competitors.

“I think there are a lot of people operating in Richmond who are groomers or pet sitters and don’t do both,” she said. “I think there are a lot of really busy people who want high-quality care for pets in a convenient way.”

happy tails van 1

Happy Tails RVA recently launched in the Richmond region, offering van-based grooming for pets as well as dog walking and pet sitting services. (Photos courtesy of Happy Tails RVA)

A local executive has traded trucking for a vehicle-based business of a different breed.

Meredith Mexal recently launched Happy Tails RVA, which offers mobile pet grooming services as well as dog walking and pet sitting.

Mexal started Happy Tails after a 20-year corporate career in technology consulting, finance leadership, and most recently as a senior vice president at trucking company Daseke. She also had stints at Estes Express Lines and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Mexal took a buyout following Daseke’s acquisition earlier this year by TFI International. The self-described pet lover saw an opportunity to launch a business of her own that catered to people’s furry friends.

“I’ve always been a pet lover and cared about the animals,” said Mexal, whose family has three dogs and a bearded dragon. “One of the things I love about this business is people can disagree on a lot of things, but everyone loves pets. And the thing that’s been the most fun for me is this is such a positive way to go about your day.”

Meredith Mexal happy tails

Meredith Mexal

Happy Tails provides grooming services with a pair of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, which range across the region to bathe dogs and cats. The company also offers ear cleaning and nail trimming, among other services.

Mexal said the vehicles, fully outfitted with grooming equipment, each cost $130,000 and were purchased from Indiana-based Wag’n Tails. Mexal estimated that she spent $100,000 in startup costs for items such as marketing, website development and vehicle down payments.

Happy Tails started to see customers in October and has a service area that extends from around Ashland to Chesterfield, and from Goochland and Powhatan eastward to New Kent.

A bath-and-blowout package starts at $60 for dogs and $80 for cats, according to the company’s website. A 20-minute walk is $25. A typical overnight pet sitting stay is $130 a day.

Happy Tails has six full-time groomers as well as some part-time employees. The company’s vans operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Looking forward, Mexal plans to grow the business with the launch of an online retail store and potentially telehealth veterinary care. She said that by the end of 2025, she hopes to have five vans operating in the region.

She’s betting that with a range of services, Happy Tails can become a preferred provider for pet care and differentiate itself from competitors.

“I think there are a lot of people operating in Richmond who are groomers or pet sitters and don’t do both,” she said. “I think there are a lot of really busy people who want high-quality care for pets in a convenient way.”

This story is for our paid subscribers only. Please become one of the thousands of BizSense Pro readers today!

Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!

For more informaiton, head over to your profile.

Profile


SUBSCRIBE NOW

 — 

 — 

 — 

TERMS OF SERVICE:

ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING [email protected].

ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]




Return to Homepage

POSTED IN Startups

Editor's Picks

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments