Today we’d like to introduce you to Rivers Morrell.
Hi Rivers, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a serial entrepreneur. Nine years ago, I finished a business and was looking for something new. My wife has been an animal lover her entire life, so we combined our passion for animals and marketing and started a veterinary marketing company ─ Vet Marketing Pro.
Through this company, I met Tim Schoenfelder, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of easyvet. Five years ago, if someone were to tell me that I would be a vet clinic owner someday, I would have said “No way.”
Since joining the easyvet team, my wife and I quickly understood that the easyvet business model offered something unique ─ making pet care convenient and affordable for pet parents. We saw an opportunity both in the vet industry and the franchise space for sustainability and growth. We opened our first two easyvet locations in the Dallas area last year. Since the easyvet corporate offices are based in Knoxville, we moved here to open our third franchise and to be close to the easyvet family.
On November 17th, we celebrated the grand opening of our first Knoxville location. I couldn’t be happier to settle in Knoxville and to bring our love and passion for animals to this great community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Business is never a smooth road. There are always a ton of ups and downs and twists and turns. I believe you must always have a positive attitude and keep moving forward. The only time a business doesn’t work is when you say it doesn’t work. The only time a business quits is when you quit on the business.
We’ve been impressed with easyvet, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As I stated earlier, being an entrepreneur is in my blood. I have worked in the pet industry for the last five years and before that, I started a software company in the restaurant industry. In addition to owning three easyvet franchises ─ two in Dallas and one in Knoxville ─ I am also easyvet’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) and proud to say that easyvet is the fastest-growing walk-in veterinary franchise in the country.
I am also Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vet Marketing Pro ─ a veterinary marketing company, as well as the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CloudRetriever ─ an intelligent VOIP platform.
Founded in 2013, easyvet is committed to providing convenient and affordable veterinary care from friendly and compassionate veterinarians and staff. The easyvet franchise model is transforming veterinary medicine, lowering the costs of quality care for pets, meeting the needs of pet parents and veterinarians, and allowing more vets the freedom to start their own practice. Pet owners can walk right into one of our clinics and receive nearly all the preventative services and wellness care their pets need to live a long, happy life at budget-friendly prices.
We believe that it doesn’t have to be expensive to get quality vet care for your pet and that convenience also matters. Whether you are making an appointment, walking in, or checking your pet’s records on your phone, we strive to make it easy for any pet parent.
We are also very proud that our franchise model makes clinic ownership possible for both veterinarians and investors. Currently, there are 17 easyvet locations across the country. The company is planning a significant expansion, tripling to between 50 and 60 franchise locations by the end of 2022.
It’s all connected to the tremendous growth in pets becoming increasingly important members of families and households. In fact, one in five households added a cat or dog during the COVID-19 crisis. Leasing and construction are now underway for the opening of an additional 27 easyvet locations across seven states, including Arizona, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, and yes, of course, Tennessee.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I typically don’t believe in luck. Hard work and never giving up are what constitute success and outcomes in life. However, five years ago, someone on my Vet Marketing Pro sales team cold-called Tim Schoenfelder to discuss marketing for easyvet.
If Tim hadn’t answered that random phone call, I would never have been introduced to him, wouldn’t have opened three easyvet franchises (so far!), and wouldn’t have moved to this great town of Knoxville. That one phone call changed my life.
Contact Info:
- Email: rivers@easyvet.com
- Website: easyvet.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/easyvetclinics
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/easyvetclinics
