How Scoop Soldiers Built an Enhanced Territory in Nashville, Tennessee

Scoop Soldiers, the 40-plus unit and counting pet waste removal franchise, has expanded to become a leading brand in its category. The brand is currently focused on expansion and is actively seeking a franchise partner to set up shop in Nashville, Tennessee, where Scoop Soldiers has recently established an enhanced territory.

But how exactly does Scoop Soldiers manage to enter a new market? According to Scoop Soldiers CEO E.J. McCoy, that process can be split into three stages: identifying the right market, seeding the region, and establishing a presence in the area.

Market identification

Market Identification

In order to establish an enhanced territory, McCoy revealed that the brand looks at specific metrics to identify new markets. These metrics include population density and demographics such as household income. The brand also targets regions where there are homeowners who are willing to pay for convenience, as well as pet owners with disposable incomes.

According to McCoy, Nashville was a natural market for the brand to enter, based on factors like the city’s proximity to the Scoop Soldiers headquarters in Texas, as well as its growing population density. Nashville is seeing an influx of new residents moving to the city, as more and more professionals are transferring to the area from places like California, which made it an attractive market for expansion. Although it’s a further distance, McCoy says population growth is also one of the many reasons why the brand chose to expand into Phoenix, Arizona in 2017.

Market seeding

Market Seeding

McCoy says Nashville was on the corporate team’s radar for nearly two years before they decided to lay the groundwork for expansion. For Scoop Soldiers, the process of launching in a new market or enhanced market can take less than 90 days. That being said, the brand was able to successfully establish its presence in Nashville in under 60 days. McCoy credits this quick expansion to the team’s expertise with the business and technology sides of the brand.

“We’ve got the advantage of having a pretty big and incredibly talented team. It doesn’t take us long to launch in either a brand-new market or an enhanced market like in Nashville,” said McCoy.

Scoop Soldiers is already operating in more than 13 states. Because it’s an established franchise network, the brand is able to quickly identify and distribute the manpower and resources needed to launch in a new market quickly. The franchise also has a system set in place for recruitment, training, and establishing market demand. But McCoy suggests the process isn’t as simple as it may sound.

“Every single city is unique and has a different economy. There’s a lot that goes into it. Before we enter a new market, we need to make sure we have the proper manpower and resources to meet the demands of potential new customers. We do a ton of research before we get started in a new territory,” said McCoy.

Market establishment

Market Establishment

McCoy says Scoop Soldiers needed to understand the unique economy and dynamics of Nashville in order to establish its presence successfully. The brand had to figure out factors such as specific areas and zip codes it would offer service, the minimum wage, manpower availability and more.

With that in mind, Scoop Soldiers began sending technicians and team members to the Nashville area in January 2022 to start serving new clients. This allowed the brand to establish itself, despite not having an open franchise location in the area. It also allowed Scoop Soldiers to learn the unique dynamics of Nashville.

The brand is now seeking a long-term franchise partner, who will be serving three territories, including Northern and Eastern Nashville, as well as Franklin. Each territory has a population between 400,000 to 500,000, which could be a lucrative opportunity for the right prospective franchisee.

As a result of the brand’s system, new franchisees within pre-established markets could effectively be in business within 90 days or less.

Path to success

Path to Success

McCoy emphasized three key points that have contributed to Scoop Soldiers’ continued success. Firstly, their focus on brand value, and being one of the newest and freshest brands in the pooper scooper industry, has allowed them to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Secondly, their team and culture have played a critical role in building a strong foundation for their business. Finally, their growth history, both in Nashville and in other individual markets, has positioned them as a formidable player in the industry.

With plans to expand into all non-registration states, Scoop Soldiers is looking towards the long term and building brand awareness, and according to McCoy, setting themselves up for continued success for years to come.