Our Rex’s Place Holiday Letter to You

To our dear Rex’s Place Family,

From the bottoms of all of our hearts, we wish you all a holiday season filled with love, peace, and gratitude. We are filled with gratitude for all of you and your dogs whom we love so much!

Many years ago, when I started putting pen to paper about the type of company I wanted to own, I started with the core values I wanted to instill in the business.

• I wanted to build a business where everyone thrives as a team.
• I wanted to build a company where each individual is respected for who they are, where they are not expected to be clones of one another but rather people who all have ideas, yet their individual ideas are never more important than the success of the team.
• I wanted to build a company where these different and unique people would all work together to create a positive impact on the business and the clients we serve.
• I wanted to build a company where employees were proud to work and where they knew their work was respected and recognized, where honesty and decency were evident in everything we did.

I then went on to what I wanted to bring to the table.

• I wanted to bring financial security to anyone who worked for me; thus, we have always paid higher than minimum wage (even when we first started out and didn’t even have dogs yet)
• I wanted to do the exact opposite of everything I was taught during my time in corporate —OK, not everything, but most things. In the corporate world, it was always profits before people.  We all strove to make sure we weren’t leaving a dime on the table because that was what the company valued and that was what we were judged on. I did not want that mindset in my company.
• I wanted a company that would put its people before its profits.
• I wanted a company where people would grow in their jobs.

With this background in mind, I look at Rex’s Place now and when I take stock, I’m proud. Not just proud of what I built here, but proud of the staff at Rex’s Place, the progress they have made as a team, and the people they are.

Not one of us thinks, looking back on 2024, that this year was easy (or that next year will be easier). Nevertheless, we have a lot to be thankful for, and an awful lot that we can look back on with pride. We accomplished an awful lot in the last 12 months. So in the spirit of holiday cards, let the bragging begin!

WE FINISHED THE RENOVATION!

This feat alone is worthy of story and song! After all the delays and the difficulties, we finally opened up our building — our very own building!!! The whole thing!!! — at our 14th Anniversary Grand Reopening last March!

We had so much fun taking everyone through the whole building, showing off all the improvements and the new, functional layout, sharing Garrett’s popcorn and delicious Bennison’s treats with all our guests.

AND THEN WE FINALLY GOT NEW YARD TURF!

We almost didn’t get it in time for the holiday letter, but it’s here now! If you haven’t seen the videos

on Facebook, we were able to include it in our new facility tour video, which you can see here! The dogs love it and we’re quite pleased as well.

We are thinking of having a Yappy Hour for owners and dogs in the yard this summer. Stay tuned as we start planning!

WE GOT A NEW PHONE SYSTEM!

We hope you find it easier; we sure do. Of course, as with any technological “advancement”, there was a start up period and a learning curve but we really like it. Remember, our main number is 847-920-8739 but for pickups and drop-offs, always text us at 847-420-6298!

WE GOT NEW SOFTWARE!!!

Another technological advancement! We finally have our new software up and running, and it’s so much easier for us to run the business with Paw Partner. We hope you find it easier to use as well. Updating vaccination records is a breeze now compared to before, and staff has an overview of everything going on every day. Another adjustment period behind us, and onward and upward!

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE EVANSTON ANIMAL SHELTER

One of the best things about Evanston is the Evanston Animal Shelter, and we are so proud to

partner with them to provide day care for appropriate Shelter residents, getting them socialized

and helping to decompress them which helps them adjust better to new homes. We were also one of the sponsors of the 2024 Tails About Town Gala which raised much needed funds for the Shelter’s work not just saving homeless animals but also helping to keep animals with their families during tough times.

WE ARE LAUNCHING AN ESOP!

Rex’s Place is a small, local, woman-owned business in Evanston, and looking forward past Kathy’s retirement one day, we hope to keep it entirely local. So this year, we laid the groundwork to launch an Employee Stock Ownership Program in 2025. Our staff boasts one of the lowest turnover rates of any canine enrichment facility we know. And now, their stake in our success is even greater as they will become part owners of Rex’s Place. The plan is for the staff to take over when Kathy is finally ready to retire. So instead of being bought out by a faceless corporation with no roots in the community, we intend to be in Evanston and of Evanston for a long, long time!

INVESTING IN OURSELVES AND OUR FUTURE

Meanwhile, until the ESOP kicks in, staff got a couple more additions to their workplace benefits. Because of our business’s success and financial health, Rex’s staff got paid time off as well as 401(k) savings in 2024. One of the things we are focused on doing is developing the staff. Allowing them to pay themselves first to prepare for their own retirement is of huge importance. And the staff understands that, as well. Participation in the 401(k) program is high and strong.

And 2025?

We don’t expect will be any easier than 2024, if we’re honest. There’s so much uncertainty in the

world, and we are not immune to those forces. But we have each other — we really work as a team at Rex’s Place — and we have you, our extended Rex’s family. We will continue to develop, to improve every day, to rise to each occasion.

On behalf of my staff, of whom I am so very proud, we wish all of you a happy holiday season, however you celebrate, filled with peace and joy. We can’t thank you enough for supporting our local business and for sharing your beloved dogs with us. And we look forward to every opportunity to serve you in the future.

With genuine, heartfelt gratitude,

 

 

 

Kathy and everyone at Rex’s Place