TAMPA, FLORIDA: Florida State graduates Ilana Karcinski and Kelly Nova are set to make an appearance on ABC's 'Shark Tank' on October 20 at 8 pm. They will be pitching their wedding day pet-care business named FairyTail Pet Care.
The childhood friends founded the company in 2015, recognizing that it fulfilled a niche often overlooked amidst the extensive wedding preparations.
"But once we graduated, we got a job working at the Hilton here in Tampa and started seeing this problem popping up all the time," Ilana explained to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Adding, "For the first time, everyone you trust is unavailable because they're attending your wedding."
Ilana added, "It's the last thing you want to be worried about. They're literally your baby, and who's going to take care of them on one of the biggest days of your life?"
However, the first two years were difficult since the concept was so new to the wedding business.
They relied on a network of wedding photographers and planners who had observed couples' panic and anguish about wedding-day care for the man and wife's pet friend.
Kelly stated that FairyTail Pet Care is now a reality. The Tampa-based company is expanding into new regions with franchisees in West Palm Beach, Las Vegas, and Pittsburgh.
What is FairyTail Pet Care?
FairyTail Pet Care specializes in allowing couples to involve their dogs in their wedding festivities. While weddings may be chaotic, FairyTail Pet Care guarantees a stress-free, delightful experience for both pets and their human counterparts.
With a history of giving to animal shelters and an attitude based on "pawsitivity," the firm has offered a one-of-a-kind service to the wedding circuit since 2015. The company's practices demonstrate a significant dedication to animal care.
FairyTail Pet Care has not only figured out how to include pets in weddings and other events, but it has also utilized its platform to help animal shelters.
So far, the organization has contributed more than $20,000 to local animal shelters and volunteered countless hours to find homes for shelter animals.
FairyTail Pet Care provides a variety of services that are tailored to the needs of the couple and their pet. The initial engagement begins with a complimentary meet-and-greet session to learn about the pet's personality and specific needs, guaranteeing a suitable fit for the big day.
On the day of the event, the firm handles everything from pet transportation to liaising with event providers. They also bring a goodie bag with supplies such as puppy wipes, lint rollers, and poop bags.
However, the services do not stop there. FairyTail Pet Care dresses up the pet's look with custom-made wedding bandanas and a choice of carefully produced flower arrangements that match the wedding's theme.
Special care is taken to provide a pleasant environment for the pet, which includes exercise and exploration to keep them happy and at peace.
FairyTail Pet Care reportedly uses numerous GoPro cameras to capture the memories, creating movies that portray the experience from the pet's perspective.
These movies capture natural, uplifting moments that give a sentimental element to the wedding footage. Concerns concerning pet-friendly settings are also addressed by the firm.
FairyTail Pet Care, a licensed, bonded, and insured pet-sitting service, works with wedding venues to understand their pet policies and create methods to incorporate the pet into the celebration.
If a location does not allow pets, additional preparations are made to ensure the pet may still participate, such as including them in wedding pictures.
The attention to detail at FairyTail Pet Care extends to post-wedding services as well. They provide pet-sitting services in the couple's home or hotel room, allowing newlyweds to relax knowing that their pet is in good care.
Who is the founder of FairyTail Pet Care?
Ilana has been a Sales Manager at the Hilton Tampa Westshore for two years. She previously worked at a food firm and a restaurant. She is one of the company's co-founders.
Kelly is another firm co-founder. For the past two years, she has worked as a Group Coordinator at Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
FairyTail Pet Care founders Ilana and Kelly have been the closest friends since they were 13 years old. Their common passion for animals motivated them to rescue Cooper, Rowdie, and Grizzie when they were roommates in college.
These canines not only got a home, but they also served as the inspiration for the company's logo, which was created using their real silhouettes. Before starting FairyTail Pet Care, Ilana and Kelly worked at a Tampa-based hotel, where they discovered an unmet need in the wedding market.
Many couples wanted to include their dogs in their nuptials but were sometimes overwhelmed by the practical difficulties. Having identified this need, Ilana and Kelly set out to create a one-of-a-kind solution that would cater to this niche. As a result, FairyTail Pet Care was established, spawning an entirely new segment of the wedding industry: Wedding Day Pet Care.
What is the cost and how to book FairyTail Pet Care?
FairyTail Pet Care is a pet wedding service franchise. Their starting fee is $600, which covers three hours of one-on-one care and transportation. One can book the service by visiting the company's official website.
This service includes expert pet care providers, vendor coordination, black/white tuxedo bandanas or imitation flower collars, and many other things. Each franchise can cost between $22,400 and $37,800.
On their website, people left positive reviews like, "Having our Callie with us on our wedding day was so special and knowing she was being cared for by the BEST made it perfect. We are so happy we made the decision to hire FairyTail Pet Care!®"
Another person wrote, "Our dog is super strong & stubborn. We also wanted to include our cat. Our family told us it would be impossible... & then we found FairyTail Pet Care®. It was the best decision we made."
One customer also added, "As protective as we are over our fur babies, it took a lot to trust their care to someone else. We never expected to be as pleased as we are. Our dogs loved the team at FairyTail Pet Care® and were so well-behaved with them!"
Where is FairyTail Pet Care now?
According to the owners, they have spent nearly a decade creating a template that would encourage the formation of the wedding pet care sector.
They got an email that was so astonishing that they mistook it for spam a year ago. But it was genuine: a 'Shark Tank' casting producer contacted them and encouraged them to participate in the show.
Then came the shock, followed by exhilaration and anxiety. They spent the next six months preparing to enter the Tank, equipped with business numbers and answers to every question posed by the show's sharks.
They headed out to the 'Shark Tank' set in June.
They arrived on the show with a couple of four-legged friends who were all dressed in tuxedo bandanas. Over 1,000 pets have been successfully integrated into weddings and other celebrations, recognizing the value of pets as members of the family.
Who will steal the deal?
Lori Greiner may not make an offer since she does not like dogs. Barbara Corcoran could make an offer as could Mark Cuban, but fans might ultimately see Kevin O'Leary or Robert Herjavec may swoop in and steal the deal.
Robert is a major fan of dogs. If he agrees with the concept, he could offer a deal. Kevin, on the other hand, would be an ideal Shark. His wedding-related business platform has the potential to significantly increase demand for these services and the franchising model.
'Shark Tank' Season 15 Episode 4 airs on ABC on Friday, October 20, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like FairyTail Pet Care, Buena Papa French Fry Bar, Monosuit, and Paddlemash.
Missed episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Not just that, viewers can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.
