Smart Savings: Using Discounts Wisely at Your Dog Boarding Facility

Offering discounts can be a powerful way to attract new customers, retain loyal ones, and keep your facility buzzing during slower periods at your dog-boarding facility. But when used the wrong way—or too often—discounts can undercut your revenue and train clients to expect lower prices.

So, how do you strike the right balance? Let's dig into the pros and cons of discounting, explore smart reasons to offer them, and highlight strategic ways to make discounts work for your business, not against it.

The Pros of Offering Discounts

When used intentionally, discounts can support both short-term and long-term business goals. They can:

• Boost occupancy during slow seasons: A timely promotion can help fill otherwise empty kennels during off-peak times.
• Reward loyalty: Offering a discount after a certain number of stays or to long-term customers encourages repeat business.
• Increase the value of each booking: Multi-pet discounts or bundled services can entice customers to book more than they normally would.
• Attract new clients: A first-time customer promo can help potential lifelong clients get their feet in the door.
• Encourage upgrades or add-ons: A small discount on enrichment services or grooming may prompt customers to splurge on extras.

The Cons of Discounts

That said, discounts aren't always a good idea. Overusing them can:

• Train customers to wait for sales: If you're constantly running promotions, pet parents may delay booking until prices drop.
• Cut into profits: Deep discounts can hurt your bottom line, especially if you're not seeing a return in long-term loyalty.
• Undervalue your services: Customers may perceive your services as less valuable or of a lower quality if your prices are always negotiable.
• Create confusion or inconsistency: Without a clear system in place, discounts can lead to errors, customer dissatisfaction, and staff frustration.

Discounting Should Be a Strategy—Not a Reaction

One of the most important lessons from pricing experts is this: Discounts should be part of a plan, not a panic button.

If you're tempted to drop prices because bookings are low, take a moment to assess why. Is your marketing not reaching new audiences? Is customer retention slipping? A price drop might be a short-term fix, but if it does not solve the root issue, it could hurt more than it helps.

That's where strategic discounting comes in. When used strategically, discounts can help you;

• Influence customer behavior (e.g., book longer stays or book a new service)
• Reward specific actions (e.g., referrals, loyalty)
• Fill capacity at predetermined times (e.g., mid-week bookings)
• Introduce a new offering or bundle in a low-risk way.

The key is to set clear goals and track results. If a promotion fills empty slots and attracts new return customers, that's a win! If it draws one-off bargain hunters who never rebook, it may not be worth the cut.

When Should a Kennel Offer Discounts?

Discounting isn't just slashing prices to keep up with the competition—it's about offering value in a way that supports your business strategy. Consider offering discounts when:

1. You want to encourage longer stays. A price break after a certain number of nights can motivate customers to extend their boarding.
2. You're trying to fill vacancies. Seasonal dips or mid-week lulls can be great times to run short-term promos.
3. You're rewarding loyal customers. A discount as a "thank you" can make clients feel valued—and keep them returning.
4. You're promoting new services. If you're introducing grooming, training, or enrichment add-ons, a limited-time deal can encourage customers to try them.
5. You want to reward the right kind of behavior. Use discounts to encourage actions that grow your business—like referring friends or booking online.

Smart Discount Strategies That Work

To get the most from your discounting efforts, keep them targeted, purposeful, and easy to manage. Here are a few proven approaches we've seen for pet businesses:

1. Multi-Pet Discounts

Pet parents with multiple dogs often look for ways to save money when boarding the whole pack. Offering a discount for the second (or third) pet is a great way to make your services more appealing while filling more kennels at once.

Tip: With Gingr, you can automate multi-pet discounts to apply only when pets share a lodging, keeping things fair and organized.

How-To: Create a Multi-Pet Discount

2. Extended Stay Discounts

Encouraging customers to book a few extra nights? Offer a small discount for stays past a set threshold, like 5 or 7 nights. It's a win-win: they get a better rate, and you maximize occupancy.

Tip: Gingr makes it easy to set up rules that automatically apply extended stay discounts based on length of visit.

How-To: Create an Extended Stay Discount

3. Loyalty Rewards

Who doesn't love a freebie? Consider offering a free night or service after a set number of bookings—like a "Buy 9, Get 1 Free" style reward. It's a great way to encourage loyalty without giving discounts upfront.

Tip: Gingr's discount tools include free service options that activate after a set number of nights, fully customizable to fit your business model.

How-To: Add Free Service After Number of Nights

4. First-Time or Referral Discounts

New customers often need a nudge. A modest first-time discount or a referral program that rewards new and existing clients can help you grow your customer base while keeping your loyal clients engaged.

5. Limited-time or Seasonal Promos

Consider offering special deals around holidays, summer travel season, or back-to-school time when pet-parent routines shift. These short-term promos can help create urgency and increase bookings during key times.

Tip: Limit the duration and communicate clearly. "Book by Friday to save 10% on summer stays!" is specific, motivating, and easy to manage.

How Gingr Helps You Discount Strategically

With Gingr's flexible discounting features, you can:

• Set up automated discounts that apply based on rules you define, such as number of pets, nights stayed, or type of lodging.
• Offer percentages or flat rates, depending on what makes sense for your business.
• Combine discounts with packages or membership pricing to increase revenue per client.
• Track which discounts perform best, so you can make data-driven decisions.

With Gingr's kennel software, your team won't have to worry about manually applying discounts at checkout. Everything is streamlined, accurate, and easily adjusted as your business strategy evolves.

Pawfect Pricing Starts Here

Discounts can be a powerful tool for your dog boarding facility—but only when used intentionally. By offering thoughtful promotions that align with your business goals, you can boost bookings, build loyalty, and provide great value without giving away the farm.

So whether you're rewarding your most loyal clients, filling weekday openings, or running a seasonal promo, the key is doing it purposefully. With Gingr's smart discounting and automated pricing tools on your side, managing promotions is one less thing to worry about, so you can focus on what matters most: happy pups and even happier customers.

Book a demo with Gingr today!