From Childhood Hustle to Thriving Business: How Cierra Scoops Keeps Growing
Photo by Chuck Konkle
When Cathy Konkle pitched a business idea to her 10-year-old daughter, Cierra, she had no idea it would turn into a decade-long success story. What started as a way for a young girl to earn some extra spending money has evolved into a thriving pet waste removal business that serves multiple communities across Indiana.
Now that she’s grown, Cierra is pursuing a new career path, but her legacy lives on. Cathy has taken the reins, expanding Cierra Scoops into a full-scale operation while keeping the original mission alive: making pet owners’ lives easier, one yard at a time.
A Business Born from a Simple Idea
It all started with an episode of The People’s Court. Cathy was watching a case involving a professional pooper scooper, and she found herself fascinated with the viability of the business.
“The man was explaining how he started his business because it was flexible and he stuck with it because it paid the bills,” Cathy recalls. “His comments resonated with me, and it sparked an idea.”
With that thought in mind, Cathy approached her daughter.
“How would you like to have your own phone and buy whatever makeup you want?” she asked Cierra.
Like any 10-year-old, Cierra was immediately interested. However, she wouldn’t jump into anything blindly. “Let me think about it,” she told her mom.
It didn’t take long before she came downstairs and exclaimed, “I’ll do it!” With that, Cierra Scoops was born.
Lessons in Reliability
Cierra found her first client by offering her services to her neighbor, Dorothy, who agreed to pay $10 a week for her yard to be cleaned. It was a small start, but it taught her about hard work and responsibility.
Cierra worked through wind and cold, even launching her first official cleanup on March 22, a day Cathy remembers as miserably cold and windy. When asked why she didn’t wait for a warmer day to get started, Cierra responded, “I was tired of being poor.”
As with most 10-year-olds, Cierra had much to learn about reliability. She lost her first client after asking to reschedule so that she could play outside. It wasn’t the first time she had rescheduled, and her client simply stated, “I’ll call you when I need you.” Cathy knew what that meant and had to break the news to her daughter.
“Cierra, you just got fired,” she explained. At first, she didn’t believe her mom, but that call never came, and Cierra had to move on. It was a tough lesson that shaped how they operated going forward.
Cierra made it her mission to grow her client list. She attended networking events with her mother, handed out business cards, and even landed an article in a small magazine called Granger Does It, which helped bring in new customers.
As the business expanded, Cathy and Cierra worked side by side, cleaning yards, managing clients, and slowly building their reputation. They were even featured in the South Bend Tribune in 2018.
As Cierra’s business grew, so did her responsibilities. While balancing school and extracurricular activities like color guard, Cierra managed multiple clients, often doing six jobs in a single day with Cathy driving her from house to house. Slowly, their customer base grew, and they realized they needed more help.
Scaling Up
By the time she was a teenager, Cierra had reached a point where she couldn’t manage the workload alone. The COVID-19 pandemic led to people staying home and realizing their yards needed extra attention, which caused business to explode.
Cathy knew that she needed to bring in additional scoopers to join the team. At one point, Cierra hired a 14-year-old girl named Leah to help with the growing workload. Though they didn’t know each other at first, working together quickly turned them into close friends.
“They ended up doing every job together for a while,” Cathy recalls. “The business gave them extra income and a lasting friendship.”
By July 2022, Cierra, who had been scooping for 8 years, officially stepped away from the business. Since they had a team of scoopers and a full client roster to consider, Cathy took on managing Cierra Scoops full-time.
With business booming, Cathy continued to expand the team. Among the new hires was Heather, who quickly became an essential part of Cierra Scoops. Now, she plays an even bigger role, helping Cathy train the next generation of scoopers.
“We both train depending on schedules and which job it is,” Cathy explains. “It’s been great having someone else who knows the business well enough to teach the next generation of scoopers.”
What started as a neighborhood side gig is now a well-oiled operation with three employees who manage weekly routes. Cierra Scoops went from operating with a single client to operating across multiple cities, including Mishawaka, South Bend, Bremen, Osceola, Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Bristol, Lakeville, and New Carlisle.
What Sets Cierra Scoops Apart?
In an industry where many businesses come and go, staying in business for over a decade is no small feat.
“A lot of businesses like ours don’t last,” Cathy says. “We’re probably one of the longest-running pet waste removal services in Northern Indiana.”
The keys to its success are reliability, excellent customer service, affordability, and a deep commitment to the community.
Clients know they can count on the team to show up, rain, snow, or shine. As a year-round service, they only take a day off when visibility is too poor to get the job done properly. On those rare occasions, they double their efforts the following week so no one falls behind.
Customer service and open communication are equally important. If a spot is missed or an issue arises, Cathy ensures it’s resolved quickly. Meanwhile, affordable pricing and flexible service options, including weekly and bi-weekly cleanups, make it easier for pet owners to keep their yards clean.
Beyond providing a much-needed service, Cierra Scoops is a business that gives back. Cathy goes out of her way to help elderly and disabled clients, sometimes offering discounts to those in need.
Thanks to its strong reputation, word-of-mouth referrals, and recently launched website, Cierra Scoops continues to grow, proving that a business built on trust, consistency, and community can stand the test of time.
The Future of Cierra Scoops
Now in its 10th year, Cierra Scoops is still growing. Cathy’s focus is on expanding routes, hiring more scoopers, and increasing awareness about the service.
“We’re looking to add a few more clients and possibly bring in more employees,” she says. “The goal is to give our current workers more hours while maintaining the high level of service we’re known for.”
One of Cathy’s biggest motivators is helping her employees earn a solid part-time income.
“One of our workers, Heather, started with just a couple of jobs,” Cathy shares. “Soon, her route grew so much that she made almost $10,000 in a year. It’s a great side job for those who want extra income without a full-time commitment.”
While Cathy still personally trains every new worker, she’s excited to see the business continue to evolve. Whether it’s seasonal cleanups, expanding service areas, or helping more pet owners enjoy their yards, Cierra Scoops isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
A Decade of Clean Yards & Happy Customers
At its core, Cierra Scoops is about convenience, community, and consistency.
“We’re here to make life easier for pet owners,” Cathy says. “It’s a simple service that makes a big difference.”
What started as a way for a 10-year-old to earn some spending money has turned into a thriving, decade-strong business that continues to evolve while staying true to its roots. With Cathy at the helm and a dedicated team keeping the mission alive, Cierra Scoops shows what’s possible with a little determination, a strong work ethic, and a whole lot of heart.
As they continue to expand, Cathy and her team remain committed to providing reliable, high-quality service to pet owners across Northern Indiana. Whether you’re looking for a one-time cleanup or ongoing yard maintenance, Cierra Scoops is ready to help. Visit www.cierrascoops.com to learn more or schedule a service.
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