Adding Mobile to Salon Services

By Ellen Ehrlich

Is your salon overflowing with customers? Instead of hiring another employee or expanding, think about adding mobile services. So many possibilities! If you have a home or storefront salon that is bursting at the seams, consider mobile grooming. It might be the perfect solution.

Do some research and see if your area is ripe for this service. Many parts of the country are. Mobile grooming is rapidly growing, becoming commonplace and more in demand every day. This trend has caught on and is here to stay. There is no doubt about it! It does not matter where you live. From the country to the city, pet owners want the personal service that only mobile grooming can provide and deliver.

Salons that decide to offer this are way ahead of the game. They already have a solid, built-in clientele. Some of these customers might want to jump ship from salon to mobile. They would love the opportunity to have their pet groomed at home. No more taking Fluffy back and forth to the grooming salon on a busy Saturday in bad weather. Puppies, nervous pets, the elderly, and pets with health issues will be the first in the appointment book.

The convenience factor is huge for busy families. Pet owners love the fact that their furry friend can be groomed one on one, start to finish, right in their driveway. At the very least, some will give mobile grooming a “try.” Once they do, owners are usually hooked! That is why this is such an easy service to sell. After the first appointment, your customer could be a mobile customer for life. This is why moms and dads find the extra expense of mobile grooming worth every penny.

Adding mobile will take your business in a whole new direction. Many doors will open up because you will have options. Should you hire an employee to run the mobile or will you be the groomer behind the wheel? You might even have a willing, trusted employee who is up to the challenge and replace that groomer with a new trainee. Part time, full time — you can have the both of best worlds when you have a salon and a mobile van or trailer.

Bonnie Hayslett of Bubbles and Clips in Los Angeles, California, offers both salon and mobile grooming. This works well for her. She states, “Sometimes clients have a time crunch and prefer mobile. Sometimes it is a money crunch, and they want to save by coming into the shop. I can’t do everything, but I get to choose the things that I am best at or enjoy the most.”

What a bonus! Bonnie spends part of the day in the salon and the other part serving her own mobile clientele, doing what she does best and enjoys the most. For her it is the perfect setup as she satisfies the different needs of all her clients.

If you look around, you will find that there does not seem to be enough mobile stylists to go around. When a client of mine is moving, more often then not, there is no mobile stylist servicing their new neighborhood. This means that there is an untapped market out there for salon owners with an entrepreneurial spirit.

There is no reason why you cannot capture both the salon and the mobile customer since the pet industry continues to be a booming business. The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association predicts that American pet owners will spend almost $2.9 billion this year on pet-related services, including grooming. With this upswing in the economy, the odds are even greater that pet owners will spend even more money on their furry best friends. In addition to that, more people will be able to afford having a pet, creating an even bigger demand for both salon and mobile services. The increased demand is perfect for those salon owners who wish to expand into offering a greater array of luxury services for pets.

Let’s not forget about kitties! They need grooming, too. Mobile grooming is a perfect fit for grooming our feline friends. Owners and groomers alike know that cats are much happier and more cooperative in the calmest setting possible. No more sitting in a carrier, listening to the hustle and bustle of a busy salon, causing stress levels to rise. When salon owners offer mobile service to kitty parents, many get right on board, opening up even more opportunities for both professional and financial growth. With cat grooming in its infancy stages, be the first to enter the market. Word will spread, and before you know it, the phone will be ringing off the hook from customers who are looking for a spa day for their Domestic Short Hair or Persian.

If you are intrigued by adding mobile to your salon, go for it! Since you have an established business and a relationship with your community, this service will be welcomed and easy to promote. The trust factor is set. All you have to do is add this information to your website, post a sign in your salon, and mention this service to local veterinarians and other dog-related businesses in your area.

Even more effective, park your van or trailer right at your front door. Show it off! Pet owners cannot help but notice and be curious as to what this service is all about. Give a tour. Explain all the benefits of mobile grooming, and your appointment book will start to fill. This form of advertising will not cost you a penny, because this service can grow by word of mouth, with referrals being the best customers.

The bottom line is that pet owners want mobile grooming. There are two directions your customers can take. They can come to you. You can go to them. You can have the best of both worlds by offering both salon and mobile services to your clients. ✂

Ellen Ehrlich is currently writing another book that will available this summer. For more information, go to www.gomobileandsucceed.com. Email Ellen at ellen@rcmgrooming.com