Business

Time Management: Make Every Minute Count

Why is it that some people can accomplish a tremendous amount daily, while others don’t have much to show for their efforts? We each have the same 24 hours, why are some groomers so much more productive than others?
World Dog Expo 2018 Recap

The 2018 World Dog Expo unleashed the world’s most unique experience for dog lovers with celebrity guests, America’s Got Talent’s Sara Carson and Animal Planet’s Shorty Rossi.
The Revolving Door: The Hidden Costs of Employee Turnover

Every pet Grooming Salon is a popular salon in a mid–size town. When the owners of Everypet found themselves overbooked and understaffed, they placed an advertisement for a new groomer. Evelyn interviewed for the job and was hired.
Cage Free Salon: Is It Safe?

Hello Michell. I am finally opening my own dog grooming salon. I am so excited! I am very strongly leaning toward a cage–free salon. There are many reasons for my decision; cages are expensive, the owners don’t like to have their dogs in cages, dogs don’t like being in cages and it brings me joy to watch them run around and play with each other.

Email Receipts: Are You Missing This Free Marketing Gem?

Every time someone makes a purchase from your business they should get an email receipt. Even if you deal in cash—you know that green paper stuff no one ever has? You should have an automatic receipt template set up to send after the service is over.

What’s Your Value? A Look into Value-Based Client Relations

If you are nervous about discussing pricing with new or existing clients, you may have developed a “Value-Based Relationship” with your clients.

No Refunds! No Kidding

You told her that her dog would have to be short, and you thought she completely understood. You did your best, yet she blew up when she saw her dog. What happened? What could you have done differently?

The Paper Trail

The Pet Grooming industry is experiencing growth and change at an unparalleled rate. As busy working Pet Groomers, we struggle to keep up with advancements in every aspect of our jobs.

How Our Clients View Us

I polled several pet owner Facebook groups. I was looking to get a good cross-reference between high and lower maintenance breed pet owners. And this was my question: How do you view professional pet groomers?

Avoiding the Key to Failure

“I can’t tell you the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” — Ed Sheeran As professional pet stylists, we are members of a service industry. This means we do work for customers rather than providing goods or manufacturing things. And this, by its very nature, means that we […]

Making a Difference When You Only Have 5 Extra Minutes

In five minutes or less you can warm up some food for lunch in the microwave, send a few text messages, scroll through social media, paint your nails or do any number of small things.

Safety First: Groomer & Pet Safety in the Salon

Donna is a groomer at a busy salon in a busy burg. She works with several other groomers and they enjoy a vibrant workplace with happy clientele returning regularly. Her salon is like most—it has tubs, tables, gates, some cages, dryers, grooming equipment and pets.

Creating a Craft: Your Business Your Way

Creating a Craft: Building Your Business Your Way

Mary began to feel mired down by the burden of business ownership. This wasn’t the dream she had set out to live so many years before. So, where did Mary go wrong?

Did Someone Order a Groomer? Making Pet Grooming House Calls

The first greeting I get as I walk up the steps to the front door is a playful one from a happy poodle. I don’t even have to see her tail to know how much she is wagging.

Are Business Cards a Thing of the Past?

Since 2014, I’ve been reading articles on the demise of business cards from well–respected business publications. But is there any merit to their claim? Yes and no. It all depends on how you use and design them.

Surviving the Sporting Shortage

“Hi there Michell. I have been trying to find a sporting dog to use as a model for my certification exam. We have lots of Labs and Goldens but hardly any Springers, Setters or Cockers. The few sporting breeds we have ask us to shave the whole darn dog with a #10 blade. I want to talk a few of my customers into letting their dogs grow out but I don’t know where to start. Any suggestions?”

Hissy Fits & How to Profit from Them

Growling and hissing after a groom happens quite often in multiple cat households. Since the feline’s strongest sense is smell, anytime one cat smells different, the other cats in the home won’t “recognize” her.

Salon Soap: Handling Drama & Gossip in the Salon

We’ve all heard the old rhyme: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, if you’ve ever spent much time in a salon atmosphere, you may disagree with the wisdom this rhyme imparts.

Add-On Services: (And Getting Your Employees to Sell Them)

Dear Michell, I feel like my employees are missing opportunities for add-on services that could add up to good income for both me and my employees. Do you have any ideas of areas to focus on?

5 Tools Everyone in the Pet Grooming Business Should Be Using

Ask any groomer, and they will tell you that their tools are their lifeline. Many talented groomers recognize that they can achieve better results by utilizing better tools. Groomers love discussing their tools: clippers, shears, dryers, slickers, even nail trimmers.

More Pets = More Profit: Getting Your Employees to Pull Their Own Weight

Dear Michell, I am the owner of a small grooming salon in Tennessee. I have six groomers. We are running almost at capacity but my net profit/take–home pay is just not what I want it to be. I’ve been looking over my prices, payroll, supplies, and other expenses to see if there are places that we can improve profit. My groomers are slow. They could all do at least one more pet per day, if you ask me.

Comrades with the Competition

For the past decade, I’ve made my living in the bustling metro area of the all–mighty Mickey Mouse. With hundreds of physical storefronts and an additional slew of mobile units, one might think that—due to the immense local competition—Guerilla grooming warfare was either in full swing or lurking in the eminent future.

The Green Side Of Grooming Part 2: Money

How do you create a viable self-sustaining business that will endure and thrive? Chances are, if you own a Pet Service Business, your livelihood depends on you showing up to work and customers showing up to pay for your services. This segment focuses on learning to implement basic money management strategies to help you thrive today, tomorrow, and long into the future!