Business

Jumping Jacks

Recently Jack visited my grooming shop and landed on the table of one of my newer groomers. Jack is a nervous little fellow of snub nose, small dog, no–you–can’t–touch–me–there descent, and his visit proved true to that statement.
Tax Write-Offs, Deductions & Depreciable Expenses: What’s the Difference?

Gina attends her favorite trade show each year. She eagerly anticipates seeing new products; she makes lists that include supplies such as shampoos, bows and brushes.
Teaching Your Way to Success

“Hi Michell, My husband and I own a mobile pet grooming business in North Mississippi. He is a Certified Master Groomer with a certification from a college in Florida that is no longer operational. We are now trying to teach students to become groomers.
Cats by the Numbers

The world around us is changing at a super sonic pace. As we adapt, adopt and acclimate ourselves to a world punctuated by technology—it’s also fun to stop on occasion and take advantage of the accessibility of data and statistics which is ever more readily available.

To Cat or Not to Cat: What’s Your Answer?

There are a few subjects that can divide a room of groomers very quickly: pay types, doodles, shear choices or favorite breed of dog are a few examples. But while groomers are finding common ground on many subjects, they continue to be vastly separated on the subject of cat grooming.

How to Rise Above the Average

When was the last time you went into a store or used a service and were so impressed with the experience that you shared it with friends and family? Or even better, took to your social media pages and posted reviews about them?

It Happens Every Spring…

We don’t look forward to it, but it’s something that almost every groomer experiences. It begins with the phone calls and texts we get from owners who have not had their pet groomed since last year.

Marketing Magic: Inexpensive Ways to Promote Your Grooming Business

When it comes to marketing your grooming business, the focus can and should be kept local. This opens up opportunities to let people know just what it is your service has to offer without having to lay out thousands of dollars in advertising.

Groomer Business Management Software: An Essential Asset to Your Business

Grooming Business Management Software: An Essential Asset to Your Business

The pet grooming market is experiencing a major boom and showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, the Department of Labor expects the industry to experience an 11% growth through 20231.

ABCs, 123s: Reviewing Your Pet Safety Program

Pet Grooming Safety has become a much discussed topic in the past year. As I speak with groomers all over the globe, one common theme resonates—groomers care about the safety and welfare of the pets we service. Public awareness about our industry has brought a lack of oversight and organization into the spotlight.

How the AKC Supports Groomers & All Dogs

If you ask any pet owner, they’ve likely heard of the American Kennel Club. For more than 130 years, the AKC has been the country’s trusted authority on all things dog. But what does that have to do with groomers? More than you may think.

Customer Christmas Gifts: It’s the Thought That Counts

Dear Michell, it has been suggested to me by a groomer friend that I do something nice for my customers at Christmas. I am on a tight budget and I am slightly uncomfortable with the idea. Do you have any suggestions?

How Do You Know When to Fire an Employee?

“Dear Michell, how do you know when it is time to fire an employee? I have a groomer who refuses to take direction and insists on doing everything her own way. I have tried for a few years now to convince her that my way is the best.

No More No Shows!

Is there anything more frustrating than to have your carefully planned schedule screwed up by clients who don’t show or who cancel at the last minute?

What’s Your Number? Cell Phone Policies & Pet Businesses

Cell phones are a way of life in our culture today. In a few short decades, the cellular phone device has become a necessary personal mobile data center for most hard–working adults…as well as students of all ages, cranky toddlers and everyone in between.

AKC S.A.F.E Salon Program

The AKC Safety in the Salon course, taught by Susan Sholar, an AKC Delegate and grooming judge, was a huge sensation at Groom Expo this past September in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Those of You That Mobile, We Solute You!

The very first job I had in grooming was in a mobile unit. I was very inexperienced but eager to start grooming dogs. When I first started, there was no fleet of beautiful units to choose from.

Do You Know What Your Time Is Worth?

My time has value. So, in the back of my mind, was this vague notion of what I thought my time was worth. But that’s just what it was—vague.

Spooky Behaviors: Clean It up for Success

We often focus on behavior in our careers as Pet Professionals. Learning to manage the behaviors around us is key to having more successful, lower stress, safer grooming days.

Mobile vs Salon

Groomer to Groomer asked our Facebook followers: For those of you who worked both in a salon and as a mobile groomer, what do you find to be the pros and cons of each? The answers may surprise you…

Retail Your Spa

The wonderful world of passive income—retail! It should literally be selling itself. There are so many salons that are getting into the retail mindset and there are so many things to offer that it can be a bit overwhelming.

Waiting List Woes

“Hello Michell. We are so busy that we have a waiting list. If our customers don’t want to wait until we have an available appointment, we require them to book the earliest available appointment that works for them and then put them on the waiting list.”

Enough Is Enough

I have been grooming little Pixie since she was a puppy. She was a sweet, loving Yorkie and was easy to groom. Her owner, Helen, always loved Pixie’s haircut, tipped and rescheduled.