How do you get new grooming clients? Most of mine have either come from seeing a dog I groomed and talking with the owner, or often something I’ve said to a dog owner who repeated it to another dog owner. For example, as I get to know my clients, I always ask how the dog is at home, and, in so many words, if the owner is happy with the dog’s behavior.
McDonald’s has its golden arches, Burger King is famous for charbroiled burgers, Cracker Barrel is synonymous with country cooking. Well, you get the idea. So what are you “famous” for? What draws people to your salon? If you can’t answer that question, there’s a BIG problem.
Do your customers know all the services you offer? Do they feel like you charged appropriately during check-out? It is important that your customer understands that what you do is far beyond just giving a dog a bath. It is also important that they feel they got more than what they paid for during check-out.
Pet groomers work so hard year round and these long days are just compounded by the busy holiday season. Dogs you only see once or twice a year mysteriously reappear this time of year and their owners, with a straight face, insist on a prime-time appointment.
I have been asked a lot of times, is it better to buy a grooming shop or build your own? This is the question that many groomers are faced with. The answer is more complicated than you think. As an owner of a very busy salon, we had our share of groomers come and go and each of them say the same thing as they are headed out the door, “I can do better.”
What is your goal as a Groomer?
At one point in my career, I found myself being the nagging boss that points out everyone’s mistakes. I would blame the issues I had on employees, customers, plumbers and even the dogs.
My neighbor has had a housekeeper for many years. She lives alone – no kids, no pets. She keeps her house very tidy, but needs a hand with dusting and doing the floors. She’s a great client. She has never once complained about a price increase, and the cleaning company has them regularly.
In this day and age of technology, if you don’t have a website you are missing several opportunities for cultivating prospective customers. According to a 2012 survey by Yelp, over 85% of consumers use the internet to look for local businesses. If you do not have a strong presence online, you are potentially missing 85% of business leads.
Thinking of getting a puppy for your children this holiday season? Just be careful. Beware of pet scams and review the tips below from the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA), the non-profit, worldwide trade association for professional pet shippers, before sending any money.
Picture this…You are the owner of a thriving grooming salon that also has huge retail sales. You and your staff are busy all of the time – with grooming slots that are filled days, or even weeks ahead. There is a steady stream of customers in and out of your retail area. But, something is wrong. You are busier than ever, yet – your cash flow does not reflect that increase in business. And, to top it off, you are experiencing inventory losses. Now what?
What happened to the year? It seems like just yesterday that we were all wondering if the country was ever going to be released from the grip of that never ending winter. I walked into Costco the other day and saw Christmas decorations! (Mind you, I am writing this column in early September!)
New York, NY – The American Kennel Club (AKC®) announces the launch of Breed Grooming Certificate Courses in collaboration with Barkleigh Productions, kicking off this November at the New England Grooming Show with the Poodle.