Kathy Hosler opened her shop in 1971 when she was just nineteen years old. She has built a terrific business and is still actively grooming today. Kathy is also a feature writer for Groomer To Groomer and Pet Boarding & Daycare Magazines, and has been nominated twice for the Barkleigh Honors Journalist of the Year Award as well as a Cardinal Crystal Achievement Award for Grooming Journalist.
A Business is Born
Like most people who enter the pet care industry, Rachel Stalcoskie has had a lifelong love affair with animals. She began her career working with them when she was just fifteen years old. She got involved with zoos, dog kennels, and veterinary hospitals.
Feel the Spirit
Many professions require yearly continuing education for their members. The grooming industry does not. Yet, thousands of groomers from all over the world voluntarily attend grooming shows. Nearly 5,000 of them recently attended Groom Expo, the largest grooming show in the world. It was held in September at the magnificent Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Are they really worth the expense?
Oh, how times have changed in the pet care industry – and every groomer can be very thankful that they have. Not so long ago, groomers had a very limited selection when it came to choosing the combs and brushes that help them perform their jobs.
Fleas and Ticks. These hardy little pests have been causing problems and carrying diseases almost since the beginning of time. Fleas are tough…in fact; fossilized remains of fleas that existed millions of years ago have been found. Trying to control and eliminate fleas and ticks has always been a real challenge for groomers.
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?
Groom Texas Joins the Houston World Series of Dog Shows
“The Houston World Series of Dog Shows is the longest continuous AKC Cluster Show in the country,” says Cluster Coordinator, Tom Pincus. “This is our thirty-eighth year. We had an entry of 12,500 dogs over the five day show.”
Build Your Business, Boost Your Bottom Line
Pet stylists all over the world work hard to build their careers – one pet at a time. There is plenty of money to be made in pet grooming, but it is your repeat customers that consistently pay your bills, put food on your table, and help you have a reliable, predictable income.
Whether you are just opening your business, or you are trying to increase your client base — you have to find ways to get people through your doors, and advertising is an effective way to contact prospective customers. Advertising doesn’t have to be expensive. Many entrepreneurs view their advertising dollars as a wise investment that pays off in a big way.
When you get dressed for a day of grooming, do you glance in the mirror and think, “Wow! I really look good?” Well, you should. In order to do your best work, you need to feel good about yourself and the way that you look. Your appearance plays a major role in the way your clients perceive and treat you. Pet parents want to know that their precious fur babies are being cared for by a qualified stylist, and professional attire helps reinforce that confidence.
Have you ever gone to your dentist for a filling, an extraction, or a root canal and when the dentist entered the exam room you notice that he is wearing stained, tattered jeans and a shirt that looks like he slept in it? As he begins to work on you, he says, “I’m just going to hold an ice cube on your tooth to numb it…It works almost as well as a shot of Novocain.”
It’s finally happened. You have worked long and hard to build your business, and now you have more work than you can handle alone. You know that it’s time to hire your first employee…but how do you go about it? Your first step is to decide what kind of help you need. Is it a brusher/bather, a receptionist with retail selling experience, a full-time groomer, or someone who can do a bit of everything?
Have you ever wished that you had a magic wand that you could wave and instantly remove the mats and tangles from the coats of the pets that you groom? If you are like most groomers; it’s probably an everyday wish.