Pet Salon Pro

Important Links Covid 19

2020-03-29T10:07:00.000-04:00

Websites to find Info, updates, and assistance on what is happening with Covid-19 in the US and worldwide go to:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CDC.gov

World Health Organization; https://www.who.int

The United Way; https://www.unitedway.org

Details about the The Corona Virus Relief Bill, The Cares Act; https://www.npr.org/2020/03/26/821457551/whats-inside-the-senate-s-2-trillion-coronavirus-aidpackage

211.org; Call, text, or chat with your local 211 to speak with a community resource specialist in your area who will help you find services and resources that are available. For Canadians as well.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance; https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/597

Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance; https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

Financial Assistance after a disaster; https://www.usa.gov/disaster-financial-help

Grants for Small Business ; https://grantspace.org/resources/knowledge-base/covid-19-emergency-financial-resources/#ancho r 4

Facebook Page ; Groomers Helping Groomers During Crisis  https://www.facebook.com/groups/816507612168092/

How Stay Productive During This DownTime in Your Grooming Business

2020-03-22T15:33:00.000-04:00

So here we are quarantined in our homes, doing what is right, and not grooming. Many of us are unsure of what the future holds and anxiety levels are at an all time high. Please know we are all in this together. With most of us choosing to stay home and not unwittingly spread the virus. We are very lucky that with today's modern technology we can still communicate with each other and stay on top of the current events. There is fear and uncertainty in the air and hopefully by redirecting that energy we can get through this and survive and possibly thrive.

Personally, I have been brainstorming ways to keep my business in the minds of my clients and also ways to possibly bring in a little income to tide me over. Here are my thoughts.

Offer Gift Cards to your clients for future services. There are apps that do this such as Gift Up, https://www.giftupapp.com/, and Square, https://squareup.com/. They are simple to set up and clients really like them.

Create a prepay discount package for your regulars. I did this last year when my van was out of commision for a month. I offered if they pre pay for 5 grooms they get a 6th for free. This literally saved me that month. You can also offer a % discount on services if they pre pay. A good CRM (customer relationship management) program will help you keep track of these purchases. I personally use Pawfinity and love it. Here is a link for a free trial. https://www.pawfinity.com?pf=2635

I have also considered doing some videos for my clients to post on YouTube or Facebook, to show some techniques for home grooming until we can get back to see them. Then suggest products, combs, brushes to sell them via an affiliate program. Or set up an online store.

During this downtime you might want to take this extra time to ramp up your low cost marketing. Taking the time now to invest in your business will help you get back on track faster and they will all be in place in the event of another slow season.

Create or redo a newsletter

Promote your email list

Create special offers for those who follow you on social media.

Think of clever ways to increase engagement through social media..ie; selfies with their pets, surveys, ask questions

Ask for testimonials and post them everywhere. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, your website.

Revamp your website and branding. Go over every page of your website. Is it accurate? Is your branding consistent? Is the information accurate?

Create a loyalty or referral program. Keep them coming back and reward them for telling others about what you do.

Design new marketing materials. Are they outdated? Is your branding clear? I use https://www.canva.com/ to create my marketing materials myself. They have a free and paid version.

Host a contest or giveaway on your platforms. Please be sure to follow the rules and regulations regarding contests.

By doing some budget marketing now you can keep your name and business in the eyes of your clients. It will create some excitement and good energy that when the normalcy returns clients will be excited to do business with you again.

Take the time now to fine tune your behind the scenes business systems and processes. Get caught up on the things you never have time for.

1. First and foremost start a budget, if you do not already have one. Know where your money is going. By doing this you can see where you overspend and can cut back on expenses you do not need right now. Make a plan to also add an emergency fund to be there in the event of another interruption of business. Get your finances organized and in order.

A great app for budgeting is https://www.everydollar.com/

Take a look https://www.savvygroomer.com/ for advice on finances and growing wealth as a groomer.

How can I leave out the one and only Dave Ramsey, https://www.daveramsey.com/budgeting/how-to-budget

I also recommend the book Profit First by Mike MIchalowicz,https://profitfirstbook.com/. It is because of this book and Mike’s recommendations I am not thoroughly freaking out during this crisis.

2. Create or modify your employee handbook. Document your policies and procedures. Fine tune your hiring practices. Make clear job descriptions. Learn what regulations need to be followed by your state. This lays it out in writing what is expected from an employee and also what the employee can expect from their employer

3. Start or modify your Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) which are essentially step by step instructions on how to accomplish all tasks within your business. That you can refer to when you have forgotten how to do something or are training a new employee. I create files in my Google Drive and add to it often. It is a living document that can change and evolve as my business changes and grows.

4. Learn something new. Personal growth inspires and motivates you. Read a business book. Take an online course. Invest time in you! I think this is key to preventing burnout. Be curious.

I love Skillshare, https://www.skillshare.com/. From waterpainting to bookkeeping to learning Instagram. There are classes for everything. Lots of grooming specific sites for education as well. Learn new grooming skills or how to run your business better. Here are a few suggestions.

https://www.learn2groomdogs.com/,

https://www.pawsitiveed.com/,

https://www.groomingprofessors.com/

https://www.caninecollege.akc.org/products/safe-salon

Start or complete your certification.

https://nationalcatgroomers.com/

https://nationaldoggroomers.com/

http://www.iscceducation.com/

5. Do a deep clean. Clean and organize your office and work spaces. Take this opportunity to go through your file cabinets, clean off your desk. Clean out and organize your inbox. Is your grooming area clean and organized? Blades sharpened? Extra supplies refilled. Does your reception area need a facelift?

6.Go through your calendar and schedule in time for self care and time off.

7. Plan out your social media for the next 6 months. There are numerous apps that can help you organize this. Check out this site, https://influencermarketinghub.com/social-media-posting-apps/

8. Get some client feedback. Do a survey of your current clients to find out what their pain points are and what they love and also find frustrating about your business.

9. Join communities and groups online. They are a way to stay informed and communicate with your peers.

10. Create canned email responses. Save time by creating templates for your email responses to clients. This helps you to respond quicker and without taking up a ton of your time when things get hectic again.

11. Check in with clients that you have not seen in awhile. Provide great customer service.

I would love it if you have other suggestions you could share in the comments below.

Stay calm, Stay Well and focus on the good you see everyday. We will get through this together.

Sandy

The Importance Building A Groomer Community

2020-02-19T18:00:00.000-05:00

So you want to grow your business. It is no longer like a “Field of Dreams”, build it and they will come. We have competition out there. Our clients have more options than ever before out there. They can choose mobile, or house call, or a big box store where they can get in at a moment's notice. How are these clients going to know about you and your business? Yes, branding, advertising, marketing are going to help but building a community around yourself and networking with your peers and other related businesses can give you an amazing boost and word of mouth referrals.

Make a list of your grooming competitors in the area. What do they do well? What makes them stand out? For example, do they offer doggie daycare, boarding? Do they specialize in a certain area like hand stripping terriers or cat grooming? A disabled person needs their cat groomed. Do you have a mobile or house call groomer to refer to them? Also know how your business is different and what makes you stand out in the crowd.

These are things that are important to know. Every potential client calling you will not be a good fit for your business. Knowing your competitor’s zone of genius will give you the ability to refer that client to someone who can solve their problem and meet their needs. You cannot be everything to every client and being able to refer potential clients to a business that can help them makes you stand out. People will be grateful and remember you and refer to you. It’s a quid pro quo. Creating a network among local groomers creates a synergy between the businesses. It is great for the pet community and it is great for the groomers. No one knows what we do better than other groomers. Do not fear your competition, embrace them. We are each unique in our own special ways and there are certainly enough pets to go around.

So you ask, "how does one create relationships with other groomers?" Reach out and say “hi”. Stop in on your day off or make a phone call. An easier way is social media or email. Introduce yourself and ask them for some business cards that you can use for referrals. Join any local grooming groups around you. If there is none, consider creating one. Facebook is a great place to look for grooming groups in your area. Join one and be interactive on it so people can get to know you and trust you. Ask questions, offer a tip, compliment another groomer’s work.

Creating a community does not have to be difficult. My personal experience has been because there was not a local group on Facebook, I created one for our area. I invited as many local groomers as I could. We post job openings, events, tips, we vent and we commiserate on it. It is a local community of like minds. I have also hosted events at a restaurant and invited everyone. I just called the restaurant and made the reservation. Not everyone I invite shows up but we eat, have a cocktail and chat. They have always been fun nights and friendships were created.

This week we are actually having an event at a local Paint & Sip to paint our pets. This has been very popular and I am looking forward to it. Another event I am considering is a potluck at a groomer’s home who has agility equipment to play on with our own dogs. That combined with a groomers garage sale. These are not difficult things to do and have not taken a lot of my precious spare time. Keep planning them and little by little they grow. You make new friends and have the support of the other local businesses. It is a win win for everyone.

I have found that by building this community if you have something happen and you need help there is help and support out there. I have witnessed groomers helping out at each others shops when one is shorthanded. I also know of help given when a piece of equipment broke down. I experienced support and help when my mobile was out of commission for a month last year. Three separate salons offered me space to groom my dogs at. It was an amazing outpouring of help that got me through a very difficult time and I will never forget their generosity. These people I consider my friends and peers. I like and respect them and refer to them when I can. Each is different and unique. And I know that they also refer to me when someone needs a mobile or cat groomer.

We will talk more about networking and community building but start with your fellow groomers. You might be surprised at the reaction you get. Change can start with you.

Time for Accountability ...Turn Around Groomer Burnout

2020-01-17T07:56:00.000-05:00

Meet Carolyn.

Carolyn is 42 years old, divorced, with 2 teenage children. She has been self employed for 15 years and owns a small pet grooming business with 2 employees plus herself. She works long hours, sometimes 6 days a week, 12 hours a day, and barely has enough money to survive. Her employees walk all over her but she is afraid if she speaks up they may leave. What would she do then? Her body hurts, she never takes a vacation, and she misses out on many family functions because of her business. Carolyn has just about had it. She is burnt out and miserable and has thought about packing it in and finding a normal 9-5. All she wants to do is go home drink wine and go to sleep.

Do you know a Carolyn?

Carolyn feels her life is out of control and cannot see a way out. She blames the economy, She blames her ex husband. She blames anyone and anything instead of taking responsibility for her situation at hand. Carolyn feels she is a victim of her circumstances. She feels hopeless and cannot imagine finding a way out.

Then you hear about people who against all odds take responsibility for their lives and go on to do some amazing things. Take Oprah for example. We all have heard about Oprah’s humble beginnings. And we all know what amazing things she has done in her life. What’s the difference between Oprah and Carolyn? Oprah refused to be defined by her less than stellar beginnings. She took control of her life and changed the outcome.

Here’s the truth. You always have the power to make choices in your life. In good times and bad, you can choose your path. It may not be easy but you have control. The way you view this power and the belief that you can change your destiny can have a major impact on your life. This is not to discount the situation you are in is real, but even a minor shift in accepting responsibility, and taking back your power can alter your attitude and spark change.

Having a victim mentality may be something that is comfortable for us. We are taught this from our parents, teachers,or the society we were brought up in. You cannot have what you want, be what you want, or do what you want. You are angry, bitter and feel sorry for yourself. You have the ability to choose a different belief. You can choose to change your attitude. You can look for the silver linings. Change your paradigm take control of your life.

Start looking at your options, big and small. Do not just sit back and wait for something to happen. Action creates clarity. One small action leads to another and another. Before you know it momentum builds and your path is clearer. You do not need to know how at the start. Just know what and why. The how will come.

Go back to your why. Why do you do what you do? Rediscover your why and what is important to you and focus on that. Get some rest, do some self care and make choices that will head you in the direction you want to go. Be inspired by other stories of people who overcame challenges to do great things. They are everywhere, inside this industry and out. Read books, listen to podcasts, go to seminars and workshops. Inspiration and education are everywhere.

Carolyn is still a business owner. She decided to close her salon and be a home based groomer. She specializes in special needs and senior pets and charges a premium for her grooming services. Because of this she has more time to spend with her kids and even took them on a vacation. She still falls into victim mode from time to time, but she recognizes it and can quickly make the shift out. Carolyn took control and made choices that were good for her and her family.

This is just one story. There are hundreds, if not thousands of Carolyn s out there. Let’s help the Carolyn s. We need them in our industry.

4 Paws & Peace

Discover and Profit from your Special Zone of Genius

2020-01-01T10:42:00.001-05:00

Whaaaaat??? Special Zone of Genius? What are you talking about?

Your zone of genius is your special, unique power. It is a quality that only you have that is part of your life and work. It is that thing that you do really well, better than almost anything else. It is hard to recognize in ourselves because it is just part of who we are and it comes so naturally. It occupies a space between your passion and your skill. It is your secret sauce. Working in this zone brings you pleasure and profit. Although we are all groomers we all bring something special and unique to what we do. Something no one else can duplicate.

So how does this apply to my grooming business?

As you work every day, be mindful of the things you really enjoy doing. What makes time fly and any commotion disappear? What is it in your schedule that makes you smile? You may be the best Doodle groomer or Handstripping Terriers is your thing. You may do beautiful grooms using Asian Fusion flair or are a magician with color. You might be that groomer who adores the larger breeds and looks forward to working with them and making them look great. Or you may be like me and have an epiphany, as I did, that I really love working with cats. I have discovered cat grooming is my zone of genius. That is how you find your zone of genius, by paying attention to yourself. It is a form of self care. Doing more of what you love brings more joy and happiness to your life. Who doesn’t want that?

Okay, so how does my zone of genius make my business more money?

You may have heard the saying that “The Riches are in The Niches”. There is a lot of truth to that statement. Many groomers, especially newbies think they need to groom all the dogs/cats. They are everything to everybody and may do okay but eventually this mindset can lead you down the road to frustration, financial struggles, and burnout. Having a specialty doesn’t mean you have to do only Doodles or Cats, but if you focus on what you love and promote how you are the go to person for that “thing”, you may end up someday doing all the grooms you want to do and leave the things you do not want to do to someone else’s zone of genius.

Offering a specialized service that you excel at can bring you good clients who are seeking more than a mediocre groom and you will be able to charge more because you are the go-to expert in your area.

The key is to market yourself on your website, social media, marketing business materials what your specialty is. Take photos, write articles, become the expert potential clients will seek out.

One word of caution is that this should be a gradual change. Taking a business that does all breeds and then one day changing it to do only doodles might be disastrous.Start slow. Open up your schedule to accommodate a couple new clients per week and then grow from there. You can do this by letting go of undesirable clients one by one to make room for the clients you want to serve. Refer to my post about Identifying your Ideal Client and focus your marketing efforts on them.

https://petsalonpro.blogspot.com/2018/11/finding-your-ideal-clients.html

Move slowly but surely in the direction you want to go and someday you will wake up and be right where you want to be.

Peace, Love and Profits in 2020

Book recommendation: “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks

6 way to Improve Professionalism and WHY you should make it happen!

2019-12-15T12:15:00.000-05:00

Definition ...Professionalism is a skill or behavior that goes beyond what an ordinary person would have or behaving in a more formal or business-like manner.

An example of professionalism is a lawyer who shows the skill customary for an attorney.
An example of professionalism is a business person who is dressed in a suit and tie, has good manners and shows good business sense.

Let's talk about professionalism and why it is important in our industry. If you look back at the history of pet grooming. Way back when, grooming was carried out by the servants and slaves and done in a back room , barn, or on the street. It has been a slow process but we have come a long way, baby. Today pet parents want and appreciate quality, value and safety for their pets. To be competitive pet business owners have to embrace professionalism and exude it in all areas of their business.

Gone are the days of “shops” in the back room, grooming in T shirts and ripped jeans, smelly, hairy, dirty grooming areas. With the humanization of pets in our society , pet parents seek out professionalism in the services they need for their pets. To leave a lasting impression on your clients, suppliers, industry peers, you need professionalism. With professionalism pet parents are confident you have the skills and knowledge to perform the services requested and are willing to pay top dollar for those services.

So we really need to step outside of ourselves and our businesses and look at our business through an outsiders eyes. Small, subtle improvements can go a long way. Ask friends or clients to give you feedback. Take that feedback constructively and make some changes and upgrades. It is about the behavior you exhibit and the manner in which you conduct yourself in business. Here are some things to look at when you are assessing your pet business for professionalism.

1. Appearance...Is the place you conduct business clean and aesthetically pleasing? Does it smell good, or smell like wet dogs and moldy towels? Is the entrance clear and inviting? Do you and your staff have uniforms? Does everyone come to work looking nice, or like they just got out of bed? Put yourself in the customer's shoes. What do they see coming into your front door? Appearance also goes to your marketing materials, website, social media. Take the time to review these and make sure your message is clear , concise and consistent and are representative of your brand, who you are. First impressions are everything.

2. Attitude…. Be grateful for your clients. They pay for your services so you can pay your bills. You are the expert in the field but that does not mean you need to be rude or condescending. Take the time to educate your clients. Be polite, well spoken. Use language they will understand. Have clear policies and procedures in place so misunderstandings are kept to a minimum. Your clients will respect you and appreciate you more by setting boundaries and treating them with respect. The same goes with your employees. Do not speak to them in a condescending manner. Leaders lead by example. Your leadership should reflect confidence, not arrogance. Create an employee handbook to minimize misunderstandings and layout expectations. Have a mission statement for the business so everyone knows the culture you are trying to create.

3. Being Reliable…. Customers expect us to know how to get the job done correctly and safely. As a professional you respond to people and follow through on what you promise. Having a check in procedure with a head to tail check list will open a line of communication and understanding, with the client, about the job at hand. Clarify all the details. Spending an extra 5 minutes with the client at check in builds trust and loyalty. Exceed expectations when at all possible. Leave that coat longer than expected. Get that pet done quicker than usual. Do something special like an accessory ,report card, or take a cute photo. Small efforts like these create fabulous lifetime clients who will tell the world about you.

4. Competence...A professional groomer strives to be as good as they can be. They are not complacent and think they know it all. They look for educational opportunities for themselves and their staff. They constantly improve and strive for excellence. Let the world know about these efforts. Groomers who think they know it all are dying a slow death. Once you stop learning you die.You can share an employee’s certification or a company trip to a trade show. Through social media, email, newsletter or a sign on your front counter, let your clients know how you are striving to be the best you can be. This extra continuing education will present itself as confidence to your team and clientele.

5. Keeping your cool ...Every once in a while we are presented with an unhappy client. How we deal with these situations are very important. Understand that the client is upset about something whether you agree or not. Put your emotions aside, listen and compromise. Use positive language, state your position in a calm manner, clear and to the point. Losing your cool in a tense, stressful situation will do nothing but diminish your credibility and reputation.

6. Owning responsibility…. Accountability is part of being a professional. If a mistake is made, own it and try to make amends. Blaming someone or something else is not the answer.. If your salon makes a mistake resolve it, learn from it and move on. Mistakes are opportunities to learn. How can you prevent this from happening again in the future? Mistakes help you grow and be a better business person and you will gain more respect by how you handled the situation.

These are some quick points on improving professionalism. We could dive deep and dissect each one in much more depth but that would make for a very long blog post. Being a professional pet business owner you help the industry gain and grow the respect we deserve. In turn we can grow our businesses and demand the prices that other skilled professionals do. The clients will pay for those services because that is what the new generation of pet owners expect. I would love to hear comments and opinions on what you believe professionalism in the pet industry and how you achieve it.

Thanks for reading!

Confessions of a Former Excuse Maker

2019-11-05T07:32:00.001-05:00

Excuses are tools of the incompetent used to build monuments to nothing. For those who specialize in them shall never be good at anything else." anonymous

I don’t like excuses and I used to be the queen of excuses. I found that by making an excuse I was not taking responsibility for what should be. We all do it. I have known some people whose whole lives were a bunch of excuses and as the quote above says they didn’t amount to much of anything.

Personally, I have found when I catch myself making an excuse I stop and think about what is really going on. For example, I am late to work I have blamed it on the traffic, or construction, or some other crazy thing. When in actuality the true reason I was late is that my morning routine has something to be desired and I didn’t leave for work on time. I was known for being late to everything. I am thankful to say that I am much better about this today. A lot of thought went into excuses for me. I did not feel good for making them. Excuses are lies. So why did I do it and what needed to change?

The fact of the situation was that I was not being responsible for getting my ass out of bed in the morning and completing my morning tasks in enough time to leave the house in enough time for me to arrive at my destination when I was supposed to be there. I took responsibility, figured out what needed to change and changed it!

So what does this mean to groomers and grooming businesses? I read the posts in Facebook groups about groomers leaving the business because of ungrateful, tyrannical employees, financial issues, physical ailments, ungrateful clients. Although these may be all true they are excuses for the truth. The truth is that the real reason, the one way down deep inside, has not been revealed or is being ignored and excuses have been made. This keeps the person from accepting or dealing with the real issues If we all accept responsibility for our actions and peel away the layers of the onion, we will get to the reason as to why you have a problem. It all begins with you. There is always something you can do.

And that usually means change. Change is scary and then comes the fear and many times the excuses continue. If you face the fear, look it right in the face, you will see results. There are so many great things on the other side of fear.

I recommend identifying the problem. Write it down. Think about why this happened. What is the root cause? Then start listing solutions to the cause no matter how crazy or outlandish it seems at the time. Then muster up the strength, face your fear and start dealing with it. Start with one thing, something small. Success is built on a bunch of small victories.

Let me give you an example….

The Problem:

I may have to close my business because I am having a hard time making ends meet and I cannot take the stress anymore. I am burnt out and hate my job.

The Why:

I don’t have a budget.

I don’t know where my money goes.

I pay my employees a 50% commission.

I need to raise my prices but I am scared.

My shop is getting run down because I don’t have the money to fix it up.

I have lost my passion for grooming.

The Solutions:

Start by creating a budget. If you don’t know-how, educate yourself. There is so much information out there.

Hire a bookkeeper. This may be the best money you will ever spend

Restructure your payroll to get all employees w-2 and the cost 33% of what the business makes.

Step into your fear. Figure out how much you need to make in a day and raise your prices to accommodate this need. You may lose some clients but you are making space for new clients who respect you and are willing to pay.

Start with a thorough cleaning and start putting a minimal amount of money a day aside to do the renovations needed. Have a conversation with the landlord. Ask relatives/friends to help.

Educate yourself. There is plenty of free content out in the world. Read, watch videos. Learn! Learning new things awakens passion.

These are just examples and we could all go down rabbit holes with the solutions. My point is to show you how to stop making excuses, get your head out of the sand and start to change. One small success will lead to another and another. You are responsible for your life, no one else will do this for you.

I would love to hear your comments on this. Are you an excuse maker?

Peace & love from Sandy, the former excuse maker!

The Time is NOW! Holiday Prep for The Pet Salon ( PART 2)

2019-09-30T12:53:00.000-04:00

Last week I posted about it being time to plan for the coming busy months in our pet businesses. Having your schedule blocked off as you see fit and if you are doing any holiday packages, making the necessary plans for those.

Another very important part of the holiday prep is making sure all your equipment is in tip-top shape. Are all your dryers/ clippers in working order? Do you need your blades and scissors sharpened?

No one wants to be knee-deep in the holiday rush and have a dryer die or have the one blade you need to be dull. Acting on this now gives you plenty of time to send out the repairs you need and get that sharpening done.

A review of your inventory may be in order to see what supplies you may need. Do you have enough shampoo and conditioner? Are your favorite products stocked and ready when you may need them? Do you need to order extra towels or holiday-specific accessories? Really try not to wait till the last minute to order these things. No one wants to have to run out and face the holiday traffic to get more bandana material. Get it now, get them cut and have them ready to go.

Another important aspect of holiday prep is to look at your salon. Maybe it is in need of a deep clean. Take a weekend and get in the nooks and crannies and get it looking spiffy. Sometimes when we step outside ourselves and look at the salon with a customers eye, details we might normally miss will be very obvious. Get the floors done and cobwebs/dog hair out of the corners. Wash the windows. Take a weekend and scrub everything down. Do a Marie Kondo and throw out whatever you no longer need or want. Everyone will feel better and the energy will flow better in a clean environment. If your mobile, do the same with your vans and trailers. You will be happy you did. Then when the decorations need to go up everything is ready.

Now let's talk about client appreciation. There are lots of opinions on this. Some say they have no time and their barbers and mechanics do not gift their clients, so why should we? Others go all out! Many do holiday photos with adorable backgrounds. Goodie bags with treats and toys is another popular idea. Go on Pinterest and see lots of ideas for cute pet-themed ornaments. Another idea is to add a coupon to the gift to get them to return during January/February, typically slow months. I am not a fan of discounts, but many choose this as a way of client appreciation. You can choose to offer a free upgrade instead of money off. I personally like that idea better. I just read that few groomers pick a charity and make a significant donation in their clients’ name. They then give a card with the details listed and thanking them for their business during the year. I really like that idea. If you decide to do a gift, budget it in and don’t get too crazy and have it cost you more than necessary.

One idea I heard from another groomer is to do a gratitude card at Thanksgiving. She had postcards printed up and either handed them to clients or mailed them towards the end of November. She thanked them for their business during the past year and offered a small gift or discount when she saw them next. I am always looking for new and unique ideas and this one resonated with me. I plan on doing this myself.

One final thought is to also think about those who refer you. Other groomers, vet offices, other pet-related businesses. Thank them for those referrals. A food gift thoughtfully packaged and hand-delivered is very thoughtful and appreciated. Another thought is to make a basket of items that everyone could benefit from. One suggestion was to buy small hand lotions, candles, scented sprays and make a gift basket. The small act of appreciation could very well bring good things in the future. It leaves an impression that they will most likely not forget when a client is asking for a referral to a new groomer.

As I close out I have a groomer friend who has a heart of gold. Every holiday she picks a family in need. She gets details about the family and a wish list of gifts for the kids. She buys a tree, decorates it and publishes the wish list to her clients. Clients bring in a wrapped gift and place it under the tree in her salon. Just before the holiday, she and her family deliver the decorated tree and gifts to the family. That is what the holiday is about.

The Time is NOW! Holiday Prep for the Pet Salon ( Part 1)

2019-09-23T09:24:00.000-04:00

Hey there...

I have been missing in action for a few months. I had an incredibly busy summer. My mobile business is booming and I took out the time to complete 2 certifications. In July I became certified to be a Pet Tech CPR & First Aid Instructor. Now not only do I have this knowledge myself I can teach others. Pet professionals and pet owners alike.

In August I traveled to South Carolina to do my hands-on testing to complete my CFMG. I am now a Certified Feline Master Groomer. I am very proud of this accomplishment that took me 2 years to complete. Now I can breathe and relax some and get back to the status quo.

Time has been moving quickly and all of a sudden I am booking December appointments for my clients. How did that happen?

At that realization, my mind kicked into planning ahead for my holiday biz this year. With the weather here in NY still in the 80's during the day, it is hard to fathom the holidays are right around the corner. Many groomers may be caught off guard and need a reminder that our busy season is coming fast and we all need to take the bull by the horns and make some plans….NOW!

A perfect subject for my blog post.

So ideally I should have started this a month ago. August and September are the best months to plan for the coming crazy months. Personally, I rebook everything. At each visit, I will book my clients right through the end of the year. This gives my regulars their preferred appointment spots. On the next visit, bring it to your client's attention that the holidays are X weeks away and to prebook if they want a preferred spot on your schedule. Many clients who never prebooked before may continue to do so into the New Year. It then becomes a habit. They really don’t think about it unless you bring it to their attention. Have that discussion when you see them next. Get those preferred spots booked!

Earlier in the year, I blocked off the days I want to spend with my family during the holidays. These are nonnegotiable. Personally, every year I take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I spend the time unwinding and enjoying family. I also take the weekend off after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. You may choose to do something different but block those days off in your schedule so nothing accidentally gets booked. This is important for self-care. A tired, burnt out groomer is not a joy to be around. This is your holiday season too. You will have time to shop, decorate, and just enjoy the season. Make sure you make time to enjoy your family traditions and keep your stress level to a minimum.

I know of one groomer who does not accept full grooms the week of Christmas. She does baths and tidy. She can get more pets done when she works so everyone can have a clean pet. She then schedules those pets for a full groom in January when it can be a slower time in most grooming shops. This is not the time for those once a year, or even twice a year grooms and pain in the butt clients. Who has time for that?

It is also the time to think of what kind of promotions, if any, that you will do. Make decisions and announce your plans in emails, newsletters, on social media. My plan is to do a Holiday package with scented shampoo and finishing spray, and a holiday accessory. This package will be offered for an additional price of $10.00. I will make a card on Canva, have it printed, announcing this special that I will personally hand to each client I see before their holiday appointment. They can also be mailed and posted in your salon. For cats, I may offer a discount on holiday-colored Soft Paws and scented shampoo, specially made for cats.

Whatever you come up with get the word out there. There are lots of great ideas that pet groomers come up with. I would love to hear about what you are going to do this year.

This discussion will continue next week. Stay tuned for Part 2 Holiday prep in the Pet Salon. Share with us what your holiday promotion will be.

Gossip in The Grooming Salon and LIfe

2019-04-23T11:19:00.000-04:00

Definition…negative or derogatory comments made about another with no intention other than talking about another to hurt or discredit.

We have all done it. We have been sucked in by others or are guilty of doing it ourselves. I am certainly not proud of the times I have participated or have been guilty of spreading stories I have no personal experience with. Women seem to be particularly guilty of this, but I have known a couple of men in this industry that are worse than any woman I have ever met.

Gossip with in a grooming salon can wreak havoc in the social culture of that salon causing a breakdown of teamwork and respect. It is toxic and could even eventually be the downfall of someone’s business if the gossip is allowed to grow and fester.

Why would we do this to one another? We are all in this together. Groomers need to support one another and if we do not agree, mind our own business. Live and let live. It will be a much better world and work environment if you do

Dave Ramsey of Dave Ramsey Solutions, a huge, very successful company, has a no gossiping rule for team members. If anyone is caught gossiping, they lose their jobs. No excuses. Done! He feels that strongly that gossiping can erode the structure of a business. Maybe we should all take a cue from Dave? He talks a lot about this in his Entreleadership program. Here is a link to one of his You Tube talks. It is quite the rant!!!

https://youtu.be/EFpANOYMkjk

What? The Damage it causes.

When gossip is present it pushes people apart, segregates, causes unfair judgment about people you may not even know.

It is a huge time waster, it hurts others, and erodes your own ability to be happy and successful because of the negative energy, you are spreading or participating in.

Fact! Those who gossip to you will gossip about you.

Gossiping brings to the surface the insecurities of the gossiper, when we speak badly about others, we speak badly about ourselves

Gossip ruins reputations, our own credibility, and trustworthiness. If you speak badly about others, people will be guarded with you and keep you at arm’s length in fear of being victims themselves.

Oprah once said “When we make negative comments about others behind their backs, we often do so because of we want to feel powerful and that’s because, in some way, we feel powerless, unworthy, or not courageous to be forthright” So much wisdom in that statement.

Why? Why do people gossip?

To feel superior

Gossiper does not feel good about themselves and feels better by talking shit about someone else

Boredom

To get attention

Envy

To feel more connected to the who we are gossiping too, to be a part of a group or clique

How? How to stop gossip in its tracks.

Drama needs an audience. Don’t participate. Gossip is a 2-way street. By not responding, we do not play and hopefully, we can move on.

Deflect with comments such as…

“Why does she/he interest you so much?”

“I’m more interested in what you have been up to?”

“Let’s talk about something more positive”

There is no way of knowing what truth is or lies, or how the story has changed through all the mouths it has left. Do not judge people by what someone else has said let your own experience speak the truth to you.

Gossiping is not only immoral and unkind, hurtful, and damaging. Spreading personal information whether accurate or not is just wrong.

Hold yourself to a higher standard. If you catch yourself gossiping, stop it and move on to something else. Do not engage in gossip you hear. It will stop it in its tracks.

I write this as I was thinking about gossip... on how it has affected my life as a victim of gossip as well as a perpetrator of gossip. I have personally seen how it caused hurt and pain. I have chosen to make a commitment not to gossip as I travel through the rest of my life. No one is perfect but all we can do is try. My hope is that I can be mindful if I am in the presence of gossip and do the right thing. I hope you will join me in this commitment and make the world…the grooming world, a better place.

Namaste

Mindfulness and Mindset…Where to start to make change

2019-04-07T09:10:00.001-04:00

Our thoughts have power. We truly are what we think.

To quote Henry Ford

“Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right. “

To be successful in any business one needs to have the correct mindset. It all begins with a decision to be positive and is followed by the practice of fulfilling that intention. It truly is a practice. If you have been brought up to be a negative Nellie, your thoughts could become self-fulfilling prophecies. Being surrounded by negative people can suck you into their vortex. I really, really do not like when someone says, “I can’t”. More often than not a choice is made that whatever it is, is not that important, not that you can’t. Most things people desire is attainable if the desire is strong enough. If it is not strong enough then maybe it is the universe telling you that this decision is not right for you. That maybe you need to follow another path. Listen to the whispers.

Once you have made your mind up to do something you are heading in the right direction. Set the intention of getting it done. There does not need to be answers to all the how questions. The answers will come. One needs to just start moving in the right direction. We are all energy and there is a frequency that flows through us all the time. When you feel down and depressed, and nothing seems to be going right, you are operating at a very low frequency. What you put out in the universe will come back to you. This is the law of attraction and although many may think this is all woo woo and fairy dust, the law is always in effect and operating. If you are operating from a low vibration your job is to raise that vibration to get in the flow of what you need and desire. How do you tell if you are headed in the right direction? It feels good. It feels right.

I once thought that my dream was to own a huge boarding/grooming business and raise show dogs. There were signs aka” whispers” along the way that this might not be the right choice for me. At that time in my life, my ego was running the show. Like a freight train, I went full force ahead into this, ignoring all the doubts and signs that were there saying maybe my life should go in a different direction. Eventually, I hit a brick wall and forced to close that business. I had failed. I floundered in my misery for a while living at very low energy and attracting more of the same right my way. This continued until a dear friend had a chat with me and said to me that I should take the lessons I learned from that whole experience and be a phoenix and rise from the ashes. I took those words to heart and at that moment chose to change my mindset and be open to new opportunities. As my mindset changed so did my life. I know now that because I chose to ignore the whispers the universe stepped in and said, “wrong way”!

It took a while but getting into the flow of what brought me joy made a very dark period of my life a thing of the past. I headed into the light even when new challenges arose. Life was not perfect and there were ups and downs, some very hard downs, but I had trained my mind to seek the good, to keep moving in the right direction.

So, this is my story in a nutshell. How does this relate to you? If you are feeling lost and low, how can you change this? My answer is to pay attention. Pay attention to how you feel. If the situation does not bring you joy, find something that does and head in that direction. However small or insignificant it appears at the time. Be mindful of how you feel. If something excites you, interests you, makes you optimistic, head in that direction. Investigate and be curious about those feelings. So many pet groomers reach a point of burnout and either leave the industry or continue to be unhappy and unfulfilled. If you are overworked, overwhelmed, in debt, uninspired, seek change. I know…easier said than done but getting yourself into the mindset to make changes, whatever they may be, is step 1.

If you are not sure what to do, do nothing. Sit and be quiet. Meditate, take a walk without the headset, sit under a tree, look out at a body of water, do yoga, whatever works for you, but be still. Things will come. Your soul will tell you what it needs. Many of us do not take the time to slow down and listen. Take what you hear and plan. Start with one thing. Maybe it is your finances? Do a budget, raise your prices? Maybe it is your self-confidence? Educate yourself on what you need to get better at. Once you start the process and you find progress it starts a snowball and continues to grow.

Be mindful of how you feel in all situations and keep the mindset to grow and prosper and live abundantly. Make changes when necessary. There is so much more to discuss on this subject and it can go in many different directions. I will write about this further in the future. Share with us all your feelings and experiences or any brick walls you are facing.

Namaste

The Anatomy of Pricing

2019-01-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

To price for success in your business you need to sit down and figure out what, exactly, are your monthly, annual expenses. Be honest and detailed. This should include your salary and taxes AND your profit. These numbers will be unique to your business. Take your time and be very thorough.

To simplify things, I am going to use easy numbers so you can easily see what my process is.

From this process, you will find out what you need to make on an hourly basis to have the business thrive. From these numbers, you can make decisions that will benefit you in the long run.

This may be very scary for you if you have been undercharging and surviving from month to month but to get past this and grow, we must face this truth. It gives you a basis on to which you can set goals and make changes. Be honest and through with this step.

Sample Expenses….

Monthly Operating Expenses___2000.00___________

Annual Operating Expenses ___1000.00____________

Salaries ____4000.00_______________

Taxes __2000.00_________________

Profit __1000.00__________________

Total __10,000.00 per month_____

The next step is …

How many days per week do you work? ____5 days/week___ 20 days/month

How many hours per days do you work? ___10 hours/day

Now the math….

1. $10,000 per month divided by 20 days/month = $500/day to make your expenses.

2. $500/day divided by 10 hours/day = $50 per hour needed

Let’s say you can do a Shih Tzu in an hour and you charge $50.

A Standard Poodle takes you 2 hours you should charge $100 for that groom.

You will need to groom 200 dogs at $50 each to meet your expenses.

If your numbers bring you under your daily sales goals, you now have a foundation to build on. If you want to work less, you can just plug in different numbers and see what would need to happen to continue to survive and thrive. Changes do not have to happen overnight. Baby steps.

Example…. My goal is to work 4 days a week and to groom 8 hours a day.

1. $10,000 per month divided by 4 weeks = $2500.00 per week

2. $2500 per week divided by 4 days per week = $625. 00 per day

3. $625.00 per day divided by 8 hours/day = $78.00 per hour

To reach your goal of working less and still meet all your expenses and make a profit the business needs to bring in $28.00 more per hour.

How do you do this?

1. Raise your prices! You can do it slowly with current clients. All new clients get charged the higher price. Keep in mind the value of your work and the experience the customer receives needs to support the price. Do not compare your business to the salon around the corner.

2. Add an employee to be able to do more clients per day. Keep in mind this will add to your expenses. What you pay your employee and your prices will determine the success of this.

3. Reduce your expenses. Go through your expenses and fine tune. Get rid of the extras you really don’t need. Look at everything under a microscope and save wherever you can. This may mean even making a move to a different location that costs less. Look at every option.

4. Add additional streams of income to your business. For example doggie daycare, retail, pet photography, pet sitting/boarding, pet bakery.

5. Utilize Add On sales to increase your average sale per customer. For example toothbrushing, dematting, nail grinding, creative grooming, massage.

Use your imagination and come up with your own unique way to reach your financial goals. These are real numbers that you can make changes and grow from. It does not have to happen overnight, and it won’t. Make a plan and break it down in manageable, attainable steps. Take it day by day. To look at the whole thing at once can be very overwhelming and could just shut you down before you even begin. Start small and everyday work towards the changes in bite-sized pieces. Before you know it, you will be just where you want to be.

You are in control of your own happiness. Pricing is a huge part of not letting business run your life. We deserve to live a life that fulfills us. We deserve health care, a nice home, time spent doing the things we love and spending time with our families. It all starts with deciding to do better. You may not have all the answers at first but just taking a move in the right direction the next step will come, and the next, and the next.

Make 2019 the year of you.

Making Lemonade out of Lemons in the Pet Business

2019-01-13T10:04:00.002-05:00

Overcoming Obstacles. We have all been there life is going along fine. Things are smooth and running like a well-oiled machine. Then you hit a wall. The phrase “when it rains it pours” is a metaphor for what life can hand you sometimes, out of the blue. When you hit that brick wall, you have 2 choices

1. . Give up

2. Pick yourself up, brush yourself off and move forward

Like the photo of my beautiful horse “Jerry” above you need to jump over it!

My 2019 started out with a huge brick wall literally stopping me and my business in its tracks. I am a mobile groomer and purchased a new van to replace my old dependable one that was starting to go downhill. I didn’t want to deal with all the breakdowns and repairs that were going to come with running an older unit. I picked the new van up in June of 2017.

Business was good, so good I hired an employee to help handle the growth and give me some breathing room. I felt blessed and enjoyed being a boss again and living my life while running this awesome grooming business. I had plans and was working towards them all the time.

As all businesses should do, I had mapped out a plan on how business would flow in 2019. I set goals and broke them down on how to attain them. I only do six months at a time because I find it overwhelming to do the whole year at once. I was optimistic and looked forward to the New Year.

I have traditionally always taken the week between Christmas and New Years to rest, regroup, and spend time with family and friends. I then start the New Year with a fresh attitude. On Dec 30 th my employee came to get the van because she would be working in it next. She got a mile down the road and the engine failed. This is a year-old van with minimal miles on it and BOOM…. I instantly hit a wall and had no business. No warning. I never expected this to happen.

I am not going to lie I had a meltdown. What was I going to do? This is my only source of income. How was I going to keep my employee working? I let the fear take over. The emergency fund I had saved for during the year had been eaten up by something else a month or so earlier. I never thought in a million years my beautiful new van would break down like this. To add insult to injury I was being told it may be a month before it is repaired.

Then there was my schedule. I had pets booked starting January 2^nd through February. I had to start contacting people and rescheduling appointments. It was and still is a very daunting task.

We are blessed in our area and have a wonderful group of supportive groomers. After I recovered from my meltdown, I sat with myself and came up with a plan. At first, I considered giving up mobile. I never wanted to be in this position again. I quickly got rid of that thought. I did not want to give up.

I reached out to fellow groomers who many of opened their arms and shops for me to groom in. I even had a fellow mobile offer for me to use her van when she wasn’t in it. That did not end up happening due to insurance reasons, but I was humbled by the offer. Another friend who owns a grooming school asked if I would be interested in teaching while her instructor was on vacation. This was something I had done previously in my career, so I accepted. I now had a way to service my clients and keep my employee working.

Then my employee quit on me with no notice. A new challenge has presented itself. She has dogs booked through the end of February that I now need to do. But these are some of the challenges faced with business owners every day. I will suck it up and do what I need to do and get it done.

I came up with a game plan for the month. I rescheduled some pets to local salons, even doing pickup and delivery if necessary. I teach the other days. Money is coming in and my bills are getting paid. I am also letting some clients go. I do not have the ambition or desire to work 6 days a week or to hire a new employee now. So, some clients who did not fit what my ideal client profile were sent nice letters severing our relationship. This opens space for new clients that fit better in the future.

As I write this my van is still at the dealership and I still do not have a date it will be finished. Thankfully it is all covered under warranty. I am still working on rescheduling clients. But I will be back on the road soon.

I also wanted to share that through this experience other opportunities have presented themselves. I think the Universe had a better plan for me. I am a firm believer that all things happen for a reason. So instead of fighting it and trying to control it, I am surrendering and going with the flow. Change needed to happen and so it did. This will be an interesting year and I am excited about it. Where would I have been if I just gave up?

It took me a few days to get through the shock and fear of hitting that wall and the subsequent mini challenges after that. I needed to practice what I preach. My son gave me a pep talk and after that, it was full steam ahead

I am so grateful for all the help and support I have received from my fellow groomers and my clients. It is truly humbling. If you don’t have relationships with your fellow groomers in your area, I suggest you start. We need each other to support and encourage one another. There are enough pets out there for all of us. That I know for sure.

Obstacles are hard but viewing them as a catalyst for change can make them beneficial. Truly when one door closes another opens. There may be something better for you out there. Change your perspective and refocus. Consider doing it differently and you will have a full glass of lemonade before you know it.

Peace, Love, and Prosperity to you all in 2019

Building Relationships with your Pet Grooming Competitors

2019-01-01T13:58:00.001-05:00

As we enter 2019 many of you have set some financial goals for your businesses. One way to do that is by increasing your client base. If you had asked me 15 years ago if I would ever consider forming a relationship with my competitors, I would have told you, you were crazy. I am here to tell you that now I do this, and it can work in everyone’s favor.

Most grooming salons that network may work with another pet business such as a doggie daycare or pet boutique, referring customers to one another. Cross promoting one another can prove to be very beneficial for both parties.

Now consider networking with your local grooming salons. There are as many different types of groomers out there as there are pets. We all have our special twist that we bring to our businesses. Referring a potential client to another competing business because it may not be a good fit for your business can have some rewards.

1. That potential client will know that you have that pet’s welfare first and foremost in your mind, not the amount of money you can make off that pet. You may not get that client bit you will get the respect of the pet owner and he/she will tell others about you.

2. By making that referral the client will most likely take your suggestion and use your competitors' services. This then opens the possibility of return referrals of clients that are a better fit for your business.

3. Networking with other businesses can be mutually beneficial during busy times especially around the holidays and other busy times of the year.

Some examples of how networking can work between pet grooming salons.

Grooming Salon #1… Corporate Busy salon, high volume, lots of groomers. Client calls with a very timid, elderly pet with anxiety issues. Is this pet the best fit for this salon? Probably not. In this situation, a recommendation to Salon #2 or #4 would be in the pet’s best interest.

Grooming Salon #2… Mobile salon 1:1 attention, no distractions, no traveling in the car or all day stays at the noisy salon. This mobile caters to small dogs and cats.

Grooming Salon #3…this salon has a stylist that specializes in Doodles. For some Doodles may not be your thing and referring all your Doodles to this salon would be beneficial for all involved.

Grooming Salon #4…this salon focuses on holistic treatments and a Zen environment and grooms by appointment only. They also have a weight limit of 50 lbs. A client calls with a OAY 100 lb. Golden Retriever and wants to get in in the next day or so. A recommendation to salon #1 would be a better choice for this client.

There are salons in my area that do hand stripping and groom competition dogs and others that specialize in cat grooming. The mobiles all service different areas, some do large breeds, some do not. Very few do cat grooming. There are home groomers who go to people’s homes and groom client’s pets in their home. As a general rule, a corporate salon can take on last minute requests.

As I always say there are enough pets to go around. Knowing who you want as an ideal client and the type of grooming you want to do will help you make better choices when a new client contacts you and are inquiring about your services. It is an ebb and flow that helps everyone’s business succeed and keep everyone happy, especially the clients.

As a side note, it is much nicer to have mutually respectful relationships with your competitors than be negative and at each other’s throats.

Take time to research your competition. Know their strengths and weaknesses. Know your own strength and weaknesses. Do some soul searching and decide what kind of groomer you want to be. Reach out to your fellow groomers say hi and tell them you would like to refer to them. Join any local groomer groups. Get together for drinks and food for some bonding time.

I love that I have working relationships with other groomers. We can all help each other and support each other. Only another groomer really knows what you go through.

Peace and Prosperity in 2019

Setting Goals for Your Pet Salon in 2019

2018-12-13T10:22:00.000-05:00

In the last blog post, I talked about looking deep inside and finding what motivates and inspires you. What keeps you moving forward? What are your dreams and desires? If money and time were not an issue what would you want to accomplish in the coming year? If you have not taken the time to do this then this is…

Step # 1. What do you desire?

Find a time and place to ponder. Do it your way. Make a list of what you would love to do in 2019.

My goal for 2018 was mostly a financial one. I had made a 1-year goal noting where I wanted to be, financially, at the end of 2018. I also had some other smaller goals I wanted to achieve. All were written down. I then prioritized them.

All goals need to be realistic, measurable with an ending date. I am going to use arbitrary numbers, for simplicity, and show you what I did.

My goal was to make $100,000 in 2018. In 2017 my business made $80,000. That was all broken down to give me some very important numbers. Some simple math gave me the number I made per month (20 days) $6,666.66 which then I divided by the number of days I worked a week, 5. That number was 333.33/day. I do 5 dogs a day. To reach that number I had charged at least $66.66/pet.

Another one of my goals was to only work 4 days a week. I then refigured my numbers with my goal in mind. To make $100,000.00 I need to bring in $8,333.00/month now divided by 16 days doing 5 dogs/day. I needed to bring in $520.83 per day.

Step #2 Make a plan

How was I going to do this?

1. I could do more dogs/day. 8 dogs /day would hit my sales goal

2. I could work 5 days a week vs the 4, I wanted to, bringing my daily target down to $416.65/day, doing 6 dogs/day.

3. I could raise my average sale by increasing prices and add-on services

4. I could hire someone to help me part time.

After considerable thought. I decided on #4. I would work 4 days and they would work for 2 days. That would bring my daily sales goal to $347.22/day. This number divided by 5 pets, equals $69.44 per pet, an increase of $2.78/pet. Very doable!

Step #3 Breaking it Down

I now had a plan and then broke it down even further about how I was going to accomplish this.

1. Hiring someone.

What kind of groomer I wanted, and where to look for them? How much I was going to pay them? When would they work? All the details needed to add a staff member to your business. It was broken down in many smaller tasks with due dates.

2. Raising my average sale per pet.

How much would I increase my prices? What add-ons could be offered. How would I promote them? Again, step by step with due dates for each smaller task.

All of this was written down in a notebook. It was very important each step had a completion date. I reviewed this often. I truly feel if I had not written these goals down, I would not have achieved them. I put what I wanted out in the universe and things were set in motion for me to accomplish my goals.

Nothing is written in stone and the plan needed to be revised often, but that is ok. I read somewhere that a plane flies off course quite a bit on a trip from A to B. The pilot is continuously bringing the plane back on course until it reaches its destination.

If you find you are off course readjust and continue your path and you will get there.

As I write this, I am on course to accomplish my financial goal for 2018. There were a couple of smaller goals I did not accomplish but they will go on my list for the coming year. I am not going to beat myself up about. I am readjusting my sails and moving on.

Recap

1. Start with your dreams and desires. You cannot begin without this. Figure out what it is that you desire.

2. Set your goals. They must be realistic and attainable and measurable.

3. Plan. Map it out. Break it down. Plot tasks that need to be done with due dates. Readjust if you go off course.

4. Stay focused and committed. Make sure your priorities are in order. Say “no” to things to open space to fulfill your tasks.

5. Reward yourself when you cross a task off your list. A dinner out. A bubble bath. A special item you have wanted. Whatever will motivate you to keep moving forward.

Wishing you all peace and light this holiday season.

Sandy

Soulful Planning for 2019

2018-12-02T15:52:00.000-05:00

So, as I pondered what my next blog post would be, I started thinking of what I was currently doing in my pet business. The year is coming to a close and I naturally start thinking about the past year, what I have accomplished and where I want to go in the coming year. I do this on a personal level as well as a professional level.

That brings me to goals. I don’t know about you but there have been times I have been very unclear about what I wanted. I never planned and just trudged through the months year to year. You hear so much about goals this time of year. The word is everywhere. I found it so overwhelming I ignored it. A bad habit of mine. Goals for your finances, goals for your health, goals for your love life. Goals, goals, goals! My grooming business did well but had no course to follow. I was flying by the seat of my pants.

This past year was different. I have a mentor in the grooming world who did a webinar on goal setting. I also listened to podcasts and read books where goal setting was the topic. It made sense. I started to listen. I first had to decide what I wanted. I truly had no idea. What did I want? Where did I want to go with my pet business?

I am the type of person that has put everyone else before myself. A common trait among pet groomers. I never really put my wants and needs first. I had to dig deep and decide what it was that would inspire me, make me want to get out of bed every day, make me happy. One way I did this was through meditation.

Meditation was a way I could quiet all the thoughts that continually race through my head. Sitting in a quiet place and just relaxing and letting go. Not an easy feat for someone who’s mind goes in fifty different directions constantly. I found an app on my phone called “Insight Timer” that I use for guided meditations. Driving in silence is another form of meditation for me. I am a mobile groomer so shutting off the radio to clear my head is easy. I am relaxed and refreshed by the time I reach my next client.

In the warmer weather, I have a favorite spot, near a lake. It is a nice hike with the dogs. I sit and ponder my life. I also enjoy early morning coffee on my deck while the weather is nice. I even get my butt out of bed early to have time to do this every day. I watch the clouds, listen to the birds. It is my favorite time of day. Now that there is snow on the ground a quiet place in my house must do most days. A lit candle, fireplace lit, and a warm blanket to cuddle in. I love to take a walk in the woods. Something about the silence of winter. The crisp air, the crunch of the snow beneath my boots brings peace.

Many people journal. This is a habit I have not fully incorporated into my life. A few times I have just put my pen to paper and wrote what came to mind after a meditation. There are many out there that find this daily practice beneficial. I have started reading a book called “The Artist’s Way” by Julie Cameron. She talks about doing morning pages every day to open a creative pathway. Maybe when I finish this will be a new practice of mine.

From the quiet comes inspiration. You hear your soul telling you what it needs. Do you have a spot? Someplace you can look inside and plan a life that will take you places?

In January 2018 I wrote down my goals on a piece of paper. I used to just keep it all in my head. I followed the guidance I was given and put it to paper. Something about putting the pen to paper is where the magic happens. You are making a commitment to the universe by doing this. I had made some decisions on what I wanted to work on. I also mapped out how I was going to reach my goals. Some goals were vaguer than others. I had made others very specific. I spent an afternoon mapping it out. I stuck the piece of paper in a notebook I have and referred to it on occasion. Then I forgot about it.

Something amazing happened. A month or so ago, I came across the paper while looking through my notebook. The goals I had mapped out and took specific steps towards had come true. The others I had made a little progress but did not complete. When I read that sheet of paper, I was so proud of myself! I had accomplished over half of the goals on that paper. I had not even realized it.

I now have a strategy. I have taken the time to discover what brings me joy and what I want to accomplish and how to achieve it.

Next blog post I will go deeper into how I goal planned. Your job is to start now and decide what your goals are for the coming year. I will then give you a blueprint to get there.

Namaste

Imposter Syndrome in Pet Business. Do you suffer?

2018-11-19T10:59:00.000-05:00

Who do I think I am? What makes me think I can teach people about running a successful pet business? This is my struggle with Imposter Syndrome. I am being very vulnerable here and sharing my struggle with you and how I am working on it. I battle that little voice in my head, my ego or fear saying I am not good enough.

Imposter Syndrome is a belief that you are incompetent or an utter failure despite the overwhelming evidence that you are qualified and skilled. Mostly an internal struggle with self-confidence, this syndrome can also be reinforced by unsupportive people around you.

I have been working on this for a bit now. It is a battle only I can conquer with myself. I expect I will struggle with it on and off my whole career. I need to change the way I think. Change the thought patterns from the “I can’t”’ “I am not worthy” “I am not smart enough”, etc.

Words mean a lot to me. I love words and quotes. I read inspiring messages from people I respect and follow. I am a self-declared personal growth junkie. Listening to audiobooks and podcast have helped me more than I can even say. I have found I am not alone in this battle and I am worthy and deserving of everything I want in my life. My bathroom mirror and wall near my desk are adorned with positive words. Words I read as I put my makeup on or doing my books or writing a new blog post.

Imposter Syndrome has kept many from reaching their full potential. They get stuck in the fear and never venture out of their comfort zone. Everyone starts somewhere and we all cannot be perfect on our first time doing a new thing.

For example, groomers learning to do a continental trim on a poodle the first time. You cannot expect to be as good as the best competition groomer or poodle handler on our first attempt. Every athlete and successful business person started somewhere. So many people think they need to be perfect before they put themselves out there. For many perfect will never come and there they sit in their comfort zones accomplishing nothing.

Eff perfect and just start. Do something! Each day take a step in the direction you want to go. I started by writing down all the things I have done in my career. I even wrote down my utter failures. By documenting them I could recall what I have learned from both the good and the bad. I have them on my desk so I can review them every day. From your experiences, you can know why you are qualified to continue your new path.

I found a support system through positive, successful friends and mentors, online support groups, and through the podcasts and books, I listen too. I attend workshops and seminars that encourage and motivate me. Feeling like an imposter is just a feeling and you can change the way you feel at any moment. It is a choice. When I feel like I am unworthy it is usually when I am comparing myself to someone else who is doing it better, faster, smarter than myself. I need to remind myself that I am unique. My experiences and what I bring to the table are different than anyone else. There is room out there for what I want to offer. I also remind myself of my experiences and why I am worthy and capable.

My journey is a work in progress. By being aware of the struggle is half the battle. I know I am not alone. My mantra is “I am Enough”. I find myself saying that to myself when that wave of self-doubt and fear enter my mind. I try to chase it away quickly and replace it with something positive. I do not give space in my head for comparison. We all are unique and different in what we offer the world.

The world is a box of crayons. I choose pink and blue crayons. Yours may be the green and yellow crayons. We are all part of that big beautiful box of colors and there is room for all of us and the special gifts we bring to the world.

You are enough! You are a gifted soul who has a purpose in this life. You can do anything you put your mind to. Kick that Imposter Syndrome and comparison aside and live the life of your dreams. Take your pet business to the next level. Learn that new skill or become a teacher to someone else.

I am in your corner and am here to help. Go forth and conquer!

Mindful Mornings for Pet Professionals

2018-11-11T12:40:00.000-05:00

Earlier this year I was introduced to a term called reverse engineering. I tend to study successful people I admire and learn about their journey to success and how they got there. Reverse engineering means to look at a successful person and go backward. What did they do to get where they are? What habits do they have? Time and time again I learned that these people I respected so much all have a morning routine. They start their day on a positive note with a plan and intention.

It used to be I would hit the snooze button over and over. Then I would jump out of bed, stumble around, and rush out the door frantic and unorganized. More times than not that is how my day would go. My days would make me feel like a hamster on a wheel. I was working, working, working and going nowhere.

My first introduction to a morning routine I was at a business retreat with a very smart business savvy woman. We shared a room and I witnessed her doing her “thing” in the morning. Piquing my interest, I asked her about it. She told me she followed the teachings of Hal Elrod who wrote the book “The Miracle Morning”. The morning routine consisted of a series of actions that when done consistently can have life-changing results.

Tony Robbins, Oprah, Steve Jobs, Lady Gaga, to name a few, all have morning routines. Mr. Elrod called these the 6 Life SAVERS.

S. Silence

A. Affirmations

V. Visualization

E. Exercise

R. Reading

S. Scribing

He proposed getting up earlier than you normally would. I do an hour. Then devote a set amount of time to each of these before you get ready for the day. Done consistently these will become a habit. Done consistently he says these practices will give you more energy, focus, and motivation to accomplish all that you desire in life.

I adapted my morning routine. Initially, I followed “The Miracle Morning” guidelines but like everything in my life, it is a work in progress. Getting up an hour earlier was initially a struggle. It is now a habit and I automatically wake up the same time each day. I lay in my bed and practice gratitude, for my health, my family, my ability to make a good living. Sometimes I do a guided meditation with an app on my phone. Reading is another thing I try to fit in. My reading material varies from day to day, but I am curious about so much and love to learn.

I also love affirmations and visualization. At my desk, I have a list of affirmations I say aloud or in silence. My favorite affirmation is “I am Enough”. Hanging near my desk is my vision board where I can see and visualize all my hopes and dreams. It has photos and quotes and inspires me every time I look at it.

Occasionally I journal. I find this particularly hard for me. It is easiest after a meditation. My head is clear, and I just put pen to paper and write down what comes to mind. When I find myself distracted and unfocused, I find that sometimes reading my earlier written jottings brings me clarity. I also make lists of what I would like to accomplish for the day and set an intention. My lists are not long and if I do not accomplish something, I move it to another day. I have learned not to beat myself up for not accomplishing my whole list every day.

Exercise has been my crux. I used to do 30 minutes every day and after being ill for a time I got out of the habit. I try to do something every day. I love yoga and hiking. I may not get to this in the morning but try to incorporate into my day if possible. As I said earlier, I am a work in progress.

So, my routine is different than my friend who opened my eyes to this. It is most likely different than Oprah’s, but it is my life and I do it my way. Yours could look totally different than all of ours. I find by having this morning routine I walk out the door happy and focused. I get in my van (I am a mobile groomer) and put a big smile on my face. I say to myself “how lucky am I to be able to do this for a living?” And my day begins.

This practice has made a significant change in my life and business and I recommend everyone have a morning routine.

Namaste

Finding your Ideal Pet Business Clients

2018-11-04T11:25:00.000-05:00

I personally struggled with this. I was trying to be super specific and that just did not work for me. I opened my mobile business in 2013 after a brief absence from the industry. I was starting from scratch. I had zero clients. I did implement a weight limit and a territory and then started to gain clients. Mobile was a pretty new concept in my area, so I not only had to teach potential clients the benefits of mobile, as well as selling my services. I also had the conundrum of having a competitor who was charging considerably less and discounted her services.

I decided I wanted Macy’s shoppers, not Walmart shoppers. I wanted clients who wanted quality work and had the ability to pay my fees. I knew I could not be all things to all people.

I did the usual stuff Vet offices, networking events, word of mouth, social media. My biggest asset was driving my beautifully wrapped van around with a phone # and website on it. Mobile groomers are lucky in that way. They drive around a moving billboard.

My business model was to do maintenance grooms on dogs that took me no more than an hour and have a 15-20 minute drive between clients, staying within my service area. My prices were based on how many dogs I wanted to do each day and how much I wanted to work.

I deviated from that a bit in the beginning. I needed to bring money in, so I took on some larger breeds and traveled a bit more than I wanted. This is a typical mistake new mobile groomers make. Brick and mortar salon owners make this mistake as well, trying to be all things to all clients. I had work and money was coming in, but I started to become stressed about certain days when I had clients I did not enjoy, on my schedule.

I entered mobile grooming because I wanted to reduce my stress level, as well as the pets. Something needed to change. It was not going to be my pricing. That was non-negotiable. I gave no discounts unless it was on a personal level. That in of itself weeded out the Walmart shoppers. Those with multiple pets who wanted reduced fees, for the same amount of time, and work were not my clients.

I needed to do a personal audit and decide what it was I wanted and who I wanted to serve. I stepped outside of my business and looked in. My ideal client would be enjoyable, uplifting, have similar likes and desires as myself and what I have to offer them brings a huge value to their lives. I would create services that they need and want, rather than the other way around.

The business I run needed to be up to par with the client I was attracting. Was my branding consistent? Were my services easy to understand? Did my business present itself as being of quality and integrity? Was I making it easy for clients to do business with me? Would they be proud to do business with me?

A lot of thought went into who my ideal client was. I thought about clients I loved to go visit. What was it that I liked about them. Then I thought about the opposite. Those who when I saw them on the schedule, I cringed. I made a list of what I liked and disliked from my own client base.

What I decided I liked were clients who...

Lived within my service area

Owned small/medium dogs or cats

Appreciated my skills and convenience

Referred me to friends and family

Maintained their pets’ grooming on a regular schedule

Give glowing feedback

Shared the same values and morals as me

Talked about their pets and my business on social media

Had no issue paying my fees and tipped well.

Rarely cancels or reschedules

I then put faces to this from my client base. These were my current ideal clients. What do they have in common? These were the people who would get priority. There were some that were not quite my perfect clients but we're getting there. These are the relationships I focused on. And as the adage goes “what you focus on grows”.

When I talked to a potential new client, I was very aware of my ideal client guidelines. That is not to say everyone fit in perfectly, but I could tell right away when someone did not fit my business and I referred them elsewhere.

I made room in my schedule for new ideal clients by gradually weeding out the ones that did not fit and made me cringe. The ones who cancel all the time. The ones I never could make ecstatic about the job I did. The ones who made snide remarks about the price every visit and never tipped. The once a year shave downs. I thought about what these people had in common as well. How did these people (good and bad) find my business? Is there a common denominator?

Letting clients know what is important to you and what you value in life will attract people who share your like values. Like attracts like. Being authentic is important. Let them know who you are and why you do what you do. This can be done on social media, newsletters, email, your website or just in conversation and how you present yourself. Create a mission statement for your website or social media pages.

As you sort through your clients you will see common threads forming. Such as...

Certain gender

Age group

Common interests and mindsets

A particular income bracket

You also need to be aware of what makes you different from your competition. Why will your ideal client choose your business over them? Think about..

What do you do like your competitors?

What do you do differently?

What is complete, uniquely you?

There are lots of pet groomers out there. We are all doing the same thing, caring for people’s pets. Do you do something that others aren’t? There is enough business out there for everyone but shine a light on your business, so you highlight what makes you different. If you are unsure about this, ASK! Do a survey, ask clients, friends, and family for their perspective.

Also, ask your ideal clients what they want. Do a survey. Chat with them. Start a conversation, ask specific questions. What challenges do they face? Eventually, if enough people are questioned patterns will emerge. You then can provide more specific products and services to those ideal clients.

So hopefully, now you can create an imaginary ideal client. Write it down.

Where do they work?

How old are they?

Where do they live?

What careers are they in

What are their interests and hobbies?

What are their fears?

Give your client profile a name and get a visual of this person in your head. Every time you want to make a business decision run it by this client avatar. See them as someone you can sit down and chat with. This faux client will affect all aspects of your business from marketing to fine-tuning your services and customer service.

My personal goal is to continue to grow my ideal client base. This is not an overnight process. I continually work at it. However, I view this as a necessary action to run a profitable business that I look forward to working in every day. A happy, well-paid groomer is better able to serve their clients than a burnt-out, stressed groomer who hates to go to work and cannot wait to leave.

My goal is to have a world full of happy groomers!

Know your Worth as a Pet Business Professional

2018-10-21T08:28:00.001-04:00

You are unique. No one else can do what you can do, the way you do it. You have special gifts that you bring to your business. You need to value these gifts and feel good about trading the value of these gifts for money. It is not uncommon in the grooming industry, to undercharge or even give services away for free. We are a nurturing bunch who want to love, pamper, and care for our clients. We develop relationships with them and emotions become a part of that relationship. There is a bit of awkwardness asking for money for what you do, especially if you love what you do. Women have such a hard time charging what they should when we are service orientated. There can be such guilt for ‘taking” money to care for the pets we love. This is a common problem with women in business in all industries but is very common with groomers in business.

It all starts in our heads. You are what you think. What are your feelings about money? Do you have self esteem issues? Do you find it painful to put a dollar amount on your work? Our money beliefs come from experiences or handed down from our parents. If you constantly think there is a lack of money, stress that there is never enough. Were you told that “money is the root of all evil”?

If you live with that constant negative energy, you will never have enough. Money is energy. It is a tool, neither good or bad. Money is what is traded for the value of your services. Your customers appreciate you and want to pay you for your knowledge and skills, with money. To be successful in business, any business, you need to know your worth and charge appropriately for it. Start thinking about money in a different light. Earning money is a good thing. Focus on making money versus taking money. By making money you can…

1. . Stay in business and continue to serve your clients

2. Take care and provide for your family

3. Possibly provide jobs for others

4. Be able to serve more people and pets, and your community by being successful

These are all good things. Focus on the difference you can make by earning more money without being sorry. Be proud of who you are. Share your gifts. Believe in your business and share it with pride. I love the quote “You teach people how to treat you.” It really applies in this situation.

I have set my prices to succeed. Clients who monopolize my time get charged more. I give no volume discounts and my prices are nonnegotiable. By doing this I have set a tone that my time is valuable and deserving of the fees I charge. I feel my services, skill and experience can support the prices I charge without any guilt. If I decide to give something away, I do it because I want to, not because I was bullied into it. Provide packages or programs or possibly offer a guarantee. These may provide a unique value that a competitor may not have.

First and foremost, you need to know how much money your business needs to make to succeed, not just to get by. It amazes me how many business people do not know their numbers. We will get more into this subject later. For now, make a list of your expenses, plus your salary and savings. Prices should not have anything to do with your competition. Your costs and expenses will not be the same as your competitor down the street. How many clients do you have? What is your average sale? How many hours do you want to work? Notice I said “want” not how many you do.

By knowing your numbers, you can get an accurate idea of how many clients you need and what you need to charge to be successful. Recognize the fear that makes you believe you are not worthy or will not get the work if you charge more. When you discount, undercharge, or give things away for free, you say to the universe that you are not as good as your competition. Understand you cannot be all things to all people. Think who is your ideal client and go find them. By judging what people will or can pay you create an energetic barrier for money to flow. You need that positive energy flowing freely. There is more than enough money in the world to go around. Stand behind the value and worth of your services. Be unapologetic about your rates and equally unapologetic about collecting those rates. Be grateful every time you make a bank deposit.

Watch your words. Do not diminish your value by using words like “little”, “small”, or “just”. Speak confidently about your abilities and what you offer.

I personally love affirmations. When I repeat these, it changes my energy to a positive one. Write these down, post them where you can see them often. Repeat them frequently and notice a gradual shift in your thinking.

“I earned it”

“I deserve it”

“I am worth it”

“I have enough”

“I am abundant and prosperous in all areas of my life”

Finally surround yourself with great, positive people. Don’t be afraid to say “no”. Be grateful for all that you have and can do. Let that money energy flow right to you!

Love thy Pet Groomer

2018-10-14T10:06:00.001-04:00

LOVE THY GROOMER

As a young business owner, I was very competitive. I felt I was the best, my shop was the best, and my grooming was the best. I did not care to associate and/or support the fellow groomers in my area. My arrogance and attitude, as I look back, were not my best qualities. The things I could have learned from my peers, and the possible friends I could have made, are a regret I have now, as a wiser, kinder, gentler person.

I remember being so upset, really upset, that a competitor got a weekly spot on a local news channel discussing grooming topics. I turned all sorts of green, huffing and puffing how that should have been our shop doing that segment. I ridiculed their grooms and called them mediocre. That is how I labeled them. I am very ashamed that I felt that way, and behaved that way. The truth is they were helping us and all groomers, by educating pet parents on a variety of subjects. And as I always say now, there are enough pets out there for everyone. With over 90 million pets in the US ,and approximately 50,000 reported pet salons, there are plenty for everyone. One just needs to decide what kind of groomer they want to be, and be it!

I have thought long and hard on why I behaved in such a manner. My actions did not affect my competitors. They went about life as normal. My actions DID affect my coworkers, family and friends, and possibly, even the pets I worked on, depending on my mood. And it affected me. I created my own anxiety and made my life more difficult than it had to be. Why did I behave this way?

FEAR! I was afraid. I was afraid that they would take all of our business. Afraid my shop would not be “the best”. Afraid I was not the best groomer. I was afraid of failing. It was a weakness within me, that I was not good enough. I was an inexperienced, young, business owner, flying by the seat of my pants, behaving like I was the end all to pet grooming. I was such an ass! My behavior was directly related to my insecurities that had nothing to do with the grooming businesses that surrounded me

The things I have learned since then have come from experience and education and of course, maturity. We as, groomers, are all in this together. We do this job because we love it and the animals we care for. No one does this job because they think they can make money. It is a hard job, and to have any longevity in it, there needs to be passion.

Interestingly enough what motivates me and inspires me today are other groomers. Four decades into this career I find every day, that there is more to learn. Social media has been a huge asset. I’ve learned so much from watching videos and posts from successful, inspiring, motivating groomers, who are more than willing to share their secrets and knowledge and strategies. I see support. When someone posts a problem or asks for advice, help is there, almost instantly. If someone posts a picture of one of their grooms, you usually see many positive comments. It is very frowned upon these days to trash another groomers work. We all started somewhere and excel at different things.

I would have been so grateful to have that kind of support, way back when. That was way before the internet, but it still could have happened, if my attitude was different. Take advantage of all the avenues of communication, we have now. Join Facebook groups, follow groomers you admire. Watch You Tube videos. Whether it is wanting to learn more about finances in grooming, to doing an adorable Asian Fusion face on a Shih Tzu, it is out there. Join grooming organizations; go to trade shows and seminars. Reach out to your local groomers. Maybe all meet for a night out every now and then? Get together and have grooming/learning sessions. You have so much to learn from each other. You can possibly friend them on Facebook. Compliment them on a great groom they did. Do you know how good that will make them feel? Be the change you want to see.

I am no longer afraid. I am secure in my skills and ability and run a prospering business. I am calmer, kinder, and more patient. I also give freely to others who ask me for advice. It has been a long road, much longer than it should have been, but that is a different story. Use the resources available to you and become the confident talented groomer you are destined to be. Don’t be afraid. Be knowledgeable and compassionate and success will be at your fingertips.

Compassion Burnout in the Pet Industry. Stop it in its tracks!

2018-09-29T13:39:00.000-04:00

As I was spending time reading posts on some groomer Facebook groups, I noticed posts from groomers who were throwing in the towel. They were closing their shops and finding a new profession. This made me very sad.

I understand though, as I too, had gone through a point in my career when I had enough and did not want to groom anymore. This happened more than once. Thankfully this was short-lived, and I found my way out. Today 46 years from the day I started, I am still grooming.

Recently I heard that this phenomenon is called Compassion Burnout. What a perfect way to describe it. It is the cost of being in a caring profession and effects are particularly hard on the ones who show the most empathy.

Having experienced this, myself I can personally tell you the signs.

1) Constant feeling of being overwhelmed, chronic exhaustion/ fatigue

2)Poor work/life balance

3) Dreading going to work

4) Reduced feelings of sympathy and empathy

5)No passion or desire to make things better

6) Impaired decision making

7)Irritability, Anger, Anxiety

8) Feelings of inadequacy

9) Trouble with work/personal relationships

10)Using food/alcohol or other substances to stop the pain

How does this happen?

Being the loving, nurturing caretakers we are, we want to help everyone. saying "No" does not come easily. We tend to take on more than we can handle and set no limits. We overwork ourselves and possibly undercharge or discount our services. We want to groom all the pets and be everything to everybody. There is no personal time and relationships suffer.

This, over time, is the perfect recipe for some to reach the point of no return. If you are not happy on the inside it is going to show in everything you do. Your life and business will mirror the pain you feel on the inside.

My one business failed because of this. Exactly this. I reached a point that I just did not care anymore. All I wanted was out. I had lost employees, clients, my finances were a wreck. I owed back taxes, I had no time to spend with my kids. I worked 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for several years. The maintenance and repairs were getting out of hand. I was overwhelmed, overworked and hated every day. I was done. I did walk away and lost everything. This experience brought me to my knees. I was homeless, with 2 young children, jobless, and miserable.

It has been 14 years since that business failed. It took me a while and I encountered a few obstacles but eventually, I got back on track. Today I am proud to say that I am still grooming. I own a successful mobile business, growing every year, hopefully grossing six figures in 2018.

The lessons I have learned. I will delve into these more in future blog posts but here is a synopsis of what helped me.

1)You need to take care of your body.

Sounds cliché, but it is true. Eat a healthy diet and do some sort of exercise. Stop eating junk food and limit alcohol and smoking. Get a massage. Meditate or take a hike. Develop a spiritual practice. You only have this one body. Take care of it!

2)Set limits!

Do not let clients/employees run your life. Set specific hours and days to work and stick to it. Put systems and policies in place. Reduce your workload and adjust your pricing to accommodate the reduction. You can remain compassionate and supportive without becoming overly involved. You can say "No".

3)Make time for fun stuff.

Making time for leisurely activities is a great stress reliever. Rediscover an old hobby. Discover a new one. I do not work weekends and do not answer phone or emails during "my time". Make your personal time yours and yours alone.

4)Cultivate relationships outside of work.

Spend time with family and friends doing activities that are not work-related. Explore other interests outside of grooming.

5) Get paid for what you're worth.

This is huge. Even when I have a client or pet, I am not particularly fond of, it makes it worthwhile if I get paid well for the job. Your prices need to be created in a way that supports your business, not what the shop down the street charges. Figure out what those prices need to be and market to the clients who will appreciate and pay for your services. Even if I have a bad day, having been paid well for my efforts takes the sting away.

6)Do not take things personally.

This has been a struggle for me. If a client did not come back or an employee left, I always took it so personally. Like I had failed. We all make mistakes sometimes but there are times that things just happen, for no reason. I now understand that the Universe has a plan for me and if a customer goes somewhere else or an employee moves on, that then there is now room for something new and better to come in. My experience has been just this. If it is something I can change, I change it. If not, I let it go.

7) Personal Growth

I find inspiration and motivation everywhere. All you need is to go online put something in the search bar and you can learn about anything you want. Continue to learn and grow. Do not become complacent. Attend industry trade shows or take online courses. Find seminars that interest you and attend. I personally love audio books on business and podcasts on all things that interest me. Browse social media for ideas and mentors. In this day and age, there is no excuse. Knowledge is power!

In closing, I have given you some strategies that have helped me move into a new season of my career. You may have others. I would love to hear what has helped you with burnout. The bottom line is that it all begins with you. You need to make the decision to make your life a priority. If you do not do it, no one else will.

Back in the Saddle

2017-09-18T10:09:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I have posted anything here. I have gone from being a Salon owner, to a Corporate Salon Manager, to being involved in a near fatal accident, to not sure I could or wanted to groom anymore, to owning a successful Mobile Grooming business, I have built from scratch. Today, I feel I am where I am supposed to be. Buying my first van in 2013 fulfilled a 20 year dream of mine. The road I traveled to get here was full of twists and turns, and many mistakes.....many....

What that means to my readers is that I have seen and been through a lot and can bring my experience to the table. I am still on my journey, growing my mobile business, excited about the future and am willing to share the experience.

I just returned from Groom Expo, in Hershey, Pa. I only took one seminar, a business one, by Khris Berry, who owns a Grooming, Daycare, Training business, with locations in Florida and Kentucky. Hopefully, without sounding arrogant, I was thrilled to actually find a seminar a veteran stylist, such
as myself, could actually learn something new. She discussed marketing..which I love, managing..which I can always use advice on, Money and Media. It was a very good seminar that any pet business person could find value in. She is speaking around the country and I recommend her seminar, highly, if you get the chance. The next one will be at the New England Pet Professionals, in Massachusetts, this October 2017.

I must have attended 25-30 Groom Expos and Intergrooms, in my career. Being around my peers, watching the skills of the competition groomers, and checking out all the new stuff out there, to help me do my job better, really motivates me and inspires me. We work hard and sometimes we need a break to get recharged and remember why we do this job. Thankfully, there are lots of videos and reading that can be done online, for those unable to attend these events. Many of the leaders in our industry now have programs and DVD's available.
I recommend https://www.groomingprofessors.com/, with Chris Pawlosky and Judy Doyle Hudson.
Also
https://www.learn2groomdogs.com/, Melissa Verplank's site has tons of videos from the industries best groomers.

Pet grooming is very subjective. You can be the best of the best, a competition groomer or a basic, I shave dogs kind of groomer. Because this industry is unregulated and unlicensed you see a vast array of skills and styles being put out there. Educate yourself. Be the best you can be, doing the kind of work you want to do. Never before, in the history of this industry, have you had so many opportunities to learn. The worst mistake anyone can make is becoming complacent and thinking they know it all. You can teach an old dog new tricks! I am proof of that.

The Salon Experience

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The

Salon

Experience

Setting the Standard for a High Quality Pet salon Business!!

The type of business that attracts upscale clients is one that does not compromise quality for price. The customer comes for the services you offer. They come for the experience. They like how they are treated and they like the feeling they get when they walk into your business. You know their name, you know their pets’ name. There is a relationship.

You compete in the grooming market by providing excellent service, using quality products and provide a positive sensory experience. Each customer experience is individualized and unique, every time. You do not compromise on price. We all know those customers. They are the ones who shop around for the lowest prices and move from salon to salon. These are not the type on clients to build a business on because they are not loyal. No matter how much they like what you offer, they will go somewhere else on price. When you discount your price, you discount your value and your work. This is not how to stand out from the others. There will always be another business that will compete with you on price. You & your business need to stand out! As I have written in other posts, it costs considerably more to get new customers in the door than it does to retain the ones you have.

To create “The Salon Experience”, attention to detail is a must! From the products you use and sell, to the logo and interior design of your salon. To make sure you stand out from your competitors, know what their services are and how they conduct business. Make phone calls or visit. Ask questions. Have a friend investigate. What products do they offer? What is the décor like? What kind of promotion do they do? Be different, develop your niche. Stand out from the crowd from the mediocre salons. The salons that stand out generally have a smaller but more devoted/loyal customer base, and make more money. In the pet salon business, that means more time to spend with the pets we care for and their owners, building relationships. They should leave your business wowed by what they just experienced.

Learn the 4 P’s of running a successful, upscale pet salon. Sign up for our newsletter and receive a copy of “The 4P’s for Pet Salon Success”

Do You Have A Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?

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If you are a pet salon owner , you should have a USP. What exactly is that? It is what sets you apart from your competition. What makes doing business with you special? It doesn't even have to be unique, you can create the illusion of uniqueness. Think about what you offer to your customers. Is it quality grooming from stylists who succeed in the competition ring? Is it you hours of operation, that make you more convenient than your competition? Maybe you have been in business for 30 years or specialize in a certain product? Do some research and see what is lacking in your market and focus on that. One salon I know of has a "Walk in Wednesday", where she accepts walk ins all day first come ,first serve. Another has made their niche in specializing in "Pawdicures" for those dogs who are traumatized by nail trims. Maybe you are an exclusive feline groomer? You want your salon to be the only one focusing on your special USP. Make sure you include it in everything, ads, newsletters, website, social media. AND, make sure you deliver! No false USP's. Your customer will expect what you offer in exchange for their business. Nothing will kill your business faster than a false USP!

So give this some thought. Sign up for our newsletter and receive a report on some examples of USP's and how to create one of your own. Then report back to all of us and let us know how you are unique!