Have you ever wondered why many pet owners have some fears and preconceived negative notions about groomers? Of course, some of this comes from news stories reporting horrible grooming accidents, like dogs overheating in a drying cage or being injured when left unattended. But some of it comes from the language many groomers commonly use. Here are a few examples:
Long-time pet stylists know this unspoken rule: a full appointment book offers job security. So if your appointment book is lighter than what you would like, how are you going to fix it? Here are a few ideas to help you boost your number of daily grooming appointments.
Imagine a Christmas Tree at your grooming business that is completely covered from bottom to top with adorable plush dog toys. As each dog completes their pre-holiday grooming session, its owner is instructed to choose any toy they wish from the tree for their pet. If their dog is not a fan of plush toys (or eats them!), there is also a stack of soft fleece blankets by the tree to be gifted instead.
You know that customer. The one that when their name shows up on caller ID, you cringe. The one that, when you see them on the calendar, makes you wish you had called in sick.
Most business owners keep careful records of items and products used in the course of the business, simply because it’s a business expense that can be written off on taxes. There are reasons to take that record keeping much further.
In the military, they have a saying, “Two is one, one is none.” I scratched my head the first time I heard this, but what it means is that if you have one of an item and it breaks, you have nothing. However, if you have a spare, you are back to having one. What does this have to do with pet grooming? For example, if you are clipping a dog and it kicks the clipper out of your hand, and the clipper hits the floor and is broken, you are out of business unless you have a spare clipper on hand.
There are a lot of things that groomers must be in order to succeed. Artistic, accurate, caring, competent, focused, fast, empathic, easy-going, knowledgeable, strong, multi-tasker, detail oriented, honest, enthusiastic…the list goes on and on. And no one can be all of those things, perfectly. We all have strong points and weak points and work to bolster our good attributes and correct what we see as weaknesses – but should we?
Every year I make a note on my calendar two months before any anticipated seasonal rush. The memo reminds me to take a little time to get things in good order before the hectic days arrive. So here are some ideas that might make your busy times easier:
As I write this, the leaves outside my window are turning shades of gold and red, which signals me to give my workspace a stern look and a deep clean.
Held again at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center right on a beautiful small pond, this show while not one of the biggest, may just be the one with the best atmosphere. People are friendly and smiling and competitors seem more relaxed. Vendors are ready to assist with general information as well as purchases. And the drive there will provide some spectacular fall foliage views. If you are near New England, plan to make the trip next year as it’s worth it.
