Contest winner Haily Wells’ name was misspelled in the 2023 Groom Expo West Contest Results in the May 2023 issue.
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1ST PLACE ENTRY
Contents | JUNE 2023
by Jonathan David
by Jennifer Bishop Jenkins
ALSO INSIDE
todd@barkleigh.com
adam@barkleigh.com
gwen@barkleigh.com
rebecca@barkleigh.com
luke@barkleigh.com
laura@barkleigh.com
brandi@barkleigh.com
carlee@barkleigh.com
evan@barkleigh.com
cassidy@barkleigh.com
allison@barkleigh.com
james@barkleigh.com
karin@barkleigh.com
britany@barkleigh.com
Daryl Conner
Jonathan David
Dr. Cliff Faver
Blake Hernandez
ALSO INSIDE
ON THE COVER
oes it seem like some of the conversations you have with your clients go a little like the Abbott and Costello “Who’s On First” routine? As groomers, we know what we mean, but do the clients get it? If they don’t, miscommunication often leads to unhappy clients.
Here some common miscommunications groomers may experience with clients, along with their solutions:
ne of the advantages to having longevity in a particular profession is the opportunity to see how new technology helps to improve the lives of the people working within that profession. As a pet stylist of 35 years, I’ve had that distinct opportunity to see so many new and helpful products hit the market. In addition, as the grooming industry has grown to become an important and necessary part of pet ownership, I’ve also seen so many products and tools that have been part of the industry for a long time become more efficient and effective with more advanced technology. And one of those tools that has been greatly improved upon are our clippers.
But why are these new and improved clippers better for groomers than the old ones?
t’s all about making the dog comfortable,” dog groomer Hannah Ziegler says. “I groom one-on-one and one family at a time. So, if the family has one dog, I work on one dog. If they have three dogs, I have three dogs in the shop.”
Before becoming a groomer, Hannah was a dog trainer specializing in dogs with issues like leash aggression and intense fear of a specific thing or place. She would work with the families on slowly exposing the dog to the thing in question which it would acclimate to over time, causing the dog to become calmer.
Additionally, Hannah was raised around mobility dogs: “My mom is disabled and requires help. Riley was a black Lab and her first service dog. From a young age, I saw how a well-trained dog could help someone achieve what was previously impossible.”
o many changes have occurred in the past few years, leaving many of us trying to figure out what the new normal looks like. However, with every crisis comes an opportunity. The secret is to figure out how you can seize the opportunity for your own personal growth.
One area that is near and dear to me that is seeing a lot of changes and challenges is the veterinary world. Anyone that has tried to get in to see their local veterinarian or the emergency clinic realizes that it looks very different than it was in the past. There is a shortage of veterinarians with increasing demand. And the more recent graduates of veterinary school are striving for a better quality of life and can’t imagine working 80-100 hours a week, in addition to being on call for emergencies. Preventative medicine, at one time, was the backbone of what we did, but now it has taken a second seat to many more advanced diagnostics and surgeries that are often required as lifesaving procedures.
So, why I am discussing this in a grooming magazine? It is because all these changes are filtering down to the grooming world…
t’s so surreal how your whole life can change literally in the blink of an eye,” says pet stylist Adrian Smith, aka “The Color King,” who appeared on the ABC grooming competition show Pooch Perfect in 2021.
“On December 30th, 2022 I was involved in devastating car accident,” Adrian shares. “I remember I was driving on the interstate after having dinner, then I woke up in the hospital. My jeep was struck from behind in a hit-and-run collision. My Jeep hit the guard rail and flipped over several times. The roof flew off as it rolled and I was ejected from the vehicle.
“I spent 28 days in the hospital and more than two months on bed rest. I had to undergo several surgeries including facial reconstruction, hip surgery, tail bone surgery, pelvis surgery, and wrist surgery. My lungs collapsed and I had to be placed in the intensive care unit on a breathing machine/life support,” he continues. “Mentally, I was going through PTSD, loneliness, and depression, but I stayed encouraged because I know God has a plan for my life and he kept me here for a reason. Now I am at home, doing well, and expected to make a 100% recovery.”
No matter how young and healthy you are, like Adrian, you could have your entire life change in an instant. Are you prepared in case something unexpected happens to you?
We all lead busy lives. With work, family, friends and other obligations, it’s easy to put some things on the back burner—especially if you think you won’t need them in the near future. However, there are some crucially important things that you can and should do now to protect yourself and your business.
dvances in technology can often redefine the history of the whole world. Thankfully, technological advances have also made our jobs as groomers easier and safer. Clippers are more efficient. Brushes brush better. There are combs to fit every coat type and every styling need. Towels absorb better. There are now multiple options with which to safely dry every kind of pet. The array of choices in shears is dazzling. Better tables, tubs, shampoos and conditioners abound. UV light kills germs we can’t see. But no advance in grooming technology has amazed me more than the new microbubble technology that is taking clean to a whole new level.
f you can put your personality into your marketing, you will quickly build a tribe of people who are just like you. The problem is, most groomers are afraid to use their personality…and this is a big mistake.
The businesses that are most successful are the ones that have a unique identity and stand out from the competition. Think about any of the dog grooming industry heroes you admire. For sure, they’ll be super skillful with the scissors, but the connection you have with them is about more than just the quality of the cut. I bet you know in-depth details about their business journey, including the ups and downs they’ve experienced along the way. And, I bet they put their personality and their personal story into their branding.
t is one thing to have a difficult feline or a demanding owner, yet sometimes we set ourselves up for frustration. If we can manage our equipment and environment, handling a challenging cat or owner goes much smoother.
Over the years, I have discovered that many of my frustrations and annoyances were due to my poor planning, which was a lack of procedures, policies and routines. I will be the first to admit that I wasn’t quick to solve these shortcomings. In fact, I still struggle with the same pet peeves today.
by Blake Hernandez
ith summer here and temperatures at their highest, we’re seeing haircuts at their lowest…length, that is! However, don’t lose style or individuality just because the client wants their dog short.
This particular dog is always in a short trim with a pretty traditional beard and brows. But in this tutorial, we’ll really makeover his face and hopefully give you some inspiration on adding spunk to your shave-downs.
Photo by Anjie Coates
very spa day for Beethoven begins the same way. When his Mom’s car is stopped at the four-way outside the salon he begins to whine. The whining escalates into a near frenzy when he gets to the salon, then the frenzy turns to screaming the moment he steps inside. The screaming is to alert me that he has arrived and requires that I come to pick him up, smooch his head and tell him he is my favorite boy.
BEST IN SHOW
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