aru Wojtaszek has been a prominent figure in the pet industry since 2008, beginning his career in pet retail before moving into grooming. After completing an apprenticeship, he excelled in competitive dog grooming and AKC conformation events, earning recognition as an International Certified Master Groomer and award-winning pet stylist.

“After working in various salons, I saw an opportunity to create an environment that truly prioritizes a calm and personalized experience,” Karu shares. “I started out working in bustling full-scale salons, which were all either free-range or open concept.”

In September 2017, he founded Grooming Arts Northwest in Portland, Oregon, where he combines his past experience in show and competition grooming to execute everyday pet trims. In addition, he oversees the work of the other stylists in the salon to ensure high-quality results.

“I didn’t really see a gap necessarily, but I always noticed a consistent shortage of groomers and an overwhelming number of dogs needing grooming,” Karu recalls. “I think part of the shortage is due just to the challenges of the job, but I believed improving working conditions could make a real difference.

When he finally went out on his own, Karu’s first salon was a private studio under 300 square feet. The small space worked well for a while, but over time, other groomers started reaching out to him, either looking for a quiet place to groom or seeking mentorship to improve their skills.

“This feedback pushed me to open my second location, where I could combine that same one-on-one focus with the capacity to support more groomers who share similar values,” he shares. “My goal was to create an upscale, respectful, and private space where both clients and professionals feel valued.”

Passionate about grooming doodles and poodle mixes, Karu is known for his ability to skillfully style their rustic coats into a naturally elegant look. In addition, he holds certifications from IPG and NDGAA, and prioritizes pet wellbeing, which is evidenced by his Low Stress Handling Silver Certification and Fear Free Professional Certification.

“Continuous education has been central to our growth,” Karu notes. “Not only does it set us apart, but it also builds the confidence we need to help clients feel comfortable leaving their pets with us. Above all, I focus on kindness and respect—values that have guided me through every step of this sometimes bumpy road.”

Grooming Arts Northwest operates as a specialized, personalized service with a steady waitlist, therefore allowing its groomers some flexibility to tailor their schedules.

“This means our team can work with more of the types of dogs they enjoy, which creates a more engaging and satisfying work experience—of course, that always includes a significant number of doodles,” explains Karu. “Some of our team members have specific interests, like hand stripping, Asian fusion, or creative grooming, so we do our best to match the right clients with the right groomer whenever possible.”

In addition to Karu, his team includes four groomers, as well as a client care coordinator.

“Kindness is at the heart of everything we do,” he shares emphatically. “Kindness toward the pets in our care and among our team. A large part of this philosophy comes from my training as a Zen Buddhist. I firmly believe that if we can’t do something with kindness, we shouldn’t do it at all. And part of that kindness is sometimes knowing when to set boundaries for ourselves.”

Karu also prioritizes and supports continuous education and skill development within his staff.

“We offer educational stipends and require our staff to meet specific annual learning goals, whether that means attending trade shows, certification exams, or specialized workshops,” he shares. “We also maintain a comprehensive library of reference materials, and while we are mostly self-directed in our learning, our experienced groomers sometimes mentor newer team members when needed.”

While Grooming Arts Northwest has seen success from the beginning, it hasn’t come without experiencing some growing pains and learning to navigate the professional landscape.

“One of my biggest challenges I am learning is how to set clear boundaries and expectations and how to communicate better,” Karu says. “Early on, I didn’t have structured policies, trusting that kindness and respect would always be reciprocated. When I realized that wasn’t always the case, I knew I needed clearer guidelines. This led me to develop a detailed policy manual and implement regular check-ins with my team.”

He also needed to learn how to set a marketing strategy, and decided early on that he wasn’t going to go all out from the get-go, and also ensure he wasn’t shortchanging his regular clients.

“We’ve kept a low profile when it comes to traditional marketing,” Karu explains. “From the beginning, our reputation has grown organically through word of mouth and referrals. So much so that even our storefront has a deliberately understated presence—people often walk by without even seeing us.

“The volume of new-client inquiries can be overwhelming,” he continues. “And we even recently deactivated our social media accounts to streamline our communication. Our focus continues to be more on taking good care of our existing clients.”

Karu also adds that client feedback is a top priority, which has been key to the business’s success.

“After every groom, we send a brief questionnaire asking clients to rate their experience from one to five,” he explains. “If the score isn’t a five, we follow up immediately to address any concerns and ensure complete satisfaction.”

Karu considers Grooming Arts Northwest as somewhat of a pioneer in the grooming industry, particularly in regards to its setup.

“Grooming can become chaotic quickly, so our salon is designed for calm, organized, and private individual workspaces under one roof,” he states. “Each team member has their own dedicated treatment room, and our layout includes a large, welcoming lobby with a front desk and separate soundproof bathing and drying areas.”

Every space inside the salon can be closed off from the others, which is invaluable when working with sensitive dogs, focusing on intricate work or simply taking a moment to decompress after a challenging groom.

“I always liked the layouts of veterinary offices that had lots of little private areas,” shares Karu. “So I was lucky enough to find a building that had been built out as a veterinary office already.

“Two of the best things new clients say when they come in are ‘it’s so quiet’ and ‘it smells so good in here,’” he continues. “I always wanted a space where [clients] could take a big sigh of relief as soon as they entered the front door.”

Grooming Arts Northwest is considered a serene oasis where personalized attention matters first and foremost. Still, Karu has thought of what may lie ahead. And one area he would like to expand is the business’s involvement with the local community.

“While we haven’t engaged in many community events yet, it’s an area I’d love to explore more,” he shares. “Right now, we focus on occasional staff gatherings outside of work, but I look forward to expanding our involvement as the business continues to grow.” When reflecting on the long-term goals for his grooming business, Karu expresses that he is very happy with its current scale.

“Over the years, I’ve remodeled our space multiple times to optimize the environment, and we’re pretty much maxed out at this location,” he says. “I’m not actively pursuing expansion at this point, but we still receive résumés from talented groomers looking for either a quiet space or mentorship.

“It would be wonderful to offer more of them that opportunity someday, but we just don’t have the space or any immediate plans for growth. It’s nice being medium-sized,” concludes Karu.