he Barkleigh Pet Pro Cruises are an amazing asset to the grooming community with a goal to create a casual vacation environment where attendees can learn from industry leaders and foster real and meaningful connections with one another—and they’ve been going on for 30 years!
The setup for the cruises is very simple for attendees to navigate. Typically there are three days at sea, plus the destinations or ports in between. All education is scheduled for days at sea to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the ports and sightseeing. There is generally about eight hours of education, and with the small group size and intimate environment, attendees feel more comfortable speaking up and asking questions. After seminars commence in the morning, attendees are then free to do whatever they would like on the boat.
There are also “non-formal” events to help get everyone together in a less structured environment—including the Welcome Cocktail Party. This event provided an opportunity for attendees to formally introduce themselves and get to know a little of each other’s backgrounds.
I had the pleasure of interviewing a few of the attendees during the cruise, and I was blown away by the feedback I received. Kim Ferrell and Ronni Ribar, owners of Lush Pet Spa in Jacksonville, NC, decided to bring their nine-person staff on this cruise. They believe that continuing education and team morale are crucial for running their business to the high standards they have set.
Kayla Mae, owner of Pretty Paws Pet Spa in Wisconsin, was a returning guest after attending this year’s January Pet Pro Cruise. Her story about her 84-year-old grandfather, who was able to attend the cruise with her in September, tugged at my heartstrings. He was hit with some health issues that caused him to go nearly blind, and it was always his wish to go on a cruise. So, Kayla jumped at the opportunity go on the Bermuda cruise to make sure this happened for him. When she wasn’t attending the seminars, she was taking her grandfather around the island, making sure he ate all the lobster he wanted and got the opportunity to learn more about their family history.
On the last day of the cruise, Kayla signed up for the January 2024 Barkleigh Pet Pro Cruise. She says she loves connecting with other groomers and being able to “check out” for a few days. She gets to balance “work and play” on the cruise all while sharing travel with her family.
Another cruiser, Jessica Fox-Barnes, is just starting her grooming career after only two years in the industry. She works in Johnstown, Ohio, a small rural community around the Columbus area, for an owner that hasn’t always been a part of the pet industry. Even though the business’s owner isn’t a groomer, she fully supports continuing education.
Jessica attended every extracurricular event we offered and was such a delight to have in the seminars. She says she got the most out of the sit-down talks, interactions with other groomers and the personal attention this learning platform offers. She encourages anyone who is on the fence about signing up for a future cruise to “just do it!”
These cruises are a wonderful part of the grooming industry because they not only provide the top-notch education that Barkleigh is known for, but also offer a unique travel experience and the chance to make new friends who all share the same passion—pet grooming!
If you are interested in joining us for a future cruise, you can visit Barkleigh.com and click on “Pet Pro Cruise” under the “Shows” tab, or follow the “Barkleigh Pet Pro Cruise” Facebook page for announcements of upcoming cruises. See you on the boat!