TOPEKA AREA GROOMING SHUTTLE Jennifer Walker's office is on wheels. And if she leaves visitors feeling washed up, that's a good thing. Walker owns and operates Topeka Area Grooming Shuttle, a mobile grooming service. No loading up a dirty dog and driving to a salon—this salon comes to you. "They get in, they get bathed, they get groomed, and they're back in the house," Walker says.
SALON ON WHEELS Unlike a traditional house-call groomer who will use the owner's home bathing facilities, Walker’s van is actually a mini salon. "Everything in the van is made so it's ideal working conditions," she says. Walker prides herself on pampering pooches to the max. Each bath begins with a blueberry or plum facial, making sure the areas around the eyes and mouth get extra-clean. Nails are filed smooth and nail "pawlish" is optional. Shampoos are allnatural and no visit is complete without a dab of canine cologne. Walker will do creative cuts or even coloring, if requested. "I think people are getting more and more inclined to treat pets as family members," she said. "In the economy of the past couple years, the
grooming industry has not suffered because pets are a priority and people are making that part of their expenses."
ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION Walker began working in a traditional pet salon setting in the late 90s and launched her mobile service in July 2011. She traded building lease payments for a vehicle payment—a fully outfitted new mobile unit can cost $75,000 or more. But she wouldn’t trade the atmosphere it’s allowed her to achieve.
“It’s calmer,” she said. “It’s more serene because it’s just you and the dog, and that dog has your undivided attention. I like the oneon-one attention with the dogs. The distractions are so minimal.” Walker says the mobile service is ideal for puppies going through training or older dogs, for whom a trip to a salon is too stressful, but she takes anything in between—and they all become like part of the family.
“They get in, they get bathed, they get groomed, and they’re back in the house.” - Jennifer Walker, owner
Jennifer Walker, owner of Topeka Area Grooming Shuttle 36
Summer 2013
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine