American groomer, Lindsee Lee shares her views on when to move salon

When is it Time to Move on?

Florida groomer, Lindsee Lee, shares her experiences of seeking job fulfilment in the US grooming world and when you should decide to move on:

Most groomers have been there. I know I certainly have, several times. Unclear on whether you should stay in your current salon or move on and find a new one. There are so many factors that run through your mind when the debate starts, but they all lead to one big question: “Am I happy?”

When first starting out I tried the ‘stick it out until it gets better’ mentality and watched as my other groomer friends seemed to excel in our field. Some got better hours and shorter days, some got better jobs, some opened their own businesses, some bought cars and houses and had babies. In the meantime, it felt like I was stuck scraping by and unable to afford to live.

That’s not to say that they were all better groomers than me, or that I was an inferior groomer, we all like to believe we’re a bit better than average and I’m no different. On one hand I am and continue to be incredibly proud of every single one of them for every accomplishment they have achieved, while on the other hand it’s disheartening questioning myself.

I’ve changed salons four times since I stumbled into the grooming industry and, while I am comfortable in my current salon, I do not see this one as my final grooming place. My previous salons were certainly memorable, filled with abuse and cruddy pay cheques and stress. My friends remind me often of the nonsense I put up with waiting for it to get better. Everyone has that small hype-team behind them pushing them for greatness, my team has three people - my wife and two other great friends. They are there for the rant fests and venting, the accomplishments, the worries, the jokes and the fun. They helped me discover that I didn’t mess up, I’ve just been unlucky, and I am absolutely ready to make my luck change.

The first salon I ever worked in was a corporate salon, I started as a bather and after 10 months it was miserable. It was a draining and venomous place to work due to a greedy and judgmental salon manager. I decided to leave and go to a proper grooming school, and that was the best decision of my career. This was the one I never questioned.

I began the climb and started in a franchised grooming shop while learning, and barely five months in to working there I was blown away with how unprofessional it was. It was worse than the corporate salon, everything I was told to do contradicted what I was learning and what was safe or comfortable for human or animal. I asked myself “Am I happy?” Nope. Time to go!

I then started in a new facility. I helped during build out - painting

Lindsee Lee

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walls, lacquering the floor, erecting the grooming tables, the whole shebang, and thought I was valued by the owner. They whispered sweet nothings in my ear about earning higher wages, getting a raise when we get busy, yearly bonuses, top notch grooming equipment, company paid shear sharpening, and the ever-soughtafter Insurance Benefits.

After a year it became an extremely toxic work environment due to the owner’s mental instability. She had every employee walking on eggshells, scared to come to work. I thought “If I just stick it out, it’ll get better” and stayed. The recurring question came again, “Am I happy?” Not even a little bit. I gave a formal notice. After leaving I questioned whether I should have stayed, the pay was pretty decent, and I was hurting for money. My hype-team reminded me that my mental health is more important than the pay cheque.

I then went to work for a small private shop. I worked there as an ‘independent contractor.’ I had no contract and paid no rent. I was told by the owner it was a better solution, but later found that it was illegal in this shop. Once again I was hoodwinked by empty promises and visions of freedom that I didn’t even have. I was being controlled, being told what to do and when to do it by an absentee owner, being told what my prices had to be, and being told what I was paid. And so the question came again, “Am I happy?” I was at first, but not anymore.

In my current salon I am content and happy. I have found an owner that understands the grooming industry and actually cares about her employees. It took me a few shops and headaches to get here, but it happened. I eventually want to own my own business, and my current boss knows this, so this may be the place I rest and build myself up to get there. Finally, I can focus on MY goals and not someone else’s.

Everything I have gone through has drilled into me that the ‘stick it out until it gets better’ mentality never works, and my immediate happiness is just as important as my future happiness. We all know that you must build yourself up, raise yourself to higher levels, continue your education, network and meet new people, and be proud of your work. There is also an element of luck when it comes to finding that right shop with that perfect team that fits you.

But never settle for second best. I have learned through hard trial and error my entire life that there is a space for me to exist happily, and if I’m not in that space then I need to go find it. I am worth it. You are worth it. When is the right time to leave? When your mental health isn’t important to anyone in the business, and when the pay isn’t worth the misery.

You do not need to suffer now to succeed later.

By Lindsee Lee, lindseeleeamsden@ gmail.com

Is it a good time to start your own Dog Grooming Business?

In the UK, there has been a significant increase in dog and puppy adoption during the lockdown, and unfortunately, many owners will be unprepared or unaware of the grooming and upkeep measures needed to appease their new family members! The poodle breed-mix is also becoming a significant trend in the UK, and with high-speed growth in their curly coats, they require regular brushing, bathing and of course trimming.

Our sleepy highstreets are preparing for the grand reopening of their local businesses. Many have suffered, but some are anticipating a steady route to recovery with new refurbishments, fancy window displays and of course, COVID-safe precautions. This is no different for the dog grooming sector. Whilst some salons have been able to stay open for occasional welfare grooms, it has only been occasional work. So, it is safe to say that any dog groomer will be eagerly awaiting their first appointment and will enthusiastically greet their scruffy clients with open arms…

Animal Courses Direct is the UK’s largest education provider of animalrelated Ofqual regulated qualifications and accredited courses and has just launched a brand-new Diploma at Level 3 in Dog Grooming and Salon Management.

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To gain the Level 3 Diploma Dog Grooming and Salon Management – you will study all the 8 units of theory and 30 days of practical, which includes, hands-on training at one of our top, hand-picked, COVID-secure training providers. The theory elements of the course can be studied online, in the comfort of your own home. You will gain an understanding of the required health and safety measures within a dog grooming environment, as well as skills in canine emergency first aid and an understanding of canine behaviour. You will learn more about the relevant canine welfare requirements and by the end of the course, you will be comfortable and confident in styling and grooming a range of different dogs and coat types.

The practical experience provides students with the opportunity to groom a minimum of 20 dogs, ranging across 10 different breeds with different coat types and styles. Alternatively, there are two other Level 3 courses available. The Level 3 Certificate in Dog Grooming and Introduction to Styling and the Level 3 Award in an Introduction to Dog Grooming, are both alternative qualifications for those who want to explore a variety of hands-on experience and learning materials.

If you are interested in studying this qualification then please visit our website at www.animalcoursesdirect. co.uk or fill out a ‘contact us’ on our website and one of our friendly student support team will call you when it’s convenient for you. Before you go… Total Grooming readers can redeem £50 off any dog grooming qualification by entering the code GROOMING50 at checkout.

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Clipit Grooming

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Going Mobile…

The Portable Palace

Winner

Grooming Van of the Year

Created from our Revolutionary insulated panel, the Palace provides groomers with unrivalled benefits never seen before in the industry! This amazing new concept was born due to our lining's incredible lifespan - they often out live the vans they were placed in - so we created a demountable pod where your business can be moved on to the next chassis easily when needed - or if you no longer wish to be mobile, you can demount the pod and work from your garden!

• As the chassis ages, the Palace can be removed and placed onto a brand new chassis - resulting in a

much cheaper cost than having to buy a whole new van and conversion with next to no downtime

• If the chassis is involved in an accident or breaks down you can simply remove the body, place it on the

ground and work from your driveway whilst you wait for it to be repaired.

• The lining will not out live the vehicle like so often seen with used van conversions. You then have to sell

the van & conversion and then buy a new van and conversion and wait whilst it is converted. Whereas with the Palace, you can keep the pod forever and change the chassis as you need to.

• Once you choose to retire from mobile grooming you can remove the Palace, sell the chassis and work

from the Palace in your garden instead of having to buy a parlour or convert a room in your house.

• When you choose to move home, you can take the pod with you and this portability combined with the

size means they will not normally require planning permission in your garden.

• You never need to buy a Brand new chassis that can depreciate - simply buy used a chassis and then

swap them out as they get too old.

• Smaller than its LWB Van equivalent but provides a more workable space inside that is highly

customisable as there are no van strutts or vehicle constraints

• Can be driven on a normal car driving license

Say goodbye to having to buy a whole new van and conversion every few years - simply move your Palace from one chassis to another with zero down time and when the time comes and you no longer want to be mobile, simply

Going Mobile…

Winner

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Discover your dream work place today

G;Rooms

Our fantastic portable grooming Pods allow you to groom from the comfort of your own garden in a fully waterproof, insulated & professional environment. They are completely self contained - for electric you simply plug the cable provided into your house, for water in you simply attach your garden hose and this is piped straight to your Hydrobath. Waste water is held inside the bath and piped out to a location of your choice. The Pods do not normally ever require planning permission and they can be delivered to even the hardest to reach locations. And if you move house? our Pods move with you! Each pod is fully portable and can be moved an unlimited amount of times. Choose from an unlimited amount of interior & exterior options with fully customisable packages to perfectly suit your budget and design with ever Pod and conversion available on finance from as little as £20+vat per wk! Trailers

Made from our Revolutionary insulated panel, our VCA Approved Grooming trailers provide the perfect solution if you would like to work from home and be mobile without the running costs associated with a van - with no tax or MOT required with trailers! You can leave the trailer on your drive way or hitch up with your vehicle when ever you need to. And when you have finished being mobile you can permanently demount the trailer from the axels and use it as a Garden Pod!

Vans

Our industry leading dog grooming vans provide unrivalled levels of luxury combined with practicality. Choose from new or used vans or supply your own, we work with you to create the perfect package for your business. Complete with a 10 year lining warranty our conversions outlive and out perform all in their class with a build quality that is second to none. Unlimited optional extras and packages are available including sign writing and free delivery back to you. New vans Available fully converted from just £68+vat per wk!

Portable Palace

Your parlour for life. Our new revolutionary demountable Palace offers benefits never seen before in the industry. Once your chassis reaches the end of its life or is involved in an accident, you simply demount your Palace and work from home or swap it onto a new chassis. If you no longer want to be mobile you can demount the pod and use it as a parlour in your Garden. The palace’s can be driven on a standard UK driving License and are often smaller than their van based equivalent whilst giving you more usable space. Available in a wide range of sizes with unlimited conversion configurations. Available on finance

NATURALLY BETTER Treat little stinkers kindly!

If you prefer your 'natural' shampoo pure, without chemical scents or artificial colour, give this one a go! Enriched with essential oils to super hydrate and deeply nourish the coat and skin, what's not to like?