Groomer to Groomer April 2020

VOL. 39 ED.4 • APRIL 2020

“THE GROOMING INDUSTRY’S TRADE MAGAZINE!” WWW. GROOMERTOGROOMER .COM

KEEPING

UP WITH THE TIMES

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CONTENTS | APRIL 2020

Keeping Up 5 WITH THE

Tips for Success with

Online Grooming Software 24 by Andy Gale

by Jonathan David

Groomer To Groomer Asked Facebook: What 46 Grooming Tool Can't You Live Without?

Berry: Can You Replace You with Technology? 6 Knowles: Culling Your Client List: Who Should Stay and Who Should Go?

48

Knowles: Taming Your Toolkit: Finding the 12 Victor Rosado Hosts First Annual Latin American Cup 2020 Perfect Combo That Works for You

60

Groom Expo West Contest Results

16 New Products

THE

Brittany Spaniel PET TRIM

66

Magnificent Mini–Me's! Making Art Out of 20 Groomer Humor Dog Hair

68

30 Classifieds 68

Hansen: Kittens!

Conner: Daryl's Top Six: Try Something New 34 Calendar of Events

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ASSISTANT EDITOR Gwen Shelly gwen@barkleigh.com MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Shipman rebecca@barkleigh.com CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Adam Lohr adam@barkleigh.com ART DIRECTOR Laura Pennington laura@barkleigh.com SR. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jenn Barraclough jennifer@barkleigh.com

JR. GRAPHIC DESIGNER MARKETING CONSULTANT Alex Hammersla Jenny Thomas jthomas@barkleigh.com hammer@barkleigh.com WEB MASTER Luke Dumberth luke@barkleigh.com

MARKETING COORDINATOR Alyx Robertson alyx@barkleigh.com

VIDEO DIRECTOR Jeremiah Strawbridge PUBLIC RELATIONS/ jeremiah@barkleigh.com SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Evan Gummo VIDEO PRODUCTION evan@barkleigh.com Becca Tarlo rtarlo@barkleigh.com ACCOUNT MANAGER/ EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Karin Grottola & CLIENT RELATIONS karin@barkleigh.com James Severs james@barkleigh.com

Michell Evans Kathy Hosler Daryl Conner

54

by Amanda Aaron VOL. 39 ED.4 • APRIL 2020

EDITOR/PRESIDENT Todd Shelly todd@barkleigh.com

40

“THE GROOMING INDUSTRY’S TRADE MAGAZINE!” WWW. GROOMERTOGROOMER .COM

KEEPING

UP WITH THE TIMES

MAGNIFICENT

Khris Berry MAKING ART OUT OF DOG HAIR

Michelle Knowles

VICTOR ROSADO

Jonathan David

HOSTS FIRST ANNUAL

LATIN AMERICA CUP 2020

Brittney Valle Amanda Aaron Deborah Hansen

Photo by Amanda Marshal Instagram @hairofthedogart

ON THE COVER Photo by Amanda Marshal • Instagram @hairofthedogart

Copyright April 2020. Groomer to Groomer is published monthly by Barkleigh Productions, Inc, 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Postmaster: Send change of address to Groomer to Groomer c/o Barkleigh Productions, Inc., 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Annual U.S. subscription rate $25. Outside U.S. $79. year, surface rates. Groomer to Groomer is free to current Barkleigh Productions, Inc. customers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Editorial offices: 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. (717) 691–3388 FAX: (717) 691–3381 Email: info@barkleigh.com

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

5

GROOMING BUSINESS BASICS

by Khris Berry

CAN YOU REPLACE

WITH TECHNOLOGY? Grooming is a world in which you create your craft with your hands. One may argue that groomers also use their hearts, time, minds and backs to finish their work each day.

E

ach of these tools is an irreplaceable commodity; you have a limited amount to give. Yes, even your heart is limited—ask any groomer who has experienced career fatigue.

Like any commodity, it is important to consider how you are using it and protect it against waste—and that commodity is YOU! Let’s discuss how to make sure that you are using yourself in the best, most efficient ways, and where you CAN replace yourself and effort.

Software and technology have crept into almost every aspect of our lives. Every day many of our activities are likely supported by technology to accomplish, simplify, assist or

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

learn how to complete that activity and succeed. The grooming world is no different.

So how is it that in a career which is accomplished by your own hands, and success is achieved by your own handiwork, that there is so much room for technology?

Simple, when you are the actual commodity, you become your most important resource. The technology surrounding you should save you time, money and effort. The old adage, “work smarter, not harder” definitely applies. I use these parameters to determine if it makes sense to include software or technology into any task in the grooming shop.

Whenever I meet groomers and

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the subject of technology arises, I often hear comments such as, “I can’t afford to add that”, “I can do it myself for less” or “It’s just too expensive”. Let’s look at some typical client interactions and look for ways in which you can determine if technology makes sense in your workplace.

To make these cost comparisons, you must begin by knowing what your own time is worth. If you can’t assess how much your time is worth, how can you determine if you are saving time or money? How can you determine how much you should spend on time-saving software?

Hopefully you have read one of these articles before and already know your personal hourly rate. Once you do,

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your decisions regarding business services become easier to make.

Here is an example: If I save 30 minutes a day with software that sends my clients an appointment reminder for the next day, and I make $60 per hour, and I work 5 days per week, I have saved 2.5 hours per week or $150 of my own hourly rate in one week. I could translate that same 2.5 hours into grooming another dog or two. Instead of costing myself $150 in time, I can increase my revenue in the same time and employ technology to work on my behalf. I could certainly afford software at a much lower rate to send client text or email reminders, and my clients will experience regular reminders (because we are people and really do forget to make those reminder calls sometimes).

This is only one tiny place where software and technology can help you. What about the client check-out process? What is the actual cost of storing, accessing and managing client records? What is the cost of NOT doing so? I could make a strong argument if you are using NO filing or records storage system that your costs of customer loss could be quite high; without good records, you are more likely to experience a lack of consistency in service, quality of grooming and balls may be dropped. But even if you saved as little as 10 minutes each day keeping track of your clients, their grooming notes and their phone numbers, using a system which allows immediate management and retrieval of that information would save you approximately $83/week (if you earn an average $60/hour and work an average of 5 days per week).

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KEYS TO USING TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE EFFECTIVELY Know your own worth.

Use the software or technology you purchase to its fullest.

Remember all that time we saved you? Use it wisely.

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you can translate the information learned into retaining one new client per month, attracting one new client per month, or saving yourself the time it takes to groom one dog per month, you can justify the cost based on your hourly grooming price/rate.

SO WHAT IS THE KEY TO USING TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE IN YOUR BUSINESS EFFECTIVELY? Know your own worth. You must know what you are making to determine if the cost comparison of your time is equal to your money spent.

Use the software or technology you purchase to its fullest.

Often times, I find that people will adopt a new program or new technology and only use a small amount of the features provided. Before you seek a new solution, make sure you don’t already have one built into the systems you already use.

Remember all that time we saved you? Use it wisely. Take the extra 10 minutes here and the extra 20 minutes there and turn it into profit!

Invest in yourself, your business and your clients. But make those investments count. Learning a new technique is great, but if you don’t use it, or let your clients know that you are using it, you may not get the perceived value from it.

Grooming is a career which requires you to use many things, but ultimately YOU are the greatest asset in any grooming shop. You will be the piece of the puzzle which can never be replaced; however, look around you at everything you touch in between grooming dogs and look for opportunities to increase your productivity and simplify your work! &

ALL THINGS PAW

by Michelle Knowles

R U O Y G TAMIN INDING IT: F K L O O T The

U

THAT

YO R O F S WORK

There are hundreds of tools available to groomers these days.

Brushes, combs, rakes and stripping knives, oh my! And groomers are notorious for being attracted to shiny things—be it new scissors, tables, dryers, smocks or ribbons.

H

aving had the opportunity to work with many different groomers over the years, I have really begun to see a pattern emerge when it comes to individual tool choices that each groomer makes to add to their toolbox. I am definitely no exception to the tool hoarding mentality, and in my last move, I was faced with many boxes of tools that I needed to whittle down. This made me think of all of us, as a whole, spending our hard–earned money on so many things that don’t serve our needs.

Within my salon alone, the techniques and actual hand sizes are so

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

varied and our stations are crammed full of things we don’t use. While I believe there is a use for every tool, not all of us need all of them. This is not in any way meant to limit an individual’s need to have as many tools as possible. Most of us are on a budget and the absolute essential tools like shears, brushes and other implements are necessary to do our job. These things are pricey enough without spending extra on multiple items we might never use.

When assembling your basic toolkit, think about the types of animals you groom on a regular basis and perhaps some types of grooming

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that you are eager to challenge yourself with. When you understand your tool needs, it can help to make better choices when making purchases.

CLIPPERS There are so many styles to choose from with various body shapes and uses; c orded and cordless, heavy duty and lightweight for details. After decades of grooming, I have found the best combination for me is a corded, heavy duty clipper that is the lightest in weight that I can find, with a body style that fits my hand, and a rechargeable clipper for face, feet and fannies. And

my old clipper that has seen better days becomes my backup. So, at any given time I have two corded clippers and my detailer. The trick is to find a body style that fits your hand to limit fatigue and have enough power to get the job done.

BRUSHES There are so many brushes on the market that if you had one of each, you would need a second station to hold them all. I have whittled my slicker needs to about three types of brushes, a de–matting large surface slicker, a flexible pad slicker and a very small slicker to accommodate tiny breeds. I also have a boar bristle polish brush in two sizes.

COMBS Wow, combs. A good set of combs

A good set of combs

will allow you to fluff, detangle, and help pull and shape the hair for your final finish. A mentor of mine used to say that the comb is the best friend of the brush as it finds the tangles that you might have missed. Greyhound style combs come in many different variations. The bottom line of a good comb is that it does what it is intended to do. I have decided to retain a large coarse, combo coarse/medium, fine, moon and face comb. Depending on what type of coat I am working on, I know that I will have the proper comb for the job.

will allow you to fluff, detangle, and help pull and shape the hair for your final finish. A mentor of mine used to say that the comb is the best friend of the

SHEARS

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While I am the last person in the world to say you should limit your shear collection, there are things to think about when making a shear purchase. The most important thing

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

13

I would also like to encourage lefties to

LEFTIES

purchase true lefty shears instead of using right–handed shears in your left hand. There is controversy here, but as a left–handed groomer, it is still my recommendation.

to take into consideration when buying shears is the fit of them in your hand. I am currently mentoring someone with very large hands and a shear collection that does not serve their needs. There are so many companies that sell quality shears and with each company having a diverse range of models, you are

bound to find a few sets that fit you like a glove. Reputable companies will always help you find the right fit for you.

If at all possible, I recommend going to a trade show so you can try out many different types until you find the ones that make your heart (and your hand) sing! Proper hand

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

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and wrist exercises will build the muscle in your scissor hand so that you become more proficient with your new shears.

I would also like to encourage lefties to purchase true lefty shears instead of using right– handed shears in your left hand.

There is controversy here, but as a left–handed groomer, it is still my recommendation.

SPECIALTY TOOLS Stripping knives, carding tools, rakes and other various specialty items are best utilized when you can get a hands–on feel for the tool before making your purchase. If all fails and you end up with boxes and bags of tools you don’t use (this is me also), I find that donating them to beginner groomers is one of the most rewarding ways of making sure the tool finds its way into the right hands. There are also various groomer tool swaps on the internet if you have things you would like to sell.

In the end, just because it is shiny doesn’t mean it is useful.

Practicing mindfulness when spending your money will make sure you get the full satisfaction and use from your new toys! &

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MAKING ART OUT OF DOG HAIR E by Jen Phillips April e Photos by Amanda Marshal

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

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W

hat does the creative dog groomer do when she looks at a pile of dog hair? She makes a “mini–me” of course! Shaped out of scraps of leftover dog fur, “mini–me’s” are tiny versions of the dog itself.

Creator of the “mini–me’s”, dog groomer Amanda Marshal says, “One day we’d hand–stripped one of the dogs and joked about being able to make another dog out of it. I had a few minutes between clients and so I handcrafted the fur into a mini look– alike with a little hairspray.”

It turned out so well that she started doing more of them, adding eyes and a nose for realism. Once complete, she takes a photo of the “mini–me” next to the freshly groomed original and posts on social media.

Started on a lark one day in spring of 2019, “mini–me’s” have be-

Once complete, she takes a photo of the “minime” next to the freshly groomed original and posts on social media.

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21

She also does some flat–style dog art pictures with a longer lifespan. “Ripley’s Believe It or Not just bought four so they’ve gone to Florida. It’s amazing to think of them in another country,” says Amanda.

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Owner and groomer Amanda Marshal says all her clients want one. “The customers love it. They ask when they book the dog in if they can have a mini–me.”

Whether or not they get one depends on a couple of factors. “I don’t always have time to do it. I need to have a break between dogs, and I need to see if the dog will sit next to it for a photo.”

The “mini–me’s” have a short lifespan, says Amanda, “We vacuum them up after the picture.”

She also does some flat–style dog art pictures with a longer lifespan. “Ripley’s Believe It or Not just bought four so they’ve gone to Florida. It’s amazing to think of them in another country.”

When not grooming dogs or making dog art, Amanda also draws a comic strip for dog groomers. It is called Groomerhumour on Instagram, and is also featured in Groomer to Groomer magazine. It pokes fun at common grooming scenarios.

“Anything creative is me. I studied art in college but realized I loved animals.” Amanda’s been grooming since she was 17 and has clearly found a niche for herself.

You can see more pictures on Instagram @hairofthedogart. &

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BUT WHY?

by Jonathan David

Keeping Up WITH THE

T

hey say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but we all know that’s not true.

Sometimes we get set in our ways and it’s difficult to make changes, but in reality, it’s a necessary step to building and growing your business.

In our ever–changing world, technology seems to advance faster than we can keep up—but why would a pet stylist benefit from keeping pace?

I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to certain things, I’m old school. I like to use a paper week–at–a–glance scheduling book along with our computerized salon system. I like to keep paper copies of important documents in a filing cabinet along with digital copies, and some of my favorite grooming tools look like I inherited them from my great grandmother! However, I also recognize the importance of keeping up with advances in technology to make running a business—and life in general—just plain easier.

As professional pet stylists and

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

We use a paper appointment book for fast and easy scheduling because it’s easy for me to look at the pages and know how booked the day is.

But we also use a computerized system. groomers, we all know how busy our days can be so it’s essential to make our days run smoothly and save as much time as possible. Using software to book appointments, contact clients, track inventory, keep client records and much more can help make that happen.

There are many options when it comes to choosing software for your business. Whether you’re a mobile groomer, you have a grooming salon, you offer retail or you offer daycare and boarding, there are software programs made to fit the needs of every business. I’m a firm believer in having systems for everything from checking dogs in to bathing and drying the pets to keeping grooming

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records of each visit to informing clients of issues that we may find during the grooming. Systems keep things flowing like a well–oiled machine and they keep us from forgetting important things.

We use a paper appointment book for fast and easy scheduling because it’s easy for me to look at the pages and know how booked the day is. But we also use a computerized system. All the appointments we take in the paper book are entered into the scheduler because the point of sale system we use has so many convenient features that have helped our business run more efficiently and make keeping records a snap.

Some may say it’s extra work to have

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The time we used to spend calling to confirm appointments for a forty–dog day was tedious and time consuming. Our software did away with that through a text confirmation system. both, but it works for us, and the paper book is simply the first step of appointment booking. The software we use really does the rest and it has features that have made booking and confirming appointments so much easier and has saved us time in the long run.

In my salon, we groom an average of forty dogs per day, and we’re a full–line retail store. We have over 2000 separate barcodes for

our products and services so having a software system that offers us information and convenience at the stroke of a key is an absolute must.

The time we used to spend calling to confirm appointments for a forty–dog day was tedious and time consuming. Our software did away with that through a text confirmation system. Each client receives a text message to confirm their appointment and they can notify us

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

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that they are coming with a simple response. We can also send a text message to inform the client when their pets are ready to be picked up, saving us precious time throughout the day.

Many software programs also offer online booking which provides your clients with the convenience of choosing their appointments without having to call you or wait for a return call after a message.

Our customer profiles are another great asset to our record– keeping so we can track client visits, amounts spent by each client on services and products, and we can track loyalty points for rewards programs. Often we have a client that wants to buy a treat or toy they’ve purchased in the past and we can easily look it up in their purchase history to better serve their needs.

It has also been an asset for tracking exactly how many pets my groomers work on and what service each of my employees does in a given time period. The software offers me the ability to view and print reports of all this information so I can better assess bonuses, raises and who is under performing.

Another great feature that we’re beginning to take advantage of is adding iPads to each station to make updating daily client tickets easier so checking the client out is faster and more accurate. Currently, we keep kennel cards for each client.

Each time a pet is groomed, we

We also live in the age of social media and it’s a necessary part of having a business, like it or not.

Having an online presence is as essential as having a phone line—but the benefits are far more plentiful. write what we did, in detail, so we can either repeat or make changes if the customer wishes at the next grooming appointment. When we have any type of add–on charge such as a medicated bath, skin or coat treatment, or de–matting charges, we write it on the card and the retail employees have to use the card as a reference to appropriately charge the customer. This has worked for us for a long time, but as we have grown

as a business and we’ve become a busier store, sometimes the charges haven’t been added to the card, or in the chaos of checking people out, the employee ringing them up may miss the notes about an add–on charge, resulting in a loss of revenue. With the iPads at each station linked to our system, the groomers can update the tickets as necessary and add on the services performed, so when the client is checked out, those ser-

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vices and charges aren’t missed and there’s no loss for the groomers or the business.

We also live in the age of social media and it’s a necessary part of having a business, like it or not. Having an online presence is as essential as having a phone line—but the benefits are far more plentiful. Most people prefer to look up your website or Facebook page before visiting your business or using your services. And

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apps like Instagram or Snapchat can expose you to an entirely different demographic than you had before.

It’s also a great way to advertise your business by promoting your posts.

The simple act of posting an adorable picture of one of your furry clients can expose your business name to thousands of people you wouldn’t have reached before, and whether you’re a business owner or an independent groomer working for someone else, the same benefits apply. My stylists post photos of their work or the cute pets we groom and tag the business page or Instagram account, therefore linking the business to even more people than before. Utilizing social media to show potential clients what your work is like or what types of new and exciting products you’re carrying in

your store can drive business your way and away from your competitors.

Another great promotional idea is posting videos of your techniques or time–lapsed videos of a grooming. The videos can be a great tool to promote specific services and there are amazing apps available to do easy editing. And, if you’re lucky, the video can go viral and the exposure is free and further–reaching than some paid advertising traditionally done.

The long and short of it is that, just like every other profession today, keeping up with technology is essential for success. Whether you’re a tech–savvy person who grew up on social media or an old school groomer like me, learning to keep up with the technology will help your career.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

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KITTY'S KORNER by Deborah Hansen

Kitten season is upon us. It is a great time of year to reach the new kitten owners. Many kitten owners do not know where to start when trying to meet the coat and nail needs of their new kitten. As grooming business owners, the younger the pet, the more long-term potential profit there is.

T

o capitalize on this revenue, having a plan to help new kitten owners is a must.

When starting a new kitten program for your grooming business, it is best to reach out to your current and previous clients. You never know who is going to end up with a new kitten, or who knows someone who will unexpectedly have a new kitten in their household. After letting your current and previous clients know about your kitten programs, reaching out to local rescues and shelters is a great low– cost marketing strategy.

A successful kitten package is as much about client education as it is grooming. Many kitten owners have never had a kitten, or have not had a kitten in a long time. While their veterinarian will take care of the

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

basics, many new kitten owners need additional help.

I like my kitten clients to have a series of five visits. I have found that after the fifth visit I can make an accurate recommendation for grooming needs during the remainder of the kitten and teenage months.

The first kitten visit to the groomer is all about fun! I like to play with the kitten to assess the kitten’s temperament and comfort with human interaction. I also like to learn about the family’s interaction with their newest family member. Many times I learn the family is afraid to hold or interact with their new pet.

This is when I show the family how to appropriately play with the kitten.

I also like to show the family how to pick up and hold their new cat.

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I usually assign homework at this first visit. If it is clear the cat is not used to being handled, I ask the family to hold the cat and to touch each paw at least once a day. Depending on the length of the nails and the comfort level of the kitten with being handled, I may or may not do a nail trim at the first visit.

A week later I see the kitten again.

My first question for the family is about how the kitten is doing with its paws being touched. I also ask lots of questions about the kitten’s playtime with the family. If a nail trim was not done at the first visit, I perform a nail trim at the second visit.

During the second visit, I focus on combing out the kitten and on the litter box. I ask questions about the actual litter box. Many times families have

litter boxes that are hard for a kitten to get into. If there are multiple cats in the home, usually there are not enough litter boxes, or the locations of the litter boxes are not ideal for the cats.

Clients tend to let me know if they are having any other litter box concerns or questions. At this visit I usually give the family litter box homework.

The third visit is based on coat condition. This appointment is scheduled about two weeks after the second visit. At this visit I introduce the cat to water! I start the visit by following up with the client on how their play schedule is going and asking how the family is doing with holding the cat and touching the cat’s paws. I do a nail trim (it has been two to three weeks and those kitten nails will be sharp) and a quick comb–out.

I then place the kitten in my bathing setup, running the water and lightly splashing the kitten without getting the kitten soaked. Once the kitten seems open to getting wet, I then take the time to slowly introduce the kitten to my drying setup. I will turn the dryer on so the kitten can hear the noise, then I will let the air gently blow on the kitten so the kitten knows what to expect. I conclude the appointment by following up with the owner to see how the litter box is working in their home. I also schedule the first bath in two to four weeks, depending on the coat needs.

The first bath day has finally arrived! Yes, it has taken four visits to get to the bath. Building this relationship with the owners, family and cat is invaluable to my business. I ask the client how everything is going at home and see if they need help fine–tuning anything. Then I do a nail trim and go straight to the bath. I always work at the kitten’s pace, not wanting the kitten to have a bad experience.

After the bath, I begin the drying.

Usually by working slowly it can be a

Building this relationship with the owners, family and cat is invaluable to my business. I ask the client how everything is going at home and see if they need help fine–tuning anything.

– JAY SCRUGGS | Groomer of The Year 2002 | American Groomer of The Year 2001

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If a kitten gets frustrated, it is the only time I will send a cat home damp. Remember, we want this visit to be a positive experience for everyone.

good experience; however, sometimes a kitten’s attention span is just too short and they get frustrated. If a kitten gets frustrated, it is the only time I will send a cat home damp. Remember, we want this visit to be a positive experience for everyone. The homework for this visit is to continue playing, holding and touching the kitten’s paws.

The fifth visit is very important.

It is going to give me the information I will need to establish a regular schedule for this cat. Depending on the skin and coat condition, I tend to schedule long–haired kittens at four to six weeks and short hair kittens at eight to ten weeks. At the fifth visit, I ask the owner how everything is

going, and answer any questions they may have. Often we talk about doing a nail trim between baths and strategies to prevent scratching in inappropriate places. This is the visit where the kitten gets the standard bath. If the owner has been interested in a sani, I will do one at this visit. I conclude the visit by letting the family know how to contact me with any questions they may have and schedule the next nail trim and/or bath appointment.

A kitten program works with the owner and feline to establish a lifelong, positive connection with the grooming process. When growing your business, kittens are worth their weight in gold! &

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

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ne way to combat boredom and burnout in grooming is to try new tools and methods. Fresh products can change things up for the better, and they don’t have to be expensive to improve the way you work!

Here are my top 6:

1

BETTER HEARING PROTECTION: I adopted foam–

style ear plugs many years ago and use them when I am operating my high velocity dryer. We only get one set of ears and keeping them safe is so important. The foam plugs are ok, but I recently read about plugs that offer

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

As I look around my grooming studio, I see several items that we have recently tried—and now don’t know how we did without them. The best part is that they were all very affordable. “attenuation filter technology.” What this means is that the plugs allow you to have normal conversations, listen to your favorite grooming podcast, and even answer the phone, but filter out the loud sounds of dogs barking and dryers blowing.

At $25 a set they were pricier than

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my trusty foam plugs, but they sounded intriguing, so I ordered sets for my employee and myself. Made from soft silicone, I easily forget I am wearing them. And their advertising is true; I can talk to customers, answer calls and jam to tunes while wearing them. But the higher decibels are blocked. I got

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Because I wear glasses, almost every filter I’ve tried makes my breath condense on my lenses. Grooming with foggy glasses is a frustrating challenge!

mine at www.earpeace.com and am delighted with them.

2

SAVE YOUR BREATH:

I’ve known for years that I should be wearing a breathing mask while I work. I’ve tried a variety of them. I don’t like the way the ones that hook over my ears feel. The kind that have a band that goes behind my head gets tangled in my hair and makes a mess. And, because I wear glasses, almost every filter I’ve tried makes my breath condense on my lenses.

Grooming with foggy glasses is a frustrating challenge!

Then I read about another groomer that wears a face shield and checked into them. These are popular with outdoor sports enthusiasts and bikers to protect their faces from cold and wind.

The brand I brought was at www. safishing.com and they say on the label that they filter particulates.

We wear them around our necks, and it’s easy to pull them up to cover our noses and mouths when we turn the dryers on or buff nails.

They are soft and comfortable, and our glasses don’t get fogged up when we breathe. Bonus, they come in a wide range of colors.

I caught a sale and got four for around $20.

3

PAIN–FREE CLOTTING GEL: Occasionally a

wiggling dog gets a claw cut shorter than intended. Styptic power stops the bleeding but does sting a little. I recently discovered a product called Super Clot. I got mine online, but they carry it at Walmart, too. It is designed for animals and contains a little Lidocaine, so it acts as a pain killer while stopping the bleeding. A

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Always innovative, the nice people at Bardel Bows have recently started a bow subscription service called Club Bowdacious. I can’t tell you how excited we get when our monthly box arrives.

one–ounce tube was under $10.

you ever wanted to dabble in coloring a dog, but didn’t want the hassle and mess of dealing with dye? OPAWZ has come out with Funky Color Shampoo. Just rinse a white or light–colored dog, work the shampoo in, wait ten or more minutes and rinse. The color goes on deep and bright, but leaves a nice pastel once rinsed out. My pink poodle is by my side as I write this. I love how easy it is to color her, and my customers love to see her looking like a stuffed toy. This was a fun find! www.opawz.com

can’t tell you how excited we get when our monthly box arrives. Delise Knight from Bardel says, “What makes it so unique is that it is a mixture of all of our bows geared towards things that you will use in that month from neckwear to top knot bows to ear bows to fascinators.

We designed it for groomers who are too busy to sit down and make an order and we love that groomers trust us enough to supply them with all they need for that following month.” Subscriptions are only open three times a year. To get on their notification list, go to their website and register www.bardelbows.com

5

6

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COLOR YOUR WORLD: Have

SUBSCRIPTION BOW BOX:

Always innovative, the nice people at Bardel Bows have recently started a bow subscription service called Club Bowdacious. I

GET THE MATTS OUT: Are

you still using the same old detangling spray you’ve had for years? Products continue to improve and there are some excellent new sprays out there to make brush– outs easier. Our new favorite is Matt–x

by Artero. One spritz and a little gentle work with a good slicker brush and eureka, the matt is gone! It leaves no scent to clash with your products and there is no greasy residue. Around $20 a bottle, it lasts a long time and is our new go–to.

Have you tried something new in your grooming business lately? There are so many innovative and useful products available to groomers now, and trying unique things can really make an impact on how you work.

I’ve been making a habit of adding one new thing to my list every time I order supplies; maybe a different style grooming loop or type of spray bottle I have not experienced before. It gives me something to look forward to trying, and sometimes it ends up being a tool I wonder how I ever lived without. &

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

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Tips for Success with

Online Grooming Software E by Andy Gale e

It almost goes without saying today—many of your customers and employees expect and want to engage with your business online.

Studies consistently support this, reporting that about 70% of consumers want to schedule services online.

M

ost employees are used to using online software in other parts of their lives, and expect the easy access to information that it provides.

Yet you probably didn’t get into the grooming business because you love software. That’s okay. What you can do is choose how to use the technology to help you run your business, so that you can focus more on what you enjoy most and what makes you money. In this article, we’ll look at five tips to help ensure that your grooming software is working for you.

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TIP 1: CUSTOMIZE YOUR SOFTWARE TO FIT YOUR BRAND Think about the experience your employees and customers have with your business. This experience includes what they see onsite and online, and how they communicate and engage with your company in both settings as well.

First, ensure that you can customize your software to support the visual aspects of your brand—not that of the software company. For example, your online sign–up and scheduling platform must prominent-

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ly include your logo, colors and font styles of your brand. This applies to your service descriptions and images. Get your web–developer to help customize these settings (java and style scripts) in your software, so that the ‘feel’ and visual experience are aligned with your website and printed branding. This helps your customers’ and employees’ trust and confidence with your online platform.

TIP 2: SMART DESIGN OF FORMS GOES A LONG WAY TO SUCCESS Think about any online form you have attempted to complete. Was it

long? Too many required fields?

Did you give up?

Online forms are an important part of your online brand experience. Long forms with many required fields will scare away prospective customers, or simply result in them making extra phone calls or emails to you.

Start with a lead form on your website—a simple form that enables the customer to enter in contact information and their initial questions. This form should be integrated with your software so the information goes right in and you don’t have to do any duplicate entry. Once the customer enters their inquiry, you get alerted in your software of the inquiry, reach back out, and have the tools to easily convert them into a customer, with a customer and pet profile. At that point, your forms build upon that customer data so you can capture additional information about their pet and their grooming needs.

Next, design these owner and pet profile forms in your software so that they ‘progress’ in the fields required, depending on the services requested. For example, a basic bath may not require certain fields related to a custom cut.

There is no reason why a customer should even view these fields until they request a custom cut. Make the field requirements minimal for simpler services, and more advanced for more advanced services.

Consulting with your software provider on form design and setup is perhaps the most important aspect of ensuring success with online forms for your staff and customers. That way you always get the information you need without unnecessarily scaring people away from the data entry.

Start with a lead form on your website—a simple form that enables the customer to enter in contact information and their initial questions.

What makes you unique as a professional? What is your

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41

TIP 3: FIND THE TECHNOLOGY COMFORT SPOT WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES

Bonus Pro–Tip Sell prepaid packages for bath services and boutique pet items online for extra cash–flow.

An important key to implementing new software in your business is to ensure that your employees are comfortable with what aspects of their job require use of the software.

Whoever is responsible for scheduling naturally needs to be very comfortable with the owner and pet profiles, appointment scheduling, calendars and forms. Similarly, some groomers will jump right in with a digital grooming appointment card, while others will require much more nurturing—or simply insist on a printed card. Ideally everyone becomes cross–trained and proficient with these aspects of the software, but it’s okay to start small and phase–in use of any aspects of the software among different employees.

TIP 4: AUTOMATE REMINDERS AND RECURRING APPOINTMENTS WHEREVER POSSIBLE Perhaps one of the greatest ‘wins’ with online grooming software is the automation of repetitive tasks and events. Why type out a reminder email or text for every appointment when software can do it for you? I receive text reminders from my dentist, auto mechanic and my dog boarding services. These help remind me of the appointment, and remind me if I need to change it. The win? Each of these service providers is reducing no–shows and late–shows, which in turn helps ensure their income each day. You can, too! Ensure that your software has a high delivery rate for all email and text appointment reminders. This will save you time, and keep your cash–flow up.

Additionally, you likely have substantial repeat business from customers who come in every four, six or eight weeks. Use your software

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

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to automatically schedule and send out reminders for these recurring appointments—this will help keep your calendar full, and save you on those repetitive reminder calls.

TIP 5: MAKE PAYMENTS ERROR– FREE AND EASY

Credit cards boost spending and eliminate the costs and risk of handling checks and cash.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

This also almost goes without saying: accepting credit cards is good for your business. Credit cards boost spending and eliminate the costs and risk of handling checks and cash.

Further, payments integration is a way online software can reinforce your brand experience—that of convenience, quality and trust.

When your software automatically communicates to your payments device, you’ve eliminated the chance for error, and saved precious time for both you and your customer.

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Using cards on–file saves further time and provides the customer the significant convenience of not having to dig out their card for every transaction with you. Emailed receipts and auto–syncing receipts back to the customer’s file and your financial reports saves you time, paper and risk. Payments integration also helps you track commissions and tips more easily.

In conclusion, investing just a little time in setting up online software to work for you will save you time, and help retain customers and employees. & Andy Gale is Director of Sales at Gingr Software, a provider of pet grooming, doggie daycare and kennel software. www.gingrapp.com. Andy and his family, including shelter–rescued dog Gregor, live in Colorado.

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Asked Facebook‌..

Which method do you use to keep track of your appointments & why does it work for you? “I use an iPad pro and Google calendar and a desktop calendar as well. It’s easy when I am not at the shop to check the Google calendar and I share it with my husband so he knows what my scheduled day is.� — Julie T.

to send email and text confirmations for appointments for the next day, it stores all of my customer base, and I print out sheets for my groomers that shows the dog/breed and the grooming notes.� — Melissa P.

“Sally’s Beauty Supply appointment book! We’re old school!!� — Colleen B.

“Old fashioned way—index cards for details and previous appts, pen and paper diary, business cards with next appt. written on.� — Lindsay N.

“For me, Google calendar. It syncs with my FB page and I can see it on my phone. So it’s available everywhere I am.� — Isabel N. “Square appointments. It does all my CC processing, tracks all sales, retail inventory, online booking etc. And for a fair price.� — Nicole N. “At-a-Glance appt. book and pencil.� — Heather R. “I use an appointment book and the computer program called Kennel Connection. It’s so awesome! It allows me

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

“We are a two-groomer salon; we use paper appt. book, Barkleigh cards, my own in-take info sheets (which are laminated & we use dry-erase markers) and QuickBooks. Works perfect for us.đ&#x;˜Šâ€? — Colleen F. “Acuity schedule. It’s inexpensive ($19 a month) it emails AND texts clients, also sends a follow-up email. I can block out time for the expos and vacation. I can keep notes on the dog AND the owner. It will also take CC info for online booking.â€? — Tammy M. GroomertoGroomer.com

“I’m a one woman show, I use Square and it works well for me.� — Amanda V. “Old school appointment book. Computers crash and internet fails and sometimes the electric even goes out, but the appointment book is still here.

I have all of them saved, it’s interesting to look back through them.� — Ramona S. “Groomsoft and old school daily planner. Groomsoft is amazing and easy to use. Customer information, grooming notes, special instruction, and animal behaviors can be seen at a glance. Daily planner helps to make appointments quickly and information easy to find.� — Shelley M. “123pet...love the message reminders, and that I have access to schedule even when I’m away from the shop.� — Ronda B.

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ASK THE GROOMING TUTOR

by Michell Evans

CULLING YOUR CLIENT LIST: WHO SHOULD

STAY AND WHO SHOULD

go? “

Hi Michell. I own a small grooming salon and I am finally getting to the point of being selective about what new clients I will take and about what existing clients I should keep.

I

just had a reduction in staff and we are overflowing. Do you have any advice on how to choose what new clients to take? Do you have any suggestions on how to approach existing clients that I don’t want anymore? Thanks, K. Willis” Hi Mr. Willis. This is a great time to weed out unwanted customers, start a waiting list, be very particular about what new pets you will accept and raise prices. While your income might be down, your options are abundant.

A price increase will help to offset the

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

loss of labor and there is a never a better time to raise prices than when you are booked to the hilt. A change in staff can impact morale, but a price increase should improve the income of the remaining employees thereby, hopefully, securing their loyalty.

It is never fun to tell a client that you are no longer interested in servicing their pet. We groom pets because we care about them but there are so many other factors to consider. At the end of the day your staff is doing the labor. Keeping your labor force happy, GroomertoGroomer.com

healthy and fresh just might be the best way to maintain a long–term staff.

Large dogs take their toll on groomers’ bodies as well as equipment, utilities and supplies. Consider implementing a weight limit. This can certainly be used for accepting new clients, but it is a bit harder to turn away existing large dog clients. A hefty price increase may send some of them searching for a new caregiver. The ones that stay will at least pay better.

Difficult pets are a risk because they can cause injuries to themselves

In some cases, a groomer may be off work for days or weeks due to a bite, broken finger or pulled muscle, not to mention the headaches and cost of workers compensation claims. Consider letting some of these pets go. and groomers. Let’s face it; some can be downright dangerous. In some cases, a groomer may be off work for days or weeks due to a bite, broken finger or pulled muscle, not to mention the headaches and cost of workers compensation claims. Consider letting some of these pets go.

I am not suggesting that you tell all your special cases to take a hike. I have met very few groomers who don’t have at least a few “special clients”. You know the ones; you see them on your books and you cringe and put on your big kid pants and get em done. Then do it all over again

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in six weeks. It can be hard to tell these clients that you are unable to continue to work with them. But in your case, using the staffing deficit as a polite reason to let them go might be helpful. Also referring them to a trusted grooming colleague or local veterinarian, wh ere sedation might be an option, can give them some options to move forward.

Speaking of six weeks, this can be a good criterion for sorting clients.

For example: when accepting new clients, tell them of your policy of only accepting new clients who pre–book at least every six weeks. For existing

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clients, you could also inform them of new policies like, all clients are now required to pre–book at least every six weeks. This is a great way to off–load clients that are call–in clients and/or random and overgrown.

Also keep an eye on the good tippers! Exceptions might be made for a client who offers to pay for missed appointments or tips well every time.

Remember that it is only the clients that do not intend to be regular pre– booking clients that will have complaints about these policies. The core of your loyal clientele will have no issues with these polices.

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A waiting list is a useful tool for filling appointments when an existing client moves or passes. It is also a useful tool for telling people “no” without really saying it.

A waiting list is a useful tool for filling appointments when an existing client moves or passes. It is also a useful tool for telling people “no” without really saying it. Another benefit of a waiting list is that it makes you seem elite to the clients. They love to tell others that their groomer has a waiting list. Since the clients that are on the waiting list don’t know where they fall on the list, you can be selective even when working from your list.

The human clients can be much worse than their pets! If a client is never happy with your service, is always late, no–shows on a regular basis, is abusive to you or your staff, complains about the price every time or is just plain difficult, it is ok to tell them to try another groomer. If, after implementing some policies that narrow your clientele into a more ideal clientele, you

still have some unwanted clients, you might just have to look some of them in the eye and say, “This isn’t working out, you should find another groomer”.

If you are grappling with whether or not to fire a particular client, ask yourself if you would be sad or relieved if they told you they were not coming back. If the answer is relieved, send them packing. If the answer is sad, maybe you should try imposing some particular policies on that person to make them more tolerable to the business.

All in all this is a good place to be in business. It is a luxury to have the power to mold your clientele into the most lucrative and ideal clientele possible. Good luck! & Have a question you want Michell to answer? Please send questions to michell@groomingtutor.com

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Dyna Groom Interior

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A new Wag'n Tails could change your business and life. Did you know you can make more money while grooming fewer pets? Learn about the freedom and flexibility a mobile grooming career offers, while still providing the best for your clients. Groomers and pets benefit from the clean, safe and stressfree environment created inside a Wag’n Tails.

Many successful mobile groomers say the personal, one-on-one attention, convenience and luxury grooming services they offer in their Wag’n Tails keeps clients happy and their schedule full!

If you have questions about our conversions or mobile grooming, please call 800-513-0304. We would love for you to join our Wag’n Tails Family!

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STYLED UP AFTER

by Amanda Aaron

THE

Brittany Spaniel PET TRIM

BEFORE

FIG. 1

B

rittany Spaniels are a breed that can cause confusion among pet groomers as far as how they should be trimmed. This tutorial will demonstrate a nice modified breed trim for the Brittany. My goal is to show an easy way to remove the undercoat and extra hair for ease of maintenance for the client as well as maintaining the breed profile.

Fig 1) Start by removing under-

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coat with an undercoat rake. When done properly, you can remove the bulk of the undercoat without risk of damaging the guard hair.

Fig 2) Carefully, use a carding knife by laying it flat on the body and begin in one area and card long strokes of coat until you have no resistance. Don’t go over the same area a lot or it could cause skin irritation. You can remove the softer

FIG. 2

undercoat hair with this method. If you are not experienced in carding, please consult your mentor for more in–depth instruction.

Fig 3) Once the desired amount

FIG. 3

of undercoat is removed, I will clip the back coat with a guard comb.

I’m using an orange guard comb to remove just enough to make the hair seemingly flat.

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FIG. 4

Fig 4) Remove fuzz on the ears with a clipper comb or blade—I used a peach snap–on comb for this.

Fig 5) Using a dark purple guard comb, remove all of the soft hair

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

55

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

FIG. 8

FIG. 9

FIG. 10

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from the front of the leg to the top of the foot.

Fig 6) Continue to use the dark purple guard comb to remove all of the hair on the front and sides of the neck down to the breast bone.

Fig 7) Clean up the hair on the rear legs.

Fig 8) Clean out all of the paw pads—I prefer a 40 blade for this.

Fig 9) This breed should have a tight cat–like foot so use a slicker brush and brush up the hair on the foot before trimming it in a rounded fashion.

Fig 10) Using your slicker again, go back over the foot once more and finish with a thinning shear to create a natural look.

FIG. 11

Fig 11) Discuss with the client to determine how much hair they would like to have left to maintain. Brush back the leg furnishings and remove the excess hair. You can use a straight shear on a pet, but if you would like

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

FIG. 12

this to look natural, a thinner or a chunker is recommended.

Fig 12) By using a blender or thinning shear, shape the underline by cleaning up the ends.

Fig 13) Go back over any of the

GroomertoGroomer.com

FIG. 13

clipped areas with a thinner or a carding knife to remove any untidy hairs and to make your clipper work look as natural as possible.

Fig 14) Using thinning shears, remove the excess hair from the under-

FIG. 14

side of the tail.

Fig 15) Using blenders, lightly trim the outside and inside of the pants to remove any hair that doesn’t match up with the dog’s maintenance schedule.

Fig 16) Clean up the chest area and use a thinning shear to tidy and blend.

Fig 17) Protecting the edge of the ear leather with your fingers, use a thinner to tidy the edges.

Fig 18) Pull the ear forward and, very carefully using thinning shears, remove the bulk of the hair that sits behind the ear.

Pet Brittanys can still enjoy the beauty of a breed profile while being neat, tidy and easy to maintain. Next time you’re tempted to just trim the feet on this easy spaniel, wow them with this look instead! &

FIG. 15

FIG. 16

FIG. 17

FIG. 18

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

59

VICTOR ROSADO HOSTS FIRST ANNUAL

Latin America Cup 2020

In its inaugural year, the Latin America Cup—which took place February 9-10, 2020—attracted around 6,000 visitors to the Manati Coliseum in Puerto Rico for a first-of-its-kind grooming competition hosted by world-renowned groomer Victor Rosado. s Victor traveled the world hosting, judging and spreading his knowledge of grooming through EDUGROOM, he realized there were no outlets in his home island of Puerto Rico where local dog groomers could compete and connect with others in the community.

“It was when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017 that I knew I had to give back and increase morale in my community,” said Rosado. “In my career, I’ve been involved in countless grooming shows around the world but never one in Puerto Rico. I wanted to do something not just for Puerto Rico, but

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also for all of the Latin American countries.” So, on February 9, 2020, the first annual Latin America Cup was born.

The Olympic–style match, which garnered sponsorships from top players in the pet space like 123Pet Software, was split up into three main competitions: the Latin America Cup, the Puerto Rico Cup and the Student Cup. The namesake competition, the Latin America Cup, was awarded to an individual representing their country; the Puerto Rico Cup was only for Puerto Rican groomers; and the Student Cup was open exclusively to grooming students.

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The event kicked off with a heartwarming flag–bearing ceremony with all the countries and their representatives—a moment that is only otherwise experienced once a year at the World Grooming Competition. The competition was judged by an award– winning panel of judges, including Umberto Lehmann—a globally known judge and groomer, Nicole Kalish—a certified Master Groomer and Global Education Manager at Andis Company, Linda Easton—President of International Professional Groomers (IPG) and Rosado himself. Over the course of the competition, the

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judges presented 120 medals totaling $20,000 in cash and prizes, which amounted to the biggest award ever to be offered at a grooming competition in Latin America.

TOP MEDALS WENT TO: •

• •

• •

Over the course of the competition, the judges

•

presented 120 medals totaling $20,000 in cash •

and prizes, which amounted to the biggest award ever to be offered at a grooming competition in Latin America.

DEAFENING DOGS

CRUMBLING KENNELS

D OI AV THE PITFALLS CHAOTIC CLEAN UP

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Another drain choice is using kennels that raised off 2)are Wait. the floor.

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• Roof Framing 6) existing Vacuum.floor This drain pipe is routed to an Interiorthese Partition Framing drain in the room.•Because kennels have a EQUIPMENT RENTAL drain pipe below them, there is a step of about eight inches or so• off Crane the building floor up and into the kennel. If• a floor drain is available in Construction Fencing the room, this may be a good option for kennels • Job John in an existing building and for kennels in levels above grade. This• is Dumpster especially helpful when Scaffold renting a space as• these kennels may easily be moved. They are not permanently mounted to GENERAL CONTRACTOR the building, but are sitting on the floor.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020

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Boarding Kennels: The Design Process

GroomertoGroomer.com

103

Monica Bertero (Ecuador)— Winner of the Latin America Cup 2020 Camilly Raices—Winner of the Puerto Rico Cup 2020 Luis Barreto & Carlos Rodriguez—Winners of the Student Cup 2020 Idalmy Melendez—Winner of the EDUGROOM Champion Zulma Valentín—Winner of the EDUGROOM Sub–Champion Gloria Deya & Lebzil Rivera—Winners of the Student Honor Medal Recipients PPG Technical School—Winner of the Grooming School Recognition Award

“Once each country returned home, they were welcomed by family and supporters with gifts and celebratory messages. We are in awe of the love we have felt from everyone after this historical event,” said Rosado. “Beyond the Puerto Rico Cup, the Latin American Cup without a doubt wrote a new chapter of history for Latin American groomers. The whole international community was watching the action and we are truly celebrating the outcome after this event!”

Next year’s competition will be split up into two standalone events: The Puerto Rico Cup and the Student’s Cup, which will be hosted in Puerto Rico in March 2021, and the Latin America Cup 2021, which will be hosted in the reigning champion’s home country of Ecuador.

For more information, visit www.edugroom.com &

Diane Betelak Northwest Grooming Show 2020 May 14 - 17, 2020 | Tacoma, WI Everyday Grooming on Everyday Dogs

Grooming Those “Crazy” Cocker Spaniels

Captivating Clipped Westie

Scheduling a Mixed Breed is

The American Cocker Spaniel

In this session, Diane will

always an adventure, you

is still one of the most popular

groom a Westie to perfection

never know exactly what will

in grooming salons through-

by giving it a stylish breed

walk in the door. In this

out the Country. This 1 hour

trim using clippers. Practical

session Diane will do an

seminar will show you how to

for the pet parent, the

set a classic cocker pattern

clipped Westie is what you

accentuate the dog’s good

with clippers and carding,

mostly encounter in your

points and hide the faults. She

eliminate the “hula” look,

salon. We will discuss the

will be using clippers, blades

stovepipe the legs and create

proper pattern, strip and clip

and comb attachments to give

the beautiful domed head.

techniques and tips to groom

the “Everyday Dog” a trim to

Diane Betelak will show you

to breed profile and keep

suit his life style.

how to make all your crazy

that Westie looking sharp!

“Everyday Trim” that will

cocker clients “Crazy” for the trim you will put on their pets.

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life that God has promised those who love him.

James 1:12 Living Bible

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TO LIST YOUR EVENT, SEND IT TO ADAM@BARKLEIGH.COM NEW JERSEY INTERGROOM 5/28/2020 – 5/31/2020 Secaucus, NJ (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.intergroom.com

CALIFORNIA

WORLD DOG EXPO 5/22/2021 – 5/23/2021 Secaucus, NJ info@worldexpo.dog www.worldexpo.dog

GROOM EXPO WEST February 2021 Pasadena, CA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.groomexpowest.com

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BARKLEIGH PET PRO CRUISE 9/23/2020 – 9/30/2020 Vancouver, B.C., Canada (321) 368–6622 cruisinglady@ymail.com www.barkleigh.com

GROOM EXPO 9/10/2020 – 9/13/2020 Hershey, PA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.groomexpo.com

MASSACHUSETTS NEW ENGLAND GROOMING SHOW 10/8/2020 – 10/11/2020 Sturbridge, MA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.newenglandgrooms.com

PET BOARDING & DAYCARE EXPO 11/9/2020 – 11/12/2020 Hershey, PA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.petboardingexpo.com

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ALL AMERICAN GROOMING SHOW 8/13/2020 – 8/16/2020 Schaumburg, IL (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.aagroom.com

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NORTHWEST GROOMING SHOW 5/14/2020 – 5/17/2020 Tacoma, WA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.nwgroom.com

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