Editorial - Four Steps to Finding the Right Groomer for You and Your Pet

By Stephen, Webmaster for PetGroomer.com and Pet Care Industry Consultant

Referral, Experience, Interview, Examine and Intuition

We often enlighten new pet groomers taking one of our grooming business management workshop that many of their pet owner clients are willing and wanting to make them a part of their extended family. Indeed, the salon originally founded by our company president is now grooming the children's children's pets - part of a legacy lasting over four decades. That's the type of client loyalty that is possible from satisfied pet owners, and here I hope to help you find a grooming business that can deliver the special care and attention your pet needs, as well as the client services you require. Entrusting your beloved pet(s) to a groomer is a very important decision, and to help you make the right choice we offer these four steps to finding a groomer and grooming business right for you and your pet.

Step 1 - Gather Referrals: A smart grooming business owner knows that referrals are "the lifeblood" of their business. Today most pet owners ask for referrals of a groomer from friends and associates. We agree. You don't have to just rely though on friends and associates. If you see a well-groomed pet, attempt to ask its owner where they have their pet groomed. Most pet owners are flattered by your asking, so take a chance and ask.

Your veterinarian may refer a grooming business, but some have policies against making referrals. You are simply going to have to try. If your veterinarian has an in-house groomer their referral is almost certainly going to be their groomer. However, we recommend you still proceed with the remaining three steps even under these circumstance. It's likely that their groomer is responsible and dependable, but you should not be mislead that this necessarily means that their groomer can provide the grooming services you may require. There are levels of grooming service that require extensive experience that you should investigate.

Step 2 - Interview: The cautiously wise pet owner will interview prospective pet grooming business owners, or hired groomers working in a pet care facility or retail location. Start with the owner or manager, they have the actual liability for a business, not their hired groomers. Hopefully they will have a brochure explaining the services they offer and provide historical background of the business and owners, but don't count it. Too many groomers today still overlook providing a complete brochure, but it's a good sign of a more professional owner when you are provided one. Discover the owner's and their groomer's experience in the grooming industry.

Where did they learn to groom?
Did they apprentice or attend a grooming school?
How much grooming and small business experience do they have?
When was the business established?
Do they keep permanent written client and pet service histories?

(Note that a strong sign of a professional grooming business is not just having, or even having to have a computer. Manually written or computerized client and pet service histories record permanently your styling preferences, history of every appointment, your contact information including emergency information including your veterinarian's name, location of your pet's vaccination records (now required to be on file in some states), and your pet's various health and behavior conditions. To us, this is essential information to provide pet owner confidence as a professional groomer, but don't think that every grooming business is necessarily keeping such information, especially in permanent records. It's another beneficial sign of a prospective groomer when you determine they are keeping such records.)

Do they have a dedicated manager (not also grooming)?

(Note that some groomers will require you to come back in a few hours to pickup your finished pet. However, what will you do if you are dropping your pet off on the way to work and need to pick it up after work within reason? It is not necessarily true that all pets should not be left all day...they can be if the grooming business will ensure you that they will provide water to your pet and occasionally give it a short stretch break.)

Will they groom the pet to your desired styling preferences?

(Note that some pet groomers do have a problem grooming pets, especially purebred pets, to owner specifications clearly not indicative of the pet's breed standard grooming standard. For example, some groomers really don't want to cut the coat short all over to about an inch long on a Sheltie, a popular of some pet owners in hot areas. Also, some groomers just don't want to give a short clip all over to cats normally bathed only. If the groomer can provide you with a good explanation why your specific request is not appropriate for the health of your pet, you should listen. But if the explanation is just a matter of esoteric appreciation for styling standards, and you really want the styling, but they don't want to do it, you probably need to find another more willing groomer.)

Are they a member of any professional organizations within and without the pet industry?

(You can check with some of the major grooming organizations like N.D.G.A.A., I.P.G. and I.S.C.C. here.)

(Note that most groomers are not members of any organization, but thousands are and it is a good sign of a professional. Further, these organizations often "certify" their members. Such certification indicates that they were tested in specific areas of breed standard grooming, and passed. This sort of certification is voluntary in all of the U.S., and it is a great sign of a highly-motivated groomer likely to do very well over all in styling, and especially in the breed standard areas for which they were specifically certified. However in all fairness, there are highly-skilled groomers who are not certified in breed standard grooming. Certainly the certified groomer does provide more confidence to pet owner consumers. If you won purebred pets and desire the best in breed standard grooming, again the groomer certified in the styling you desire should be given plenty of consideration.)

Do they have a presentation photo album of pictures of their work?
Do they offer client services as well as pet care services?

(Unfortunately many grooming business are expert at grooming, but lack an equal focus in providing superb client services. Based on our 40 years of experience in the field, the business that excels in client services is usually equally good in providing grooming services. There are too many grooming business owners today do not emphasize the priority of convenient hours of operation, competitive prices, professional client and telephone procedures, convenient appointment scheduling, and many other client courtesies, yet groom very well. When asked what made our business so successful we reply, "Our clients were confident that we would always provide excellent grooming, but they came back again and again for the extra attention they deserved from professional client relations staff.)

Do they have a dedicated manager (not also grooming)?

(It's a positive sign of a professional grooming operation when they have achieved an operation that supports a hired manager.)

Don't be surprised if small grooming businesses have little time to answer so many questions. Unfortunately many have not found the way to hire receptionists or managers, and while they want to answer your questions, their mind may be on getting back to the dog or cat they are grooming. Too bad, you deserve the time and information you require to make an informed decision. Much of PetGroomer.com exists to encourage more groomers to expand with more client services and staff dedicated to client relations, it can be done and is being done by thousands of grooming businesses, but not the majority as yet.

Step 3 - Examine: Ask if you can tour the grooming business? No? Why not? What are they hiding? Even if it is a mobile grooming van or a grooming area in a home, tour it. From the moment you drive up to prospective businesses, use your senses. Listen! Smell! Look! Is the property clean both inside and out? Do you detect foul odors? Is the facility well-maintained? Is noise controlled? Do you hear groomers or staff saying objectionable words? Yes, some frustrated groomers do use harsh language or slang with pets not comfortable with being groomed, even if they don't physically abuse pets. Does that bother you? Take it all in.

Step 4 - Process Information Using Your Intuition: Now is the time to consider all of the information gained from your search for referrals, and the interviews and examinations you conducted. What are you going to fall back upon to make the decision? Intuition, just as you would with finding care for your children. It probably won't be too hard if you done the first three steps above.

When you return for your pet at the first appointment, ask how your pet was to be groomed. If you are not satisfied with the grooming, talk reasonably with the owner or manager. Sometimes communicating your preferred styling can take a second appointment to deliver it just the way you want it.

Copyright 2007 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved