|
 If
your goal is to build a very large grooming
business serving 30 or more pets per day you
may find weight restricted grooming works
against your business goal. Employers are
likely to provide you with instruction and
assistance when lifting large pets, but that
doesn't mean you won't be exerting yourself.
If you suffer from repetitive motion
conditions in your joints, such as carpal
tunnel, the work of grooming pets is almost
certain to aggravate your condition. Consider
carefully that you will be working several
hours each work day holding brushes, combs,
clippers and other tools, and using your body
to control and position pets. Most groomers
stand on their feet for long hours although
some have adapted to sitting down part-time.
Consult with your physician if you have any
questions about your physical abilities to
work with pets in a grooming environment.
If the pet grooming training you receive
doesn’t include practices softening the impact
of repetitive pet grooming duties, make an
effort to acquire the knowledge. You may find
seminars and demonstrations at
trade shows.
It’s a folly to consider that pet grooming
will ever be anything other than physically
demanding. If you take care of your body, and
maintain self-awareness for how you are
handling pets, your body and tools, you should
be able to successfully endure the toils of
pet grooming. We know groomers who have worked
for ten, twenty or more years without serious
health problems, or unusual physical wear and
tear by working wisely.
Now that you know about the working conditions
and artistic requirements which may not seem
attractive to some, we want to remind you that
we love this profession. Thousands of groomers
feel the same way. It is a dream profession
for many.
Every day we look forward to the joy we bring
pet owners by miraculously making pets look
their best. Adults smile and children giggle
with every reunion when picking up their
freshly groomed pets. The joy and appreciation
of most clients is addictive. Most pet owners
give immense appreciation for jobs well done
including tips on top of service fees. Not
many other trades can provide you with so much
overt positive response on a daily basis, and
while getting paid.
In our experience many clients honored us as
being part of their extended families. They
knew we sincerely cared for them as clients,
not customers. Our client services clearly
displayed a respect for their patronage. We
enjoyed serving people, not just pets. You may
be surprised at how many groomers focus on pet
services and not customer services, and that
can be a big mistake if you plan to own a
grooming business. It’s the pet owners that
pay you. If you take what has been said in
this one paragraph very seriously and design a
client relations like the Madson Client
Relations Program™ in our book From
Problems to Profits, you will understand
why some grooming businesses are always busy.
They face ever growing demand from pet owners
and with the popularity comes enough
profitability to better maintain and equip
their businesses. Look around, you may see
rundown grooming businesses that haven’t been
improved since they first opened. It’s the
client services that drive that extra
profitability for the most financially
successful grooming businesses. It’s that
simple. Is that you? |
