On a crisp Sunday morning my keys jingle as I hurry to open my Ventura pet grooming salon. The sparrows on the porch whistle as I hustle down the hallway to slide open the windows so the ocean breeze can come in. I review my schedule for the day—fully booked, enjoying my 11th year as a small business owner.
My first customer that Sunday was new, and a little nervous to leave her pup. I encouraged her to stay for a few minutes, but after we got to talking our conversation lasted longer than the entire groom! She had recently opened up her own small business, a driving school just down the street. After hearing about the rules, regulations, licensing and approvals required for her business, I shared with her the one thing that really plagues me about my own industry: pet groomers are not required to follow any regulations or possess any state license. My client was shocked. I hadn't realized the general public is often unaware that an industry as big as dog grooming is largely unregulated. I pondered it though out the day and decided as a business owner, veteran groomer of 18 years, and animal advocate I should help pet parents navigate choosing a quality groomer and facility. Under current California law, pet groomers have no individual or shop licensing processes or requirements. Although we use similar equipment and perform a job similar to a hair stylist there’s no mandated course, curriculums, or mandatory licenses to be held. There are also currently no regulations or oversight for grooming salon facilities. You don’t need anything but a business license and a certificate of occupancy to open. So what does this mean? It means unskilled groomers and shop owners, some with little to no experience, flood the small business market. In addition, it opens the door to ill-equipped business owners more likely to outfit their salon with cheap or unsafe tools. I have toured shops that use dirty chewed-up kennels, pumping hot air into them without proper ventilation. I’ve heard horror stories about rusted, broken blades cutting animals. Some shops even use cheap human shampoo to save money or groomers injure animals with homemade contraptions and then refuse to pay for damages. A quick Google search about grooming mishaps will send even the most confident pet owner into puppy-cut purgatory. With the average number of pets per household rising and the A.P.P.A estimating over $70 billion will be spent on pets this year, it’s time consumers and professional groomers unite to ask for industry legislation. In the meantime, consumers need to know not all grooming salons are created equal! Here are some tips for choosing a safe salon: 1. Don't rely on reviews! Grooming salons are not given obvious grades like restaurants, which leaves consumers to rely on Internet reviews. I’ve noticed some of the highest-rated salons have a lot of reviews from friends. Being popular doesn't necessarily translate to a great dog groomer—just a groomer with a great social life. Everyone is bound to have tons of glowing reviews from friends and family. Take note instead of the bad reviews and more importantly how the groomer/business owner handled the criticism. Bad reviews should only help review or change policies and reflect on the situation. A professional will never respond negatively, argue with the client or try to defend themselves online. 2. You can tell a lot from a call. With it being so easy to open a salon—tons are popping up. Use this to your advantage by calling around to get a feel for the differences. Is the person polite and willing to answer your questions? If the person sounds stressed or irritated and you can pick up on it over the phone, end it there! Your dog is much more sensitive then you! 3. Visit before booking. Drop by the salon and ask for a tour. Many low-end grooming salons try to do the majority of their work behind closed doors--potentially to hide the treatment of the animals, disguise shoddy equipment or unsanitary conditions. Any business reluctant to show you where your pet is going to be handled is a red flag! 4. Ask the hard questions! Don't be afraid to ask about the worst-case scenario! This is your baby you are entrusting them with. They are a professional establishment and should be ready and willing to get you up to speed about how they do business. Check their website and social media for answers to common questions. Here’s some additional questions I might ask:
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