pet grooming egroomer journal for professional pet groomers january/march 2012

Journal for Today’s and Tomorrow’s Professional Pet Groomers

January/March 2012 Volume 2 Issue 1 A PetGroomer.com Publication $4.95

FEATURES

www.petgroomer.com www.egroomer.com

STATE OF INDUSTRY REPORT 2012

WHERE THE GROOMERS ARE 2012

MYTHS & MISUNDERSTANDINGS

AMERICAN COCKER SPANIEL

TEDDY BEAR HEAD STYLING

GROOMERS GIVING BACK

TO SHARPEN, OR NOT TO SHARPEN

EARS, EYES & PADS FIRST AID

HIDDEN INCOME

COMPETITION PHOTO GALLERY

PRODUCTIVITY WORKSHEETS

2011 GROOMING PRICE SURVEYS

2012 SPONSORS BUYER’S GUIDE

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www.groomerschoice.com

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10 Copyright © 2012 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com

E D I T O R

Dear Grooming Professionals:

The first issue of eGroomer Journal starts the new year with loads of information. There are facts and figures about our industry and indications of growing trends. Our hope is that this information will assist you to plan a prosperous year while the economy slowly records. There’s more than just facts and figures. We have special articles by groomers sharing their expertise and insights with you.

The real state of our industry is all about you, grooming professionals. Your optimism lifts this profession. At

GroomerTALK℠ we don’t hear much

pessimism. Instead there is far more sharing of enthusiasm for our trade. It’s much different than the glum news of the media. Once you get among groomers you notice more light. Why is that?

Pet groomers put giving at the top of their lists. Look how many help pet rescues and other organizations. Many vendors selling to groomers also give in so many ways. To date over $100,000 has been given away by our company with the help of its long list of sponsors. What else?

Pet groomers really enjoy their work. Certainly that helps us to maintain optimism. We do need to make sure we also take care of ourselves. Too often we skip or rush healthy lunches. However,

eGroomer Journal

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephen Mart ADMINISTRATOR Madeline B. Ogle

PUBLISHER Find A Groomer Inc.

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[email protected]

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The eGroomer Journal is published quarterly by Find A Groomer Inc., PO Box 2489, Yelm, WA 98597, Madeline B, Ogle, President. Copyright 2011 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Made in USA.

eGroomer Journal makes every effort to provide information that is reliable and practical. It is not intended to replace diagnosis or treatment from a veterinarian or other qualified pet professional.

eGroomer Journal does not assume any legal responsibility. Readers should always consult qualified healthcare providers for specific diagnosis and treatment. Information provided is not intended to replace formal pet grooming training including pet safety and handling.

Viewpoints and commentary expressed in eGroomer Journal do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of its advertisers, the publisher or associates. Use of any content or services of PetGroomer.com and eGroomer.com, including both digital and print copies of eGroomer Journal, is governed by additional guidelines, disclaimers and privacy policies and notices available at:

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being able to say, “I love what I do for my work,” is something to treasure. It ’s one of the reasons we stand out from the crowds. It’s a healthy state of mind. Anything else?

Groomers are not easily stereotyped. There are few if any other professions quite like ours. What other working professionals consider shades of color to dye pets or which accessories are right for that new pet look? Don’t even try to put groomers in a defined box. Most of us left those limitations to enter this industry and few of us go back.

The need to express our creativity with pets is strong, and we found a way. It even supports us financially. This is my family’s 51st year in grooming. I remember all the economic ups and downs but pet grooming took care of us.

We made great career choices. It just didn’t happen though. It’s our strong commitment to make pets beautiful that keeps this industry going. Not every customer understands us, but never overlook your many loyal clients to whom you are unique and special.

I have a lot of optimism for 2012 yet I expect some surprises. Enthusiastic groomers with loads of optimism and love for animal beauty is going to make 2012 another positive year. Regards, Stephen▲

http://www.egroomer.com/

mailto:[email protected]


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eGroomer Journal January/March 2012 Copyright 2012 © Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved 11

www.petgroomer.com/calendar.htm C A L E N D A R

EVENTS www.petgroomer.com/calendar.htm

Meet and greet other groomers going to

events. See the Grooming Events

Forum on the GroomerTALK Message

Board. http://tinyurl.com/7gnd6du

FEBRUARY 2012 February 2 to 5 Groom & Kennel Expo Pasadena, CA www.barkleigh.com

MARCH 2012 March 1 to 4 Atlanta Pet Fair Atlanta, GA www.atlantapetfair.com

APRIL 2012 April 21 to 23 Intergroom Secaucus, NJ www.intergroom.com

MAY 2012 May 4 to 6 Groom Classic Kansas City, MO www.groomclassic.com

JUNE 2012 June 1 to 3 NDGAA Colorado Groomfest Denver, CO www.ndgaa.com

June 21 to 24 PetQuest 2012 Wilmington, OH www.barkleigh.com

JULY 2012 July 13 to 15 New England P.G. Prof. Summerfest Warwick, RI www.nepgp.com

AUGUST 2012 August 9 to 12 All American Grooming Show Wheeling, IL www.aagrmgshow.com

SEPTEMBER 2012 September 6 to 9 Groom Expo Hershey, PA www.barkleigh.com

September 11 to 13 SuperZoo Las Vegas, NV www.superzoo.org

October 15, 1946 – January 29, 2012

Sally Liddick was the Founder of

Barkleigh Productions, Inc. and owner of

professional pet services magazines:

Groomer to Groomer, Pet Boarding &

Daycare, Canadian Groomer and Off

Lead & Animal Behavior. She also

published numerous pet industry books

and Barkleigh’s original product, a

quarterly newsletter called GroomOgram.

Sally was a driving force in the pet

services industry, believing in the

importance of well trained and better

informed pet professionals.

Through Barkleigh, Sally also operated

the largest pet care services show in the

world…Groom Expo and four other major

industry shows: Groom & Kennel Expo,

SuperGroom, PetQuest and the

Northwest Grooming Show.

In her honor, the Barkleigh Honors

Lifetime Achievement Award was named

after Sally.

She was also recognized over the years

as the recipient of four Cardinal Crystal

Achievement Awards for Journalist of the

Year, and won the Dog Writer’s

Association of America’s Grooming

Journalist Award.

Sally was a professional pet groomer for

fifteen years and the daughter of a

groomer. She authored the book, Taking

a Different Path, which is a collection of

her memoirs seen through her eyes as a

business woman and friend.

Barkleigh Productions has been featured

on the Discovery Channel with a

program called Extreme Poodles, and

Barkleigh events have been seen on

numerous television programs and

national magazines including People

magazine, The Today Show, Regis and

Kelly, The Insider and more.

Sally also contributed countless articles

to her various magazines and enjoyed

every minute of it!

Sally Liddick was well-known and a

respected leader in the pet care

professional industry. She was loved by

many people, and will sadly be missed

by those fortunate enough to call her a

friend.

Sally may be gone, but her

accomplishments and vision for the pet

industry will carry on through Barkleigh

Productions. ▲

Web: www.barkleigh.com

Our Industry

Has Lost an Icon

Sally Liddick

http://www.petgroomer.com/calendar.htm

http://tinyurl.com/7gnd6du


S T A T E O F THE I N D U S T R Y R E P O R T 2 0 1 2

PETGROOMER.COM REPORTS

Confidence Remains High

Which best describes how the

economy affected your

business in 2011?

29.7% Business was better in

2011 than 2010.

54.2% Very little difference.

12.3% I had to hire more

employees to keep up with

demand.

7.7% I had to let one or more

employees go.

44.1% Clients are cutting back

about one appointment a year.

11.7% Clients are cutting back

two or more appointments a

year.

33.5% I am selling more add-

on services to boost sales.

32.8% I raised prices to

maintain sales projections.

1.7% I might have to close my

business.

17.6% Clients are requesting

more bath-only services

instead of complete styling.

What reigns supreme in the grooming

industry? Confidence. In the face of an

ongoing struggling economy a strong

majority of pet groomers (76%) remained

strongly confident in the future of the

grooming businesses. Almost 18%

reported that 2011 revenues did not

increase over 2010 yet they remained

neutral or positive that 2012 would prove

to show some revenue growth.

The pet grooming industry seems to be

faring better than many business sectors.

Three out of ten grooming business said

their business was up (10% average) in

2011, and four out of ten said their

business was unchanged in 2011.

A majority (55.8%) said pet owners are

waiting longer between appointments.

The average cutback is less than two

appointments a year. Modest price

increases were reported to be the

primary reason that revenue levels were

held in 2011 in the face of cutbacks.

Less than 8% of employers reduced staff

in 2011, and 37% reported an ongoing

chronic shortage of skilled groomers to

fill open positions.

Only 2% of grooming business owners

surveyed are considering closing their

doors if business doesn’t improve.

No specific grooming business type

bucked these trends. Mobile reported the

highest level of confidence (84%).

In the current economic

climate how confident are you

in the future of your grooming

business?

76% Strong

15% Good

7% Neutral

2% Weak

Annual sales revenue remained steady

and slightly increased over 2010 in a

survey of 1,252 independent U.S.

grooming businesses.

2011 +/- 2010

Less than $25,000 8% -3.0%

$25,001 to $50,000 17% +2.9%

$50,001 to $100,000 58% +3.1%

$100,001 to $200,000 11% +2.7%

More than $200,000 6% +.09%

“In the face of an ongoing

struggling economy a

strong majority of pet

groomers (76%) remained

strongly confident in the

future of their grooming

businesses.



2010 - 2011 COMPARISON OF WHERE THE GROOMERS ARE

US State 2010 # of Grooming

Businesses

2010 # of Grooming

Businesses

2011 # of Grooming

Businesses

2011 # of Grooming

Businesses

Alaska 69 0.22% 71 0.23%

Alabama 404 1.34% 412 1.32%

Arkansas 329 1.09% 339 1.09%

Arizona 588 1.95% 606 1.95%

California 2,788 9.26% 2,816 9.05%

Colorado 594 1.97% 707 2.27%

Connecticut 447 1.48% 460 1.48%

Dist. of Columbia 14 .05% 14 0.05%

Delaware 90 0.30% 93 0.30%

Florida 2,114 7.02% 2,191 7.04%

Georgia 766 2.54% 774 2.49%

Hawaii 43 0.14% 44 0.14%

Idaho 207 0.69% 211 0.68%

Iowa 398 1.32% 410 1.32%

Illinois 1,221 4.06% 1,251 4.02%

Indiana 797 2.65% 825 2.65%

Kansas 352 1.17% 363 1.17%

Kentucky 443 1.47% 457 1.47%

Louisiana 437 1.45% 447 1.44%

Massachusetts 775 2.58% 798 2.57%

Maryland 499 1.66% 517 1.66%

Maine 150 .50% 153 0.49%

Michigan 1,144 3.80% 1,140 3.66%

Minnesota 569 1.89% 575 1.85%

Mississippi 217 0.72% 224 0.72%

Missouri 764 2.54% 791 2.54%

Montana 144 0.48% 149 0.48%

Nebraska 209 0.70% 213 0.69%

Nevada 212 0.70% 212 0.68%

New Hampshire 221 0.74% 225 0.72%

New Jersey 817 2.71% 888 2.85%

New Mexico 197 0.65% 203 0.65%

New York 1,327 4.41% 1,377 4.43%

North Dakota 69 0.23% 71 0.23%

North Carolina 836 2.78% 853 2.74%

Ohio 1,291 4.29% 1,316 4.23%

Oklahoma 528 1.75% 544 1.75%

Oregon 552 1.83% 566 1.82%

Pennsylvania 1,473 4.89% 1,516 4.87%

Rhode Island 116 0.38% 118 0.38%

South Carolina 421 1.40% 425 1.37%

South Dakota 79 0.26% 80 0.26%

Tennessee 598 1.99% 622 2.00%

Texas 1,909 6.34% 2,008 6.45%

Utah 215 0.72% 223 0.72%

Vermont 75 0.25% 77 0.25%

Virginia 636 2.11% 700 2.25%

Washington 1,135 3.77% 1,177 3.78%

West Virginia 132 0.44% 136 0.44%

Wisconsin 612 2.03% 629 2.02%

Wyoming 93 0.31% 96 0.31%

Total 30,116 31,111




Opportunities

States with the Most Jobs for Grooming Professionals

State Estimated Jobs

CALIFORNIA 13,309

FLORIDA 9,708

TEXAS 8,646

PENNSYLVANIA 6,081

NEW YORK 5,207

OHIO 4,633

ILLINOIS 4,255

WASHINGTON 3,827

MICHIGAN 3,612

NEW JERSEY 2,150

Overall the chronic shortage of pet

groomers commonly known to most

employers continues as it has for

decades. Certainly there are rural and

semi-rural areas with few job openings

for groomers, but demand remains high

in the Top 10 States for Grooming Jobs

(see table left).

The PetGroomer.com Classifieds

consistently have the highest number of

job openings in these states as well.

Over 10,000 help wanted ads a year are

published on average, and in some years

that number has exceeded 20,000.

In 2011 job search themed ads at

PetGroomer.com did increase by 8%, but

that figure was down from the 17%

increase in 2010.

The PetGroomer.com 2011 Survey of

Grooming Business owners reported that

11% are considering hiring an additional

pet bather in 2012, and 7% another pet

groomer.

Commission continues to be the

preferred method of paying pet

groomers, but the margin over salaries

continues to decrease. Hourly wages

remains the preferred method of

compensation for pet bathers and

assistant pet groomers, with few paying

by commission.

How do you pay your hired

groomers?

57% Commission

28% Salaries

15% Hourly

How do you pay your hired pet

bathers?

82% Hourly

9% Commission

9% Salaries




As expected, there were no significant

changes or additions in the job position

titles commonly found in US grooming

businesses. Compared to 2010 the

number of businesses with pet groomers

and pet bathers held steady at 75%.

Prep Only positions declined from 10% in

2010 to 7%. Assistant Groomers

increased from 10% to 12% in 2011.

A majority of business owners (60%)

continue to describe their businesses as

grooming shops (includes groomers that

groom in their homes) or a full-service

salon. Although by a small margin, pet

spas with grooming increased from 5%

to 7%, and mobile groomers increased

from 11% to 12%.

Veterinarians, boarding kennels and

daycares described their key challenge

with offering grooming services as a

shortage of skilled groomers. A

significant number of them (27%)

responded with dissatisfaction with the

job market for grooming, and explained

that their grooming departments were not

in operation because they could not find

groomers to hire.

WHICH BEST DESCRIBES YOUR GROOMING BUSINESS


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Which of the following

sources do you use to

purchase tools, equipment

and grooming supplies?

76.6% Online Internet.

39.1% Mail order catalog.

21.7% Trade shows.

2.4% Store in commercial

location.

2.3% Mobile supplier comes

to my business.

How much do you plan to

spend on grooming supplies,

tools and equipment in 2011?

3.7% Up to $500.

8.8% $501 to $1,000.

11.2% $1,001 to $1,500.

15.0% $1,501 to $2,000.

21.9% $2,501 to $3,000.

18.6% $3,001 to $3,500.

15.7% $3,501 to $4,000.

1.7% $4,001 to $4,500.

1.0% $4,501 to $5,000.

1.3% $5,001 to $5,500.

1.1% $5,501 to $6,000.

Which best describes the pets

you groom?

78% Mixed breeds,

purebred dogs, and cats

15% Mixed breeds,

purebred dogs, no cats

4% Purebred dogs

mainly

3% Cats only

How many on-site trade shows,

seminars, workshops or online

instructional events do you

attend per year?

17% None

15% 1

39% 2

29% 3 or more

Which of the following do you

own, or use online?

91% Books

39% DVDs/Streaming

9% E-Books

A commanding majority (88%) said they

market their services online. In 2011 the

average grooming business owner (52%)

had a web site, and listings in at least 3

groomer directories such as Find A

Groomer Directory for Pet Owners or

mass ad sites such as Craigslist. Almost

37% were on Facebook including a page

for their business, and 11% were on

other social media sites besides FB.

About 57% said they got 25 or less new

customers from Facebook per year, and

25 or less from Craigslist. Referrals

continued to hold the lead as the primary

source of new customers besides road

signs, however, referrals was down 3%

from 2010. Only 9% reported buying

Google ads or similar banner advertising

to reach pet owners. 95% said they relied

on non-paid search engine results to

attract pet owners to their web sites.

71% responded that they read pet

groomer forums outside of Facebook and

were members of at least two forums.

11% post an occasional message on a

pet groomer forum. 19% said they use

Smartphones at work to access forums.

Groomer software gained 3% with 34%

responding that they are computerized

with specialty groomer software, and

27% stated they expected to computerize

their business within two years.

Finally, raises for employees or owners

taking paychecks from their businesses

were not expected to exceed 3% in 2012.

The average commission for an

experienced groomers was steady at

55% by the majority of employers (61%)

and 21% pay one or more groomers 60%

commission for highly-experienced

groomer employees. Virtually all those

that responded are looking for ways to

reduce non-compensation overhead. The

biggest cutbacks (82%) were yellow

pages advertising and display advertising

in local publications. Overall confidence

is high, and 2012 feels like a much better

year than those since 2008.

Results of the 2011 U.S. & International

grooming price surveys begin on page

59. ▲

Trade shows are an important arena for

maintaining a competitive edge for

grooming training, including independent

workshops and seminars. Attendance in

2011 was up 7% by groomers surveyed.

A majority (68%) attended 2 or more

events in 2011. Further, the number

purchasing educational books, DVDs or

streaming was up 17% over 2010. A

majority (51%) expected to attend two

events on-site in 2012.


T H E B U S I N E S S S I D E

Myths & Misunderstandings

2012

Commission Groomers Don’t Have

an Equivalent Hourly Rate

As consultants to thousands of career

seekers, groomers and grooming

business owners for 23 years, we have

reason to say, “We’ve probably heard

every grooming management problem

there is, and many times over.” When

you problem solve business problems

with clients it’s not a matter of relying

solely on superficial evidence such as

personal points of view, stories, or a few

sheets of bookkeeping problems. That’s

where you start and you listen well.

To succeed in determining what our

clients know about the business of

grooming, we also have to discover what

they don’t know. Then we can introduce

thought provoking evidence, and move

them out of emotional turmoil onto paths

of self-awareness in business. We

awaken not only the groomer in them,

but the manager that is salivating for

opportunities to problem solve with us.

Remarkable things happen.

During thousands of consultations we

uncovered dozens of common myths and

misunderstandings about grooming

management that fomented into serious

business or career problems. They take

all the joy out of working with pets. In

2012 myths and misunderstandings

decades old continue. We carefully and

kindly expose them, “How did you come

to this conclusion?” Most often it is

another groomer telling another groomer

what they learned from their mentors, or

fellow groomers. While there may be

truth it is usually coated with obscurity.

Sometimes it’s even recycled nonsense.

We never come down clients. Instead we

ask for evidence, “Do you have any data

of records or financial information that

backs your conclusions?” Rarely. We

understand. The groomer in us really

wants to groom, enjoy the pets and their

beauty. The groomer seeks

convenience, avoids problem solving and

simply accepts what “elders” say. That’s

why myths and misunderstandings hang

around like living dinosaurs.

We’ve “freed” hundreds of clients from

myths and misunderstandings about

management. Their endorsements of our

publications and services often mention

how we helped them to “fall back in love

again with my business (or career).”

Other didn’t apply what they learned.

Some come back after five or ten years

and say, “I am ready now. Let’s do it.”

We have no personal stake in what our

clients believe. We never ask them to

believe us or to echo our beliefs. We

want to awaken the groomer and

manager in them, and to marry the two.

Once they think like managers we have

accomplished our biggest goal. Every

grooming business owner is a problem

solver, but they cannot be very

successful if they accept common

grooming myths and misunderstandings

at face value. It’s better they are a

pleasant contrarian than recycling

untested myths and misunderstandings.

The new process of thinking by a

businessperson that grooms is different

from the beauty of the mind associated

with artistic grooming. Self-employed

groomers are two different personas,

manager and artist. The artist wants to

grooming, the manager wants to

“surgically” take apart business problems

and once for all put an end to their ill

effects. Managers come to no quick

conclusions, and where appropriate,

“show their work” as math teachers often

instructed us in school. Sometimes you

cannot avoid math in grooming. All too

often when we ask new consultation

clients for the math to back their financial

opinions on grooming operations we get

blank stares. Fine. We will show them

basic formulas and then examine their

opinions whether true or false. If we

accept as fact that for which we cannot

do the math, what happens? We get

more myths and misunderstandings.

This article will glance upon a few myths

and misunderstandings prevalent today.

We uncovered more than 100 during our

50 plus years in the grooming industry.

Grooming Business in a Box® patterns

ways to unlock them and create new

insights. Please take nothing personally,

we are simply sharing our experiences.

Since when do we associate hourly rates

with commission only groomers? We do.

It is helpful knowledge for groomers too.

Employees can better manage their

(Continued on page 52)

“Every grooming

business owner is a

problem solver, but they

cannot be very successful

if they accept common

grooming myths and

misunderstandings at

face value.”


http://www.groomingbusinessinabox.com/



Every commission paid groomer has an equivalent…

“Effective Earnings Hourly Wage Rate.”

Pet Groomer Wage Systems

CD #4 with User Guide

Illustration Excerpted from...

http://www.b-air.com/

http://www.jodimurphy.net/

www.mygroomingtrailer.com

http://www.mygroomingtrailer.com/

http://www.jodimurphy.net/


Head & Tail Styles with Jodi Murphy - Part Two www.jodimurphy.net

It wasn't until I started working with breeders and competing in the grooming contest ring that I really understood how much detail work there is in perfecting the American Cocker Spaniel head piece. I groom my pets with the same blades and techniques that I would a show dog. The American Cocker Spaniel should have a soft expression with roundness to their head and a well-defined brow. These are the two key features in executing the proper head. Most clients prefer to have the heads of their pets shaved due to the fact that the crown hair is always falling in their face. I will show you how I execute this head where that will never be a problem. Whether it is a show trim or a pet trim I trim them the same. Use a 10 blade and clip the outside and inside of the ear leather against the grain of the coat (Photo 1). Your clipper work should line up with the jaw line or at the bottom of the ear leather fold. With a 7F clip against the grain from the top of the ear (where you left off with your 10 blade work) to about two finger widths into the top skull (Photo 2).

The American Cocker Spaniel Head Piece

1

2



www.jodimurphy.net Head & Tail Styles with Jodi Murphy - Part Two

3

4 5

Clip the cheek against the grain with a 10 blade to the corner of the eye (Photo 3). Clip an inverted "V" between the eyes with a 10 blade. Clip under the eyes with a 15 blade to create chiseling. Skim the muzzle with a 7F or a 10 blade lightly. Neaten the muzzle with thinning shears. You never want to clip the muzzle really tight otherwise the muzzle with look narrow. The lips of the muzzle should look full and plush. Outline the lip edge with a 15 or a 30 blade to accentuate the fullness of the lips. Either clip the crown area with a 4F or 5F or use thinning shears to create your roundness. Neaten crown and side skull with thinning shears (Photos 4 & 5).

Continued on next page


S T Y L E Head & Tail Styles with Jodi Murphy - Part Two www.jodimurphy.net

Some dogs may need more coat in the crown area than others depending on the structure of the head. Clip the throat from two fingers above the breast bone up to and including the entire chin either with the grain or against the grain with a 10 blade. This will depend on the sensitivity of the skin (Photo 6). Be sure to clip the bottom edge of the lip and flew area tightly using a 10 or 15 blade. Remove the coat over the eyebrow ridge with either a 10 blade (lightly) or thinning shears (Photo 7).

6

7



S T Y L E www.jodimurphy.net Head & Tail Styles with Jodi Murphy - Part Two

8

9

This is the coat that falls in the eyes if not removed. Remember the breed standard states that the brows should be clearly defined. Trim the bottom of the ears in a semi-circle with curved shears and/or thinning shears (Photo 8). The finished head should show a soft expression with a rounded dome and plump lips that are approximately the same width as the side skull. (Photo 9). On the next page, the traditional Teddy Bear head piece.

Continued on next page



The Traditional Teddy Bear Head

1

2

The Teddy Bear head style has been around for many years. Sometimes it is easier said than done. Here are easy steps to get those cute little mixed breed heads looking good! I am using curved shears and thinning shears. Use thinning shears to clean out the unruly hairs poking the poor little dog in the eyes (Photo 1). Comb the coat down over the eyes. Scissor a semi-circle "visor" from the outside corner of the left eye to the outside corner of the right eye (Photo 2).




3

4

Comb the coat up on top of the head. Start scissoring from the visor to the top of the head (Photo 3). Comb up the coat again. Scissor over the ears blending into the long coat of the ears (Photo 4).

Continued

on next page



5

6

Scissor the coat behind the ears into the crest of neck hair (Photo 5). Neaten over ears again until well blended. Continue to comb the coat up (Photo 6).




7

8

Scissor the head until nice and round (Photo 7). Scissor the coat under the chin leaving about an inch of coat from the jaw line (Photo 8).

Continued

on next page



9

10

Scissor from the under jaw up to the ear in a curved line, not straight (Photo 9). Comb up cheeks and scissor from jaw line to where you set the coat on the side skull creating a round cheek (Photo 10). Scissor the ears to "bob" to the chin line from the back of the ear to the front of the ear. I prefer to trim the back of the ear shorter leaving it longer in the front to frame the face (Photo 11). When you have a system to scissor you get the best results. (Photo 12). Jodi Murphy




11

12



H E A R T A N D S O U L

“They just seem to find me.” These six

words were repeated to me over and

over when I asked pet stylists why they

were involved in animal rescue. Indeed,

as I write this there is an elderly black

pug tucked into a fuzzy blanket snoring

on my desk. Her name is Poppy and she

found me 12 years ago when fellow

groomer Linda Laivins, who volunteered

to groom pets at the animal shelter in

Memphis, Tennessee, asked me to

provide foster care for the two-pound,

flea riddled waif until a forever home

could be provided.

At the time I was actively involved in

fostering kittens, but had a hard rule to

never accept foster dogs. I broke the rule

this one time and have been vacuuming

up pug hair ever since. In my quarter of a

century being active in the grooming

industry, I’ve often been overwhelmed

with admiration at the amount of rescue

work provided for dogs and cats by

groomers.

I have witnessed groomers take pets into

their homes, spend hard earned money

on food and veterinary bills, organize

fund raisers for rescue organizations and

donate untold hours of time to do

everything from walk dogs, clean kennels

and even leave their warm houses at any

hour of the day or night to help capture

lost or abandoned animals from the cold.

There are unsung heroes in our industry,

and that is something we should

recognize and be proud of.

Sandy Blackburn, owner of the Groom

Room Pet Spa in Attica, Indiana, started

out small. “All my pets are rescues and

they seem to find me when I’m not

looking for any. There are so many pets

out there that need a home and not

enough good homes to go around.”

After years of taking in unwanted animals

and finding homes for them, she began

Sad Souls Pet Rescue in August of

2011.

(www.sadsoulspetrescue.webs.com)

Blackburn is currently applying for a

501c3 tax-exemption status for the

organization and is finding that more

challenging than pet care by far! She

said, “As groomers many of us tend to go

over and above for local pounds and

rescues. I always have and I have placed

many pets that were client surrenders.

But opening up my own rescue has been

a mission of love that I never thought

would be as rewarding as it has been.

We do fundraisers and accept donations,

but the bottom line is that much of what

we do comes out of our own pockets.”

Stylist Sarah Drouin donates her time at

the Delaware Humane Association. “I

can remember when I was learning how

to groom I used to think, ‘When I get

good I want to volunteer at a shelter- I

want to make the dogs look and feel

great.” That is what she does now,

showing that she is “good” in more than

one sense of the word. “I don’t just

automatically shave dogs down; I do a

full service groom from start to finish,

bath, blow dry, nails, ears and a haircut.

Of course, some pets have to be shaved

because of the condition they are in, but I

believe people are more apt to adopt a

‘cute’ pet. I want these dogs adopted out

as quickly as possible. I’ll do anything I

can to help; I upload some dogs on my

business Facebook page, giving

information about them and including a

link to where they can be adopted. One

little Bichon mix name Willy had been at

the shelter a long time. A week after I

fixed him up he was adopted out!”

What a wonderful feeling it is to see a

dog that had been previously overlooked

taken home after it is carefully groomed.

Drouin continued “I love the dogs at the

shelter. I don’t have money to donate but

I have time and I love the reward I get-

the reward being that my heart is filled

with so much joy seeing the dogs act

much different after they are groomed.”

That is something all groomers have

seen; the attitude change after a dog is

clean and looking fabulous. That

difference in demeanor and appearance

is sometimes just enough to make a dog

adoptable.

For the last 14 years Coleen Zuber from

Muddy Paws in the Guild, Ontario,

Canada has donated her time at least

once a month providing pedicures for

Pugs. “As you know, Pugs getting their

nails clipped is not one of their favorite

things. We use a Dremel tool to buff their

nails and donate $7 from each pet to Pug

a Lug rescue.” (pugalug.com) One month

Colleen helped to raise $500.00 for a

Pug named Brian’s hip and leg surgery.

It boggles the mind to think how many

thousands of dollars this groomer has

donated, working one claw at a time!

Groomer and bow and pet accessory

maker extraordinaire, Tica Verret, has a

soft spot for Poodles.

“I love helping the rescue groups. I help

Giving Back Groomers to the Rescue

By Daryl Conner

Sandy Blackburn

Linda Laivins

Sarah Drouin Coleen Zuber



H E A R T A N D S O U L

them by donating my time and by

grooming any poodle or poodle type

dogs. I feel this is my way of honoring

the poodle breed and giving them a

helping hand to find a home. A few years

ago I was called by an animal group that

had found over 48 Standard Poodles in a

warehouse in small crates. My family and

I drove for 1½ hours to start shaving

poodle after poodle to make them

comfortable. Every dog found a home,

and it was great to be a part of that

rescue. I will never forget it!” Verret is

one more example of a groomer who

spends her time “off” with clipper and

scissors in hand, donating time and

talent, with a huge helping of love on the

side.

Liz Czak, owner of Yankee Clipper Pet

Grooming and Supplies, LLC, opens her

salon door to any dog or cat from the

local shelters and she and her staff give

them complimentary makeovers. She

also offers free grooming to service

dogs. “It is just my way of giving back,

why would anyone not do this to help the

animals?” Maybe it is just something that

goes along with whatever it is that drives

us to be groomers in the first place.

Leigh Anne Izzo wrote me, “I have loved

animals ever since I can remember.

When I was a child I always had cats

follow me home, so of course I would

feed them, (and get yelled at) but that

wouldn’t stop me! I just felt so badly for

animals that lived on the street and never

knew any love.” Over the years Izzo has

rescued countless cats, paid for

veterinary care and found homes for

more than she can count, or had the truly

wild ones altered and released them. “I

still see them and feed them and they

are happy as can be!”

Sometimes things in the realm of rescue

get a little creative! Kathleen Sepulveda

told me, “I have been involved with

Japanese Chin rescue for the past 20

years, mainly in fundraising. I use

creatively colored dogs at most

fundraising events. After being

approached by Animal Planet to do a

unique story about the Japanese Chin on

the TV show Dogs 101 I was able to turn

a unique fashion show featuring Chins

and Drag Queens into a fundraiser for

the National Japanese Chin rescue. We

raised $1,000.00 for the rescue group

that night.” You can read more about this

spectacular event at http://

www.christinespetgrooming.com/Animal-

Planet-Dogs-101---LIPS-.html“

It seems that the individual rescue

stories become a blur to those who work

to save animals. But Lois Brown

remembered a specific tale: “Miracle.

She was a Shar Pei that had been kept

in a breeding kennel and didn’t really

know what people were. It took me two

months before I could get my hands on

her without her running away or trying to

bite because she felt cornered. Once she

learned to trust me, she climbed up into

my lap and become just the sweetest

dog imaginable.” Brown continued, “Why

do I continue doing rescue? I guess it is

because the dogs on death row need an

advocate. They cannot speak for

themselves; many are just there due to

unfortunate circumstances. I’ve placed

many dogs over the years and when I

hear the stories from those owners or

they come back to me for another dog, it

makes me feel like I’ve made a

difference.”

I could only fit a fraction of the stories of

good hearted groomers into this article;

the input I received was heartwarming

and overwhelming. Groomer and rescuer

Jessica Uzzetta told me that she not only

grooms rescue dogs for free but also

provides a foster home while they are

waiting to be placed. She includes the

following signature line in her email: “The

greatness of a nation and its moral

progress can be judged by the way its

animals are treated,” Mahatma Gandhi. If

we are to judge the grooming industry by

this standard I would have to say that we

are greater than we give ourselves credit

for; quietly, humbly making the world a

kinder place one pet at a time. ▲

Daryl Conner is a certified Petcare

Dermatech Specialist, Master Pet Stylist,

Meritus and Certified Master Cat Groomer.

A contributing editor to Pet Age Magazine,

Daryl's musings have also been found in

Dog World, Groomer to Groomer, and on

many Internet sites. She is the recipient of

the coveted 2005 Cardinal Crystal Award

for Journalism and the '06 and '07 awards

for Congeniality, Daryl is proud to be the

U.S. Ambassador for the German Red

Clipper. Known for her fun and informative

educational classes at grooming shows

across the country, Daryl's grounded,

friendly style makes her an approachable

and popular teacher. With 25 years of

grooming experience, Daryl's abiding love

of animals and passion for our trade

radiates out to everyone she touches

through her work.

Web Site:

www.darylconner.com

Blog:

Hairs of the Dogs at GroomWise.com

Liz Czak

Leigh Anne Izzo

Kathleen Sepulveda Tica Verret

Lois Brown

Jessica Uzzetta

http://www.darylconner.com/


S H A R P E N I N G & R E P A I R

Do you know when a blade is worth re-

sharpening? Or when it is too damaged

to be re-sharpened? This article will help

you make those decisions by discussing

different parts of clipper blades, and what

bad and good parts look like.

The Cutter Teeth

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

The cutter is the top blade of the blade

set. It moves back and forth by the lever

of the clipper. Whether the cutter fits

larger blades (Fig. 1), or #40 blades (Fig.

2) , all teeth must be present on the

cutter. Steel cutters with missing teeth, or

ceramic cutters with broken tooth ends,

cannot be fixed. These parts can be

replaced making blades good again.

With ceramic cutters pay special

attention to the tips of the teeth. If they

are chipped or broken they may not work

because when very blunt and simply just

snag or drag. Ceramic cutters are

basically glass. Ceramic blades should

not be used on dirty dogs that are not

combed out. Knots in the hair and dirt in

the coat will chip the tooth ends and

cause the blade to drag.

The Cutter Rail

Cutter rails are on the underside of

blades, and generally hidden from

regular view. They play important roles

because they do the cutting. They also

keep cutters raised enough to allow cut

hair to move out of the way.

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

If rails are ground flat like the ones

shown (Figs. 3 and 4), cutter blades are

poor and won't cut. Using blades with

cutters without rails may cause them to

drag or snag hair. Steel cutters are prone

to being ground like this over time.

Ceramic cutters are not prone in the

same way because they are

sharpened a different way. Cutters in

poor condition cannot be fixed but can be

replaced making blades useful again.

The Comb Blade

The comb, or bottom blade as it's

sometimes called, is the most important

part of a blade. It determines the height

of the cut. There are two styles, full and

skip tooth. There is another style by one

manufacturer called “Show.” The comb

blade on this type has twice as many

teeth as the “Full” type.

Fig. 5

Figure 5 shows a perfect comb blade

regardless of size. Notice it has no

broken or missing teeth, and the front

and rear rails are not ground flat. The

front rail of the cutter and comb are the

cutting surfaces of the blade. If any of the

front rail is ground flat, it may cause the

blade to snag or drag. You can inspect

the rail of a blade by pushing the cutter

to one side and taking a look, and then to

the other side and taking a look at that

side of the rail.

The comb cannot be fixed or repaired It

must be replaced. You can take the

blade apart and salvage the cutter,

spring, socket, and screws for spare

parts.


Determining When Blades Are Bad…

or Not Worth Sharpening Again BY Jeff Andrews, Northern Tails Sharpening, Inc.


http://www.petvalu.com/

http://www.pawsitiveeducationaltraining.com/


P E T F I R S T A I D S A F E T Y

Sometimes it seems like we are grooming a creature that resembles a washing machine during the spin cycle. I have been grooming

for 14 years and in that time I have had a couple of “oops.” Though the first word out of my mouth was not oops. I’ll leave my choice of

words up to your imagination. Being prepared to address wounds promptly will reduce recovery time, speed healing, and reduce

complications. Injured pets are likely to be in pain. A pet in pain will bite. Keep a muzzle handy and ready to use. Three common

areas for injuries include the ears, eyes, and pads. Let’s start with the ears.

Ears, Eyes & Pads First Aid

By Mary Oquendo, CMPTI

Mary Oquendo is the owner of

Pawsitively Pretty Mobile Grooming

Salon in Danbury, CT.

She is certified by PIJAC ( Pet Industry

Joint Advisory Council) as a Canine

Specialist, and is a Certified Pet Tech

Pet First Aid, CPR and Care Instructor.

Along with her associate; Beth Cristiano

CCS, PTI, they have taught pet

professionals pet first aid locally, at

regional grooming schools and nationally

at pet industry conventions.

Mary conducts training at the Pawsitive

Educational Training web site with online

seminars for pet professionals. She

maintains a GroomWise blog, Pet First

Aid & Care.

Web:

http://www.pawsitivelypretty.com

Web:

http://www.PawsitiveEducationalTraining.com

Blog:

http://groomwise.typepad.com/pet_first_aid_care/

Ears 1. Rinse the wound. I have both sterile eyewash and a Chlorohexidine rinse in my

first aid kit to rinse injuries. I do not use a blood--clotting agent, as it is not sterile.

Nor do I use surgical glue. Used improperly, it has the potential to trap bacteria in

the wound. In addition, do not use alcohol, it stings and causes damage to

sensitive tissue. Also, no hydrogen peroxide. It degrades surrounding tissue.

2. Place a piece of sterile gauze over the wound and apply pressure. Direct pressure

may stop the bleeding. You can apply antibiotic cream on the gauze.

3. Position the ear along side of the head. With a roll of gauze, wrap the ear to the

head. It should be rolled as the roll rests on the head, always keeping contact with

the head. That way it will not be too tight or too loose. Continued on next page



4. Secure the ear with vet wrap or a Happy Hoodie™. You want to restrict movement

of the ear. If the pet shakes its head with unrestrained ears, any clotting will be

undone.

5. Transport pet to vet.

Eyes

Next are the dreaded eye injuries.

Injured eyes have a short shelf life for full

recovery. It is a better utilization of your

time to get to your vet ASAP. The two

things you can do are flush the eyes with

sterile eyewash and put an e-collar on

the pet to prevent further injury.

Pads

And then there are the pad injuries. If the

injury to the pad is due to an ingrown

nail, use caution if you decide to remove

it. It may bleed profusely and will be very

painful. This pet may bite. More likely, an

injury will be due to a sliced pad.




Inform the owners of any injuries, no matter how minor they seem to you. I have never lost a client due to an injury. You will lose that

client if they find out later their pet was injured. Call the veterinarian before you transport to give them time to prepare for you and

bring the pet’s file that includes a signed veterinarian release. Without a signed release, the vet may not be able to treat.

You can’t always prevent an accident, but you can always be prepared for those days when, like a washing machine, things spin out

of control. ▲

1. Flush the injury with either sterile eyewash or

wound rinse. Both of which should be in your

first aid kit.

2. Apply sterile gauze to the wound and apply

direct pressure. You can apply antibiotic cream

to the gauze.

3. Wrap the foot with rolled gauze. As with the ear

injury, roll the gauze as it rests on the foot,

always keep the roll in contact with the foot.

4. Wrap cotton roll over the gauze. This also will

cushion the sore pad.

5. Use vet wrap to secure the gauze in place and

keep it dry.

6. Keep the weight off of the injured paw and

transport to vet.


D O L L A R S A N D S E N S E

These days, precious dollars are harder

to come by. Some salons are

experiencing reduced client service

requests while others are noticing a drop

-off in the frequency of visits. But there is

a way to boost salon revenue through a

valuable source of extra revenue hidden

in salons.

With a little effort, thousands of dollars of

additional income can be generated to

reduce overhead and increase income.

Tapping into these extra sources and

reaping its rewards means more income

for salon owners to provide attractive

salaries and benefits to staff, for

spending on new tools, and to pocket

plain old profit.

The hidden sources of revenues lie in

healthcare “add-ons” which are added

services and products that both produce

excellent ROIs (return on investment of

time or money) and enhance the

groomer’s role of protecting the health

and well-being of pets. And it begins with

groomers who see and capture the

opportunities.

Groomers: Source of Expert

Pet Care Advice

Because groomers see their clients’ pets

more often than veterinarians do in any

given year, pet parents often rely on their

groomers as expert sources of advice on

the health conditions of their pets. Most

groomers are frequently asked about the

pets’ bad breath, scratching, skin and ear

conditions, gums and teeth, nutrition, and

general health care. A conscientious and

knowledgeable groomer will also alert

the client to the pet’s emerging and

potentially serious health conditions.

Even better, they will have salon services

and products at hand to recommend for

in-salon and take-home care.

The Question is: How to

Maximize the Salon’s Revenue

Stream?

When translating a careful plan into

action, developing new and expanded

salon healthcare revenue can be

accomplished with these easy steps:

Evaluate common health concerns,

select related services and products.

First, list the common client questions

and frequent pet health problems that

occur in grooming sessions during the

year. Some of these may be due to the

salon’s region: seasonal allergies, insect

bites, vegetation, and weather while

others are universally year-round: bad

breath, deteriorating gums, skin

irritations, and ear infections. Then,

evaluate and select specific services and

products that are only available to pet

professionals. This exclusivity cements

the groomer’s position as a

knowledgeable source. Look for

manufacturers/marketers’ support

materials which help the groomer

educate clients. Request samples and

order inexpensive starter kits to try out in

practice.

Take advantage of plentiful product

support.

Many pet product manufacturers/

marketers offer groomer and client

education support materials, such as

posters and brochures; advertising

templates for local use; and websites for

in-depth information. For instance, one

marketer of a pet oral health cleansing

program offers, with a small initial

investment, a Starter Kit which includes:

Educational salon posters to display

in the reception and staff areas.

Counter-top teaching displays to

help the groomer educate the client

about the cleansing treatment.

Training video on the oral cleansing

process.

Exam charts for the groomers’

records and for the clients’ to track

at-home progress.

Equipment to perform the cleansing

treatment.

Free client education product

brochures for the groomer to

distribute to clients.

Initial product.

Train the staff.

In staff meetings, heighten awareness of

the advantages of identifying pet health

problems and the salon’s offering of

service and product solutions.. Help

them become educated about the

specific services and products the salon

has and how to recommend them. One

marketer offers a staff training video of a

typical interaction between groomer and

client concerning an oral health service

and product recommendations.

Track increased revenues


Hidden Income

How to Boost Salon Revenue with Healthcare “Add-Ons”

by Bruce Muller


http://www.groomeroralcare.com/


D O L L A R S A N D S E N S E

Periodically, or at least once a month or

a quarter, track the sales of healthcare

add-on services and products to evaluate

which are selling and which are

producing the better profit margins. By

the end of six months, a clear picture will

emerge.

For example, within a few months, one

salon owner realized more than $11,000

additional revenue from add-on services

and product sales with an annualized

revenue stream of $29,000. With a 50

percent increase in product sales alone,

that figure jumps to $35,000. And that

doesn’t factor in the uncounted income

from the new referrals her grateful clients

generated.

The Added Benefit of

Healthcare Add-Ons

Increased income from the addition of

healthcare services and products

produces more benefits. By offering

valuable services and products that solve

pet health problems, the salon increases

its esteem in the clients’ eyes and, better

yet, they become the source of

invaluable word of mouth advertising,

generating new clients for both bathing

and grooming and these additional

services and products in protecting pet

health.

In adding health-related salon services

and products, groomers help clients

solve immediate pet health problems,

avoid their recurrence, and head off

potentially much more serious, and

expensive to treat, conditions.

In this way, groomers become educators

and sources of solutions for their clients,

much to their immense relief and their

enthusiastic endorsement of the salon to

all who love pets. ▲

Bruce Muller is Director of Pet Products

at SmartHealth, Inc.

Web: www.smarthealth.com

(Continued from page 42)

Get Well SoonGet Well Soon

Happy BirthdayHappy Birthday

Pet SympathyPet Sympathy

Artwork to Make Your Own Specialty Cards Now you can use a set of 4 JPG pictures (shown above) to make 3 specialty

cards for your private use with your clients. Use your illustration computer

program to add color to them, or use as-is. Add your own message, we

provide artwork only. They can be used with any publishing program, such

as Microsoft Word, Publisher or compatibles, which allows you to insert

custom JPG art. Originally illustrated in the book From Problems to

Profits, we are releasing these files for the first time on a very special CD,

Business Forms and Appointment Books, a Grooming Business in a

Box® publication. For more product information refer to our web site.

www.GroomingBusinessinaBox.com


http://www.groomeroralcare.com/

www.bestshot.com

http://www.bestshot.com/

http://www.dogdryer.com/

http://www.storevantage.com/

http://www.nationalcatgroomers.com/

C O M P E T I T I O N S P H O T O G A L L E R Y

Division A Division B

NDGAA’s Fun in the Sun Contest Results 2011

C O M P E T I T I O N S P H O T O G A L L E R Y

Division C Liz Paul “Best Scissored Poodle”

Governor Insurance Career Start Contest

Contest Held on October 28-30, 2011

Omni Orlando Resort, Championsgate, FL

For more information about NDGAA and

upcoming events, see www.ndgaa.com.

National Dog Groomers Assn. of America, Inc.



careers knowing alternate ways to view

their compensation and work

performance.

The illustration on page 17 labeled “3-6”

is from Pet Groomer Wage Systems, a

new Grooming Business in a Box CD

(March 2012). Using the simple formula

provided in the illustration any

commission groomer can calculate their

“Effective Earnings Hourly Wage Rate,”

or simply, equivalent hourly rate.

The commission paid groomer featured

in the illustration was paid $2,420.75 in

gross wages (before taxes) for three

weeks of work requiring 113.4 work

hours. Had the groomer been paid by an

hourly wage of $21.34 instead of

commission the groomer would have

earned precisely the same gross wages.

We’ve studied the payroll records of

thousands of groomers paid by

commission. Using this formula and

extensive payroll histories we were able


Pet Groomers Are Overpaid

to calculate an equivalent hourly wage

rate for every groomer studied. Indeed

some workdays they earned a higher

hourly rate, and other days lower.

However, the longer the period of data

studied the more accurate the hourly

wage rate while at the same employer.

When an employer raises grooming fees,

the commission groomer earns more.

Employers should expect the equivalent

hourly wage rate for commission

groomers to likewise increase.

Commission groomers can be intrigued

to learn their Effective Earnings Hourly

Wage Rate. It’s actually easier for them

to budget earnings. For example, if they

are offered eight hours more work

weekly, they can quickly multiply eight

times their equivalent hourly wage and

instantly have a rough idea of the extra

earnings potential in dollars. With

commission there are too many variables

for an instant projection, such as the

types of grooming assignments and

unknown grooming fees. When creating

a fair and equal salary offer for a

commission groomer the Effective

Earnings Hourly Wage Rate is critical.

We’ve done hundreds of successful

conversions from commission to salaries.

We explain the process to employees

until they know how the offer is fair and

based on actual records of their

performances. It’s a great basis for

introducing salaries.

Pet groomer employees are not overpaid

in the common understanding of that

statement. If there is one exception it

would be employers paying 70% to 75%

commission to employees. Once you add

employer taxes and overhead, indeed

the owners are actually losing money on

every groom. Ironically we’ve seen this

scenario several times and it was time

for owners to learn how to crunch payroll

numbers. Now let’s move on to the more

ugly use of the statement, “Pet groomers

are overpaid!” It often originates from

frustrated employers “trying to make a

living” as a grooming business owner. It

seems none of their employees


2011 Survey of 502 Pet Groomers

Source: Grooming Business in a Box®




Many groomers don’t understand why employers can

be hesitant about a 5% commission raise.






Quality Versus Quantity

understand their plight. Our phone has

rung on many occasions with anguished

employers that simply couldn’t find a way

to make a profit in grooming while their

employed groomers were making

$25,000 to $70,000 a year.

It is true that many employees simply

don’t understand the financial challenges

of being a grooming employer. Unless

they have been a grooming employer

why would they? Should they have to?

No. The financial challenges are real,

and not always a sign of ineffective or

poor management. Most service

industries keep payroll costs under 40%

but in grooming 50% to 60% is common.

It’s frustrating for the management of

staffed grooming businesses.

The illustration on page 51 labeled “3-3”

is from Pet Groomer Wage Systems, a

new Grooming Business in a Box CD

(March 2012). It’s just one of many

examples of why employers or hired

managers develop a distorted viewpoint

of pet groomer wages. In this illustrated

case, the brash employer feels like

screaming at employees, “Your 50%

commission is not the same as my 50%

commission share. You take home

$253.26 from your share, and my take

home share is only $53.04!” Owners call

us and vent this frustration. They wonder

why employees don’t understand their

plight. It’s all quite dramatic.

If the owner is willing to put aside their

anguish and attitudes toward the entire

situation, especially their employees, we

might accept them as consultation

clients. Otherwise we refer them to our

publications for help. There are proven

ways for employers to earn a profit

without lowering wage levels a single

penny. In the meantime, until they get

the knowledge and apply it, there are

employers continuing to spread the myth

or misunderstanding that pet groomers

are overpaid.

Unfortunately several thousand

employers have taken another path. It’s

a dangerous, even destructive, path.

(Continued from page 52) They misclassify pet groomers as

independent contractors.

Pet Groomers are

Independent Contractors

In the October/December 2011 issue of

eGroomer Journal we explained how

state government are stepping up to stop

the rising incidences of employers

misclassifying independent contractors.

It is possible for a pet groomer to be

legally classified as an independent

contractor in compliance with both state

and federal guidelines. It just happens to

be very rare. However, it doesn’t seem

that way when you read job offers stating

you will be an independent contractor,

yet act more like an employee. We are

not going to go into the sordid details of

the laws and actions taking place against

employer misclassification. This time we

want to remind employees to be careful.

Employees can become victims of

employers when they blindly accept

classification as an independent

contractor. If you are an employed

groomer, or a groomer wannabe, keep

these warnings in mind during your job

searches. Both employees and

employers must be compliant with

employment law. Your employer’s choice

to hire you as either an employee or

independent contractor is reliant on the

employer meeting both federal and state

guidelines. The employer’s choice does

not override compliance. There are

employers that truly don’t know better.

Employers can sound very confident

when they offer independent contractor

positions. Never assume they are

correct or compliant. Verify. Your well-

being is at stake. It’s that important. If

you are not offered a written I.C.

employment contract stating the working

relationship in detail with evidence of

why you are an I.C., something is

probably wrong. You are working at risk.

If you get a written contract, verify the

employment status as correct with your

own legal counsel. Does that scare you?

Never hired an attorney? Remember as

an “I.C.” you are self-employed, and all

self-employed people rely occasionally

on professionals such as attorneys. It’s

far easier to mature into working with

professionals than face the IRS claiming

you did file your taxes correctly as a self-

employed person. Penalties and fines

can quickly reach thousands of dollars.

The first rule of thumb says most pet

groomers are not independent

contractors. The second rule of thumb is

to have an I.C. contract if you go that

route. You can research contract writing

software for I.C.’s at www.nolo.com.

One of the biggest misunderstandings in

the pet grooming industry is the term,

“Quality Versus Quantity.” Because it is

used in so many ways it is becoming

meaningless, and argumentative.

When used correctly it can describe a

business or employer whose standards

of operation put artistic styling, and even

the safety of people and pets at risk.

However these instances are not

common, and usually short lived. We

may open a can of worms but let’s look a

the more questionable uses.

Job candidates sometimes use the term

to imply they are seeking a business

where they can work at their own pace.

Why not just say that? They may feel

they are slow by comparison to other

groomers. That’s OK. They cannot go


“There is no conclusive

evidence that the amount

of time spent on a

grooming ensures

quality. In fact, at some

point taking too much

time can stress pets, and

delay what all pets really

want, to be reunited with

their owners.”




Most groomers working as Independent Contractors

are actually misclassified. It’s time to wake-up!





wrong by simply stating their honest

productivity levels and the desire to work

at a casual pace they propose. There are

employers facing the chronic shortage of

pet groomers and willing to work with

them at their pace. There is no need to

criticize others that favor reasonable

productivity in return for best wages.

There is no conclusive evidence that the

amount of time spent on a grooming

ensures quality. In fact, at some point

taking too much time can stress pets,

and delay what all pets really want, to be

reunited with their owners.

Some people use quality versus quantity

in snide manner. In fact, this use is

becoming more common. It’s not only

rude but sometimes 100% inaccurate, as

most snide remarks and generalizations

are. When used this way the source is

usually barking about medium-sized or

large salons. For some reason, they

believe a business that serves 20, 40 or

more pets a day can only be done by

putting quantity before quality. It can be

so harsh they make it sound as if the

business is abusing quality, people and

pets, yet somehow these businesses

built up this tremendous pet owner

demand. It doesn’t make sense. We

don’t imply a large business cannot take

a turn for the worse and decline. It

happens. However, where is the

evidence supporting this stereotypical

generalization and to explain why many

groomers criticize large businesses for

not being purveyors of quality?

Maybe the critics don’t understand the

term “quality grooming.” What is quality?

Pet groomers charge for their time first

and foremost. Every quality groom does

have a minimum requirement in terms of

time, but doesn’t that vary by the skill of

the groomer? Quality is the level of skill

and expertise of the groomer. It’s also

their accommodation to return pets to

their owners in a reasonable time to

minimize separation anxiety. Quality is

also about safety, supervision, products

used, tools and equipment, customer



service and management. It’s quite a

large package, but somehow the biggest

naysayers focus on time, and the more

time spent the better the groom.

In the chart below we present the 2010

results of a study of 20 West Coast

grooming businesses. We compared

hands-on grooming time of one-person

businesses with staffed businesses

having at least 3 groomers and 4 bathers

and/or assistants. If “hands-on grooming

time” is a good measure of quality, then

the large businesses in this study are the

ultimate in quality. Most of the one-

person businesses did little or no hands-

on drying, whereas the larger businesses

used no cage dryers and every pet was

attended during its drying time.

At this point in an article about myths and

misunderstandings we conclude that the

adages about quality versus quantity are

often meaningless, and even prejudicial.

We need as a body of professionals to

stop dividing ourselves with diatribe and

work toward agreed upon standards as a

profession. Let’s move on to less

controversial points of view addressing

the chronic shortage of skilled groomers.

You Can’t Do Anything About the

Shortage of Skilled Groomers

In the early years of our business we too

felt at times there were no solutions for

finding an adequate supply of skilled

groomers and bathers. It’s a common

misunderstanding to accept there are no

solutions. They exist albeit limited.

Besides working with schools whose

graduates need appropriate jobs suited

to their limited productivity and need for

continuing education, you can learn to

provide on-the-job training. We didn’t

create The Madson Management

System in From Problems to Profits to

establish on-the-job training, but it works.

You can embellish our system with the

details of your training from prepper to

bather, bather to assistant, and assistant

to full-charge groomer. Create a career

path in your business and always have a

supply of groomers coming up through

your ranks. It’s being done perfectly by

some of our consultation clients today.

You might find that your employees





Take on the shortage of skilled groomers in part with

on-the-job training. Start with your career path.






extend their employment confident that

their employer offers more opportunities.

(Continued from page 56) Every groomer was “slow and/or

learning” at some point in their career.

Owners need to fairly quantify what is

slow and fast, and with the directive that

you cannot count any groom as

accomplished if it does not meet

standards for quality and safety. Once

the quantitative standards are known

productivity standards should be

published in job descriptions, job

agreements and employee handbooks.

If you own a copy of From Problems to

Profits refer to the sample job

descriptions and employment contracts.

We left blanks for business owners to

insert realistic quantities such as average

number of baths or grooms expected.

Work with each employee on an

individual basis and customize their

performance expectations realistically to

their abilities in the art of grooming, as

well as any age or physical limitations

they may have. Every six to twelve

months revaluate their performances,

update their job descriptions and

agreements and possibly reconsider their

compensation package.

Setting fair productivity standards is not

difficult with the cooperation of the staff.

Provide them with a form each workday

for at least one or two weeks. Have them

track the time spent on each grooming

assignment and ensure every service

meets your quality standards. Refer to

samples of these forms in the

illustrations on pages 57 and 58.

Having the staff take part in the process

means they will trust the data all the

more. It’s not your guess, or theirs, they

are providing the actual time

measurements under your supervision. It

is far more likely that everyone will

concur that your productivity standards

are fair. Better yet, you have eliminated

another potential misunderstanding.

In conclusion we salute grooming

business owners and groomers that

never take our industry’s myths and

misunderstandings at face value. It’s how

we went from problems to profits in pet

grooming, and everyone else can too.

▲

Fair Productivity Expectations

If a grooming business owner has never

been a groomer they may not really

understand the subtle nature of setting

realistic productivity standards. In fact,

they may only have one productivity

standard for all pet groomers, and that

won’t work in larger operations. The

same productivity standard doesn’t fit

every groomer and encourages stress.

Employees should not fear productivity

standards. We suggest three realistic

levels of grooming performance for pet

groomers. There is 1) entry-level, 2) mid-

level and 3) a top level that implies

mastery of the position. Why is this

important? To ensure fair compensation

of groomers. A pet groomer capable of

doing four pets start-to-finish in 8 hours

should earn less than a top level pet

groomer capable of doing seven to eight

in the same time.




Create Fair Productivity Standards

Conduct Surveys to Ensure Realistic Expectations




eGroomer Journal Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved 61

Grooming Prices: Steady As She Goes

World’s Largest Grooming Surveys at PetGroomer.com

S U R V E Y S

We begin with big kudos to over 6,200

groomers in three countries. In 2011,

they took the time to complete surveys

at PetGroomer.com making it possible

to share the results shown here with

readers and web visitors worldwide. We

hope we can count on everyone to take

our surveys starting again in March

2012 at PetGroomer.com.

In 2011 grooming prices pretty much

held steady with some modest

increases. Groomers in salons and

shops reported an overall average

grooming fee in the U.S. increased

from $44.00 in 2010 to $44.50 in 2011,

an increase of only fifty cents.

Mobile groomers were more likely to

raise prices with their average

grooming fee increasing from $61.25 in

2010 to $63.25, an increase four times

more than the increase by salon and

shop owners.

In-home house call groomers reported

the boldest increase in average

grooming fees. Their average overall

fee increased from $47.00 in 2010 to

$49.75 in 2011, or $2.75 per grooming

service.

Price increases tended to be greater for

specialty grooming services. The most

popular were formal show grooming

and hand stripping. Apparently these

groomers had more confidence in

raising prices. Mobile groomers offering

these services tended to hold their

2010 price levels, but shop and salon

owners in the US raised their specialty

grooming services in an average range

of $3.75 to $7.50 per service.

Approximately 300 groomers reported

their 2011 pricing was based on

charging by the hour. In 2010 their

numbers were more than 550, a

significant decline. Ironically their 2011

average hourly rate for grooming held

precisely at the 2010 level of $37.75.

Although not a markedly distinct

indication, pet groomers tended to

increase the price of bath-only services

more than complete grooming services.

Breeds such as Labradors and Old

English Sheepdogs saw increases of

$3.00 to $3.50 in shops and salons, or

5% to 8%. However, mobile groomers

held their prices steady for those

breeds groomed as bath-only pets.

Groomers in Canada and Australia

followed the overall US trend holding

their prices pretty much steady with

modest increases.

When asked about their intent for 2012

a majority of 68% said they expected to

raise prices. While some reported

expectations to increase prices by 10%,

the average was 5% to 7%. Mobile

groomers led the way with 70% saying

they would be raising prices, while 54%

of salon and shop owners intended to

definitely raise prices in 2012.

A small majority, 52% of all groomers

surveyed, expected that at least one-

half of their clientele might cut back on

having their pets groomed by one

appointment per year. However, more

than 70% said they were still getting

new customers in numbers similar to

2010. Not bad in a struggling economy.

Detailed results begin on next page. ▲

Price Trends 2011

Prices generally held steady overall

If you raised prices you were more likely to be a mobile groomer, or even more likely an in-home “house call” pet groomer.

Specialty services such as hand stripping and formal show styling generally showed the greatest price increases, but even then, the increases were modest.

The number of groomers basing their prices by charging by the hour declined.

Generally price increases affected bath-only services more than complete grooming services, but not by much.


BREED / SERVICE TYPE

NON-MOBILE GROOMING RESULTS MOBILE GROOMING RESULTS

2010 2011 Change

2010/2011 2010 2011

Change

2010/2011

Overall Avg. Grooming Fee 44.00 44.50 .50 61.25 63.25 2.00

Bichon Frise (Complete**) 46.00 47.00 1.00 66.75 68.50 1.75

Bichon Frise (Bath-Only***) 32.75 33.50 .75 51.25 52.00 .75

Min Poodle (Complete/No Pattern) 45.50 46.00 .50 64.25 65.25 1.00

Min Poodle (Complete Pattern) 52.75 52.50 -.25 71.25 72.00 .75

Min Poodle (Bath-Only) 32.25 33.00 .75 51.50 52.75 1.25

Std Poodle (Complete/No Pattern) 68.75 69.00 .25 93.75 95.75 2.00

Std Poodle (Complete Pattern) 83.00 84.25 1.25 103.50 106.75 3.25

Std Poodle (Bath-Only) 47.50 48.50 1.00 68.25 68.25 .00

Cocker Spaniel (Complete) 48.50 48.50 .00 70.75 71.00 .25

Cocker Spaniel (Bath-only) 34.75 35.25 .50 59.50 60.50 1.00

Min. Schnauzer (Complete) 42.75 43.00 .25 60.25 62.50 2.25

Min. Schnauzer (Bath-Only) 30.50 30.50 .00 49.00 53.50 4.50

Std. Schnauzer (Complete) 54.50 57.50 3.00 76.50 79.50 3.00

Std. Schnauzer (Bath-Only) 39.25 40.00 .75 62.75 62.75 .00

Golden Retriever (Complete) 58.50 59.50 1.00 88.50 88.50 .00

Golden Retriever (Bath-Only) 45.25 47.25 2.00 71.00 73.00 2.00

Shih Tzu (Complete) 42.75 43.25 .50 61.00 63.25 2.25

Shih Tzu (Bath-Only) 30.50 30.75 .25 51.00 54.50 3.50

Sheltie (Bath-Only) 42.25 43.25 1.00 61.50 64.50 3.00

Beagle (Bath-Only) 29.75 31.00 1.25 48.75 51.25 2.50

Labrador (Bath-Only) 40.50 43.50 3.00 62.50 63.50 1.00

Old English Shp. (Bath-Only) 63.00 66.25 3.25 92.50 93.50 1.00

German Shepherd (Bath-Only) 48.50 50.25 1.75 71.50 71.50 .00

Great Pyrenees (Bath-Only) 69.75 72.25 2.50 109.50 104.25 -5.25

Hand Strip Medium Terrier 66.00 71.50 5.50 88.75 90.50 1.75

Hand Strip Large Terrier 84.75 88.50 3.75 122.50 119.25 -3.25

Formal Show Min. Poodle 65.00 70.00 5.00 130.00 133.75 3.75

Formal Show Std. Poodle 120.25 127.75 7.50 178.25 184.00 5.75

Avg. Dematting Fee 12.50 11.50 -1.00 10.00 10.50 .50

Vet Bath Treatments Add-on 3.25 4.00 .75 12.50 11.00 -1.50

Avg. Nails Only Fee 9.00 9.25 .25 18.50 17.50 -1.00

Hourly Grooming Rate 37.75 37.75 .00 65.00 66.50 1.50

* Fees shown were averaged by combining responses by survey year.

** “Complete” Grooming service includes bath, style, ears, nails, not matted.

*** “Bath-Only” Grooming service includes bath, ears, nails, not matted.

All prices are US Dollars and rounded to the nearest 25 cents.

S U R V E Y S

U.S. GROOMING PRICES 2010 - 2011 COMPARISON*

All 50 U.S. States Combined - Take a Survey www.petgroomer.com/surveys.htm


2011 Grooming Prices Survey Results by Region of the United States In 2011 more than 6,200 surveys were completed at the PetGroomer.com Survey Center operating since 1997. If you are a business

owner please take a survey there today. To ensure more accurate results we separated mobile grooming prices from prices for non-

mobile, including stationary salons and shops, departments and groomers operating from their home-based businesses. Three

regions continue to dominate the highest average grooming prices, 1) New England, 2) Middle Atlantic and 3) Pacific.

S U R V E Y S

BICHON FRISE Complete Grooming Service

Non-Mobile Results Mobile Only Results

2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 52.50 54.75 2.25 72.50 74.75 2.25

Middle Atlantic 55.00 55.75 .75 81.00 83.50 2.50

South Atlantic 50.00 51.00 1.00 72.50 74.00 1.50

East South Central 37.00 36.00 -1.00 54.50 56.75 2.25

West South Central 45.00 45.50 .50 56.00 58.00 2.00

East North Central 38.75 37.75 -1.00 61.00 62.75 1.75

West North Central 35.75 36.75 1.00 53.50 55.50 2.00

Mountain 48.00 50.50 2.50 69.00 68.00 -1.00

Pacific 52.00 54.75 2.75 79.25 82.00 2.75

US Average 46.00 47.00 1.00 66.75 68.50 1.75

BICHON FRISE Bath-Only Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 34.25 37.00 2.75 60.00 61.00 1.00

Middle Atlantic 38.50 40.00 1.50 62.00 63.25 1.25

South Atlantic 31.75 33.25 1.50 56.00 55.00 -1.00

East South Central 29.50 29.00 -.50 44.00 44.75 .75

West South Central 30.25 29.75 -.50 42.00 42.50 .50

East North Central 28.00 28.25 .25 44.50 45.25 .75

West North Central 28.50 28.50 .00 41.75 41.25 -.50

Mountain 35.00 34.00 -1.00 52.25 52.50 .25

Pacific 39.00 42.00 3.00 61.00 62.00 1.00

US Average 32.75 33.50 .75 51.25 52.00 .75

OVERALL AVG GROOM FEE Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 48.00 48.50 .50 68.00 70.00 2.00

Middle Atlantic 50.00 51.00 1.00 75.00 76.75 1.75

South Atlantic 46.50 47.25 .75 67.00 69.50 2.50

East South Central 42.25 42.00 -.25 48.00 49.50 1.50

West South Central 38.00 39.00 1.00 54.00 55.75 1.75

East North Central 38.25 38.75 .50 55.25 56.00 .75

West North Central 37.75 38.00 .25 46.00 47.50 1.50

Mountain 44.00 43.50 -.50 64.50 67.75 3.25

Pacific 52.00 53.25 1.25 73.00 76.75 3.75

US Average 44.00 44.50 .50 61.25 63.25 2.00

http://www.petgroomer.com/surveys.htm


Results represent averages of actual prices both above and below the averages shown here. The higher or lower amounts could be as much as $10 to $30, and sometimes higher for large pets and specialty services such as show grooming and hand stripping.

Your prices are likely to vary from those shown here.

S U R V E Y S

MIN. POODLE (no pattern) Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 49.00 50.25 1.25 71.00 72.50 1.50

Middle Atlantic 51.75 50.50 -1.25 80.25 81.00 .75

South Atlantic 49.25 49.00 -.25 69.25 71.75 1.50

East South Central 38.00 39.50 1.50 50.00 49.50 -.50

West South Central 43.25 44.00 .75 55.00 54.25 -.75

East North Central 39.75 39.00 -.75 58.00 58.50 .50


Mountain 48.50 48.75 .25 62.75 63.50 .75

Pacific 57.75 59.00 1.25 82.00 84.50 2.50

US Average 45.50 46.00 .50 64.25 65.25 1.00

MIN. POODLE (pattern) Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 36.00 37.50 1.50 58.50 60.00 1.50

Middle Atlantic 40.50 41.00 .50 63.25 65.00 1.75

South Atlantic 33.00 35.50 2.50 53.75 54.50 .75



East North Central 26.25 27.50 1.25 45.00 46.25 1.25

West North Central 26.00 25.25 -.75 39.75 40.25 .50

Mountain 31.00 33.50 2.50 52.50 53.50 1.00

Pacific 41.00 40.00 -1.00 64.00 65.25 1.25

US Average 32.25 33.00 .75 51.50 52.75 1.25

MIN. POODLE (pattern)Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 60.25 60.50 .25 79.00 79.25 .25

Middle Atlantic 66.25 65.75 -.50 83.25 85.25 2.00

South Atlantic 58.50 60.00 1.50 79.00 79.50 .50

East South Central 44.00 44.50 .50 61.00 63.00 2.00

West South Central 41.50 41.00 -.50 62.00 63.50 1.50


West North Central 42.00 41.00 -1.00 55.25 58.25 3.00

Mountain 52.50 53.00 .50 71.75 70.00 -1.75

Pacific 62.00 63.50 1.50 89.50 89.25 -.25

US Average 52.75 52.50 -.25 71.25 72.00 .75



S U R V E Y S

STD. POODLE No Pattern Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 76.00 77.00 1.00 107.75 109.25 1.50

Middle Atlantic 84.50 85.25 .75 113.25 116.00 2.75

South Atlantic 77.00 78.00 1.00 102.50 101.75 -.75

East South Central 55.75 55.00 -.75 72.75 73.50 .75

West South Central 56.00 55.75 -.25 83.00 85.75 2.75

East North Central 66.50 67.00 .50 81.00 85.50 4.50


Mountain 70.25 68.75 -.50 97.00 98.25 1.25

Pacific 77.00 77.50 .50 111.00 113.00 2.00

US Average 68.75 69.00 .25 93.75 95.75 2.00

STD. POODLE Pattern Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 96.50 96.75 .25 115.00 121.50 6.50

Middle Atlantic 93.50 95.00 1.50 135.00 136.25 1.25

South Atlantic 92.75 101.00 8.25 115.75 117.00 1.25



East North Central 81.00 80.25 -.75 102.50 106.50 4.00


Mountain 89.50 86.25 -3.25 99.00 102.00 3.00

Pacific 97.00 98.50 1.50 117.75 118.75 1.00

US Average 83.00 84.25 1.25 103.50 106.75 3.25

STD. POODLE Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 52.00 59.50 7.50 81.00 80.00 -1.00

Middle Atlantic 56.00 57.50 1.50 80.00 80.00 .00

South Atlantic 51.75 52.00 .25 77.25 78.75 1.50

East South Central 41.75 42.25 .50 52.50 53.00 .50

West South Central 42.50 41.75 -.75 58.00 57.50 -.50

East North Central 41.00 40.00 -1.00 63.50 63.25 -.25


Mountain 46.25 47.75 1.50 70.00 70.25 .25

Pacific 58.00 57.00 -1.00 86.00 83.50 -2.50

US Average 47.50 48.50 1.00 68.25 68.25 .00

New England: CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT Middle Atlantic: NJ, NY, PA South Atlantic: DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV East South Central: AL, KY, MS, TN West South Central: AR, LA, OK, TX East North Central: IL, IN, MI, OH, WI West North Central: IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD Mountain: AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY Pacific: AK, CA, HI, OR, WA

Complete Grooming Service: Fee includes bathy, style, ears, nails, not matted. Results rounded to nearest quarter in US dollars.




S U R V E Y S

COCKER SPANIEL Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 38.50 39.00 .50 67.00 69.00 2.00

Middle Atlantic 42.00 42.50 .50 73.00 72.00 -1.00

South Atlantic 33.75 33.50 -.25 61.50 63.00 1.50



East North Central 31.00 32.50 1.50 53.75 52.00 -1.75

West North Central 29.75 30.00 .25 48.00 47.00 -1.00

Mountain 36.50 37.00 .50 60.00 61.25 1.25

Pacific 40.00 41.25 1.25 74.00 72.50 -1.50

US Average 34.75 35.25 .50 59.50 60.50 1.00

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 48.00 50.25 2.25 66.00 69.25 3.25

Middle Atlantic 50.25 51.00 .75 71.00 73.50 2.50

South Atlantic 50.75 50.00 -.75 64.00 69.00 5.00

East South Central 34.50 32.75 -1.75 47.50 45.75 -1.75

West South Central 35.50 36.00 .50 55.25 56.00 .75



Mountain 41.50 42.00 .50 62.50 66.00 3.50

Pacific 52.00 54.00 2.00 72.50 78.00 5.50

US Average 42.75 43.00 .25 60.25 62.50 2.25

COCKER SPANIEL Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 52.00 53.00 1.00 81.50 83.00 1.50

Middle Atlantic 55.75 56.00 .25 86.25 85.25 -1.00

South Atlantic 53.00 50.25 -2.75 75.00 73.75 -1.25

East South Central 41.75 43.00 1.25 59.00 60.25 1.25


East North Central 43.00 42.50 -.50 62.75 62.00 -.75


Mountain 48.75 45.25 -3.50 72.25 71.00 -1.25

Pacific 63.00 64.00 1.00 84.00 85.25 1.25

US Average 48.50 48.50 .00 70.75 71.00 .25



S U R V E Y S

MIN. SCHNAUZER Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 20110 Change

New England 35.75 35.00 -.75 56.50 59.00 2.50

Middle Atlantic 35.25 36.25 1.00 60.50 64.25 3.75

South Atlantic 35.00 34.75 -.25 55.00 59.00 4.00


West South Central 26.25 24.75 -1.50 40.00 47.25 7.25



Mountain 30.00 29.50 -.50 49.00 51.00 2.00

Pacific 35.00 36.00 1.00 56.50 60.00 3.50

US Average 30.50 30.50 .00 49.00 53.50 4.50

STANDARD SCHNAUZER Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 60.50 64.00 3.50 85.50 88.00 2.50

Middle Atlantic 63.25 66.50 3.25 91.00 92.50 1.50

South Atlantic 62.00 67.00 5.00 86.00 90.00 4.00





Mountain 56.50 60.25 3.75 76.00 78.25 2.25

Pacific 67.00 69.50 2.50 95.50 98.75 3.25

US Average 54.50 57.50 3.00 76.50 79.50 3.00

STANDARD SCHNAUZER Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 44.00 45.50 1.50 71.00 72.25 1.25

Middle Atlantic 44.50 45.50 1.00 77.00 72.00 -5.00

South Atlantic 43.75 45.00 1.25 70.00 71.25 1.25

East South Central 33.00 36.00 3.00 49.50 48.00 -1.50


East North Central 35.00 32.50 -2.50 47.25 47.00 -.25

West North Central 31.00 30.00 -1.00 56.00 55.00 -1.00

Mountain 41.50 41.50 .00 61.75 62.00 .25

Pacific 46.25 47.00 .75 79.25 78.50 -.75

US Average 39.25 40.00 .75 62.75 62.75 .00






S U R V E Y S

GOLDEN RETRIEVER Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 52.50 52.50 .00 78.00 79.00 1.00

Middle Atlantic 56.25 58.00 1.75 85.00 82.75 -2.25

South Atlantic 52.50 58.50 6.00 79.00 77.00 -2.00





Mountain 45.25 42.75 -2.50 72.00 73.00 1.00

Pacific 50.75 50.50 -.25 86.00 85.50 -.50

US Average 45.25 47.25 2.00 71.00 73.00 2.00

SHIH TZU Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 49.50 49.00 -.50 67.00 67.00 .00

Middle Atlantic 51.75 52.00 .25 73.00 76.25 3.25

South Atlantic 51.25 52.25 1.00 67.00 69.00 2.00




West North Central 32.25 31.75 -.50 47.25 49.50 2.25

Mountain 41.25 41.75 .50 61.75 63.00 1.25

Pacific 49.00 48.75 -.25 73.75 78.00 4.25

US Average 42.75 43.25 .50 61.00 63.25 2.25

GOLDEN RETRIEVER Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 66.75 67.50 .75 101.00 99.50 -1.50

Middle Atlantic 65.50 66.00 .50 106.00 104.00 -2.00

South Atlantic 66.25 69.00 2.75 99.00 95.00 -4.00



East North Central 52.75 54.00 1.25 79.00 79.50 .50


Mountain 56.00 57.25 1.25 86.25 87.00 .75

Pacific 74.00 72.50 -1.50 104.00 102.50 -1.50

US Average 58.50 59.50 1.00 88.50 88.50 .00



S U R V E Y S

SHIH TZU Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 33.00 33.50 .50 57.00 61.00 4.00

Middle Atlantic 35.75 36.00 .25 61.00 62.50 1.50

South Atlantic 37.25 38.00 .75 56.50 59.50 3.00



East North Central 28.00 27.50 -.50 46.50 48.00 1.50


Mountain 29.00 27.50 -1.50 51.75 53.75 2.00

Pacific 39.50 38.75 -.75 62.50 64.50 2.00

US Average 30.50 30.75 .25 51.00 54.50 3.50

SHELTIE Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 47.75 48.00 .25 66.75 69.00 2.25

Middle Atlantic 48.50 49.00 .50 72.75 73.75 1.00

South Atlantic 46.00 48.50 2.50 75.00 78.25 3.25



East North Central 37.75 38.25 .50 56.00 55.75 -.25


Mountain 42.75 43.00 .25 62.00 64.25 2.25

Pacific 49.75 51.75 2.00 73.50 75.00 1.50

US Average 42.25 43.25 1.00 61.50 64.50 3.00

BEAGLE Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 32.00 33.00 1.00 50.75 52.00 1.25

Middle Atlantic 31.75 33.25 1.50 59.50 60.00 .50

South Atlantic 34.00 35.00 1.00 55.75 58.00 2.25





Mountain 29.25 29.00 -.25 48.00 49.00 1.00

Pacific 36.00 37.75 1.75 60.50 64.00 3.50

US Average 29.75 31.00 1.25 48.75 51.25 2.50






S U R V E Y S

OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 69.75 72.00 2.25 102.00 102.50 .50

Middle Atlantic 74.00 77.75 3.75 107.50 109.00 1.50

South Atlantic 72.50 75.00 2.50 99.50 104.00 4.50





Mountain 64.00 64.00 .00 95.25 89.75 -5.50

Pacific 75.50 77.25 1.75 112.00 111.00 -1.00

US Average 63.00 66.25 3.25 92.50 93.50 1.00

GERMAN SHEPHERD Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 53.25 56.75 3.50 82.00 83.00 1.00

Middle Atlantic 58.00 59.00 1.00 85.00 81.25 -3.75

South Atlantic 57.50 59.25 1.75 77.75 77.50 -.25

East South Central 41.00 44.50 3.50 59.00 59.00 .00

West South Central 44.25 47.50 3.25 63.75 64.50 .75

East North Central 38.00 41.00 3.00 67.50 67.25 -.25


Mountain 47.25 45.75 -1.50 62.50 62.50 .00

Pacific 59.50 59.00 -.50 86.50 83.50 -3.00

US Average 48.50 50.25 1.75 71.50 71.50 .00

LABRADOR Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 46.00 48.50 2.50 70.25 72.50 2.25

Middle Atlantic 45.75 48.00 2.25 74.00 73.00 -1.00

South Atlantic 48.75 51.00 2.25 71.00 72.00 1.00


West South Central 34.00 38.75 4.75 51.50 52.25 .75



Mountain 40.00 40.00 .00 64.00 63.50 -.50

Pacific 47.50 49.50 2.00 75.50 74.50 -1.00

US Average 40.50 43.50 3.00 62.50 63.50 1.00



S U R V E Y S

GREAT PYRENEES Bath-Only Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 78.50 81.00 2.50 120.00 121.00 1.00

Middle Atlantic 81.00 82.50 1.50 125.00 122.50 -2.50

South Atlantic 80.25 80.50 .25 117.50 118.00 1.00





Mountain 69.50 72.50 3.00 102.50 102.25 -.25

Pacific 81.00 82.50 1.50 130.50 125.25 -5.25

US Average 69.75 72.25 2.50 109.50 104.25 -5.25

HANDSTRIP LG. TERRIER Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 98.75 100.75 2.00 129.00 128.75 -.25

Middle Atlantic 90.75 100.25 9.50 139.75 137.50 -2.25

South Atlantic 92.75 99.75 7.00 141.25 135.50 -5.75




West North Central 67.00 77.25 10.25 102.50 103.00 .50

Mountain 91.75 90.25 -1.50 125.50 110.75 -14.75

Pacific 100.00 98.50 -1.50 145.00 139.75 -5.25

US Average 84.75 88.50 3.75 122.50 119.25 -3.25



HANDSTRIP MED TERRIER Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 77.75 85.25 7.50 98.75 101.00 2.25

Middle Atlantic 88.25 90.00 1.75 99.25 102.25 3.00

South Atlantic 78.00 84.75 6.75 92.75 95.25 2.50





Mountain 60.50 64.50 4.00 92.00 91.75 -.25

Pacific 79.00 81.25 2.25 108.00 110.00 2.00

US Average 66.00 71.50 5.50 88.75 90.50 1.75




S U R V E Y S

DE-MATTING AVERAGE Non-Mobile Results Mobile Only Results

2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 12.00 12.00 .00 11.00 12.25 1.25

Middle Atlantic 12.25 12.00 -.25 12.00 11.75 -.25

South Atlantic 13.50 12.50 -1.00 11.00 10.75 -.25


West South Central 11.00 9.00 -2.00 9.00 11.25 2.25



Mountain 10.00 9.00 -1.00 7.50 8.00 .50

Pacific 20.00 17.00 -3.00 12.00 11.25 -.75

US Average 12.50 11.50 -1.00 10.00 10.50 .50

SHOW STD POODLE Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 144.00 151.00 7.00 143.75 160.00 16.25

Middle Atlantic 128.50 148.75 20.25 205.00 202.50 -2.50

South Atlantic 132.00 150.25 18.25 209.50 206.00 -3.50





Mountain 131.00 126.00 -5.00 181.00 190.00 9.00

Pacific 140.75 155.00 14.25 205.00 212.25 7.25

US Average 120.25 127.75 7.50 178.25 184.00 5.75

SHOW MIN POODLE Complete Grooming Service


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 71.00 75.25 4.25 143.75 144.00 .25

Middle Atlantic 81.00 80.50 -.50 151.25 148.00 -3.25

South Atlantic 72.00 76.25 4.25 141.25 136.75 -4.50





Mountain 64.50 66.50 2.00 130.00 128.50 -1.50

Pacific 82.00 87.50 5.50 148.00 165.00 17.00

US Average 65.00 70.00 5.00 130.50 133.75 3.25



S U R V E Y S

VET PRESCRIBED

TREATMENTS


2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 3.75 4.00 .25 12.00 10.00 -2.00

Middle Atlantic 3.00 4.25 1.25 12.75 11.50 -1.25

South Atlantic 3.75 5.00 1.25 12.75 12.75 .00


West South Central 2.75 4.00 1.25 12.00 9.50 -2.50



Mountain 3.25 4.25 1.00 13.75 10.25 -3.50

Pacific 5.00 4.00 -1.00 14.00 12.25 -1.75

US Average 3.25 4.00 .75 12.50 11.00 -1.50

NAILS ONLY Non-Mobile Results Mobile Only Results

2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 8.00 8.50 .50 18.25 20.00 1.75

Middle Atlantic 10.00 11.00 1.00 19.50 21.00 1.50

South Atlantic 10.00 10.00 .00 21.25 22.00 .75

East South Central 7.75 9.00 1.25 15.50 15.00 -.50

West South Central 10.00 9.25 -.75 16.75 17.25 .50

East North Central 8.50 8.00 -.50 14.75 15.50 .75


Mountain 7.75 8.00 .25 14.50 13.75 -.75

Pacific 10.00 9.50 -.50 25.00 15.75 -9.25

US Average 9.00 9.25 .25 18.50 17.50 -1.00

HOURLY RATE GROOMING Non-Mobile Results Mobile Only Results

2010 2011 Change 2010 2011 Change

New England 42.00 42.50 .50 77.00 78.50 1.50

Middle Atlantic 43.75 41.25 -2.50 71.00 72.00 1.00

South Atlantic 41.00 42.75 1.75 66.00 72.25 6.25




West North Central 33.25 36.00 2.75 47.00 44.75 -2.25

Mountain 37.00 38.00 1.00 68.00 67.75 -.25

Pacific 45.00 44.00 -1.00 75.00 74.75 -.25

US Average 37.75 37.75 .00 65.00 66.50 1.50




BREED / SERVICE TYPE 2010 2011 Change

Overall Avg. Grooming Fee 47.00 49.75 2.75

Bichon Frise (Complete**) 44.50 45.00 .50

Bichon Frise (Bath-Only***) 47.00 40.00 -7.00

Min Poodle (Complete/No Pattern) 38.50 41.25 3.25

Min Poodle (Complete Pattern) 47.00 48.50 1.50

Min Poodle (Bath-Only) 35.25 35.00 -.25

Std Poodle (Complete/No Pattern) 70.00 82.75 12.75

Std Poodle (Complete Pattern) 80.00 88.75 8.75

Std Poodle (Bath-Only) 40.25 39.75 -.50

Cocker Spaniel (Complete) 51.00 52.50 1.50

Cocker Spaniel (Bath-only) 45.00 42.75 -2.25

Min. Schnauzer (Complete) 50.25 49.00 -1.25

Min. Schnauzer (Bath-Only) 35.00 37.75 2.75

Std. Schnauzer (Complete) 51.75 61.50 9.75

Std. Schnauzer (Bath-Only) 33.00 38.50 5.50

Golden Retriever (Complete) 54.25 56.25 2.00

Golden Retriever (Bath-Only) 41.00 45.25 4.25

Shih Tzu (Complete) 35.25 39.50 4.25

Shih Tzu (Bath-Only) 30.25 35.00 4.75

Sheltie (Bath-Only) 33.25 35.75 4.50

Beagle (Bath-Only) 33.00 32.00 -1.00

Labrador (Bath-Only) 45.00 51.50 6.50

Old English Shp. (Bath-Only) 66.25 72.00 5.75

German Shepherd (Bath-Only) 48.75 49.75 1.00

Great Pyrenees (Bath-Only) 67.75 77.75 10.00

Hand Strip Medium Terrier 75.00 88.50 13.50

Hand Strip Large Terrier 90.25 102.00 11.75

Formal Show Min. Poodle none 98.00 .00

Formal Show Std. Poodle none 125.00 .00

Avg. Dematting Fee 8.25 10.00 1.75

Vet Bath Treatments Add-on 5.75 6.00 .25

Avg. Nails Only Fee 10.25 21.00 10.75

Hourly Grooming Rate 32.00 38.50 6.50

* Fees shown were averaged by combining responses by survey year.


IN-HOME “HOUSE CALL” GROOMING PRICES

2010 - 2011 COMPARISON*

S U R V E Y S



INTERNATIONAL GROOMING PRICES 2011*

BREED / SERVICE TYPE

CANADA 2010 AUSTRALIA 2010

NON-MOBILE MOBILE NON-MOBILE MOBILE

Overall Avg. Grooming Fee 46.50 69.00 53.50 68.00

Bichon Frise (Complete*) 49.50 64.75 56.25 61.00

Bichon Frise (Bath-Only**) 32.50 52.00 29.00 36.50

Min Poodle (Complete No Pattern) 47.75 60.50 58.75 63.00

Min Poodle (Complete with Pattern) 55.25 67.25 63.50 64.00

Min Poodle (Bath-Only) 32.50 54.00 33.00 53.75

Std Poodle (Complete No Pattern) 73.00 88.00 77.50 86.25

Std Poodle (Complete with Pattern) 88.25 110.25 97.00 103.50

Std Poodle (Bath-Only) 52.50 70.00 44.25 49.00

Cocker Spaniel (Complete) 55.75 68.25 66.00 70.00

Cocker Spaniel (Bath-only) 40.00 59.25 38.75 43.25

Min. Schnauzer (Complete) 48.00 62.50 58.50 63.50

Min. Schnauzer (Bath-Only) 32.50 53.25 30.25 35.00

Std. Schnauzer (Complete) 61.75 82.00 71.25 71.25

Std. Schnauzer (Bath-Only) 43.50 62.50 39.75 44.00

Golden Retriever (Complete) 67.00 79.00 72.25 78.50

Golden Retriever (Bath-Only) 53.75 68.50 45.75 48.50

Shih Tzu (Complete) 45.50 61.75 52.75 58.75

Shih Tzu (Bath-Only) 33.00 54.25 31.00 39.75

Sheltie (Bath-Only) 45.75 66.50 58.25 60.75

Beagle (Bath-Only) 35.25 55.50 30.50 42.75

Labrador (Bath-Only) 46.50 62.25 39.25 52.00

Old English Shp. (Bath-Only) 70.75 92.50 68.00 80.00

German Shepherd (Bath-Only) 55.50 72.25 45.75 56.50

Great Pyrenees (Bath-Only) 85.00 112.50 56.25 62.25

Hand Strip Medium Terrier 61.50 77.50 78.25 88.50

Hand Strip Large Terrier 72.25 92.50 106.75 122.50

Formal Show Min. Poodle 79.00 110.50 88.00 none

Formal Show Std. Poodle 99.25 178.50 92.00 none

Avg. Dematting Fee 12.50 15.00 9.50 12.50

Vet Bath Treatments Add-on 4.75 5.25 4.75 9.50

Avg. Nails Only Fee 11.00 14.00 9.00 21.00

Hourly Grooming Rate 43.50 67.00 48.25 66.00

* Combined responses by country and then averaged.


S U R V E Y S

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G R O O M W I S E . C O M B L O G S & T A L K R A D I O

Recent Blog Activity at Press Time - Alphabetical Order by Blogger

Jeff Andrews, Northern Tails Sharpening Cleaning the WAHL 5-N-1 Trimmer Blade

Barbara Bird, Bbird Talk 5 Reasons Groomers Need Ingredient Information

Daryl Conner, Hairs of the Dog Dog Bites

Ellen Ehrlich, Go Mobile and Succeed My Best Friends

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Danelle German, National Cat Groomers Institute of America Road Not Taken

Deb Hilley, Grooming Smarter Kwik Stop Do’s and Don’ts

Dawn Omboy, Queen of Color Hair Hoarding, Sharing, Goat of Many Colors

Mary Oquendo, CMPTI, CCS, Pet First Aid Pet Dental Care

PetEdge Pink Pucci and the Art of Japanese Grooming

Christein Sertzel Preferred Breed Type

Chuck Simons, Sage Advice Groomers Helper Sage Advice Can Help You Grow, Nothing to Fear

Emily Rupe The Nick, Tuck and Suck Butt

John Stockman, Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions Mobile Grooming for Cause 2011, Galis-Menendez Mobile Groomer of Year

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S H A R P E N I N G & R E P A I R

Broken Comb Teeth

Fig. 6

Most groomers will use a #40 blade with

one tooth missing (Fig. 6). It barely

causes a line and may never cut skin.

The blade on the right has several teeth

in a row missing, this is a dangerous

blade to use alone or under a guard

comb. The comb cannot be fixed or

repaired, so the blade will have to be

replaced.

Fig. 7

For blades larger than #40, most

groomers use a blade with an outside

tooth missing because 95 percent of the

blade is still good and may not cut skin.

In Figure 7 the blade has teeth missing in

the middle. It will cause a line in the cut

because two teeth are missing next to

each other, and the blade may cut skin.

The comb cannot be fixed or repaired,

the blade must be replaced.

Missing Rail on Comb Blade

When the rail is ground flat as shown in

Figures 8 and 9, the blade will drag or

snag in the coat. The rail creates space

(Continued from page 36) between the bottom and top blades so

there is space for hair to move out of the

way of the cut, take this space away and

it causes problems.

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

The blade in Figure 8 has only one side

of the rail ground flat. The flat side will

drag and the other will cut. The blade in

Figure 9 has no rail left at all, this blade

will not cut at all. The comb blade cannot

be fixed or repaired, so the blade will

have to be replaced.

NOTE: If a rail is very thin from previous

sharpening, the next time you get your

blade sharpened it could look like the

above blades. A good sharpener will

note this condition for you.

During the sharpening process, when the

blade reaches the sharpening wheel, it’s

best for the rear of the blade to touch

first, similar to the heel of your foot

touching the ground first when walking.

This prevents the teeth of a blade from

getting rounded if they were to touch

first. You can see the ground area at the

rear of the comb blade in Figure 10. It

will not affect the way the blade cuts, it’s

OK to have it re-sharpened.

Fig. 10

Other Parts of Blades

The clipper blade has several other

parts: the spring, screws, blade guide

and socket. If any of these parts are

broken or missing, and the cutter or

comb has no broken teeth or missing rail,

your blade can be re-sharpened. These

small parts can also be replaced by

sharpeners.

Fig. 11

If you have determined your blade

cannot be re-sharpened or repaired, take

the blade apart and save these as spare

parts. They will fit any blade. Every

groomer should keep spare blade and

clippers parts. It could be the difference

between being to groom or not until you

have your broken equipment serviced.

Check into a good blade care program

and use oil as a lubricant and refrain

from using spray coolant. ▲

More Articles and Videos

by Jeff Andrews

See www.northerntails.com

Jeff’s GroomWise℠ blog is at

www.groomwise.com

http://www.northerntails.com/

http://www.groomwise.com/


C O N T E S T S

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EVERYBODY WINS!

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Upon completion of your application form, photo submission form(s) and posting of your before and after

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FREE gallon of any Groomer's Edge® Shampoo or conditioner.* Plus, all contestants are entered in one of

two raffles for FREE Double K Challengair™ Airmax® Dryers!

*One free gallon of their choice of Groomer’s Edge® product per contestant (Continental U.S. Residents only). Limit one free gallon per contestant. Entering multiple entry dogs does not qualify you for additional free gallons of product. Sorry, this offer for a free gallon only applies to entrants within the continental United States. Groomer entries will be pre-screened for compliance with the rules of the contest before they are posted at PetGroomer.com.


Sponsor Buyer’s Guide 2012

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2

3

4

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All About Dog Grooming Home Study Since July 2000

Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions Since September 1998

Metro Air Force® Dryers

Since June 2004 Groomers Choice Pet Products Since March 1999

Golden Paws Schools & Consultation Since January 2000

Senproco Since January 2004

Hitch-on Mobile Pet Salons Since October 2007

Barkleigh Productions Since March 2003

Paragon School of Pet Grooming & Distance Learning Program Since June 2004

Learn2GroomDogs.com MelissaVerplank.com Since June 2004

Florida Institute of Animal Arts Since April 1999

Golden Paws Distance Learning Program Since January 2000

Quadruped Pet Care Since January 2012

PetzLife Products - Dental, Shampoo, Spa + Since January 2012

PetzLife Groomer’s Dental Kit - Income Opportunity Since January 2012

Grooming Business in a Box®

Business Plans, Forms, Floor Plans Since August 1/2006

PetGroomer.com Sponsor Buyer’s Guide 2011

Golden Paws School Consultation

1 800 GROOMER℠

Groomadog Academy Consultation

Animal Photography

PFWH.com Equipment Financing

Grooming Business in a Box®

Consultants & Services

All About Dog Grooming Home Study

Learn2GroomDogs.com

Paragon Pet School Distance Learning

Golden Paws Distance Learning

JKL Pet Grooming Home Study

Jodi Murphy Instructional DVDs

Mobile Pet Grooming Book Jodi Murphy

Super Styling Session DVDs

Groomadog Academy Home Study

HipDog Grooming School DVDs

Go Mobile and Succeed Book & DVD

National Cat Groomers Institute

Wet Dog Millionaire Book

Grooming Business in a Box® Books & CDs

Home Study, Books & DVDs

Trade Shows & Workshops

Page 2 of Sponsor Buyer’s Guide On-Site Schools Listed on Page 4

PetGroomer.com Sponsor Buyer’s Guide 2012

National Dog Groomers Association

International Professional Groomers Inc

Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists

National Cat Groomers Institute

WI Assn. of Professional Pet Stylists

Associations

Golden Paws School Consultation

1 800 GROOMER℠

Groomadog Academy Consultation

Animal Photography

Wet Dog Millionaire

Grooming Business in a Box® Consultation

Consultants & Services

PetSmart Employment

PETCO Employment

Pet-Valu Employment (US & Canada)

PetSupermarket Employment

Employment

Home Study, Books & DVDs

Governor Insurance (for all groomers)

PROFur Insurance (Canada)

Insurance

Groomer’s Choice Pet Products

Northern Tails Sharpening

Love’s Sharpening

Groomers Best, Inc.

Sharpening & Repair

Barkleigh Productions

Super Styling Sessions Seminars

Intergroom Trade Show

Groom Classic Trade Show

U.S. Pet Pro Classic (See ISCC)

PetEdge Top Performance®

Groomer’s Choice - EZ Care Wear

Jodi Murphy Grooming Apparel

Stylist Wear

Grooming Apparel & Masks

Manufacturers of Grooming Tools, Equipment & Supplies

BATHING SYSTEMS

PetEdge Master Equipment ProBather

Groomer’s Choice - BathMaster

PFWH.com Quadrabathe

Prima Bathing Systems

BOWS, NAIL POLISH & COLOGNE


PetEdge

Double K Industries

Quadruped Pet Care

Soft Claws Nail Caps® / SmartPractice

Bardel Bows

Showseason & Naturals

Elchar Dog Bows

Pawfume Value Priced Colognes

BRUSH, COMB, RAKE & DESHED

PetEdge Master Grooming Tools

Kim Laube & Co.

MDC Romani - Clipper Vac®

WAHL Clipper Corporation

CAGES & ACCESSORIES

PetEdge ProSelect Cages

Groomer’s Choice - DuraDog Cages

Ultralift, Inc.

Snyder Mfg. Co.

Clark Cages

Groomers Best, Inc.

Forever Stainless Steel

CLIPPER VACUUM SYSTEMS


Kim Laube & Co.


LOOPS, LEADS & POSITIONING

Air Muzzle® / SmartPractice


Groomers Helper®

PET ORAL HYGIENE

PetEdge Top Performance ProDental

PetzLife Groomer’s Dental Kit

PlaqClnz® Oral Hygiene / SmartPractice

SCISSORS & SHEARS


Groomer’s Choice - Monk Lite Shears

Kim Laube & Co.

Sharkfin Shears

SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER & SPA

PetEdge

Double K Industries

Bark 2 Basics, Green Groom, Coat Handler

Quadruped Pet Care

PetzLife Products

Kim Laube & Co.

Soft Claws Nail Caps® / SmartPractice


Showseason Products

Naturals Products

Best Shot® Pet Products

Espree® Products

Canine Spa Therapies

WORKSTATIONS


CLIPPERS, BLADES & COMBS


Double K Industries

Kim Laube & Co.



DRYERS

PetEdge Master Equipment Dryers

Double K Industries


Kim Laube & Co.

Snyder Mfg. Co.


Clark Cages

B-Air Dryers

TABLES & ACCESSORIES

PetEdge Master Equipment Tables

Groomer’s Choice - DuraDog Tables

Ultralift, Inc.

Groomers Best, Inc.


TUBS & ACCESSORIES

PetEdge Master Equipment Tubs

Kim Laube & Co.

Ultralift, Inc.

Groomers Best, Inc.


LEGEND FOR SPONSOR LEVELS SHOWN

Software & Business Forms

123Pet Software

PetLinx Software

ITS Software

Store Vantage

Grooming Business in a Box® Forms

Grooming Business in a Box® Floor Plans

Grooming Business in a Box® Business Plans

Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions

Hitch-on Mobile Pet Salons

Ultralift, Inc. (Tables for Mobile Groomers)

Governor Insurance

Ambers Mobile Pet Salons

Gryphon Mobile Trailers

Mobile Pet Grooming Jodi Murphy Book

Lynne’s Mobile Pet Salon Trailer Conversion

Go Mobile and Succeed Book & DVD

Mobile Grooming

PetEdge Grooming Supplies


Ryan’s Pet Supplies

PFWH.com Grooming Supplies

Westcoast Animal Groomers Supply

Shampoo Lady Grooming Supplies

ExcelaGroom Pet Grooming Supplies

Supplier Catalogs & Online

Distributorships/Licensing

Golden Paws Schools

PetzLife Groomer’s Dental Kit

Senproco

Become a Sponsor — Get Listed Here

Call 800-556-5131 or 360-446-5348

Become a Sponsor — Get Listed Here

Call 800-556-5131 or 360-446-5348

Call 800-556-5131 or 360-446-5348 A to Z List of Sponsors Except On-Site Schools

All About Dog Grooming www.learntogroom.com

Ambers Mobile Pet Salons www.ambersmobilepetsalons.com

Animal Photography www.animalphotography.com

B-Air Dryers www.b-air.com

Bardel Bows & Finishing Touches www.bardelbows.com

Barkleigh Productions www.barkleigh.com

Best Shot® Pet Products www.bestshotpet.com

Border Pet Grooming Software www.petstar.co.uk

Breathe Healthy Grooming Masks www.breathehealthy.com

Cherrybrook Grooming Supplies www.cherrybrook.com

Clark Cages www.clarkcages.com

Double K Industries www.doublekindustries.com

Elchar Dog Bows www.elcharbows.com

Espree Products www.espree.com

Forever Stainless Steel www.foreverstainlesssteel.com

Go Mobile and Succeed Book & DVD www.gomobileandsucceed.com

Golden Paws Home Study & Consult. www.goldenpaws.com

Governor Insurance www.governorins.com

Groom Classic Trade Show www.groomclassice.com

Groomers Best Stainless Steel www.groomersbest.com

Groomers Choice Pet Products www.groomerschoice.com

Groomers Helper www.groomershelper.com

Gryphon Mobile Trailers www.gryphontrailers.com

Hitch-on Mobile Pet Salons www.mygroomingtrailer.com

Intergroom Trade Show www.intergroom.com

Int’l Professional Groomers Inc. www.ipgcmg.com

Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists www.petstylist.com

ITS Grooming Software www.jmssys.com

Iv San Bernard Products www.ivsanbernard.us

JKL Pet Grooming School www.jklgrooming.com

Jodi Murphy DVDs www.jodimurphy.net

Jodi Murphy Grooming Apparel www.jodimurphy.net

Kim Laube & Co. www.kimlaubeco.com

Love’s Sharpening www.lovessharpening.com

Lynne’s Mobile Pet Salon Trailers www.lynnesmobilepetsalon.com

MDC Romani / Clipper Vac® www.mdcromani.com

Learn2GroomDogs.com www.learn2groomdogs.com

Metro Air Force® Dryers www.dogdryer.com

National Cat Groomers Institute www.nationalcatgroomers.com

National Dog Groomers Association www.nationaldoggroomers.com

Northern Tails Sharpening www.northerntails.com

PawFume Colognes www.packaginggroupcorp.com/pawfume.htm

PETCO Employment www.petco.com

Pet Valu Employment (Canada) www.petvalu.com

PetEdge Grooming Supplies www.petedge.com

PetLinx Software www.petlinx.com

PetSmart Employment www.petsmartjobs.com

PFWH.com Grooming Supplies www.pfwh.com

PlaqClnz www.plaqclnz.com

Prima Bathing Systems www.primabathing.com

PROFur Insurance (Canada) www.profur.ca

Ryan’s Pet Supplies www.ryanspet.com

Senproco www.senproco.com

Shampoo Lady Supplies www.shampoolady.com

Showseason & Naturals Products www.showseasonproducts.com

Snyder Mfg. Co. www.snydermfg.com

Store Vantage Groomer Software www.storevantage.com

The Dog Bowtique www.thedogbowtique.com

Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions www.wagntails.com

WAHL Clipper Corporation www.wahlanimal.com

Westcoast Animal Groomers Supply www.wagsupply.com

1 800 GROOMER℠ www.1800groomer.com

123 Pet Software www.123petsoftware.com

Advertise here. See www.petgroomer.com/bannerads.htm or call 800-556-5131.

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On-Site Schools Listed on Next Page Page 3

Call 800-556-5131 or 360-446-5348 A to Z List of Sponsors Except On-Site Schools

All About Dog Grooming www.learntogroom.com Ambers Mobile Pet Salons www.ambersmobilepetsalons.com

B-Air Dryers www.b-air.com

Bardel Bows & Finishing Touches www.bardelbows.com

Barkleigh Productions www.barkleigh.com

Best Shot® Pet Products www.bestshotpet.com

Canine Spa Therapies www.wisconsinpetstylists.org

Clark Cages www.clarkcages.com

Double K Industries www.doublekindustries.com

Elchar Dog Bows www.elcharbows.com

Espree Products www.espree.com

ExcelaGroom Pet Grooming Supplies www.excelagroomsupplies.com

Forever Stainless Steel www.foreverstainlesssteel.com

Go Mobile and Succeed Book & DVD www.gomobileandsucceed.com

Golden Paws Home Study & Consult. www.goldenpaws.com

Governor Insurance www.governorins.com

Groom Classic Trade Show www.groomclassice.com

Groomers Best, Inc. www.groomersbest.com

Groomers Choice Pet Products www.groomerschoice.com

Groomers Helper www.groomershelper.com

Grooming Business in a Box® www.groomingbusinessinabox.com

Gryphon Mobile Trailers www.gryphontrailers.com

Hitch-on Mobile Pet Salons www.mygroomingtrailer.com

Intergroom Trade Show www.intergroom.com

Int’l Professional Groomers Inc. www.ipgicmg.com

Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists www.petstylist.com

ITS Grooming Software www.jmssys.com

JKL Pet Grooming School www.jklgrooming.com

Jodi Murphy DVDs, Books, Apparel www.jodimurphy.net

Kim Laube & Co. www.kimlaubeco.com

Love’s Sharpening www.lovessharpening.com

Lynne’s Mobile Pet Salon Trailers www.lynnesmobilepetsalon.com

MDC Romani / Clipper Vac® www.mdcromani.com

Learn2GroomDogs.com www.learn2groomdogs.com

Metro Air Force® Dryers www.dogdryer.com

National Cat Groomers Institute www.nationalcatgroomers.com

National Dog Groomers Association www.nationaldoggroomers.com

Northern Tails Sharpening www.northerntails.com

PawFume Colognes www.packaginggroupcorp.com/pawfume.htm

PETCO Employment www.petco.com

Pet Valu Employment (Canada) www.petvalu.com

PetEdge Grooming Supplies www.petedge.com

PetLinx Software www.petlinx.com

PetSmart Employment www.petsmartjobs.com

PetSupermarket Employment www.petsupermarket.com

PetzLife Products www.petzlife.com

PFWH.com Grooming Supplies www.pfwh.com

PlaqClnz® Oral Hygiene www.plaqclnz.com

Prima Bathing Systems www.primabathing.com

PROFur Insurance (Canada) www.profur.ca

Quadruped Pet Care www.quadrupedpetcare.com

Ryan’s Pet Supplies www.ryanspet.com

Senproco www.senproco.com

Shampoo Lady Supplies www.shampoolady.com

Sharkfin Shears www.sharkfinshears.com

Showseason & Naturals Products www.showseasonproducts.com

SmartPractice www.smartpractice.com/vet

Snyder Mfg. Co. www.snydermfg.com

Store Vantage Groomer Software www.storevantage.com

Stylist Wear www.stylistwear.com

Ultralift, Inc. www.tablesntubs.com

Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions www.wagntails.com

WAHL Clipper Corporation www.wahlanimal.com

Westcoast Animal Groomers Supply www.wagsupply.com

Wet Dog Millionaire Book www.wetdogmillionaire.com

1 800 GROOMER℠ www.1800groomer.com

123 Pet Software www.123petsoftware.com

PetGroomerCD™

Outfit a Grooming Business

PetGroomerCD™ includes truly

professional quality planners to

easily list and organize all of your

shopping. Project and tally the

costs for your career plan, Note

sources, quantities and prices.

Let it do the math!

Print convenient shopping lists.

Check-off items as you shop!

So flexible! Whether you're plan-

ning your education or the build

out of a home, mobile or com-

mercial location business, these

are the perfect planners.

Courtesy of the professionals at

Grooming Business in a Box®.

PetGroomerCD™

FREE Pay Shipping Handling Only

www.PetGroomerCD.com

On-Site Schools Listed on Next Page Page 3

Pet Grooming Schools (On-Site Only Programs or Combination On-Site & Online)

Gold Plus Level School Sponsors

Academy of Dog Grooming Arts (IL) www.academyofdoggrooming.com

American Academy of Pet Grooming (NYC) www.aaopg.com

New York School of Dog Grooming (NYC) www.nysdg.com

South Carolina School of Dog Grooming www.scschoolofdoggrooming.com

Canine Clippers Grooming School (VA) www.canine-clippers.com

Pets Playground Grooming School (FL) www.petsplayground.com

Cindy’s Canine Companion Grooming Classes (PA) www.cindyscaninecompanions.com

Oregon Pet Grooming Academy (OR) www.oregonpetgroomingacademy.com

Merryfield School of Pet Grooming (FL) www.merryfieldschool.com

National Cat Groomers Institute of America (SC) www.nationalcatgroomers.com

Platinum Level School Sponsors

Pennsylvania Academy of Pet Grooming www.mdcromani.com

Groomadog Academy (SC) (resident school) www.groomadogacademy.com

Connecticut School of Dog Grooming www.learn2groom.com

Sensational Stylings Academy of Pet Grooming (IL) 815-469-2243 site under construction

Michigan School of K9 Cosmetology www.k9grooming.com

Nanhall Professional School of Grooming (NC) www.nanhall.com

HipDog School of Grooming Arts (TX) www.hipdoggroomingschool.com

Amber’s Academy of Pet Styling (CA) www.ambersacademyofpetstyling.com

American Grooming Academy (CA) www.americangroomingacademy.com

Academy of Animal Arts (FL) www.academyofanimalarts.com

Texas Allbreed Grooming School www.tagsperfectjob.com

Golden Paws School of Dog Styling (TX) www.goldenpaws.com

O.C. Academy of Pet Styling (CA) www.academyofpetstyling.net

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (CA) www.goldenpawsdoggroomingschoolpalmsprings.com

Dapper Dawg School of Professional Grooming (MA) www.thedapperdawg.com

Just Four Paws Academy of Pet Styling (PA) www.justfourpawsacademy.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (KY) www.goldenpawspetstylingacademyky.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (WI) www.goldenpawswi.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (IN) www.goldenpawspetstylingacademyin.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (NY) www.pinkdogparlor.com/school.htm

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (PA) www.goldenpawspittsburghpa.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (IL) www.goldenpawschicago.com

Platinum Plus Level School Sponsors

Nash Academy (KY)

Since December 2001

www.nashacademy.com

Diamond Level School Sponsors

Golden Paws (multiple locations detailed below) www.goldenpaws.com

Florida Institute of Animal Arts www.myfiaa.com

Paragon Pet Grooming School (MI) www.paragonpetschool.com

Page 4 of Sponsor Buyer’s Guide Home Study Only Listed on Page 2 Copyright 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved

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Pet Grooming Services Income Projection Worksheet

OSHA Compliance

Tons of Fun in Grooming

To Shave or Not to Shave

New Math for Groomers

Online Appointment Scheduling

Tearstains

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Authors of pet care industry articles with an interest in having their works published in

eGroomer Journal should contact [email protected]. Thank you.

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