The Front Page

Welcome to Jodi Murphy’s Grooming Apparel line. This line of professional grooming apparel was designed by Jodi, one of the top groomers in the USA, for groomers as well as barbers and beauticians. It is made from the highest quality nylon manufactured in the United States. Everyone knows that when you look good you feel good. This line of fashionable grooming apparel features fitted tops as well as slimming tops to make everyone look their best. Jodi works very closely with her apparel company in NYC and guarantees the workmanship against manufacturing defects. New styles and colors will be brought into this line on a regular basis. Be sure to join Jodi’s mailing list for updates on all her products. Click here to view the apparel line.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE
August 23, 2010
The National Dog Grooming Association of America is honored and excited to announce the filling of two open positions within the rganization.

Sue Zecco, NCMG of Paxton, Mass. has graciously agreed to fill the position of NDGAA Contest Coordinator and oversee NDGAA’s two trade show competitions. The Fun In The Sun in Orlando, Florida is held every Oct. and the Colorado GroomFest in Denver, Colorado is held every June and will be under the capable, professional and experienced supervision of Sue. Sue being a long time competitor, judge, speaker and current contest coordinator of the well known HH Backer show is bringing with her a vast array of talent and supervisory skills and we are fortunate and proud to welcome Sue into the NDGAA family. Sue remarks of her predesesor “I have found John Stazko to be one of my greatest mentors and so helpful in guiding me through many situations in my advancing career. John put forth a lot of work and research to help bring NDGAA contest to another level, I hope that I can continue on this path with the help of the NDGAA family. I am looking forward to working with Jeff, Wendy Booth and all the others who put in so much time and help make these shows both fun and successful”.

Wendy Booth, NCMG of Colorado Springs, Colo. has accepted the position of NDGAA Certification Coordinator. We feel both honored
and priviledged to put Wendys name to this position. Her genuine love and concern for the pet grooming industry and especially her fellow groomers make Wendy perfect for this job. As a long time contributor to the task of wanting to see groomers united and educated Wendy states, “As I have found and so believe, National is committed to a better association with a stellar certification program. We are honored to have simply the best Certifiers in our industry to assist those who want to advance their careers and make the Master’s journey. We’ve got to roll up our sleeves and get busy! There are groomers in need, and National has the staff for them. I look forward to being instrumental in this effort”.

National Dog Groomers Association of America, Inc.
P.O. Box 101, Clark, PA 16113 ph:724/962-2711 fax:724/962-1919
ndga@nationaldoggroomers.com * www.nationaldoggroomers.com

Here is your chance to get on your telephone and join the conference, and ask a pro a question about grooming. There is no charge except you are responsible for telephone long distance if applicable. Remember you can also use Vonage or Skype too. Conferences begin July 12, 2010 with Jodi Murphy guest at 5PM Pacific 8PM Eastern.



For more details, http://www.petgroomerforums.com/chat...nference-Calls

Barkleigh Productions has developed a Dental Index Card for Canine Dental Hygienists and Pet Care Professionals offering canine dental care at their facility. The sturdy two-sided 5" x 8" index card features a standard canine dental chart, client contact information and details on the pet. The back of the card offers cleaning history, comments, technician, service and reminder dates. Cards are available in packs of 100. Visit www.Barkleighstore.com or call 717-691-3388, or e-mail info@Barkleigh.com for a sample card.

NuStar, Inc. has introduced Wet Noses Clean Paws Pet Wash Salons. These self-contained salons are great add-on revenue generators. The pet wash is a drop-in-place glass and aluminum building that can be custom constructed to fit any land dimension. They come pre-wired and plumbed for quick and easy hook-up to existing water, sewer and electrical lines. If the building isn’t needed, groomers can simply purchase the Pet Wash Equipment Kit, which includes the equipment and supplies needed for installation in an existing facility.



For more information, visit www.wetnosescleanpaws.com.

Here are some photos from the latest seminar in May 2010 held at the corporate headquarters of Wag'n Tails, Granger, IN. The next seminar dates have been announced as Monday and Tuesday, July 12 & 13, 2010. Space is limited, reserve early. Call Jenny now at 800-513-0304 before it's too late!

What can this seminar do for you? Here are some comments from the folks that attended her seminar said. One attendee commented that Dina's seminar has "given me the confidence to take it to the next level." Another said she "enjoyed the tour of the assembly plant plus I gained lots of good information and ideas to add to my business as soon as I get home." Yet another kind attendee wrote "There's one word that comes to mind when I think about Wag'n Tails...Excellent!" One shop owner said "I found this seminar extremely valuable to my future goals. For 25 years I've been the owner of a very busy shop and I'm ready to transition into mobile grooming."

For all the details, see the information below or go to www.wagntails.com.

Published by Admin for GroomWise Blogger Christein Sertzel

In the past 5 to 8 years, there has been a growing list more & more pet care professionals & pet owners that have begun to implement aromatherapy into their alternative pet care list. For us as humans, we can clearly see the benefits of aromatherapy, but for our canine counterparts, who cannot directly tell us how they are both physically & emotionally feeling or how they feel about something we are doing for them, a simple and gentle method of supportive care such as aromatherapy, can be greatly beneficial.

We are hearing more about veterinarians offering holistic services including aromatherapy and flower essence therapy. Also animal massage therapists implement herbal & flower therapies into their care, and pet stylists or groomers who offer these services for a wonderful spa experience for their clients. Aromatherapy is especially important for calming nerves and focusing and directing positive energy, so one can easily see that aromatherapy and herbal therapy has a multitude of applications for your pets, all of which are positive and beneficial.

For canine massage, I have a few blends that I keep on hand for all types of massage. Often I add a couple of essentials or make a simple mix at the massage session. The reason for this is because no massage and no canine are ever exactly the same. More importantly I believe that for the most part, animal massage in itself isn't nearly so much about the essentials used as it is practitioners properly reading the animal movement, structure and energy. They must carefully use their eyes and hands to read the dog's body like a map and decipher where there are issues and what they are.

They have to do this is a fairly short amount of time with limited explanation from their human counterparts. If they travel to a pet’s home they become a new addition to the pet's living environments and this always has them acting differently than they otherwise would. So, they have a lot to overcome to even get to the beginning of a massage session in hopes of having it be a productive one. Essentials can help to bridge these gaps so each session goes smoothly and positively.

Essentials in a carrier oil are not nearly as important to canines as they are with humans. They are not covered in fur and human makeup is obviously quite different. So, oil as lubrication of the practitioner's hands can actually be a disadvantage as the animal's natural oils really work best to offer the correct amount of "drag" or resistance of the fingers moving freely through the fur. Too much fluidity can make a practitioner have to work harder to create the right amount of pressure or friction and make a mess of the pet’s coat. Therefore, essentials in their pure form become a tool for setting the very important mood of the dog and our own energy, and not so much a tool for the physical application of a massage.

Essentials obviously play a role in the animal's receptiveness to the experience and overall willingness at times to receive a massage. Animal perception and their memory imprint of the experience is vital to a successful session. The practitioner has a clear disadvantage in that we are strangers to their daily activities, schedules and behavior cycles that ebb & flow. The result is the professional could make dogs either more or less receptive to massage at different times without paying close attention. Educated massage sessions are usually far more successful at a faster rate when the circle between an owner and their pet is, for obvious reasons, much more relaxed and mutually receptive. Aromatherapy can be effective to help align the environmental energy of the setting, and set the outcome of sessions by balancing emotional states between the professional and pet. Essentials are quite important because they help to align both our moods and secondary responses to the massage session as well as the emotional state of our canine clients. Aromatherapy becomes a bridge of senses and energies between the pet and the caregiver.

There are a few different topical blends that can be used addressing different types of needs and to suit various personalities. The pet owner may have to tweak them a little for each session because both the dog and practitioner may be feeling differents moods that day. Plus new issues may have arisen as well. Here are some guidelines:

- Address emotional state. An Aromatherapist addresses the emotional state of the dog and secondary to that, the physical needs.

- Overcome massage anxiety. For initial meetings or with dogs that are overwhelmingly fearful of new surroundings or experiences:

Dogs that are fearful or internally coping with their own reaction mechanisms are much more difficult in delivering productive sessions. Think about it for a moment. A dog that is happy and excited to meet you is FAR more receptive to seeing what you have to offer it in terms of "What have you got that I can have”?, or “What do you have for me today that I can have fun with"? Others are more difficult to "win over." Here flower and herbal essentials may help you a lot more on deeper levels than what you would implement to just calm or relax simple anxiousness or play energy. They are important to use whether you are helping your own dogs to overcome certain emotional hurdles, or for treating physical ailments of your pets.

Here are some of those essential blends addressing first the emotional state and secondly the physical needs of your client.

Emotional

Relaxing and aligning energy: Chamomile, Bergamot, Ginger, & Geranium.

Calming and supporting: Chamomile, Lavender, Eucalyptus & Clary Sage.

Stronger sedative effect: Lavender, Chamomile, Clove & Frankincense.

And follow up the massage with a neat drop on each cheek of this blend:

Energizing: Rosemary, Lemongrass, Thyme & Basil.

Consider these recommendations:

Relaxing the playful dog: Lavender, Chamomile, Vetiver, Clary Sage, Marjoram.

Focusing the excited dog: Geranium, Chamomile, Lavender, Clary Sage.

There are more but these are the most important!

Physical

Circulation, anti-inflammatory, muscle tension, muscle fatigue active sports recovery massage: Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Geranium, Rosemary & Clove.

Skin irritations and muscle atrophy due to lack of circulation: (also hot spots if they are not open) Helichrysium, Evening Primrose & Naiouli.

Deep tissue, tendon fatigue and sprains: Ginger, Nutmeg, Clove, Thyme, Vetiver & Black Pepper.

Arthritis and Rheumatoid: Clove, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg & Black Pepper, Clary- sage, Birch, Rosemary, & Juniper, Frankincense, Marjoram, Chamomile, & Lavender (3 different blends for symptoms from severe to mild).

All over relaxation massage & pathway massage for geriatric pets: Geranium, Clary Sage Lemongrass, Bergamot & Lavender.

As you can see now, there are so many essentials whose properties compliment each other- it is also just as important to mix oils that are simply pleasing to your personal tastes as this will affect how you give the massage and therefore the physical benefits for your client.

Here are some suggested reading materials to learn about aromatherapy:

The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann WorWood.

Essential Aromatherapy by Susan & Valerie Ann Worwood.

The Aromatherapy Bible by Gill Farrer-Halls.

Remember to educate yourself thoroughly on any holistic or alternative care methods before working with them with your pet.

Posted on behalf of Melissa Verplank CMG, Author, Publisher, School Owner, GroomWise Blogger

As many of you know, I'm a big dog person. Working on these large furry dogs that have a huge shedding problem is one of my favorite things to do in a grooming salon. I know, I know, call me crazy -- but I just love seeing the transformation in this type of job. Over the years I've gotten really quick with the process and rarely cringe, no matter what the size of the dog, nor the condition -- I see it as a fun challenge!



My #1 rule is: Never work on a dirty dog. If water can penetrate the coat, let your products do the job.

Working on a dirty dog is not only unpleasant, but it also takes longer to do . Plus, there will be a lot of coat damage and breakage. A dirty coat is dry and brittle. The dirt and dander trapped within the fur makes it more difficult to brush out. Working on a clean coat will be easier for both you and the pet – and much more pleasant.

If there are large chunks that water cannot penetrate, go ahead and break up the tangle using the tool that is safe for the pet. Don't worry about removing it completely, just break it apart so the water and shampoo can do its job.

Prepare your bathing area. If the dog is exceptionally dirty, use the shampoo especially designed for dirty dogs. Using a follow-up treatment of a skin and coat conditioner after bathing twice (or maybe three times in some areas) will assist with the brush out and dead coat removal during the drying process. Make sure you have all the tools you'll need to aid in getting the dog clean like rubber curries or scrub brushes. And make sure you have plenty of towels handy.

My favorite trick when working with this type of job is to bring my high velocity dryer right into the bathing area. With the dog fully lathered, blow the shampoo right off the pets while they are tethered in the tub. The slippery soap will allow the dirt, loose coat, and tangles slide out, being trapped in the shampoo and sticking to the back wall of the tub, minimizing the mess. Not all the shedding coat or mats will be removed but a lot will, making your job easier once you transfer to the drying table. Once you have blown out the pet, follow up with the rinsing process. Repeat this process as many times as necessary to get the dog “squeaky clean.”

Once the pet is clean and thoroughly rinsed, apply a skin and coat conditioning treatment before heading to the drying table. Read your directions: some conditioning treatments need to be rinsed out while others do not. Your high velocity dryer and a heavy slicker brush will be your best friends during the drying process.

Rule # 2: Be Methodical and Thorough

First, blow out as much moisture and loose coat at possible with the air flow. Use the highest power setting the pet is comfortable with, and a condenser cone. Once you have pushed as much water and loose fur from the pet, remove the condenser cone, and bring the air flow close to the pet’s skin. “Boost” any loose coat out of the dog by lightly patting the area where the air is striking the skin with a slicker brush.

Continue to work over the dog in a methodical manner until your brush glides through the coat easily and no more loose coat is trapped in the brush.

Rule #3 – ENJOY!

When the dog is complete, it should smell clean and fresh. The coat should be glossy and float freely as the dog moves. There should be an irresistible desire to reach down and bury your hands in a freshly groomed pet.

Posted for Mary Oquendo, PTI CCS, GroomWise Blogger. Click for her blog and course info.

Because the truth is accidents can and do happen. None of us schedule in our day
planner a slip and fall. As professionals we owe it to the pets in our care to be prepared
for the unplanned.

Be Aware. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) says that 60% of all
veterinary visits are emergency in nature. They go on to state that 25% more pets could
have been saved if only one pet first aid technique was applied before veterinary
treatment. A study done in the American Veterinary Journal states that only 10% of pets
needing CPR will survive if CPR was not done before arrival at the veterinarian. Another
study by the AAHA shows that preventable accidents are the leading cause of death
and disability among pre-senior pets.

Be Knowledgeable. What are some of the safety issues that relate directly to
groomers?

• Sudden blunt force trauma happens if a pet falls off a grooming table. Or you trip over
exposed cords. Or you can slip on a wet floor while carrying a pet. Take advantage of
the Golden Hour. This is the hour you have to get treatment before symptoms present.
Once they do, itʼs generally too late. Look at Natasha Richardson as an example of
someone who wasted her Golden Hour.
• Neck injuries or strangulation when an unattended pet jumps off a table while still
noosed.
• Hypothermia caused by prolonged exposure to cool temperatures. It can happen when
putting a wet pet under a cool air dryer. You only need to lower the pets temperature
by four degrees.
• Dehydration as a result of no water provided to the pet. Stress can also cause
dehydration. It can lead to organ failure or death in a very short time.
• Burns can result from overexposure to hot blades or hot air dryers. So will chewing on
electrical cords. Using equipment without Ground Fault Interruptors (GFI) outlets
around the tub can result in electrocution burns.
• Heatstroke from being left too long with a hot air dryer. Enclosed kennel dryers are
notorious for this. The young, old, immune-suppressed and brachycephalic dogs and
any cat is particularly susceptible.
• Bleeding injures and wounds caused by scissors and clippers. In addition, hematomas
and sebaceous cysts may erupt while in your care.
• Heart failure caused by stress, chewing on electrical cords, electrocution as well as
preexisting medical conditions. Cat groomers should monitor the cats stress level
closely. They are prone to stress induced heart failure.
• A seizure brought on by poisoning, stress, HV dryer and preexisting medical
conditions. Poisoning occurs when a pet ingest, inhales or otherwise absorbs
improperly stored cleaning and pesticide products. Older dogs are more susceptible to
a seizure brought on by the HV dryer.
• Injuries caused by kennel or tub grates.
• Any pet can have an allergic reaction to any product we use.
• Choking on an inappropriate sized treat or toy and any treat given to a dog that gulps
his food.
• The HV dryer can blow out an ear drum or cause an anal prolapse when used
improperly.

Be Proactive. Most of the above are preventable accidents. Wrap up cords and hoses when not in use. Make sure there is a clear path from one area to the next. Keep the
bathing area floors dry. Store toxic materials in a closed cabinet. Monitor pets at all
times. Exercise caution when using your equipment. Do you have the phone numbers
handy to your local vet and the after hours office? Do you know how to get to the after
hours office? You donʼt want to try and find it in a panic Walk through your shop and
note possible problems and correct them. Go home and do the same. Your four legged
furry family members will appreciate it.

Be Prepared. Take a pet first aid class. Written materials and videos alone are not a pet first aid class. To properly learn these skills, your Instructor must be properly trained. Be
choosy. Ask questions. What did their training consist of? Pet first aid and CPR is best
learned through a combination of lecture, demonstration and hands on skills. A
professional level class should include the following: bleeding and shock, restraining
and muzzling, primary pet assessment, rescue breathing, CPR, fracture and limb
injuries, insect bites and stings, snakebite, seizures, first aid kits and emergency
preparedness kits, poisoning and poisonous substances, choking and snout to tail
assessments. A better class will also advocate a healthy pet lifestyle. This includes the
importance of dental care. Furthermore, it should also stress the importance of both
when to seek veterinary care and of establishing a relationship with your vet.

Be Proud. Hang that certificate for all your clients to see. Knowing these skills is the
difference between life or death, between temporary or permanent disability and
between a short recovery or a long recuperation. These skills will also give you the
confidence needed when an emergency arises. Your clients will know you care.

Be Responsible. Iʼve had three occasions with my own pets that required pet first aid.

All three situations ended up being very minor when they could have easily escalated
into a far more serious situation. Have release forms that allow you to perform pet first
aid and CPR on the pets in your care.

Taking a pet first aid class is the right thing to do. We are responsible for the pets in our
care and in our lives. They would do the same for us.

Article posted by Admin on behalf of Kim West, GroomWise Blogger, click for blog.

Let’s talk structure analysis. It is after all the basis of all grooming. Before you can pick up your scissors, and put anything other than a cookie cutter groom on a pet, you have to assess its structure.

The best place to assess the structure isn't on your table, but in the tub when the pet is wet. To assess structure you must have a basic idea of the breed standard. Study the general appearance section for the breeds you groom using the AKC guide.

Once you have completed the structural assessment of each pet you know its “faults.” Your goal is to conceal them giving the illusion of correct structure. The process of correcting faults is detailed and tedious. It takes time. I stress, if you want to be the best in your area, don’t overbook yourself. You need time to do the best grooming of your ability. It also takes time to master the techniques of corrective grooming.

With dedication and perseverance your time investment will pay off in the end earning you plenty of client loyalty. Your grooms will be walking billboards of perfection like an advertisement for your business.

Don’t worry if there are points of frustration that make you want to go back to your old habits. You just have to push yourself through it. All sections of styling must flow seamlessly into one another with concentration on balance and symmetry.

Here’s how to go about it. Put aside the intricacies of the breeds for a moment. Instead, familiarize yourself with "basic" structure. Make sure you understand the terms associated with basic structure used in the AKC guide. You may need to decipher the terms used but that’s part of learning fault styling. Ultimately it gets down to visual structure, and that is all about the angling your scissors.

What does a “fiddle front” look like? How about a slightly “crouped tailset?” Harefoot? Understanding these terms and translating them into your styling is the first step of many required to become a world class groomer.

I had hard time learning what I am sharing here. I reached the point of tearfulness. Sometimes I wanted to just stay where I was with my grooming skills because it was easier to stay in that comfort zone. But then I would get an occasional glimmer of encouragement from an owner, or just by looking at a dog and seeing a better balance or hidden flaw I knew I could correct. It kept me going to improve. I was restored and accepted the challenge.

I learned how to make a cowhocked dog appear as though it had a correct rear. I successfully hid a fiddle front on a Shih Tzu and Bichon. Ultimately I was able to make the entirety of the styling balanced yet hiding faults.

Here’s a simple fix for you to try.

Imagine a dog toed out in front. Toed out means the toes point east and west, and not facing forward. Observe dogs for this condition. In the show world you will hear he dog is “easty westy."

To correct this fault you must make the feet look as if they are forward facing. Begin by trimming the hair the hangs over the pad in the back of the foot tightly. No hair combed down should hang over the pad. Then, set the foot down. Let the dog stand naturally. Comb the coat outward from the center of the foot in a fan shape. Using scissors go along the outside of the foot trim the hair straight forward facing. Your scissors should be farther away at the back of the foot when creating this straight line. Take the coat very tight to the outward facing toe. Then cut straight across the toe.

At this point you may see an overall box shape, but it will come together in the end. It’s important to leave more coat on the inside of the foot. The inside fullness compensates for where the foot "should" be. Cut a straight line toward the back of the foot.

Let’s recap. Take the outside of the foot tightest at the outward facing toe, and leave the coat fuller to the inside of the foot. Once you have created your "box" outline on the foot, slightly round the corners and voila! You have an illusion of a forward facing foot! Happy Grooming!

We're pleased to announce the winner of the contest is Ellen Ehrlich. Ellen will receive a $250 cash prize. While our dogs slept in the office today we were stressed. It was not easy to select a winning entry from the Top 4 Finalists.

Finalists receive a specially designed MobileGroomerTALK T-shirt.

The Top 4 Finalists:

Ellen Ehrlich (winner)
Emily Rupe
Becca Bergman
Donna Smith, CAH

Their passion for mobile grooming is clear. Their skills to not only groom but also to operate as businesspersons grooming is an inspiration. Kudos to our finalists for not only making it this far in the contest, but also for adding to the professional reputation of mobile grooming. You will surely inspire many career seekers that find their way to PetGroomer.com and learn from you what mobile grooming is about. Thank you to everyone that entered the contest.

Here's the winning essay below, but you may also read the Top 4 Finalist entries at www.driventogroom.com/essay_contest.htm.





I remember the exact moment in time I knew I was going mobile.

It was Monday, March 7th, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. I had just returned from Atlanta Pet Fair where I had made the decision to go to grooming school. I had met Sandy Hanrahan at the show, (Pet Styles by Sandy) from Ringwood, New Jersey. Since I had no idea what mobile grooming was she invited me to come and see her van. We met in the parking lot of a local grocery store. I got in her truck, my eyes as wide as saucers, and looked around. Five minutes later I said, “I’m getting a van!”

How did I know mobile grooming was right for me? That’s a good question. All I know is, when I stepped foot into that van it was like being hit by a bolt of lightning. I know that sounds totally insane but it’s the truth! In that instant I was “driven to groom.”

Looking back, I took off like a speeding bullet. Grooming became the driving force in my life. Nothing had ever fascinated me or interested me the way grooming did. I never seem to tire of it. Grooming pushed every button in my soul, from my head to my toes. Ask anybody that knows me. Once I start talking about grooming, my face lights up and you can’t get me to shut up!

My van seems to have some special power over me. As soon as I get in, there’s a switch that goes on and off I go. It doesn’t matter if I’m happy or sad that day or if it’s raining or the sun is shining. It’s all about “me and the dog on my table.” I find grooming, from start to finish, very satisfying. It’s a very zen-like, artistic experience. The process of taking Mr. Messy Mutt to Mr. Daper Dog never gets old. My special talent lies in the ability that “I am able to make the dog look cute.” Since I went mobile right out of grooming school my biggest disadvantage was not having much experience grooming to breed standard. However, this doesn’t seem to matter to any of my customers. It’s so much more then that.

Being “driven to groom” has created a domino effect of which I’ve had not much control over. And why would I want to? I’m having so much fun! In addition to being driven to groom, I’m also being driven to write, travel, make new friends, contribute economically to my family and my industry, grow and learn, motivate and inspire others. The will to do these things truly comes from within. It’s never a chore or an obligation. To be honest, I don’t even know how any of this happened to me. I just went with the flow in spite of my trepidations, the fear of being criticized or failing. If I did, I never would have accomplished anything.

I don’t know what “driven to groom” means to others. I only know what it means to me.

On the business end, mobile grooming gives me the opportunity to do what I love, groom who I want, go where I want, charge what I want, use the tools and products I like best, take time off when I want, and choose my own vehicle. There’s something to be said when I look at my schedule for the day and I have four little haircut dogs and two baths. All of them cooperative, maintained happy dogs with wonderful owners within four miles of my home.

That’s enough to make any mobile groomer smile and this groomer... Driven To Groom!

Posted by Admin for Chuck, Groomers Helper www.groomershelper.com, 4/20/2010

Hello and thanks for tuning in to this edition of The Glass Globe Turns (more on that later). I was honored this year by earning a nomination for the Cardinal Crystal Achievement Awards and, as you can see, Beth and I were decked out and ready to dance the night away when my name was announced. Except that... it wasn't!



Now if you are ever nominated for a Cardinal Crystal Achievement Award and the fabulous Lisa Leady is also nominated, don't get your hopes up! Everyone knows Lisa and the fine work she has done for the industry. According to the ballot, she was nominated for helping to boost the image of groomers everywhere with an appearrance on the popular Animal Planet Show, Groomer Has It. But groomers also know her as a caring person who will help them with her knowledge of professional grooming.

So congratulations, Lisa! I am glad that you have been recognized the way you deserve to be. Your hosting of the evening's events was marvelous and everyone had a fantastic time. It was a wonderful experience to share that time with you.

The evening starts with a Who's Who of the grooming business in attendance. As you may know, the Cardinal Crystal Awards banquet is an annual event hosted by Christine DeFillipo and Intergroom. Thank you Christine for keeping this event alive!

I shared my table with some of the best of the best at my table including Sarah Hawks (nominated for Grooming Contest Judge of the Year), Sue Zecco (nominated for Grooming Contest Judge of the Year and the Congeniality Award) and my old friend Hillary Zusi from Lambert Kay. My lovely wife Beth, a nationally certified master groomer, sat by my side and we were also joined by Cassandra Reed, another star from Groomer Has It. Bring on the food!

During our appetizers, we watched a parade of beautiful dogs as the winners were announced for the best groomed dogs in the show. What an incredible collection of dedicated groomers! While there were members of GroomTeam USA amongst the competitors, there were many more who aspired to be a part of the team and who loved the spirit of competition in the ring.

With everything that was happening and all the excitement, the awards banquet felt like something was missing. Vivian was there, but John was not. He certainly was there in spirit, and yet it will never be the same without him. As long as I have been a part of Intergroom, John Nash was there to make everything ok for all of us.

Joey Villani was kind enough to present his thoughts and feelings on the passing of a legend. After all, John and Vivian were as close to Joey as anyone can be and made him a part of their extended family. We watched a pilot from a reality show that featured the Nash Academy in all its glory. Everyone in the show was smiling and passionate about being a part of Nash. It was easy to see how John and Vivian affected all of us in the grooming business.

I was thrilled that Olga Zabelinskaya took both the American Groomer of the Year and Congeniality awards. She is such a sweetheart and I have yet to see her feathers ruffled about anything. She is always smiling, and is kind and approachable. Way to go Olga!

It was also great to see Deb Ryan take home the International Groomer of the Year award. She accepted by way of a long distance cell phone call (isn't technology awesome) and we all could hear her screams of excitement from Australia.

When the big moment came and I waited to hear if I was this year's winner of the David G. Salzberg award, we all crossed our fingers for luck. Sue Watson, Lisa Leady's big sister and another legend in the grooming business, had the honor of presenting the award. She read the nominations and, while I received a round of applause for my nomination, the winner was Lisa.

My consolations were many and I thank everyone for their support. I would especially like to thank Linda Claflin, who I feel got me the nomination. Also, thanks to Cardinal for their support of the industry, the wonderful letter they sent for my nomination and the delicious Starbuck's coffee I enjoyed with the gift certificate they presented me.

Still, as you can see below, I earned a few other awards which I will treasure. Thanks Ann Stafford who organizes the Atlanta Pet Fair every year for presenting me with a DOXY for my participation in that event. I also helped myself to one of the lovely centerpieces at the awards banquet which is now sitting (and spinning) on my desk. I consider it a consoltion prize, but the real rewards were dining with dear friends old and new, being with my lovely wife and being a part of such an amazing business!

Let's hear it for everyone who lost this year!

American Groomer of the Year
Greta Dalrymple
Kendra Otto
Irina Pinkusevich

International Groomer of the Year
Shaunna Bernardin
Jackie Boulton
Clayton Muniz
Connie Verschuren

Grooming Contest Judge of the Year
Sarah Hawks
Ann Marting
Kathy Rose
Sue Zecco

Grooming Journalist of the Year
Daryl Conner
Teri DiMarino
Missy Salzberg
Chris Sertzel

The Congeniality Award
Jukie Wilkins Pantages
Linda Claflin Phelps
Chris Sertzel
Sue Zecco

David G. Salzberg Award
Chris Sertzel
Chuck Simons

You are ALL WINNERS in my book!

Chuck, Groomers Helper

Article by Daryl Conner, GroomWise Blogger, Hairs of the Dogs

I began to learn how to groom dogs by practicing on Drummer the cocker spaniel. He was the first dog that was all mine, a gift from my high school boyfriend. I loved that dog with such a fevered passion that I didn’t dare let him out of my sight to go to the local grooming shop. I worried he would be upset if he were away from me. I worried some harm might come to him while he was groomed.



Looking back, my fears were silly. But they served the purpose of embarking me on a lifelong career that I am passionate about- a definite benefit to my early neurosis! Who knows what I would have taken on as a job if the local grooming shop had offered me the option of watching Drummer being groomed by way of a web cam?

Sean Dowling, owner of Sean Patrick’s Pet Spa in Laurel, Maryland, offers this very thing! People logging onto his business web site www.seanpatrickspetspa.com can click onto a link that allows them a live view of the inside workings of his salon. A click of the mouse allows the viewer to scan the room. Potential customers can view not only the layout of Sean’s shop, but can see how pets are cared for during the grooming process. Concerned clients can drop their dog off then go home and watch it while it is beautified. Isn’t technology wonderful?

I asked Sean some questions about the latest edition to his business:

What made you decide to install a web cam?

“I got the idea because lots of kennels now have web cams so people can see their pet while they are away. I thought clients might like it for grooming as well. It also gives me the opportunity to monitor my Spa when I can't be there.

What costs were involved in setting this up?

My web camera cost about $350. I had a cheaper one prior to this but it never worked very well and was not interactive. The manufacturer provides a free site to host it and I already had web access in my Spa, so clients can access it via a link on my web site.

Was it difficult to set up?

No, but I didn't set mine up. My web guy was here doing some other tech stuff so I had him hook it up for me. However, I think many groomers could do it themselves.

What does your staff think about being on camera?

I don't think they were thrilled at first but my shop is already very open. There are large windows all around so people can see us work. They adjusted to it very easily. They know that their income is based on the income of the Spa and they saw very quickly that clients love the camera and use it so they know it’s a "good' thing.

What kind of response have you had from customers?

Very positive! They are a bit reluctant to admit they were on it at first but with a little prodding from me they do. Almost all of my new clients will go home and log on. I have a sign at the front of the spa that lets them know we have a web cam now and how to access it.

What kind of response have you had from other groomers?

Surprisingly negative. All have said they would not have one in their shop/spa/salon or wouldn't like working in a grooming facility that had one. I didn't expect that.

What draw backs do see to having a web cam?

So far I can’t think of any. If we have a particularly difficult dog that might convey a bad impression on the cam to someone that does not understand that not all dogs cooperate the web cam can be easily turned off. However, we seldom turn it off.

What benefits do you see to having a web cam?

Clients love it! They think it’s a great idea. I'm sure many of them will tell their friends about it, leading to more referrals. None of my competitors have one. The camera keeps me as well as my employees on our toes! Clients doing web searches for a new groomer can access the web cam and check us out before ever visiting the spa. It certainly sets us apart for someone searching on line for a groomer. And here is an interesting aside; I'm starting to notice that fewer people call asking if their pet is ready yet and rushing us.

Are there any other thoughts you'd like to share?

I have a great group of people working for me. We laugh and joke around throughout the day and I think that comes across on the web cam. People want to take their pets to a happy place with nothing to hide.

Sean takes full advantage of many of the latest and greatest technological trends to help his business grow and thrive. While the idea of being under scrutiny may make some stylists uncomfortable, the appeal a web cam would hold for the pet grooming consumer is obvious. I know I would have loved to be able to watch my beloved Drummer dog be groomed all those years ago. In fact, I tune in to watch Sean and his staff groom from time to time just for the fun of it now!

Daryl Conner, GroomWise Blogger, Hairs of the Dogs

Article by Daryl Conner, GroomWise Blogger, Hairs of the Dogs

When I first started grooming cats 25 or so years ago, my husband said, "Isn't that a lot like juggling chainsaws?" The honest answer to that question is; it can be. But in my experience, grooming cats is an interesting challenge, a much needed (and lucrative) service and a great topic of conversation at parties.



It all started for me when I was a fairly new groomer. I had what I considered to be my dream job, working at a large state of the art veterinary hospital. My boss was a genius, but he had a rather mercurial temperament. One day he walked past me as I was bathing a dog and said, "I booked you a couple of cats for tomorrow." I said, "Oh. I don't do cats." He kept walking, and said over his shoulder, "Then you are fired!"

I stopped at the library that night and checked out every cat book I could find that mentioned anything about grooming. I studied late and went to work early, asking the doctors there for input on handling felines. Both the cats and I survived that first grooming effort. From then on I made learning about cats a top priority. I did this by reading, researching, interviewing cat breeders and veterinarians and by grooming as many cats as I could get my hands on. The learning continues and I can safely say that I have groomed thousands of cats over the years.

So, what is in cat grooming for you? There are approximately 60 million owned felines in the United States. And a lot of those cats need to be bathed, have their nails trimmed, be combed out or have a haircut. Adding cat grooming to your skill set and list of services offered can increase your client base and income, adding to your professionalism as well.

Although cats often share our hearts and homes along side dogs, the two animals differ dramatically in how they should be handled. I like to say that while dogs can be reasoned with, cats must be dealt with on their own terms. In fact, some cats seem to come with a built in timer… they might let you work on them 1 second, 5 minutes, or seemingly endlessly. But when their timer goes off, they are DONE, and if you are smart, you'll stop before one of you gets hurt. There are simple steps that can be taken to help cats stay calm in the grooming environment:

House cats in high cages. They feel safer when they are looking down on their surroundings.

If possible, place the cat's carrier into the cage with it. Leave the carrier door open so the cat has the option of sitting on top of the carrier or "hiding" inside. This makes them feel more confident and secure. House cats far from barking dogs.

Work on cats as soon as possible after they arrive in your shop, waiting cats often build up anxiety.
I find that the less physical restraint a cat experiences during grooming, the calmer they are. I rarely use muzzles, and never use cat bags or "bathing cages."

Cats differ from dogs in many physical ways, as well. For example, cats lack the liver enzymes that break down many toxins. Chemicals such as organophospates, carbamates and permethrins that are found in many flea products can be toxic to cats for this reason. Groomers who work on cats should learn to become avid label readers. Use only products that are labeled as being cat safe. It is also important to be aware that cats can have adverse reactions to even "all natural" products. Citrus, lavender and tea tree oil are "natural" items that are often added to pet products and may cause problems when used on felines.

The skin of cats is known to be "thin." Technically, the skin is slightly thinner than that of humans or dogs, but what is of more importance for groomers to understand is that cat skin is not attached to muscle in the same way dog skin is. This means that it tears easily once cut. A small nick can spread with astonishing ease. Utmost care must be used when using scissors, clippers or any sharp grooming instrument.

Why should we trim cats, anyway?

- Rescue grooming - to remove badly matted coat
- To create a unique look
- To "reduce shedding" (cats with trimmed hair still shed, they just shed shorter hairs. This is enough to make some clients very happy.)
- To increase comfort for sick or elderly cats
- To shorten length of coat for ease of care

It is not unusual for me to groom multiple cats per day. Many of the cats that I groom are just bathed, dried and combed well, with no trimming involved. However, in spring and summer I also perform a number of kitty shave downs, either because the pet is matted or just because the owner opts to have less hair for the warm months. On some cats I clip out the belly from armpits to groin and inner thighs, leaving the coat on the back and outer legs long. The cat looks perfectly normal until it rolls over! This type of clip reduces some of the greatest areas of matting without a drastic change of appearance.

If you are interested in learning to groom cats, or would like to increase your knowledge of fabulous felines, I encourage you to check out the Professional Cat Groomers Association of America, www.professionalcatgroomers.com They offer very helpful educational material and a certification program.

By building your knowledge base you will find that grooming felines does not have to be a catastrophe! Instead, it can be an enjoyable and profitable service to offer your clients.

There are benefits to hiring independent contractors (ICs), but there are some disadvantages as well. Before you decide how to staff a grooming business, you need to consider whether its "paws up" or "paws down." Of course, your decision must pass the strict tests of state and federal auditors.

Paws Up Benefits

The benefits are very appealing to business owenrs, and of course saving money tops the list. Even though most employers pay ICs more per hour than they would pay employees to do the same work, it usually ends up costing employers more to hire employees. Oddly enough, many grooming business owners don't think they should be offering a higher commission rate to pet groomers classified as IC’s. Many other trades recognize as fact IC’s deserve a higher hourly rate, or commission rate. It's up to an IC groomer to negotiate their rates. Plenty of newbie pet groomers going IC don't realize this and simply look at an offer as hard and fast. It may be, but it’s not a rule. IC’s have the right to negotiate, and should as a IC's because they are going to have to pay additional costs of operation being self-employed.

When you hire an employee, you have to pay a number of expenses that you don't have to pay for ICs, including employer-provided benefits and various overhead expenses such as supplies, utilities, tools and equipment. You have to make required payments and contributions on behalf of your employees, including: the employer's share of the employee's Social Security and Medicare taxes, which totals 7.65% of the employee's compensation, state unemployment compensation insurance, and workers' compensation insurance. The rule of thumb is to figure your payroll will increase by 25% to 30% to cover these additional costs beyond the gross payroll cost.

Working with ICs allows employers greater flexibility in hiring and letting go of workers. If the business operates where there are strong seasonal fluctuations the advantage of hiring IC’s could be pronounced.

The employer may attain greater efficiency using ICs. Generally IC’s should be offering more specialized expertise. IC's are usually productive immediately, eliminating the time and cost of training. Of course employers may be offering an IC position to groomers with little experience and thereby reversing this benefit.

Employers reduce exposure to lawsuits with IC's. There are variations by state, but generally employees have a wide array of rights under state and federal laws. Employees have more potential to bring legal claims when employers violate their rights. Because ICs are independent businesspeople, they are not protected by many of these employment laws. Among the rights that are available to employees but not to ICs are, 1) minimum wage, 2) possible overtime, 3) protection from discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, color, religion, gender and 4) the right to take time off to care for a sick family member or bond with a new child.

Employees may also be able to sue their employers for wrongful termination. ICs cannot bring this type of lawsuit (although there may be restrictions on your right to terminate an IC relationship, depending on what the written IC agreement.

Paws Down Disadvantages

After reading these benefits some employers may be salivating for IC's like dogs facing tasty treats dangled in front of them. There are significant drawbacks to using ICs, there are risks that an employer's classification decision may be examined by government agencies.

Employers have less control over IC workers. Unlike employees, whom you can closely supervise and monitor, independent contractors enjoy a certain autonomy to decide how best to do the task for which you hired them. If you interfere too much in an IC's work, you risk making the IC look like an employee. If an employer wants to exercise significant control over pet groomers, make them as employees.

Overall IC's may come and go more frequently than employees, especially employees provided attractive benefits. The quality of work you get from various ICs may be uneven. A grooming business needs to have signature styling, and IC's tend to have their own. Confrontations may occur over styling and pet handling standards. Employers who want to rely on the same workers day after day, and have a stronger basis for setting various performance standards, are better off hiring employees rather than ICs.

Your right to fire an IC depends on your written agreement. Agreements are highly affected by state law in which the employer's business operates, as well as employment law for employees. You do not have an unrestricted right to fire a pet care IC, as you might with your employees. Your right to terminate an IC's services is limited by the terms of your written IC agreement. If you fire an IC in violation of the agreement, you could be liable for damages.

You may be liable for injuries an IC suffers on the job. Employees who are injured on the job are usually covered by workers' compensation insurance. In exchange for the benefits they receive for their injuries, these employees give up the right to sue their employer for damages. ICs are not covered by workers' compensation, which means that if they are injured on the job, they might be able to sue you and recover damages.

You face a risk of government audits. In our experience a very large majority of IC's in pet grooming businesses do not qualify. State and federal agencies, particularly the IRS, want to see as many workers as possible classified as employees, not IC's. The reason is clear. The more workers are classified as employees, the more tax and insurance money flows into government coffers. It is less likely workers will underreport or hide their income, because they don't have the opportunities to do so. The employer withholids taxes on behalf of the state and federal agencies. Payroll withholding for employees has proven far more reliable for these agencies.

Several state and federal agencies may audit your business if they believe you have misclassified employees as ICs. At the federal level, you might face an audit from the IRS; the Department of Labor, which enforces federal minimum wage and hour laws; the National Labor Relations Board, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which enforces workplace safety laws.

At the state level, you may have your status reviewed by your state's unemployment compensation or workers' compensation agency if a worker you classified as an IC applies for benefits. You could also face an audit from your state's tax agency. Never underestimate the effort and intent that state and federal agencies will exercise to prove your IC's are actually employees. We've witnessed pet industry business owners face staggering fines and penalties for using IC contracts for what were really employees. Some simply had to close their businesses as a result.

Posted by Admin for Deb Becker of Barkleigh Productions.

Groom & Kennel Expo 2010 Welcomed Thousands of Pet Pros to Pasadena California!

The Pasadena Convention Center was home to Groom & Kennel Expo 2010. Nearly 2,500 attendees gathered February 11- 14, 2010 to the educational and trade show event. Pet professionals were greeted by over 70 exhibitors in nearly 100 booths with new, innovative tools and tips to boost their business.

Groom & Kennel Expo 2010 offered a large selection of seminars on grooming, training and business skills. Leading industry speakers included: Teri DiMarino, Vivian Nash, Hayley Keyes, Linda Easton, Kristen Fulton, Donna Owens, Kendra Otto, Irina Pinkusevich, Eileen Proctor and Groomer Has It’s Marco Lalau.

Groom & Kennel Expo 2010 featured exciting grooming competitions throughout the weekend. Nature’s Specialties presented the Winner’s Circle Tournament. First place winner, Olga Zabelinskaya of Morris Plains, NJ, received $2,500.

The Andis World Cup Grooming Games included five classes: Lambert Kay Sporting Breeds, Terriers and More, Other Purebreds, Chris Christensen Salon/Freestyle and Conair Poodle classes. Each class consisted of three skill levels.

Andis awarded Best in Show winners in all three levels. Andis World Cup Grooming Games Champion was Irina Pinkusevich of Hallandale, FL. She received $3,000. Level 2 Best in Show winner, Deborah Ryan of New South Wales, Australia was awarded $1,500; and Level 1 Best in Show winner, Lisa Jury of Long Beach, CA. was awarded $750.

Groomer to Groomer’s exciting Creative Styling Contest turned out amazing creations. People’s Choice winner, Angela Kumpe, wowed the audience with “Indian Nation”. First Place winner, Lori Craig was awarded $1,500 for her “King of the Safari” creation.

Additional show highlights were: The Mobile Round-up, featuring open access to browse on-site mobile grooming vans; Gifts of Love Silent Auction, thousands of pet industry products were available to the highest bidder. Proceeds from the auction were donated to Gifts of Love International, Inc.


Picture: Irina Pinkusevich, Best in Show

Groom & Kennel Expo 2010 Competition Results

World Cup Grooming Games Champion
Irina Pinkusevich

Best In Show – Level 2
Deborah Ryan

Best In Show – Level 1
Lisa Jury

Poodles
Level 3: (BIC) Irina Pinkusevich, Olga Zabelinskaya, Michell Evans; Level 2: (BIC) Randae Bither, Sharon Hall, Deborah Ryan; Level 1: (BIC) Jessica Cave, Sarah Hall, Kim Kwankwi

Sporting
Level 3: (BIC) Miranda Stonebraker, Irina Pinkusevich, Michell Evans; Level 2: Sharon Hall, Melanie Newman; Level 1: Corie Serviolo

Terrier
Level 3: (BIC) Tammy Colbert, Jeri Hoppe, Amy Friezenberg; Level 2: (BIC) Deborah Ryan, Vanessa Parsons, Carol Hoover; Level 1: (BIC) Lisa Jury, Allan Roston, Cameron Adkins

All Other Purebreds
Level 3: (BIC) Olga Zabelinskaya, Jeri Hoppe, Tammy Colbert; Level 2: (BIC) Deborah Ryan, Sharon Hall, Yumiko Nakamura; Level 1: (BIC) Sharon Helgeson, Margaret Batten, Lisa Jury

Salon Freestyle
Level 3: (BIC) Michell Evans, Jackie Boulton, Jeri Hoppe; Level 2: (BIC) Melanie Newman, Randae Bither, Bill Jividen; Level 1: (BIC) Sandy Hartness, Margaret Batten, Allan Roston


Winner’s Circle Champion
Olga Zabelinskaya

Creative Styling Contest
Lori Craig “King of the Safari” ,Angela Kumpe “Indian Nation”, Deanise Stoops-Kippenhan “Summer of Love”

People’s Choice
Angela Kumpe “Indian Nation”

For information on next year’s Groom & Kennel Expo, February 10 – 13, 2011, visit www.GroomExpo.com or call 717-691-3388.

Author: Deb Becker, Managing Editor
Barkleigh Productions, Inc.

The nominees have been announced for this year's Cardinal Crystal Achievement Awards. You only have until April 11, 2010 to vote, so please visit the web site and cast your vote online. There are some amazing people listed there who are all very deserving of your vote. Good luck to all the nominees!

http://www.cardinalcrystalawards.com...allot_2009.htm

If you don't want to start a grooming business from scratch, buying an existing one may be your alternative. First of all, there are the plusses and minuses.

The plusses are:

Existing Customers: The customers and loyal clients of an existing business have already been developed. A well-planned transition will retain the clientele for the new owner, and thereby maintain the demand for services and cash flow from sales of services. Businesses started from scratch have much less initial cash flow. In fact it can take years to develop a similar level of clientele depending upon the size of the client base purchased with the business.

Immediate Operation: You can start immediately. In fact you don't necessarily have to close business for a day.

Existing Goodwill: Presumably the present owner has created goodwill for the services offered to the community it serves.

Financial Planning: Financing may be easier to obtain because the business has a track record. In fact, new startups can heightened skepticism especially in economic downturns.

Eliminate Competition: Buying a business may eliminate a competitor had you started your own business.

The minuses are:

Problems: There may be unapparent problems in the business that you do not discover till after the sale of the business.

Cost: Sometimes buying an existing business costs more than starting one from scratch. You don't want to pay more than you have to for an existing business.

Obsolete Equipment: Grooming equipment, tools and leasehold improvements may be obsolete or in need of substantial repair.

Personality Conflicts: If some of the existing employees are staying in your employment, there may be personality clashes. Specifically, owners new to the grooming industry keeping very experienced employees may be pushed to pay higher commission wages or salaries or other scenarios taking advantage of the new owner. It really helps when the new owner(s) know how to groom and are not dependent on having no choice but to maintain the present full-charge staff.

Receivables: If the seller is owned receivables from clientele, you may find they are worthless or hard to collect. More often than not pet care providers don't carry accounts.

When buying a business you should exercise caution throughout the entire process from researching it to finally signing a contract of sale. You are strongly urged to have the assistance of a lawyer and accountant throughout the process. Not having both has often been the cause of problems when buying an existing business. Unscrupulous sellers can take advantage of buyers, the courts have seen many such cases. Never buy a business without a contract of sale reviewed by your attorney, never. Don't sign documents relating to the sale without your attorney's prior review.

Get Started

You start by locating a business to buy, researching it exhaustively and making the decision to buy or not.

The PetGroomer.com Classified Ads list grooming businesses for sale. Major pet grooming industry trade magazines also have business for sale classifieds. Your local newspapers, especially major metropolitan newspapers occasionally have grooming business for sale ads. There are major Internet based classified ads web sites you can research from most of the major search engines like Excite, Lycos, and Yahoo. Ask your local commercial real estate broker if they access to regional business for sale listings.

After you locate a business that interests you, start researching it. Now is the deadline to have an attorney and accountant representing you and your interests. The more you research the business the more likely you will make the right decision to buy, or not buy, an existing business. You should be very confident in your purchase.
The seller may ask you to sign a letter of intent to purchase the business, a non-binding offer for the business, before exposing any sensitive information about the business. You may also be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement promising that you won't use the information released for any purpose other than to make the decision to buy.

If a business is for sale, there is a reason. Determine the reason very clearly. Is the business having financial problems? Is the economy of its market area and demand for pet care services eroding? Is it simply poor management? Is the owner simply retiring? A thorough investigation is absolutely warranted. Any problems uncovered must be weighed in making your decision to buy.

A business investigation involves taking a hard, OBJECTIVE look at every aspect of the business. Sometimes the investigation continues even if you have made an offer to purchase, and an escrow has been opened. Your attorney can request that should certain problems be discovered during the escrow you can request adjustments, reimbursements or other solutions to uncovered problems. Here is where you are very much aided by an attorney.

We strongly urge you to have a certified commercial appraiser perform a written appraisal of the business. The owner may have had one done, but you should too. Appraisals are excellent tools to use in price negotiations.

Your investigation should include reviewing the business' documentation, including:

Contracts and Leases: Property and machinery leases, sales contracts and purchases contracts. What are the obligations you are assuming?

Organization: How is the business organized? Is it a partnership, corporation or ? How is it capitalized? Who are the owners, all of them? How is their ownership documented and do you have copies?

Financials: Examine the last three years of financial statements, or further back, to determine the financial condition of the business. Your accountant can be very helpful in this investigation.

Tax Returns: Examine the last three years of business tax returns, or further back, to determine if the business has been profitable and whether there are outstanding tax liabilities. Again, your accountant and lawyer will be very helpful in this part of the investigation.

You should obtain the following documents of any business you are thinking about buying.

Client Records: Does the business keep a client list with service histories? It is one of most important assets of the business. Many grooming business owners easily throw around the size of their client base, like "I have 1,000 regular clients." What is "regular?" There are no rules in the pet industry. We tell you that if a pet owner doesn't come in AT LEAST 2 times, and it really should be a minimum of 4 times a year, they really are not that valuable to the purchase. Take a count of each client and how often they have come in during the last year. Those that come in 4 times a year or more are the ones you can count on for future cash flow, and these are the ones that back the asking price of the business. We have seen client bases overstated by up to 500% many, many times. Really.

Bank Accounts: A list of all business accounts.

Asset List: Asset list of all real estate, equipment, tools and supplies including intangible assets like trademarks and licenses.

Real and Personal Property: Documents such as mortgages, deeds, leases, appraisals, loans and insurance policies.

Sales Records: You want the back up sales records that correlate with the financial records and tax returns.

Advertising and Promotions: Obtain copies of past and present advertising, brochures and buyer's guide ads.

Inventory Receipts: If you are purchasing inventory, check a list of inventory and examine ALL inventory to ensure it is still worthy of selling based on condition or product dating. The examination should be physical and thorough. Sometimes inventory degrades for various reasons, or is not in saleable condition. Check it out thoroughly.

Supplier List: You want a list of all sources the owner uses to obtain supplies, tools, equipment and other vendors.

Employee Records: When you are going to employ existing employees you need their personnel files including any benefits information, payroll records etc.

Licenses and Permits: You need to have all certificates, permits and licenses issued by federal, state or local agencies.

You must evaluate your chances for successfully owning and managing the business you may decide to purchase. That means fully understanding how the business was setup and run until it became available for sale. Can you fulfill the management system running it now? Will the owner provide assistance including consultation assistance for a period of time after the sale is complete? Will the present owner really be able to persuade most of the existing clientele to stay with the business? Oh yes, does your contract of sale ensure that the seller won't open a competing new business in the same trade? Is the price right?

We recommend having 2 or 3 certified commercial business appraisers value the business. Their reports should tell you a great deal if the asking price is reasonable. Ask for the opinion of your accountant and lawyer too. If you have successful business owners among friends and family, ask for their assistance. You are collecting information, and not necessarily confirming that everyone's assessment is correct. But swings in appraised value can be a sign of a problem.

You need to review the financial performance of the business to ensure that you can meet the monthly payments of a business purchased on a loan or note receivable as well as providing income to support your household. This process must be done for each of the new owners looking for income from the business.

Have you considered the costs of opening your own business in the selected area? We suggest you write a business plan for purchasing the business and plan its expansion under your ownership for the next 5 years. Grooming Business in a Box can make that large task much easier.

Our biggest concern for new grooming business owners is this question, "Who is going to be the lead full-charge, full-time groomer?" Hopefully the buyer has that capacity in the beginning. Please review the next section below for more information.

As you complete the investigation and compile the records you gain more insight and confidence in making your decision to buy, or not. Unfortunately, it has been our experience that some pet grooming business owners are lax in maintaining well-organized documentation and if that is so, you are at risk. If you cannot investigate at minimum what has been mentioned here, and your lawyer and accountant are likely to require more, you may be at risk of buying a business and inheriting undiscovered problems. It does happen, be very careful.

Non-Groomers Purchasing a Grooming Business

Occasionally a new client of ours shares their desire to own a grooming business, yet not groom. Their desire is to be an owner/manager. Is it possible? Yes, but there are financial risks.

As a rule of thumb, an owner/groomer "putting down their clippers" to simply own and manage their business needs the net operating of a minimum of 3 full-time full-charge groomers to provide the now non-grooming owner with about the same paycheck previously earned when the owner was also a groomer. Only a large business can support 3 or more full-time groomers. If the business has other sources of revenue, such as a kennel operation or strong retail sales, then the dependency factor is lessened and a positive sign.

What does this mean to non-groomers purchasing grooming businesses? If they are counting personal income from their grooming businesses, and it doesn't have 3 or more full-time groomers working for them at a profitable pace, they cannot count on a steady source of personal income from revenues. When owners groom it is like putting money in their pocket rather than paying wages. Therefore some owners groom part-time and manage part-time, just to ensure steady personal income. Yes, there are exceptions, and there are so many variables here that we could fill this website, but the above mentioned caution is very serious. Owners that don't groom do best when they also manage additional sources of revenue such as boutique sales in the same business.

If you are a non-groomer purchasing a grooming business, we favor the situation where two partners purchase the business, sometimes husband and wife. One grooms full-time and one manages full-time. It can be an excellent strategy. It means the grooming partner is steadily earning a regular paycheck from grooming every working day. This strategy has always worked best for our clients. The managing partner MUST grow the business though, and we suggest using the knowledge in From Problems to Profits-The Madson Management System and the Grooming Business in a Box ® series of workbooks based on that book.

There are more concerns on the next page when you must consider the asking price for the business opportunity.

The Big Question: Is it Worth the Price?

Every buyer has problems determining the market value of a grooming business. Few seek professional help from a grooming consultant or get a formal appraisal completed by an expert in business opportunities. It's a complex topic, but let's get your feet wet with some general guidelines.

You are primarily buying the clientele of the grooming business for sale. Sellers should document how many clients their businesses serve. It is your important task to verify the numbers they provide. For example, a business owner may claim they have 5,000 clients and the business grosses annual revenue of $75,000 a year. Oops! Do the math! If every one of those 5,000 clients came in only once a year (eek! the pets will be in terrible condition too) and the average service fee is a low $30, that alone is 5,000 times $30, or $150,000 a year. So, why is the seller making only $75,000?

Obviously the business does not have 5,000 clients. Yes, 5,000 pet owners may have used their services over past years. But are you going to buy clients that haven't had their pets groomed in the last 6 months? 3 months? You decide. Personally I buy active clients that have their pets groomed at least four times a year. Otherwise I consider them "random" clients as described in the book, From Problems to Profits.

Are there more variables? Of course. You are also purchasing supplies, furniture, fixtures, equipment and leasehold improvements. You should have a list of all physical items you are buying included in your contract of sale. You don't want to take possession of a business and find missing cages, dryers or other items. Be specific, and get it in writing. Attempt to place a used value on all of the physical items to help determine how much they contribute to the selling price.

Perhaps you are buying a mobile business. If vehicles are included in the sale these are important assets. In a commercial location you may be purchasing a nice long lease. But what if the lease is about to face renewal. Will the rent jump? It could. Check it out. Sometimes there are alarming leaps in high growth areas.

Businesses that have been successfully operated for many years have "goodwill" to be appraised and purchased. We took part in a business sale where the logo and goodwill was appraised by three certified commercial appraisers at over $80,000. You know that business was owned by one smart groomer. Goodwill should be documented by a certified commercial appriaser. The amount will appear on your "Balance Sheet" prepared by your business accountant doing company financials. It's an important asset adding to the net worth of the owners.

The general rule of thumb when setting a selling price is to multiply the net annual operating income, or the annual gross sales (for the most recent 12 months) by a factor, we shall call "x." When the economy is tough or flat "x" may only be 1 or possibly 2. The amount doesn't account for physical real estate, vehicles or similar large assets part of the sale and which should be formally valued separately. Typically only major businesses with significant goodwill achieve a selling price of 1 or 2 times annual gross sales. Be careful. The net annual operating income and annual gross sales figures should be documented by an accounting professional. Don't rely on figures based solely on bookkeeping by the seller. An appraiser requires documentation such as professionally prepared business tax returns and tax returns of the owner(s).

There is one final task that can be very helpful before you buy a business. Take its professionally prepared financials from the last 12 months and enter those figures in Year 1 of the Income Projection of the Pet Grooming Business Plan Helper & Sampler, and then forecast the next 4 years of operation under your ownership in Years 2 to 5. You can reflect price increases, rent increases, changes in staff and compensation, new equipment purchases, remodeling, and a long list of other operating expenses and asset investments. If you require a bank loan for the purchase your bank is nearly certain to require such as a business plan. Nothing makes it easier than using Grooming Business in a Box.