Should I or not!

[Bluerolex]

Hi, 30 years in the business of cutting hair in NYC, decided to do a complete turn around and groom dogs. Started out grooming my cocker bella, and everyone would ask, where do you groom your dog, she looks so beautiful and that was it for me...Tired of dealing with all the drama from doing hair and really not being appreciated for my art I gave it up, and now loving what I do, for the 1st time in my life I will be opening my own shop in several months...I am deadly afraid because of the economy! but there are no groomers for 30 miles from where I live. So I think I may have a shot....Its amazing that I could look at a specific breed and duplicate the cut..I have been grooming for over 8 months...Comments from clients Say Go For it! My question to you all is (I'm I crazy or could this really work for me?) Thanks Bluerolex

[groomingfool]

Well hello there and welcome to the boards! I say go for it! This is a great place to get the information you need to get your business up and running. Where in PA are you? We're in the northeast, near Wilkes Barre. If you need anything, just ask.

[kayc]

Jodi Murphy, started out a hair stylist, then became a world grand champion dog groomer. Good luck, you'll really enjoy it.

[artman100]

Go for it

You only live once.Im now 41 yrs old I have been a butcher for over 20 yrs along with doing graphic art on the side.Sometimes its not enough to be great at something or to be content!As humans we seek possibilities within ourselves, we are animals too.A change of pace is in our souls,we are seekers and we crave new adventure and new settings.Why is it exciting to go to a strange place to be intimate with our partners or read a book on the beach when we can do both at home.life is about the flower of change and the ever-changing beast within us.I have four little dogs,and I have always groomed them and the funny part is I did a better job than any groomer that I took them to could have done.I decided to make the leap to be a groomer also and its been a real hoot.I still am learning and growing but I have never looked back and I am once again content.GO for it!!

[Mitch73]

You should go for it if you love it. Be warned. There can be just as much drama in a grooming shop and there will be people that dont appreciate you or what you do. You may spend hrs. on a dog and it look absolutely perfect and be so proud of it and the client not say one word about how it looks. There's good and bad in every business.

[keyray]

Tired of dealing with all the drama from doing hair and really not being appreciated for my art I gave it up

Well, welcome to the same only with the drama of pet mommies. But it is not all the bad. I absolutely love working with dogs, so it makes up for it.

I think you should go for it. If you do and it doesn't work out then at least you know you explored the road, but I think you will second guess yourself if you don't.

Good luck.

[Bluerolex]

Hello

Well hello there and welcome to the boards! I say go for it! This is a great place to get the information you need to get your business up and running. Where in PA are you? We're in the northeast, near Wilkes Barre. If you need anything, just ask.

Thank you for the heads up..I am west of the Poconos past Tobyhanna area... Do you have a business?....I'm excited but also very afraid. Any info on getting started that you can give me will be greatly appreciated... Thanks again Bluerolex

[Bluerolex]

Thank you!

Thank you sooo much for all your positive feedback! I will the information given and follow my heart. I wish that i could start a business from home, but where I live its a gated community and its not allow, so I am force to rent a store front...which is another added expense. Can anyone tell what is a Must have...and what I can do without! Thanks again for all your help!!! Bluerolex

[Smart-n-Pretty]

[I]f you are allergic to drama you are in the wrong field.[/I]

[keyray]

[I]f you are allergic to drama you are in the wrong field.[/I]

I'll tell you something, nothing bets the drama between the vet techs at where I work. The four groomers where I work get along GREAT!

[Bluerolex]

Drama!

[I]f you are allergic to drama you are in the wrong field.[/I]

This is why after 30 years....I got out of the hair business, because women will make comments like this with out even knowing who you are. There are women that create drama because they need or want attention or need to be notice somehow...
Dealing with dogs to me, and this is my opinion only! is completely different than dealing with women...They don't talk back!!! they love you no matter what!!!! they will be your friends forever....
Women would come into the shop for 3hrs. and all they taught about & bad mouth there husbands, children, there friends,family, how they hate their lives! this to me is drama....Dealing with animals the clients drop them off and picks them up. No Drama!!! That's what I meant!!!

[lefty]

This is why after 30 years....I got out of the hair business, because women will make comments like this with out even knowing who you are. There are women that create drama because they need or want attention or need to be notice somehow...
Dealing with dogs to me, and this is my opinion only! is completely different than dealing with women...They don't talk back!!! they love you no matter what!!!! they will be your friends forever....
Women would come into the shop for 3hrs. and all they taught about & bad mouth there husbands, children, there friends,family, how they hate their lives! this to me is drama....Dealing with animals the clients drop them off and picks them up. No Drama!!! That's what I meant!!!

>>>

My mom groomed for 40 years, and I've been grooming for 12 professionally.

And I don't want you to interpet what I am saying as any sort of discouragement. I love to hear of new people with real skills coming into the business.

Unfortunately, most dogs are owned by people, (about 75% of my client's dogs are owned by women). And there is plenty of drama in dog grooming.

Not all the dogs are going to love you, no matter how gentle and careful you are. Remember you are often dealing with someone's handling mistakes when you are grooming a new client's dog.

I was told by one groomer I was trying to rain, that this was the worst job she had ever had, and she hated it after 2 weeks.

I am thrilled that someone who can represent the profession in a good light is thinking of coming into the business, but I want you to have a realistic view of what it is to groom dogs. Often the easiest part is getting the haircut right.

I've been peed on, pooped on, vomited on, bitten scratched and snarled at. I've had to deal with all sorts of bodily fluids that are unpleasant.

I count myself lucky that I've only been bitten twice badly enough to have to seek medical attention (by dogs). More often by cats. I'm really strong, and can dead lift 80 lbs, by myself. Lots of groomers develop back, shoulder, elbow and carpel tunnel problems. Knock on wood, I've not had any of those.

All that being said, I love grooming, I have had other jobs, and this is the best fit for me. I'm really passionate abut the services that I provide for pets and their owners. And I wish you well at the start of what I'm sure is a wonderful journey.

[gitl]

Definitely Do It!

Where were you while I was looking for a great hairdresser in Manhattan? AND, I really appreciate creativity! Sorry you're not here anymore, as I would have loved to get together. One of my groomer friends was also a hairdresser, but she moved to Florida. BooHoo.
I began grooming after many, many years in corporate world and I've never looked back!

[k2p1e]

before you take the big plunge get some feedback from some groomers on your quality of work...had a friend who was a hairdresser but would do her friends dogs on the side. Her friends and family encouranged her to open a shop and she did...6 months later she is freaked out, working a second job and has very few new repeating clients...her grooming is not as good as she thought it was, she gets many complaints...

So before taking that plunge take some pics of your work, have some groomers critique it online, then do a business plan (boring but 100% necessary), then save and have enough to survive off of for 6 months or longer, because in this economy it can take a while to build a good clientelle..

[wet noze]

Everyone has good advice. I just have to add one thing. Your plan, yes it can be done. There is a small percentage of people who get into grooming just like you and do succeed. I say this because from what you have said you feel you have a natural talent. I would be more concerned with running the business end. I think you should purchase the book "From Problems To Profits." This book tells you how to run a successful grooming shop. I would also do a search and read all the posts by "Chuck." He's had a shop forever and is our resident wise man.

I went mobile right out of grooming school. My business took right off. I credit it to having a talent but even more important I spent a year reading up on the business end. I wasn't going to fail or make any mistakes if I could help it. If I were you I would spend lots of time on the grooming websites reading and taking notes. Make sure you know what you're doing before you jump in. Best of luck! It's very exciting!