In February 2020, I took step one towards my dream by opening Central Bark as a desk renter in two completely different salons in our village. Little did I do know, this was the start of an unbelievable journey. Not lengthy after, one of many salon house owners approached me with the chance to take over the lease and buy the enterprise. I had at all times dreamed of proudly owning my very own high-street salon, so I seized the possibility, invested all my financial savings, and formally opened my very own salon in March 2021. I supply a variety of companies, together with mud baths, de-shedding, Emmi-Pet enamel cleansing, pet periods, and my speciality—handstripping. If I may handstrip all day, each day, I might be in my aspect! A few of my shoppers journey from outdoors the realm for this specialised service.
My journey into the world of canine grooming started after I was simply 13 years previous – I’m now approaching 30! My mom opened her own residence salon, and I rapidly grew to become concerned with bathing and drying canine. By the point I used to be 15, I used to be a fully-fledged groomer. I additionally competed in handstripping lessons at grooming reveals, profitable the Greatest Handler 2015 achievement award after a restraint-free grooming session on the English Groomers Group Problem.
Since my final characteristic in Complete Grooming, so much has modified. I made the daring choice to relocate the salon to a bigger and higher house inside the village. This transfer got here after a virtually year-long battle with my earlier landlord, who had breached the lease. After months of relentless effort and a decent turnaround to get the brand new salon prepared, all of the arduous work paid off. In September 2024, I proudly opened the doorways to my dream salon.
The brand new salon boasts more room, new tools—together with my hydrobath, which I actually couldn’t reside with out now—and incorporates a separate bathing and drying room. Our reception and ready space has been expanded and now features a retail house crammed with pure canine treats. Our new location provides handy parking and, in contrast to our earlier house that was flooded with direct daylight, we now not want to shut throughout the hottest components of the yr. Because of the brand new premises, enterprise is booming, and I’m busier than ever! I’m now seeking to rent an apprentice to assist me handle the rising demand.
I’m extremely grateful to the loyal shoppers who’ve supported me since day one. With out their belief, my dream wouldn’t have been attainable. The vast majority of my shoppers adhere to a daily grooming cycle, coming in each 4-8 weeks, with just a few choosing 3 to 4-week bath-tidy and full grooming rotations. The truth is, 95% of my shoppers block-book for the whole yr—the final two working weeks for December 2025 had been absolutely booked by January!
Because the final time I used to be featured, I returned to the competitors circuit in April 2024 after a nine-year break and entered the South East Grooming Present with Rhubarb, a Border Terrier within the “Open Handstrip Terrier” class—my first time competing within the open group. I had an incredible expertise, ending in third place and profitable the “Greatest Method” award, certainly one of 4 particular awards offered that morning. This reignited my ardour for grooming competitions, and I stay up for getting into extra reveals sooner or later.
Moreover, I used to be honoured to be nominated for Wiltshire’s Greatest Pet Grooming Enterprise 2023 on the England Enterprise Awards. The
competitors was fierce and was the biggest class of the night, and to my astonishment, I gained! I used to be overwhelmed with gratitude for each single shopper who voted and supported me, as this recognition wouldn’t have been attainable with out them.
My mission has at all times been to supply a wholesome, constructive grooming expertise in knowledgeable, stress-free surroundings. I deal with each canine as in the event that they had been my very own, with the identical love and respect. The bond I develop with the canine I groom is what really drives me. No activity is just too large or small, and I’m particularly obsessed with working with canine who’ve behavioural challenges. There’s nothing extra rewarding than gaining the belief of a canine that was as soon as fearful of grooming. I at all times guarantee I by no means push a canine past their limits, specializing in constructing belief by time, endurance, and loads of high-reward treats. The top result’s a contented, well-groomed pet, and realizing I’ve helped them get there may be essentially the most fulfilling a part of my job. Central Bark has really develop into my dream come true, and I’m excited for the long run.
My high recommendation to all groomers is to prioritise your well-being and psychological well being by sustaining a wholesome work-life stability. With out it, you’ll rapidly really feel overworked and danger burnout. Canine grooming is bodily demanding, so take heed to your physique, spend money on high-quality tools, and ensure to take breaks. Gas your physique with correct meals relatively than counting on snacks and power drinks—your physique will thanks in the long term.
It’s additionally essential to ascertain stable insurance policies, akin to clear cancellation and no-show tips, and keep on with them. Good customer support is vital—house owners wish to really feel assured and comfy leaving their canine with you. Nonetheless, don’t permit clients to be impolite or reap the benefits of you. Bear in mind, it’s what you are promoting, and you’ve got the suitable to implement your guidelines.
Most significantly, ensure you are charging what you’re price. Do you absolutely perceive what you are promoting’s every day or hourly prices? Don’t undercut your self—don’t concentrate on what others are charging, as every groomer has completely different overheads and every day targets to satisfy. Know your numbers and keep on with them. Canine grooming is a talented, demanding job, and also you should be compensated on your arduous work. If you happen to’re not sure of your pricing or enterprise prices, converse to an accountant or enterprise coach. There’s loads of help on the market. I extremely suggest Invoice Betts’ Pet Ardour to Revenue Enterprise Assist group—his podcasts are particularly insightful! Wanting again, I want I had found Invoice and his program on the very begin of my Central Bark journey. Whereas I knew how you can groom, I didn’t absolutely perceive how you can run a enterprise to its fullest potential. Now, I’ve extra confidence in myself and my enterprise, and my enterprise is prospering.
And for these of you who could have heard of Chet the Cockapoo and his viral hate mail on TikTok and Fb—sure, I’m the dreaded canine groomer! If you happen to haven’t heard of him but, make sure you take a look at our Fb web page for a superb snort!
