As the calendar flips to 2012, most groomers can count themselves lucky to be part of an industry that has often been described as “recession resistant.” Though the recession technically ended over two years ago, and the country has been able to avoid a double-dip with the dreaded r-word—at least so far—economic conditions in this country, and around the world for that matter, remain far from ideal.

If you were to poll a few pet grooming salon owners, most are likely to report that there is always some issue weighing them down and robbing them of peace of mind and sleep. But some problems are worth having and are downright enviable. Being in such high demand that the appointment book has more pencil lead than blank space is one of them.With pet grooming services becoming more popular, some groomers are finding themselves with more clients than they know what to do with.

The process of staffing a grooming salon can take many directions, depending upon the type, size and goals of the business. It’s easy to think about the challenges of hiring and training appropriate staff for a larger salon with multiple employees already in place, but what about the smaller salons and the one-man shows? The vast majority of grooming salons still have one to three employees. What are their staffing needs and how are they handled? As it turns out, they’re not so different from larger businesses.

Here is a scenario that plays out in far too many grooming salons across the country: While picking up her four-legged loved one, a loyal client asks for the groomer’s opinion about the many varied pet diets on the market. Not surprisingly, the groomer has a definite point of view when it comes to dog food and explains that she is a big advocate of Brand X. “I’m not familiar with that brand,” says the client. “Where can I find it?”“Around the corner at Joe’s Pet Shop,” replies the groomer, who has just helped not only the client, but also Joe around the corner.

"I shall not today attempt further to define [obscenity]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it...."That famous statement, uttered by late Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in 1973, could just as easily have been said about ethics. Difficult to define in words for most people, good ethics are, for the most part, easily recognized. There is no universal code of ethics, a single standard of behavior to which everyone in every situation can, should and will adhere.

The question of whether the pet grooming trade should be formally regulated is an often-debated issue both within the industry and in state legislative arenas. Many think the single biggest reason to establish some type of regulatory oversight over the industry would be to secure the safety of both the pets and the groomers.

Apparently, 2010 was a good year for most groomers. Despite the ongoing economic turmoil that has dominated public discourse–and tightened consumer wallets–many grooming businesses saw their bottom line grow over the past 12 months.About sixty percent of the groomers who responded to a recent Grooming Business online poll said their business experienced at least some growth in income during 2010, with more than 70 percent of them (44 percent of total responses) reporting an up-tick of five percent or more.

There is an overabundance of software out there for grooming salons–a really confusing amount, especially for someone who is not a computer guru. What’s more, software can be a costly purchase for a salon, so it’s important to properly evaluate options in order to make the right choice the first time. The right product can save time and increase income, while the wrong one may cost time and money, as well as causing errors and endless aggravation.

When I first sat down to write this article about regulating the grooming industry, I reread some of the material written by my journalistic peers in the industry.  There was a lot of research done, bills reviewed, phone calls made, and the issue had been covered thoroughly and in great detail.  Many of the voices of professional groomers that took up this issue with great passion and concern were quoted, and the argument was made regarding licensure and regulation from varying perspectives.  So, what is my angle here, I asked myself?  What is the spin that can be helpfu

We all know the many benefits of mobile grooming for consumers and their pets. First, it eliminates customers’ trips to the salon, making it incredibly convenient, especially for those dog owners who are busy or who work full time. It is also the perfect option for pets that get nervous or sick during car trips, don’t get along well with other dogs, or are elderly or ill. Also, mobile grooming provides clients with personal, one-on-one styling services right in their own driveway. But how does mobile grooming benefit the stylist? First and foremost, there is a financial benefit.