New England Grooming Show information coming soon!
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Friday Programs

Groomer's Business Summit: Starting Right and Staying on Track

Teri DiMarino

Let’s face it, do we ever really know everything there is about running a business? There is always room for input, and this four-session summit will help answer some of the questions you may have about your business. From opening the doors, finding clients, hiring employees, record keeping, payroll and pricing, it is a daunting task just to keep your head above water and make a profit.

Part 1) Building the Ideal Grooming Salon:

This slide presentation will take you from the floor to the ceiling and wall to wall in the construction of a new, state of the art grooming salon that maximizes space and profits. Highlights will include the fine art of setting up a big salon in a small area by using labor-saving equipment, effective storage and “vertical square footage”. High visibility grooming and client comfort will be addressed, as well as some hidden aspects of salon ownership, such as seeking locations, leases, landlords and advertising.

Part 2) The Paper Chase:

Hiring and firing employees is never easy and governmental regulations require a business owner to do a lot more to keep things on the straight and narrow with the labor boards and your employees. Teri will go through some of the fine detail on the paperwork that is necessary in your business to keep you in compliance and avoid problems down the road.

Part 3) Pricing, Percentages and Profits:

Teri will share her business savvy and expertise on running a lucrative salon. ”What do I need to consider before setting my prices?” “How do I raise my prices” “What are my margins?” “Am I making a profit?” Why are my employees making more than me?” These, and a lot more questions, will be answered to help keep your salon productive and profitable. Payroll options will also be a topic of conversation in this seminar.

Part 4) Are You an Employee or an Independent Contractor?

This has been an ongoing dilemma in the pet grooming industry for years. In an effort to avoid excessive taxation, some groomers, or employers, resort to some pretty creative employment policies. While they may solve issues in the beginning, alternative tactics can really become a huge can of worms for everybody. Teri will spell out the pros and cons, and also address the most common questions about the differences between paying commission, hourly or salary, and try to shed some light on this controversial area. This class is sure to be an eye opener on all fronts.

Cat Grooming Summit

Dana Chavez-Rey

Join Master Groomer Dana Chavez-Rey, global educator for Andis, for this four-hour Cat Grooming Summit. Dana will start with a brief overview of feline anatomy and physiology including a few basic functions, like why cats rub or scratch surface areas. She will discuss recognizing distress and aggression in felines, and what causes these reactions. How do you identify these signs before they excel, and when is it appropriate to end the grooming session? Dana will help you spot these behavior issues before the cat reacts aggressively.

Not all grooming equipment is appropriate for use on felines. Dana will go over the must-haves for cat grooming and answer the questions, Why invest so much? What is right for me and my cat clients? Where to purchase from and why? Lastly, Dana will do a live cat grooming demonstration and discuss differences in the staple cat trims. She will touch on safe alternatives to working with cats and modified techniques based on feline temperament. Dana’s Cat Grooming Summit is a can’t-miss for every groomer who works with cats!

Bichons From the Best

Olga Zabelinskaya

Olga’s Bichons are top in the industry. In this seminar, Olga will explain how to groom the Bichon Frise with snap-on combs, how to avoid mistakes, and how to make them look like show dogs, but in a shorter cut that your clients will love. She will also share in-between haircut maintenance, tips and tricks that are “to die for.”

Daily Doodle Dos

Blake Hernandez

In this everyday dog seminar, Blake will tell you exactly how to maximize money and minimize madness on these majestic mutts—from how to schedule, handle and educate a daily doodle client to all Blake’s go-to tips to make every hour a power hour! One thing every doodle has in common is that they are part Poodle, and that Blake’s jam!

Burnout: How to Spot This Career Killer

Mindy Dinwiddie

Burnout—we’ve all felt it at one point or another, or heard the term thrown around. This is an insidious problem that can slowly creep into any part of our life. One does not simply wake up burnt out, it takes time. Learn what to look out for, in both our grooming and personal life, and some simple tools to take home to combat it and stop it before it starts.

"Bad" Dogs Deserve to Be Cute Too

Markie James

In this class, Markie James will go over the needs of the pets we don’t always look forward to seeing on our schedule. She will discuss safe handling techniques, the large variety of restraint tools available in the pet care industry, and how and when to use them. When is it OK to try and when is it OK to just say “no”? She will also discuss “molding” an appropriate clip for the pet and their behavior. It is important to have clear, honest, and compassionate communications with the owner of a difficult pet, with the goal of establishing a regular (and happy) grooming schedule.

Friday Evening

Embrace the Fusion Revolution

Olga Zabelinskaya

This new style of grooming is so popular, and embracing it is our key to profitability! Olga will demonstrate and explain how to make your customers’ dogs looks like a baby dolls, teddy bears, or stuffed animals. Japanese- or Asian-style grooming helps to "sell" your grooms and attract new customers!

Running Your Business to Its Maximum Potential

Joey Villani

We all go through the same things in business when we’re having a hard time figuring out what we should be charging, dealing with difficult clients, and figuring out how to move forward. If you are struggling with this, then this is the seminar for you! Figure out what you should be charging, how to streamline your day-to-day operation, and be confident that you are doing everything to its maximum potential.