Category Archives: Pet Grooming

The Myth that DIY/Self-Wash Dilutes In-Store Grooming, Part 2

Grooming has evolved from an elite segment of the overall pet industry into a necessary, must-have segment for pet retailers, retailers and catalogs. Credit must go to entrepreneurs who created a need for a service that few could do well: pet grooming.

Initially, the most successful were businessmen with little knowledge of pet grooming themselves, but who researched and developed a sound approach to the grooming business. Their establishments were attractive, open and above all spotlessly clean. They offered low prices for the self-wash customers (DIYers) to come in, use superior equipment and supplies, and dry their animals in a safe and professional location without the messy and time consuming clean-up at home. They marketed extras which approached what the professional groomer would charge for the same service. After the DIYers 4th visit, in about 40% of the cases, they requested a quote for the staff groomer providing the same service and voilà, we now have a new grooming industry client.

The Myth that DIY/Self-Wash Dilutes In-Store Grooming, Part I

Grooming an animal properly is very tedious work and takes far more experience and skill than the average person can competently accomplish. The length and type of coat adds even more complexity, and requires expensive and difficult to master equipment to successfully do the job.

Many believe a loss of business occurs to in-house groomers due to grooming equipment sales to DIYers or self-wash services, but they ignore the explosive growth of “Grooming” as the hottest, most profitable segment in the retail pet industry. Added services such as boarding, veterinary, training and animal rescue have helped promote an upward trajectory in this consistently growing market.