The Continuing Saga...Six Weeks Later!

My last post about the new salon was December 8th when I closed with “Well, that's all for show and tell. I'll update again next week.” I should have said next month…or even next year! It really does only seem like last week to me. The truth is there are not enough hours in the day!  
    Our soft-opening was January 12th, with a Grand Opening planned for March. I want to make sure we are situated and prepared for success before sending out the press releases, scheduling the ribbon cutting and open house. My brain is no longer on fire, but has settled into a slow simmer. The body, well, that is another story. On our first day of business we had a walk-in customer needing her shih-tzu groomed. My manager Pam (a dear friend of many years) and I were so thrilled! We were ohhing and awwing at this cute little shih-tzu like this was the first furry creature we had ever seen! Looking back it was really kind of embarrassing. The pet-parent thought her fur-baby may have picked up a flea or two, so immediately  Pam and I drop to our knees and start picking through this little dog’s coat like a couple of monkeys. Well, we found what we were looking for, but neither one of us could get up off the floor. It occurred to me at that very moment that the salon should have been named To Old Broads and a Dog.
  In spite of the weather (it was 25 degrees the whole first week we were open) and the economy, we really are off to a good start. The first week we had clients scheduled every day, 25 people with a total of 35 pets. Many were watching the progress of the building and had called to make appointments before we were even open. As the week wore on, the body became more and more exhausted and in fact, the knee and back pain I was feeling was really kind of scary. Pam’s feet were killing her! Together we were a mess! I’d like to think that I am frugal, but honestly, sometimes I am just cheap. I have never spent 100 dollars on shoes. Never, ever! But by Saturday, not only had I laid out $125.00 for a pair of Dansko shoes (surgeons wear them) I also bought a lifetime supply of Glucosamine Chondroitin and hired a part-time bather. The Frankenstein-clog looking shoes really have made a difference. I have had no knee pain, but I would not win any fashion contest from the knees down.  
   At any rate, there are lots of fun facts and humorous stories about our first couple weeks in business that I want to share with you. Hopefully we will get to those before another six weeks zooms by. But for now I want to share some of the photos taken during the renovation in preparation for our new salon.
We are using special terms to describe the areas of the salon. The holding area is referred to as the Zen Zone. We are using low light, pheromones and a water fountain to help keep the pets relaxed while they rest in their suites.  We will be adding a lavender diffuser and flute music, if I can ever get my husband or son to get the music on the iPod. If Craig and Payton take much longer to get my music together I am going to buy a flat screen TV to replace the fountain in the Zen Zone, just to mess with them.

Finally the walls are up. The bank of cages will fit between the two poles. Little did we know the door and frame would have to come down to jockey the cage through the opening. We could not have spared one more centimeter.

The drywall and sanding just never ended! The only thing worse was painting, which went on for weeks!

We chose a very rich and elegant Dark Truffle color in Valspar Signature paint. I love this color!

This is the view from the suites. I really am very happy with this space.

Now, we move to the Spa Room...

I went with two PetLift tubs, which I LOVE!! The floor was raised (due to the very high plumbing pipes coming out of the wall) and then tiled. The walls are covered in plastic paneling which looks really nice and clean. They are easy to wipe hair from. We just placed the tubs for measuring in this photo. 

The clutter was making me crazy, but as we were trying to fit and attach the cabinetry I had to live with the mess. It was worth it....
 
A few of my Homeys...Trey, Joe and my son Payton. Hey Girls...Aren't they CUTE????

This is the pretty much finished space. The room has a large window to the right that floods the room with natural light. We use an exhuast fan and dehumidifier to keep the room dry. We have the PlaqClnz Irrigators attached to the faucets. Easy to hook up and use.  

Well, that is all for now. Gotta get home and make dinner. Will pick up later with the continuing saga of A Fortunate Dog Spa, ahh I meant Two Old Broads and a Dog.  

Comments

[Dawn]

Wow, it looks GREAT! Wish you were close enough for us to bring our 4 dogs to you! Everytime I take my dogs to the beach "Sadie" brings home sand fleas which she is very allergic. If I don't "catch" them quickly she ends up having to wear a cone collar to stop from ripping off her fur....

You are primed for success and once the snow melts, spring will bring you lots of furry friends

[camille]

Your place is beautiful. And as a 53-year-old groomer who has been out of the field for a few years, and thinking about jumping (or hobbling) back in, I am interested to hear how you are holding up. :o)

[Vicki Kuykendall]

I can remember working on the first place you opened...I also remember the basement shop at your house. Many many years ago!! We have never lost our love for animals! Your new place looks wonderful! I'll have to bring Myra, one of my bassett hounds in for grooming. Don't know how much you can do with a bassett hound. Best of luck..Can't wait to stop in and see the place.