This Grooming Life

And Now 20 Years Later ~ The New Salon ~ I Must Be Nuts!

I must be nuts! At 50+ years of age I am opening a new salon. It seems like yesterday, but in fact it has been 20 years ago since I left the day-to-day grooming grind. At the time I owned and managed (well attempted to manage) three salons. My husband Craig and I were expecting our first baby dog groomer and I was absolutely burned out. The day to day grind came to an abrupt end when, at 6 months into the pregnancy, a very good customer (I had used her gorgeous chocolate mini poodle in competition many times) barged into the salon and accused me of being rude to her husband on the telephone. What? I stood with my mouth agape and wondered who was this monster in my customer’s body and why was she yelling at me? At any rate, after a moment of stunned silence on my part, I felt the trickle of blood running from my nostrils. It was time for me to hang up my clippers. This three salon, running myself ragged stuff for people like this was…well, just not worth it anymore. Besides, I was planning on breeding dog groomers in captivity and this kind of stress could have a negative impact on the prototype groomer still in the oven. 

It was a tough adjustment. I was quite sure the customers and their dogs would be devastated without me. How were my employees going to actually get themselves up and out of bed and drive to work without me? They would miss me and everyone one would wish they would have been nicer, tipped bigger, not complained about the yearly price increase, been on time for work and appointments…surely, this would show them. Accept, the truth is, that in a matter of a couple months, the consensus was, “Karla who?” The new salon owners had found their stride, rid themselves of some dead wood (lazy employees) and were well into building their own meaningful relationships with the customers and their dogs. Wow, talk about a has-been that never was! 

And so today, 20 years wiser, or maybe just older, I am opening a new salon; A Fortunate Dog Salon, Spa and Boutique. A year ago we moved our current business, PetSmith LLC (we do business on line as www.afortunatedog,com ) from our home to a warehouse. We had outgrown the space, and quite frankly my husband and I were pretty much driving each other crazy. There were days when I would roll out of bed, sit down at the computer, and at 6 that evening I would still be sitting at the computer in my pajamas, hair plastered to my head. This was not healthy. It was time to try to separate work and home life. Good luck with that! But, we agreed moving the business from the home would be a positive first step, atleast I would have to change out of my PJs to go to the office. Craig found the building. It is a 2000 square foot warehouse that sits behind a hair salon. As we pulled in to the driveway that very first time, the clouds parted and the angels sang, as I pointed to the beauty shop and said, “Wow! That would be a perfect location for a grooming salon.” We signed the lease for the back building warehouse and moved in over Labor Day weekend 2008. It felt like this was all meant to be. 

Since that day I have talked about how I would love to open a salon and mentioned to our landlord that we were definitely interested in the front building if it ever became available. As the editor of Pet Boutique & Spa magazine, I have been talking-the-talk for a couple years, sharing great ideas from talented writers, and successful business owners, as well as pulling from my own experience and dreams for the upscale salon and boutique. Well, that front building has been ours now for a week and my brain is on fire trying to plan, organize, source and coordinate all the things that go into opening a new business. And please do not remind me that we are in the jaws of a recession, that banks are not our friends, and that a salon grand opening in January is well, untimely at best and ill-advised at worse.

 So I hope you will check back from time to time to see how this new grooming venture is progressing. I plan on sharing the triumphs and tribulations, the laughter and temper tantrums, from dealing with plumbers to choosing wall colors, to developing our salon menu of services and setting prices. I hope you will remember me in your thoughts and prayers as I learn to walk-the-walk all over again! Oh, and the breeding groomers in captivity business was short lived. As soon as they learned to talk it was all over. But, geez…were they cute!

Groom Expo~GroomTeam USA & A Stroll Down Memory Lane

There was something missing this year at Groom Expo 2009. The show was bigger and better than ever, with more to see and do, more classes, new speakers, great shopping. Another year, and Sally and Gwen have out done themselves…again!  But something was missing. As an IJA Judge, having the honor of judging a few classes at Groom Expo each year, I look forward to seeing new faces in competition, for the opportunity to encourage, to motivate…to be relevant. But, I also look forward to seeing the familiar faces of our most talented groomers, the A list competitors that never fail to WOW the judges and the audience. But this year there was a marked absence, a few of those familiar faces were missing. Hmmm, I wondered, maybe they don’t care for my judging and decided to sit this one out. (Oh Karla, get over yourself!) So on Sunday when the low hum of the trade show floor was interrupted with a special announcement; I listened with great intent. The voice announced the wonderful news. GroomTeam USA took the GOLD…Yes! The Gold! So that is where they were! Lindsey Berry,Veronica Frosch, Irina Pinkusevich and Komako Tamaka were in Germany, taking the Gold! Well, hearing the great news, I got all teary. My heart warmed, I felt the excitement and honor of being a part of this wonderful industry…of this grooming life. Even now, writing this I am welling up. What a dishrag! The announcement took me back to memories of the first GroomTeam USA and a short piece I wrote in 2005 about the experience for the GroomTeam Magazine. I would like to share it with you here.

The year was 1988 (dinosaurs roamed the earth and there were only 120 or so dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club) when a small group of American groomers took their vocation on vacation…literally. It was referred to as an “International Event” and the participants were called “The American Team.” It was a paradigm for today’s GroomTeam USA.

The Professional Grooming Industry was about to be transformed. And so it has. The international alliances developed through GroomTeam USA’s participation in world competition has done much for our industry.

Back then many dog groomers rarely spoke to one another so there were few occasions to watch, listen and learn. There was not much thought given to what the other neighborhood groomer was doing, let alone what groomers around the world were doing. Let’s face it…the Europeans have been breeding, working and showing their canine friends for a thousand years…us Americans had a lot to learn. And we have. One only has to watch today’s B Class at any grooming competition to see how far the American grooming industry has come in 20 years in developing its art.  

Though there are a few stark contrasts between the “virgin launch” of the 1988 American Team and 2005’s team, the similarities are many, perhaps more than any other two teams in GroomTeam USA’s history. 2005 presented the world grooming arena a fresh face consisting of an all new traveling team representing the USA in the World Team Grooming Championships in La Grande Motte, France.

Not since 1988 had the traveling team been so original.

The maiden voyage included Romaine Michelle (captain), the late Lynn Carver, Marie Gulliford, Connie Hershberger, Gail Rudowicz, Karla Addington-Smith and Donna Skura as the alternative along with a small, but merry, band of cheerleaders and supporters.         

The US team took the second place spot missing the International Grooming Team 1988 title by a mere 11 points.

The 1988 British excursion helped to create the industries first grooming Divas. I suppose we were an intimidating bunch… but we were not afraid to work hard and get our hands dirty. Each team member and organizer paid their own way to that first World Competition…except me. As recipient of Intergroom’s 1988 American Groomer title I was lucky enough to win the airfare and the opportunity to compete. The financial commitment GroomTeam USA members had to make in those early years was major. This was an expensive habit and it soon became clear that fundraising efforts needed to be cranked up a few notches if GroomTeam USA were to sustain itself. Many of the team members and supporters worked relentlessly to raise money to help offset atleast some of the traveling expenses of the future members.

It was tough back them when many breeds were groomed for the price of today’s Double Mocha Soy Latte. I suppose the only thing the original fundraisers didn’t raffle off was their firstborn and a pint of blood. It didn’t matter how high in the clouds your head may have been after competing and winning in the world arena. When you returned home, it was time to roll up your sleeves and hock those donated wares.

It was an honor for each of us to be a part of that first “International Team”. It took a financial commitment, time away from business and hard work, but what an unbelievable opportunity! Worth every penny, minute and drop of sweat!

I applaud each and every, past, present and future member of GroomTeam USA for their commitment to excellence in our industry. You Rock!!!

And the 2009 team represents the best of what we are as an industry! Talented, professional, driven. We are so proud of you all!