Expected Industry Changes Based on National Covid-19 Grooming Survey 2020
11/14/2020
You can read the complete survey results in PetGroomer.com Magazine Fall 2020.
Boom in Mobile Grooming Awareness
Nationwide media attention for restricted availability of grooming services and eventually essential status created significant public awareness for pet grooming. Leading the way were contact-free mobile grooming services often allowed to resume operations early on while commercial shops remained closed until curbside and essential issues were resolved.
New and Closed Grooming Businesses
Unofficial estimates range from 2,000 to 4,000 grooming businesses have closed business in the U.S. There is evidence from our surveys of business owners closing businesses for various reasons. Some closed staffed businesses to either retire earlier than expected and others resizing to one-person businesses. On the flipside there is evidence of new businesses, especially mobile. With new demand projected from high adoption rates of dogs during the 2020 lockdowns logically we could see annual sales for grooming industry increase by 5% to 7%.
Future of Essential Grooming is Uncertain
Should we feel confident that any future calls for lockdowns won’t close some or all grooming businesses? Only 11% of commercial grooming business owners felt that essential status meant they will be likely to be able to operate during lockdowns.
Spokespersons for the Industry
Today, who do you think are the spokespersons for the grooming industry? Surveyed groomers indicated the industry needs them, but who will it be? With little to say about the essential nature of grooming, groomers feel someone must represent their interests in any regulation of the industry.
Employee Work Rights During Pandemics
The confusion of the early pandemic for both employers and employees exposed a new issue. What are the rights of employees to choose not to work for personal safety without losing jobs. Our employee survey showed their confusion and questions that still may not be answered.
Employed to Self-Employed
Since 1998 PetGroomer.com has done annual industry surveys. In 2020 striving through the pandemic a record number of groomers said that eventually being self-employed appeals to them, and 24% are very motivated and working on it now.