The most common
limitation to prevent the hiring of management is, "I can't
afford a manager." Fortunately, some businesses are owned by
working couples or partners where one is manager and other a
master pet trimmer. If not, there needs to be a dedicated manager.
Perhaps the reason why many pet grooming businesses can't afford a
manager is that they don't have a manager in the first place. In
the beginning when you first hire a manager you will likely have
to invest some savings in the manager, but every effective pays
for themselves quickly, and then earns more. Then, you are leaving
"survival management" behind.
Managers should
aggressively utilize the business' marketing plan every working
day. Busy pet groomers including owners that groom do not have the
time to aggressively market, and it usually shows.
How will this industry
forever leave behind the general stereotypical view held by the
public that pet grooming businesses are typically small, not very
prosperous, and a bit worn around the edges at least in comparison
to some of today's state-of-the-art salons that do indeed exist?
We are not saying that their pet care is not excellent, but that
the industry deserves a more professional image. That only comes
from building more and more prosperous businesses and investing
back into them, and working together with other members of the
industry, not competing with one another. There are over 5,000 pet
dogs and cats for every pet grooming business today in the U.S.
Why the fierce attitude competition that exists between some
owners? Perhaps if we had more hired management the industry could
better capture the potential of 5,000 pet dogs and cats per salon.
If you are just entering
the industry, keep a fresh outlook. Don't get satisfied with a
certain level of success and not work toward having full-time
management. You're helping yourself and your industry to lower the
statistic that 90% of all pet grooming businesses today lack a
hired manager.
In fact, some of the
large retailers that have entered the market with pet grooming
departments have a strange attitude toward service management.
They hire managers that oversee the retail management very well,
but there somewhat lackluster success in services lies in their
disregard of dedicated service management, and that doesn't mean
an employee who has to groom and manage at the same time.
Success
is an Attitude
The best candidates
available for staff and management positions are generally drawn
to well-managed businesses. Why not? They probably offer an
enlarged career path, better pay and work conditions and benefits.
Working with pets is of course more than money. It's fun and
honorable, and important to every community. It's enjoying the
respect of pet owners, and their trust. It's both a reflection of
your attitude, and an influence that supports your successful
attitude.
It's the attitude of the
owner, manager and staff that makes them known as professionals in
their market area. You can have all the knowledge of expert
management, but if your attitude doesn't support it, the magic
won't happen, and it becomes work only. To make it happen is the
attitude of the successful manager and owner. To the successful
manager, problems are not problems, but "challenges" and
"opportunities to practice expertise in management."
Who
is the Effective Manager?
|
"The
term 'manager' refers to either a managing owner or a
manager hired by the owner. Regardless of who wears the
hat of manager, it is the most responsible position in the
pet grooming salon. A hired manager should consult daily
with the owner when making important decisions and keep
him informed of the salon's progress."
"A
crucial characteristic of a successful manager is
motivation. The term "motivation" means the energized
pursuit of goals. The key words are, energized,
pursuit and goals. Effective motivation requires a
purpose, a plan to achieve that purpose, and the energy to
carry out the plan."
"An
effective management system provides a set of goals and
systematic plan to achieve those goals. As rest stops on a
highway refresh you, so does the accomplishment of each
goal in the business plan. It provides the inspiration you
need to continue your financial journey. Each goal you
achieve will stimulate you to get on the road and achieve
the next one. Simple acknowledgements by clients stating
that it is apparent the business is growing and improving
will make the manager's day."
"The
Manager is the core of salon operations and the proverbial
buck always stops at his desk. He or she is responsible to
safely and profitably guide the business and achieve the
goals of the business plan."
"Successful
managers are not afraid of responsibilities, they invite
them. They are alert to every incident involving their
responsibility. Dogs whining in the back cage.
Conversations at the front counter. A bather having a
long, personal conversation on the telephone. The car
pulling into the parking lot. The client heading to the
front door. The safety and comfort of pets in their cages.
Keeping the salon's operation on schedule."
"A
vast assortment of information is constantly available to
decipher and act upon. Alert salon managers use this
information to react responsibly to those aspects of the
operation that need correction or adjustment." |
Grooming
Management Resources
One of the goals of this
site is to bring you grooming management information suitable for
new career and business opportunity seekers as well as today's
professionals. You never stop learning management. However, there
are extremely limited resources for pet grooming business
management information, and that may be a repercussion of the
grooming industry not being vocationally licensed anywhere in the
U.S.. We urge you to support what you can find.
Be sure to review
the Professional Groomer Library Main
Menu and subscribe to the list of trade media at Magazines Main Menu. Check the
Calendar of Industry Events
for small business seminars like those
offered by John Stazko, Find A Groomer, Inc. and others. Don't
be like 90% of the groomers that said in an questionnaire that
they would never attend a grooming business only seminar. Without
business knowledge you will never get out the "Dark
Ages" of grooming and you will likely work overly hard and
wear out your body when you never had to do so. That's the reality
today and we have stated it quite evenly. So many wear and tear
their bodies needlessly, and so many complain they don't make
enough, but resolving these chronic problems is the reward for
taking some time to learn business management. You can learn more
about this point of view on our Professional
Recognition Main Menu.
Remember, learning
"generic" small business management is an excellent
idea, especially for service business. Take an adult education or
college or university extension class in small business
management, and accounting. Just do it! Don't be fearful. Don't
dread them. Your local Small Business Administration office (and
their local SBDC branches) are excellent sources of information
for business owners, often free or very low cost. The rewards you
will reap from expanding your business knowledge means
self-esteem, savings in the bank, and possibly saving years of
trial and error. You have a responsibility as a business owner and
U.S. citizen to attempt to make a profit, and you will be far more
successful by investing some free time in extending your
educational background in small business. Good for you
businessperson! Don't forget this motto from Maddie of Find A Groomer, Inc., "Become the businessperson that grooms."
You are more than a groomer aren't you?
