We were lucky to catch up with Jessica & Jonathon Casey recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica & Jonathon, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?
Jonny: “I used to go to Pets In Need, in Cincinnati to provide care for my own dogs when I had fallen on hard times. Using their services made me want to help other people and their dogs.”
Jessie: “I grew up with dogs who never went to a grooming salon. My parents would give us a bottle of dawn dish soap and send us out to the back yard to give them a hose bath. Living my entire childhood in a house that didn’t know anything about professional grooming makes it easier for me to be kind and understanding when a new client brings in a dog that isn’t in great condition. I love educating and explaining why professional grooming is important, because at one point, I didn’t know either”.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
We are a kennel free grooming salon based out of Cincinnati, OH. We love being involved in everything dog related, from learning their basic anatomy to AKC dog shows. Our groomers compete in national competitions and really enjoy continuing their education, which isn’t an industry requirement. I believe our salon stands out from others because of how passionate our groomers are about what they do. Since our last article, we opened up a second location in Fort Thomas KY. We relocated a groomer from Michigan to work with us, which has been awesome. We hope our growth as a team only gets better from here!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Knowing your market, having passion, and starting small. Knowing your target market is going to set you and your brand up for success. Our salon is very specific in catering towards pets who don’t do well in kennels, or owners who want to have trendy styles. Being passionate ties into that, because we love to learn and stay up to date with the latest trends in grooming.
Starting small set us in the right direction because we were able to develop our skills without overwhelming ourselves from the get go. Opening a second salon after a few years has been great, but would have been a challenge if we did it at the beginning.
How would you describe your ideal client?
Clients who appreciate and respect that grooming is not an easy job make being a salon owner easier. Staying on a regular schedule, booking in advance, leaving gratuity when you can, and having realistic expectations with your dogs haircut can make all of the difference.
The grooming industry is booming, and there will never be enough groomers to keep up with the demand and how many dogs exist. Your groomer can, and will let you go as a client if you are disrespectful. Be kind to your groomer, because this job is physically and emotionally taxing (but worth it for the people and dog clients we love!)
Contact Info:
- Website: wufpetspa.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wufpetspa
- Facebook: Facebook.com/wufpetspa
- Twitter: @wufpetspa
