144 vans and growing 🚐

Happy Friday Daily Groomers!

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If you kicked your feet up for the Labor Day weekend early, you missed out on one of the largest gatherings of mobile groomers ever held in the industry…

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Over 100 mobile groomers showed up to our Mobile Grooming Mastermind last week!! 🥳

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Juicy topics were discussed…

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• How much do people pay their groomers?

• How did you change your prices and how are you currently pricing in your area?

• If someone says “hey I’m not going to be home, but my appointment is at 10:00 am,” what do you tell them?

• What’s your experience with employees getting into accidents?

• What methods are effective for attracting new clients?

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And many more… This was over an hour of jammed packed content. If you missed it live, you can watch the recording here.

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So let’s get into it…

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This week, I had the opportunity to interview the 2 women behind the largest mobile grooming business in the United States (Zoomin Groomin) 🤯

They have 144 vans and shared with me the #1 tactic they use everyday to keep employees: listening to your groomers.

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Sounds simple, right? But the way Donna (founder) and Sandy (CEO) use this tactic is pretty novel.

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Here are the 5 ways Zoomin Groomin creates a “groomers first” culture:

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1️⃣ Start with an Open Ear

When groomers feel heard, they feel valued. As simple as asking them about their day, their needs, or their suggestions can build that trust and loyalty.

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2️⃣ Incorporate Feedback

One story Sandy shared left a mark on me. While revamping the website, they involved a few key groomers for feedback. The groomers felt appreciated, and the website looked better after!

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3️⃣ Support Personal Lives

Understanding and supporting groomers outside of work is vital. Long day grooming? Order a few pizza’s to their home. Early morning? A Starbucks gift card goes a long way.

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4️⃣ Show Daily Appreciation

Donna and Sandy couldn’t stress enough the impact of showing genuine appreciation. Birthday shout-outs, thank you notes, or just a small day-to-day gratitude practice can solidify relationships.

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5️⃣ Think Long-Term

Building a business isn’t about quick wins; it’s a marathon. They emphasized the long-term approach, treating groomers with respect, and seeing them as partners in the business’s growth.

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Putting groomers first may seem like a small step, but trust me, it has enormous ripples. By listening and valuing their input, you don’t just retain staff—you build a family. And that, fellow daily groomers, is the real secret to growth!

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Give this a shot and tell us how it changes things for your business and your culture. And if you want to check out the full episode with the Zoomin Groomin team, our podcast is now live on The Daily Groomer.

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🗣️ What People Are Barking About

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The best of the best advice shared this week online👇

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We all understand this groomer’s pain!! Before & after photos are so valuable, but can be so dang hard to get right. Lucky for you, there was a long thread of tips & tricks offered to help you get this right:

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• Use portrait mode on the iPhone for crisp photos and free apps like VSCO for easy editing

• Make squeaky noises with your mouth to capture their attention (or use treats & toys if you’re not as skilled in the vocal department 😂)

• Order a cheap ring light + bed sheet from Amazon and create a dedicated corner for photos

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✋The Groomer’s Toolkit

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📚 Read - “A groomer got sued” and the client waiver didn’t protect her!! Read all about it the private Facebook group this week.

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📺 Watch - Lucas Kempen tell his story about creating a successful mobile cat grooming business on YouTube.

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🎧 Listen - Dana and Jordan Hunt grew to 6 mobile vans and now are removing themselves from the day-to-day operations of the business… Find out how on this episode of The Daily Groomer Podcast.