Heaven On Earth For Dogs And Dog People 🙏

Discover how Anna built Jazz’s Wonderland into Gainesville’s most raved-about pet paradise!

Happy Friday Daily Groomers!

We’re less than a week away from our 2025 Grooming Business Owners Mastermind with Joe Zuccarello, President of Paragon Grooming School!

This isn’t your typical workshop—Joe’s bringing 37+ years of industry expertise to help you unlock new revenue strategies without overloading your team or raising prices.

You’ll learn:

  • The most profitable add-ons that keep clients coming back.
  • Simple upselling techniques that enhance the pet experience.
  • Real-world examples from top salons already growing their income.

📅 Don’t miss your chance to kick off 2025 with a plan for smarter revenue growth!

Spots are filling up fast—RSVP here.

Speaking of pet biz pros, let me share an inspiring story from one of the most impressive grooming entrepreneurs we’ve met…

We just wrapped up an incredible conversation with Anna Carttori, owner of Jazz’s Wonderland in Gainesville, Florida. Anna’s journey took her from modeling in 26 different countries to building a booming daycare, boarding, AND grooming business—all while raising three kids!

Below, you’ll find the highlights from our chat and why Jazz’s Wonderland has gained a reputation for being “heaven on Earth for dogs and dog people.”

1. From Fashionista to Fur Mama

Anna’s background is truly unique. A professional model originally from Brazil, she lived a globetrotting life before settling down in Gainesville with her husband (a busy medical resident) and, of course, her beloved pup, Jazz. Inspired by her father’s dog rescue work in Brazil (he once cared for 77 dogs at once!), Anna knew she’d build something special that put pets first.

Key Takeaway: Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. Anna channeled her love of dogs and knack for business into a thriving pet-care haven.

2. Growing Organically—One Pup at a Time

Anna started small, taking in her husband’s colleagues’ dogs while they worked 24-hour shifts. Word of mouth spread like wildfire—especially among healthcare heroes—and soon she was caring for multiple dogs on her five-acre property. Fast-forward to today: 33 staff members, seven fenced yards, two buildings, and services ranging from daycare and boarding to grooming and even doggy birthday parties!

Key Takeaway: If you’re passionate and provide exceptional care, your reputation will grow naturally. Don’t be afraid to expand step by step—you don’t need to have it all figured out from day one.

3. Adding Grooming (and Nailing It)

Initially, Anna wanted to perfect daycare and boarding before offering more services. But when the local college started a grooming program, she seized the moment, learned the basics, and set up a grooming suite. Soon after, Sarah, a seasoned groomer, joined and brought her own clientele—creating a win-win situation.

Key Takeaway: Continual learning (and a little bravery!) pays off. If you want to add grooming to your pet-care lineup, explore training programs, hire the right pros, and lean on your existing client base to spread the word.

4. Communication is Queen

Wondering how Anna manages 33 team members, countless bookings, and daily chaos? WhatsApp groups—lots of them! Every staff member checks in throughout the day, sharing pictures, updates, and any special instructions. Clients also book and pay via an online platform, which cuts down on confusion and keeps everything organized.

Key Takeaway: A simple tool, used consistently, can become the backbone of your business. WhatsApp, Slack, Microsoft Teams…. If you have employees, you need to a system other than text and emails. Over-communicate with your team, so everyone knows what’s happening (and no request is forgotten!).

Side Note: We use Slack at The Daily Groomer for our small team of 4. Every channel serves a specific purpose for our business. Some channels everyone as access to while others are limited to only those who need access. Without building a system around how we communicate, none of this would be possible.

Communications seems so silly but systemizing this stuff allows you to scale your business while keeping everything in one place!

5. Stellar Reviews Don’t Come by Accident

Jazz’s Wonderland has some of the best Google reviews out there—like “heaven on Earth for dogs.” How? Anna’s approach is simple:

  • Offer transparency: She’s upfront about risks, policies, and what to expect.
  • Own mistakes quickly: If something isn’t perfect, she’ll refund or fix it.
  • Ask for feedback: A quick text or automated message after a stay or groom invites clients to leave reviews.

Key Takeaway: Put yourself in the client’s shoes, deliver above-and-beyond service, and politely remind them to share their experiences online.

6. The Future—Keep On Growing!

Anna’s next goal is to build a second facility so she can keep scaling without compromising quality. Having tested and refined her processes on a smaller scale, she’s ready to replicate the magic on a larger property.

Key Takeaway: Perfect your systems now. The more you fine-tune in your current space, the smoother you’ll grow when expansion calls.

Listen to the Full Conversation

Want all the details on how Anna turned five acres into a “dog empire”?

📅 This episode is now live — give it a listen! 👇👇

Listen To The Daily Groomer Podcast

Whether you’re dreaming of adding grooming to your existing pet-care biz or just looking for inspiration from a fearless entrepreneur, Anna’s story reminds us to go for it—one dog at a time.

For the love of grooming,

Alex 🐶

The Groomer’s Toolkit

📚 Read - 2,407 members strong! Have you joined the The Daily Groomer Facebook Community yet? “Should I Groom This Do Anymore?” is currently being discussed our private Facebook community.

❤️📺 Watch - Check out the Mobile Grooming Mastermind: Advice From the Top Mobile Grooming Business Owners on The Daily Groomer YouTube channel.

🎧 Listen - What van should you choose? Dive into choosing your Mobile Van with the “Van Man” Chris Hanvey on this episode on The Daily Groomer Podcast.

Alex Martin
Top story
January 24, 2025

Get our weekly email

Find the best of our tales, tails, & tips in your email inbox at the end of every week - for free!