PetGroomer.com Magazine Spring 2017 by findagroomer

eGroomer Journal January / March 2014

Vol 7 Ed 2

April / June 2017

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M A G A Z I N E

Portuguese Water Dog Styling by Jodi Murphy

Happy Groomer Hip Tips - 25 When Shears Don’t Cut Right - 33 Beyond the Frustrations of Being Employers - 43 eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free © 2014 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Photo: PWD Groomed by Anna Martin, NCMG Financing Mobile Grooming Vehicle - 58

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GroomTeam USA Scholarship Fund GroomTeam USA, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of the applications for the GroomTeam USA Scholarship Fund. There are two levels of awards; One for college education, and the other for grooming education. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2017. GroomTeam USA, Inc. employs the aid of The International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. of Nashville, TN, a professional scholarship selection company. Using this outside source insures that the selection of the recipients is professional, fair and unbiased. Level 1 will provide one recipient with $2,000 in college money. These funds may be used toward college education in any field and will be paid directly to the school. The only stipulations are that the applicant must be a US citizen and the child, stepchild or grandchild of a bona fide, professional groomer. No other students may apply. This is strictly for the families of groomers! Level 2 is open to any and all US citizen applicants, and provides one recipient with a full scholarship to their choice of one of a selected, participating group of nationally acclaimed grooming schools approved by GroomTeam USA, Inc. GroomTeam USA, Inc. will also provide up to a maximum of $1,000 toward the purchase of the standard grooming tool kit available through the selected school. The participating schools include Maser’s Academy of Fine Grooming (Kenmore, WA), Merryfield School of Pet Grooming (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), Nanhall School of Dog Grooming (Greensboro, NC), Paragon School of Pet Grooming (Jenison, MI) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Pet Grooming (Indiana, PA). This is just a brief synopsis of the scholarship program. More detail is listed below. For complete scholarship details please visit the GroomTeam USA, Inc. website (www.groomteamusa.org).

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephen Mart PUBLISHER Find A Groomer Inc. ADVERTISING IN PETGROOMER.COM eMAGAZINE Display advertising in PetGroomer.com Magazine is only available to banner advertising sponsors of PetGroomer.com. To learn more about becoming a sponsor for as little as $1 a day see: www.petgroomer.com/bannerads.htm 800-556-5131 360-446-5348 PetGroomer.com Magazine is published as a download quarterly by Find A Groomer Inc., PO Box 2489, Yelm, WA 98597. Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Made in USA. PetGroomer.com Magazine makes every effort to provide information that is reliable and practical. It is not intended to replace diagnosis or treatment from a veterinarian or other qualified pet or pet care professional. PetGroomer.com Magazine does not assume any legal responsibility. Readers should always consult qualified healthcare providers for specific diagnosis and treatment. Information provided is not intended to replace formal pet grooming training including pet safety and handling. Viewpoints and commentary expressed in PetGroomer.com Magazine do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of its advertisers, the publisher or associates. Use of any content or services of PetGroomer.com and PetGroomerMagazine.com, including both digital and print copies of PetGroomer.com Magazine, is governed by additional guidelines, disclaimers and privacy policies and notices available at: www.petgroomer.com/mission.htm

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INDUSTRY CALENDAR

APRIL 2017

JULY 2017

April 6 to 9, 2017

July 25 to 27, 2017

Intergroom Secaucus, NJ www.intergroom.com

SuperZoo Las Vegas, NV www.superzoo.org

April 20 to 23, 2017 Northwest Grooming Show Tacoma, WA www.barkleigh.com

MAY 2017

AUGUST 2017 August 10 to 13, 2017 All American Grooming Show Wheeling, IL www.barkleigh.com

May 20 to 21, 2017 Mardi Gras Pet Expo New Orleans, LA www.mardigraspetexpo.com

May 20 to 22, 2017 Jodi Murphy Seminars with Lindsey Dicken & Mackensie Murphy Orlando, FL www.jodimurphy.net

JUNE 2017

April / June 2017 PetGroomer.com Publications

SEPTEMBER 2017 September 14 to 17, 2017 Groom Expo Hershey, PA www.barkleigh.com

OCTOBER 2017 October 12 to 15, 2017 New England Grooming Show Sturbridge, MA www.barkleigh.com

June 22 to 25, 2017

October 27 to 29, 2017

PetQuest Wilmington, OH www.barkleigh.com

32nd Annual NDGAA Fun in the Sun Orlando, FL www.ndgaa.com

NOVEMBER 2017 Send details about your industry event to findagroomer@earthlink.net. Be sure to include your contact information. eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free

November 2 to 5, 2017 U.S. Pet Pro Classic Dallas, TX www.petstylist.com

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January / March 2016 April / June 2017 PetGroomer.com Publications

By Debi Hilley

Portuguese Water Dog Styling by

Jodi Murphy

Photo: PWD Groomed by Ann Martin, NCMG

Before grooming any pure breed it is always wise to read the breed standard. The breed standards are individual breed descriptions written by the parent breed clubs which define the ideal dog based on correct structure,

temperament, coat type, etc. The standard is considered a blueprint to the perfect animal of that particular breed. Having breed standards sets goals for breeders to improve their

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breeding programs. The AKC Complete Dog Book consists of all the registered breeds in the United States. Understanding the important points of the breed standard will help in understanding correct pattern placement, coat length and the correct structure of the breed. Let's take a look at the Portuguese Water Dog.

dog originating from Portugal. It was used to herd fish into nets and to retrieve broken nets and tackle for fisherman. The Portuguese Water Dog is a natural swimmer and would act as a courier from both ship to ship and ship to shore. Due to their utility they have a very dense waterproof coat to protect them from the icy waters of Portugal. The Portuguese Water Dog can be

The Portuguese Water Dog is a Working

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Lion Clip Photo: PWD Groomed by Jodi Murphy eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Retriever Clip (Continued from page 16)

shown in two different trims: the Lion trim or the Retriever trim. The breed standard describes the two trims as follows: Lion Clip As soon as the coat grows long, the middle part and hindquarters, as well as the muzzle, are clipped. The hair at the end of the tail is left at full length.

Retriever Clip In order to give a natural appearance and a smooth unbroken line, the entire coat is scissored or clipped to follow the outline of the dog, leaving a short blanket of coat no longer than one inch in length. The hair at the end of the tail is left at full length. The Lion Clip is a very popular trim for dogs with a wavy coat. The curly coats are much easier to scissor and are often (Continued on page 18)

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(Continued from page 17)

swimming and diving.

groomed in the Retriever Clip.

Shoulders

Proportion

Shoulders are well inclined and very strongly muscled. Upper arms are strong. Forelegs are strong and straight.

Off square; slightly longer than tall when measured from prosternum to rearmost point of the buttocks, and from withers to ground. Neck–Straight, short, round, and held high. Strongly muscled. Topline and Chest Level and firm. The above statement describes the proportions of the dog. Some breeds have a square outline which means that the length and height of the dog are of equal parts, like the Poodle for example. The PWD is slightly longer than tall. The topline should be set level. Chest is broad and deep, reaching down to the elbow. Ribs are long and wellsprung to provide optimum lung capacity. Abdomen well held up in a graceful line. Tail Not docked; thick at the base and tapering; set on slightly below the line of the back; should not reach below the hock. When the dog is attentive the tail is held in a ring, the front of which should not reach forward of the loin. The hair at the end of the tail is left at full length. The tail is of great help when

The above statement describes the ribs and the depth of the chest. The depth of chest should reach the elbow. The coat should be trimmed to the elbow line. Some dogs may not have the correct depth of chest, however, by trimming the coat to the elbow will give the illusion of the correct structure. Abdomen "Abdomen well held up in a graceful line" describes the underline. The underline should be trimmed following the natural underline of the ribcage into the tuck up creating a graceful line. The tail is described as being thicker at the base and tapering. The tail should have a plume at the end and should be left in full length not reaching below the hock when held down. Note: the word "strong" is consistently used when describing the PWD. The front legs are described as being strong and straight. Enough coat should be left on the legs to create a column-like appearance as well as giving a strong appearance. If the legs are trimmed too short they will appear weak.

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April / June 2017

Photo: PWD Groomed by Ann Martin, NCMG

Hindquarters

Skull

Powerful; well balanced with the front assembly. Legs, viewed from the rear, are parallel to each other, straight and very strongly muscled in upper and lower thighs.

In profile, it is slightly longer than the muzzle, its curvature more accentuated at the back than in the front. When viewed head-on, the top of the skull is very broad and appears domed, with a slight depression in the middle. The forehead is prominent, and has a central furrow, extending two-thirds of the distance from stop to occiput. The occiput is well defined. Muzzle– Substantial; wider at the base than at the nose.

The rear legs are described as being "strongly muscled." They should be scissored to appear parallel when viewed from the rear. The thigh should be scissored to show the muscle tone and to exemplify power. Head

The above description of the head is self explanatory. The head can be difficult to groom as the PWD coat types can be very different from dog to dog. The wavy dogs are the most difficult due to the

An essential characteristic; distinctively large, well proportioned and with exceptional breadth of topskull. Ears– Set well above the line of the eye. Leather is heart shaped and thin. Tips 20 Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved should not reach below the lower jaw. PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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way the coat falls. Using thinning shears will help achieve a nice appearance on wavy coats. Coat A profuse, thickly planted coat of strong, healthy hair, covering the whole body evenly, except where the forearm meets the brisket and in the groin area, where it is thinner.

April / June 2017

My new book "Dog Grooming Simplified" quotes parts of the standard for each breed which are important for groomers to know. Using this vital information along with the grooming instructions for each particular breed will help execute a well-balanced seamless pet trim which will aid in capturing the essence of the breed. ▀ About the Author

There are two varieties of coat: Curly Compact, cylindrical curls, somewhat lusterless. The hair on the ears is sometimes wavy. Wavy–Falling gently in waves, not curls, and with a slight sheen. Worley Some coats are often referred to a "worley" as they are a combination of curly and wavy.

JODI MURPHY Jodi Murphy is a two-time Master Pet Stylist, a NCMG (National Certified Master Groomer) through the National Dog Groomers Association of America, as well as MPS Meritus (Master Pet Stylist Meritus) through the International Society of Canine Cosmetology. She is a multiple Best All Around and Best in Show competitor. These titles allow Jodi to certify groomers to their master pet stylist status throughout the USA. She was a GroomTeam USA team member for four years and ranked within the top four pet stylists of the United States. Her popular web site www.JodiMurphy.net offers competitively priced Instructional Grooming DVDs, Home Study DVD packages, Mobile Grooming Success Seminar DVDs, grooming apparel for every pet groomer looking for fashionable style, function, and longlasting quality, and select grooming tools and equipment.

Whether the dogs are trimmed short or groomed to breed profile, the pattern is always set following the structure of the breed. With coated breeds like the PWD a groomer can leave more coat in the right places and also remove more coat in the right places to camouflage any faults the dog may have. This takes knowledge and experience which comes with time and practice. eGroomer Journal Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Happy Groomer Hip Tips GroomFit by Vera Needham When we think of workplace injuries, the first type that often come to mind are lower back strains, shoulder pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. But what about injuries to hips. Hip replacements are skyrocketing. Between 200,000 and 300,000 hip replacement operations are performed each year in the U.S. Groomers are extremely vulnerable to hip problems. The average day for a pet stylist requires lifting, bending, squatting, twisting, hinging and pivoting as well as standing for several hours. All of

these activities place stress on our hips. A hip is a ball and socket joint. It provides stability and balance as well as moving your legs through your entire daily grooming tasks. It is fairly stable and has a good range of motion. Have you ever felt a dull ache at the end of a long work day? What causes that feeling? Gravity is the culprit. It squeezes your joints and encourages blood to settle in your feet.

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When we walk or move around blood is pushed back to your heart through muscle contractions. Muscles work like little pumps moving blood around the body. If muscles are continuously contracted to keep you standing for several hours they cannot produce a muscle pump effect and thereby hinder circulation. Gravity squishes your joints. The hip joint is compressed by all of the weight of the body above it. Compression is like squeezing a sponge. It squeezes synovial fluid from the space in the joint. Synovial fluid reduces friction. It is like blade lube for your joints. Standing for prolonged periods of time also overworks postural muscles. Postural muscles keep your body from falling over while you are standing. These muscles are forced to work without a rest while standing at grooming tables for several hours. Your muscles become exhausted, resulting in tightness and pain. The most common cause of chronic hip pain in groomers is arthritis. It is most common in groomers over 50 years of age. The articular cartilage of the hip deteriorates, and the discomfort is often

felt in the front of thighs or in the groin. Exercises Can Help Crouching: Since primitive times man has squatted to cook, eat, relax and even go to the bathroom. Squatting down is a natural movement. If you watch small children you will see they lower themselves to the ground with

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PetGroomer.com Magazine eGroomer Journal January / March 2014 (Continued from page 26)

ease. It is a modern concept to sit in chairs with the hips at ninety degrees. It is not until the deep part of the squat that your hip is properly lubricated. This is part of the reason we are seeing such a high incident of hip replacement.

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April / June 2017 PetGroomer.com Publications

We stopped moving the way we were designed to move. In a resting squat your feet stay flat on the floor as you lower your hips towards the ground. Make it a daily habit to squat down and hang out in this position The Frog: If you can’t get into crouching

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position because of painful knees Frog is a great alternative. The frog legs movement is a good exercise to assist with hip and knee joint mobility by strengthening the supporting muscles of the inner thigh and groin while also increasing core strength. Start by lying on your back with your knees apart and heels pressed firmly together. Be certain to anchor your tailbone to the floor as

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you draw your knees in towards the chest. Keep your bottom rib anchored to the floor as you lengthen your legs away from your body. Make certain to press your heels together as you extend your legs. When you reach full extension zip up your inner thighs by imagining you are holding a piece of paper between your knees. Return to starting position. Repeat 10 times.

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Prone Hip Extension: Groomers use hip extension a lot in daily life to stabilize the pelvis and propel us forward in activities like walking, standing up, and climbing stairs. This motion is one of the first areas to lose mobility. That is why you see many older adults shuffle when they walk. Start this exercise with your upper body fully supported. Anchor your hips firmly as you squeeze your bottom as you lift one leg eight to ten times. Repeat on the other side.

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Figure Four Stretch then Cross: This is one of my all-time favorite stretches to do not only for the hip but many find relief from back pain and sciatica as well. Not only is it a great stretch the same type of movement can be used to increase hip strength and increase mobility when used in a more dynamic way. The general rule with stretching is to hold the stretch in a comfortable position for 30 seconds. If you have high blood pressure only hold for a count of five. Counting out loud is the best way to make certain you are not holding your

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breath. Keep your spine straight as you press your tailbone towards the back of the chair and lean forward at the hips bringing your sternum towards your knee. Many groomers I have met don’t have the strength and flexibility to cross their legs comfortably. One of the exercises I love is leg cross. Start out sitting in a chair then make the movement of crossing your legs. If you can’t get the foot over the knee just tap the foot to the inside of the knee. This is a basic movement we need in our everyday life just to put on our shoes. It is an important movement. For groomers with hip replacement make certain never to cross your legs or lift your knees past ninety degrees. In that case just tap the foot to the inside of the knee of the bent leg. Always check with your physician before starting an exercise program. Hip Hip Hurray! Exercise with help pain go away. The key is to have a regular daily exercise program. The goal is to keep moving. ▀ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vera Needham is a Medical Exercise Specialist, Pilates Pro Trainer and creator of the Barber Stick. She has been a professional dog groomer for over 30 years. Who better than a dog groomer to know the vulnerabilities of the trade? We seem to accept pain as a way of life. With proper exercise and a Barber Stick it doesn’t have to be. For more information contact groomfit@yahoo.com. eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Northern Tails Sharpening, Inc. You Now Have a Better Choice!

Mail-in Prices Clipper Repair ● Veterinarian Equipment ● Beauty Shears Steel Blades

$5.00

Ceramic Blades

$6.00

Beveled Shears

$5.00

Bevel Thinning Shears

$5.00

Convex Shears

$10.00

Refurbish 5-N-1 Blades

$10.00

Chunkers

$10.00

Convex Thinning Shears $10.00

We are an Andis Regional Distributor and Repair Center Check out our website’s free instructional videos and articles helping you to maintain your clippers and blades. It’s free to download!

Jeff is a Master Sharpener and Certified Pet Groomer. He knows how your tools should perform. He won’t sharpen worn out tools which could harm animals. His office will call you if any of your tools look bad.

Please call or visit our website for mailing information. http://www.northerntails.com/ 32

(251) 232-5353 Mobile, Alabama

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SINCE 1995

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April / June 2017 33

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When Shears Don’t Cut Right by Jeff Andrews, Northern Tails Sharpening After many sharpenings shears may get thinner toward the tips of blades. In the picture below you can see a comparison. The top shears are much thinner. Yet both shears are the same type. When using a shear with narrow tips problems arise. The shears may fold hair rather than slice hair. Without adequate metal at the tips the ability to slice lessens, and the hair folds in the tips. The more dense the coat the more likely hair will fold.

There is “a fix.” See the next page. (Continued on page 34)

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Pointed shears can often be fixed. A good sharpener will inspect and find this problem by anticipating shears likely to fold and not slice hair. The fix is very simple for a skilled sharpener.

If the tips are fixed the shears should work properly making for happy grooming. By looking at this shear most sharpeners would know they have been used for years. Don’t blame the sharpener for the original problem. It was done over a long time previously and through many sharpenings. Next time you have them sharpened ask for the fix. Realize it is time to start looking for a new pair. This shear fix can only be done so many times. Let’s move on the next article helping you with quick shear care ideas. (Continued on page 35)

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Quick Guide to Shear Care When you purchase new shears, or you get your shears back from the sharpener, they are adjusted to cut. At Northern Tails Sharpening we only service pet grooming shears so they are adjusted for that use. Your shears are adjusted the way we would like to see them cut for pet grooming. We focus on the tips and the front end of shears. Adjustments for tension (some say “balance” is done by a screw or thumb wheel on the pivot of the shears. Beveled edges are adjusted to where the blades grab about 3/4 of an inch from the tip. This enables blades to slice from the pivot all the way down to the tips. If tension is not set in this way on beveled 10 inch shears, blades may push apart from one another when used on thicker coats and as a result hair is folded at the tips. There has to be adequate space between the blades of beveled shears allowing the shears to engage in slicing action, and making it easier to glide through tougher coats. This type of edge is the workhorse of the grooming industry and can be used on any type of coat. The edge should last for months unless you drop your shears or hit something in the coat that nicks them. Convex shears have an altogether different edge. Their edges are like razors. They must be sharpened differently. Convex shears are honed on both sides, first on the diamond wheel to create the desired edge, and then honed on the interior of the blades making that edge like a razor. Convex shears have little or no space between the blades because they (Continued on page 38)

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are so sharp they “chop” the hair rather than slicing. This produces a beautiful cut appropriate for finish work. Tension is adjusted wherein the blades start to grab 1/3 to 1/2 the way down from the tips keeping the blades close together. If the tension is too loose on a convex shear two things can happen, 1) they may grab 3/4 of an inch from the pivot creating a gouge, or 2) they may fold hair at the tips. Remember, tension adjustment addresses the way shears cut. It is not for the convenience or ease of the way they open and close. There are shears available with ball bearings in the pivot if you prefer a more loose feel. Clean shear blades daily. Wipe all of the hair from inside the blades which if not removed attract moisture. If there is a presence of grime or signs of built up hairspray use a Handi Wipe and rub them clean. Never leave shears dirty or you face problems down the road. (Continued on page 39)

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Lubricate shears with shear lube only. It contains silicon and a light solvent. Not lubricating may cause the screw to rust and loosen. Lube also removes moisture from the shear pivot and helps remove pet dander and tiny pieces of hair from the pivot. When not lubed the pivot may tighten tension and slow the shear down. Once lubed open and close the shears to spread the lube properly around the pivot. Remember convex shears require more frequent lubing compared to beveled shears. NEVER use blade oil on shears. It stiffens over time creating new problems affecting shear performance. ▀ Jeff Andrews is "One of America's Favorite Sharpeners." Along with his years of grooming experience in two of his own shops, he is a "World Class Sharpener" that can sharpen all grooming equipment to better than new condition. Jeff is an author and pioneer of many maintenance and grooming video's and articles. They are for groomers who want to make their equipment last longer and save money on their sharpening costs. These videos and articles are on his website free to download and keep for reference. www.northerntails.com eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Clip Shoppe School of Dog Grooming

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Employers! Groomers! We Do All the Work for You!

GroomerNetwork.com Whether you are a business owner looking for a groomer, or a groomer looking for a position, we make the search and hiring process easy and convenient. www.tablesntubs.com 1-888-333-0827

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Beyond the Frustrations of Being Employers by Grooming Business in a Box ®

The grooming industry has come a long way in our 56 years as members. In fact only one issue truly prevails as much as it did when we first entered the industry. None is more challenging than fair personnel management and groomer wage systems. Managing pet groomers is a unique task because they are quite unique. They chose to be different. While many have been office workers, factory workers, retail salespeople, military and the list goes on, they chose a passionate and artistic profession.

There are management courses for all types of workers pet groomers are not. Is it then any wonder that many grooming business owners find it a challenge? Operating a successful, and easily managed grooming business, depends upon understanding the unique nature of the job, and the men and women drawn to it. There are no molds, just passion and art and a need to care and express in a creative fashion.

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How do we put a price on acquiring that labor and keep it engaged? How do we moderate the demand for them having to cope with the drain of constant attention to detail, safety and physical demands? These are some questions management needs to study and resolve into a system of management. Feeling drained from work brings up, “I don’t make enough money for what I am going through.” We always paid great wages and made good profit with no sacrifices for quality client and pet services. We were far from bring the price leader in our area. In fact, our target for prices was high median and therein building high repeat business. It worked well, and kept our grooming staff busy year round. Cash flow was always there, and new business came in droves from referrals. In a way referrals was an early form of social media, and exemplary businesses today can still make referrals far more rewarding than modern social media. Add them together for early prosperity.

April / June 2017

getting into business savings. The point here is not about paying by commission but the solace many employers take in paying by commission. Management has to be honest and face its uneasiness, and address it. How many other employment issues are dealt in a similar fashion? Is this why management often misclassifies groomers as independent contractors without getting legal clearance to back their claim? A large percentage of employed groomers are unwittingly misdirected by management, and basically held to just get the job done and keep the customers happy. Systems like The Madson Management System were devised not only for the benefit of management, but to provide a more pleasant working environment for the groomers. Where management is lacking groomers may find themselves distracted by the actions of other groomers because there is no coach, and they are carrying management burdens in a creative role. That is really problematic way to operate a service business.

We did not offer commission only employment in order to quell our Fairness in the workplace plays an worries of having enough demand and important role. Where management cash flow in order to pay steady and systems of operation are lax or 44 © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com (Continued on page 45) salaries to full-time staffCopyright without PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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missing, fairness goes out the window as employees tend to over perform or underperform. You can be sure they know it and feel the angst. Unfortunately they probably have to put up with it, yet be expected to focus on creativity, safety, demanding owners and figuring out their commission for each pet and their daily take. Is it enough? These are symptoms of a lack of management presence allowing groomers to do what they do best and without distractions. Get grooming employers together and certainly the conversation will lead to the challenges of finding an adequate supply qualified groomers, keeping qualified groomers and performance issues. Rarely does the conversation turn away from the understandable frustration to seriously seek solutions.

April / June 2017

not gripe, but simply explore solutions and honest reflections of their management. I expect no one to be expert. Remember there is no formal training for managing groomers unlike nearly all of other professions. Let mistakes lead to wisdoms well-earned. Here we will share a partial list of topics for management-minded members of the grooming industry, and all relate to personnel management and groomer wage systems. The hot topics! These are great points of discussion that will lead to new discoveries in groomer management. We know it works, as Madeline Ogle, author of From Problems to Profitsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Madson Management System proved, and hundreds of our consultation clients too. Once inducted in this process of study our consultation clients often felt as if they were strangers among other grooming business owners because they achieved the ability for critical analysis of their systems without being defensive or aggravated. For most, their working life got better and employees extended the average time of employment with them.

Based on more than 25 years of providing consultation I compiled 30 great topics for management to focus upon related to staff and wages. Most of these are "great truths" not of opinion but backed by hundreds of studies of financial statements and one-on-one consultations. I strongly eGroomer Journal ÂŠ 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved suggest employers meet inCopyright groups and PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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At first it may be an uphill climb to let go of the persistent frustrations of being an employer and begin the journey of going "from problems to profits" with a proven management system of your design and experience.

The grooming industry has plenty of strong management opinions rarely backed by written proof. We firmly say this because as management consultants it was our daily experience. The decades old chronic shortage of skilled grooming employees takes it toll on patience. Dig deeper, there are solutions published by Grooming Business in a Box® and others. Start there and expand with your further solutions.

April / June 2017

impossible now to have groomers classified as independent contractors. Frustration leads employers to misclassify instead of adopting budgets that allow them to operate legally with W-2 grooming employees. The biggest excuse they provide, “Other businesses in town are doing 1099 groomers.” Lots of grooming employers have gotten in trouble, and it happens all the time. Almost every week we get a call from a business owner facing these facts. Some have to close business because the fines and penalties are so significant. We follow many of these cases. We found a few adjustments to their operations would have made up the added cost of payroll related costs as W-2 employers. Why risk the business and your livelihood? There are budgetary ways to comply.

The vast majority of pet groomers working as independent contractors are misclassified.

You don’t have to reduce wage levels to reduce payroll expense.

The statement above is one of the Most grooming employers do not greatest truths ever said on the check on new guidelines for qualifying “business side” of pet grooming. We independent contractors. We regularly have proven it true time and again do and publish them at the working with business owners. It GroomerTALK Community. A growing started with the book From Problems number of states are issuing new to Profits and continued in Grooming guidelines far stricter than the IRS. In Business in a Box®. The most bloated fact nearly© 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com 48 in some states it is Copyright (Continued on page 49) PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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cost for employers is having ALL pets groomed by pet groomers alone, and not by a professionally staffed bathing departments. It is simple fix and boosts net income about 15% to 30% for most operations. For further study see the Gravy in Grooming article in the first issue of eGroomer Journal (now PetGroomer.com Magazine) published Summer 2011. You can download a free copy of the issue at www.petgroomermagazine.com.

The statement “quality over quantity” is often misused. One person businesses are equally subject to quality issues as staffed businesses. Management makes or breaks quality, not the number of pets served in a business.

April / June 2017

making allegations solely based on size. Can we just leave the defensive position and say quality is a factor not judged by the size of business but the commitment of management to safety and quality. Sometimes size really doesn’t matter.

The higher the commission rate the higher the pay. Not. Strange how this may seem so evident but many employed groomers do not know this. We have shown groomers how to determine the average service of businesses where they may work and find that a 50% commission wage exceeds 55% wages at another shop whose average service fees are lower.

Groomers paid by commission have more control. Not, again.

Where did this misinformation come from? I really don’t know but I have heard it for decades from some Certainly there are large businesses employed groomers. Perhaps some that may cut corners, but so do some employers operate that way, but one person businesses. In fact, some commission is nothing more than a large operations hand dry every pet calculation and implies nothing else. and never leave pets alone in cage The “want to control” attitude of dryers. Some even have attendants potential job candidates is also a managing pets awaiting the return of warning sign for employers. These their owners. As a result some pets in potential employees probably worked large operations actually enjoy more where there was an absence of regular eGroomer Journal Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved hands-on services than some of those (Continued on 49 page 50) PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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management and just had to take charge of everything. Will they adapt to your management?

Commission paid groomers still have an equivalent hourly wage that you can calculate. Yes! Once you learn how to calculate the equivalent hourly figure associated with commission percentages, employers can set fair and accurate hourly wages and salaries. If an excellent groomer comes to you for a job, you can pay them hourly or salary matching what they would earn locally at a local competitor paying by commission.

Every business owner should set grooming performance standards with ranged time averages, and publish them in writing. Management needs to communicate the grooming job performance it expects of job candidates and hired employees. Easily there are three levels, entry level full-charge groomers, and then mid-range and advanced level. 50

April / June 2017

In From Problems to Profits the job descriptions and agreements are fill-in style where employers specify job performance data expected on an individual basis. In this way their pay range is established to measurable performance such as 8 to 10 finish grooms daily on average. The more productive groomers meeting quality standards should have more generous wage levels. But how can that be managed if job candidates and employees do not know exactly what is expected of them in an easily measured way? This topic is explained in detail in From Problems to Profits, Grooming Business in a Box® and articles in PetGroomer.com Magazine. In fact we even provide blank fill-in sheets to organize related tasks. Be clear and do not assume employees understand your specifications without reviewing and confirming they understand.

Commission variables can add significant additional costs beyond the cost of labor. Indeed. There are inefficient ways where pets are assigned to start-to-finish groomers where costs needlessly exceed expectations. ▀

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www.americangroomingacademy.com 888-550-9274 Temecula, CA

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Financing a Mobile Grooming Vehicle by Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions Financing a grooming vehicle can sound intimidating, complicated and downright scary, but it doesn't have to be if you know the rules ahead of time and be smart with your income and expenses. First and foremost, know your credit score and what makes up your credit history. Check it regularly and be aware of who is looking at your credit and why. There are many credit monitoring services available for a monthly fee. Some are more expensive and in depth and others are less expensive and just pro-

vide alerts when someone looks at your history. Most credit card issuers offer the service (usually through a contractor) so you might want to start there. If you don't want to pay to monitor it closely then you can visit the website annualcreditreport.com and get a full report annually at no charge. Lenders have some basic criteria that they look at with all loans, including grooming vans, so this advice is relevant for buying a grooming van, a

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15% is based on the length of your credit history. As your history ages, it helps your score rise. That's a tough one if you're young but like fine wine, it will get better with age.

trend of looking for different types of loans over time will. Another important factor lenders scrutinize is your debt to income ratio. Most lenders want to see the ratio below 50% including the monthly payment for the loan you are applying for. If your income is $3000 per month and your debt payments are $1000, your debt/ income ratio is only 33% so the lender will look at that as an indication that you can afford the loan.

10% is based on the different types of credit you have. Managing different types of credit (installment, revolving, mortgage, etc.) helps your score too. The remaining 10% has to do with credit inquiries when you are seeking new credit sources. Shopping for a car loan or a mortgage for a short period of time are fine and won't hurt you ÂŠbut eGroomer Journal Copyright 2011aFind A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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house, a car or really anything you'll need to borrow money to own. We'll focus on grooming vans here, of course, and this article applies to a first time buyer as well as the mobile grooming veteran looking to add a van or to replace an older one. The Basic Lending Criteria Lenders primarily look at 3 main criteria when evaluating your creditworthiness for a loan. The first is your credit score or FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) score. FICO scores range from 300 up to 850. 650-

April / June 2017 PetGroomer.com Publications

699 is moderate; 700 and higher is seen as good to excellent. The average FICO score in the USA for 2010 is 732. Many factors impact the FICO score. 35% of the score is based on your payment history. That is the heaviest weighted factor so be sure to pay your bills on time. Another 30% of the score is based on credit utilization or the amount of debt used vs. the amount of debt available. Maxing out your credit cards is not a help to your score (Continued on page 57)

Our school is not just about pet grooming. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about pets, the petparents, our community and our role in pet rescue efforts by creating the right habits and approach to each pet and their parents. From the class room to the Lab, and from our receptionist to our CEO, we only have one goal: To improve the pet industry one pet at a time! One Student at a time! Please visit our web site for more information eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free ÂŠ 2014 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved www.johnpaulpetschool.com.

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The only way to improve that ratio is to reduce debt or increase income. Since income tends to be relatively fixed, concentrate on reducing the debt. Maxed out credit cards are a no-no. Another major indicator to be aware of is the high credit limit. Lenders want to see if you have been successful in meeting the payment obligation of higher ticket items (like a home mortgage, a business loan or line of credit), especially if you are applying for a larger loan. In a nutshell, what a lender is looking to do is minimize their risk. That is all they want to do so a solid FICO score, a good debt to income ratio and a demonstrated ability to manage larger loan amounts will make them feel all warm and fuzzy. As long as you have a good credit score, a reasonable debt to income ratio and timely installment payment history (like on a house or car) you should be able to get financed on a mobile grooming vehicle. IMPORTANT NOTE! It's absolutely critical that you report all of your income. Deposit all of it into your bank account. Many people get turned down for loans because income is not deposited and accounted for at tax time. Grooming tends to be a cash business and it is not 60

April / June 2017

only illegal to not account for it, which is risky enough in and of itself, but it can blow any chance of a lender granting you a loan. Because in many cases, you have to prove your income and if you aren't reporting cash, it doesn't exist and can't be included as income by the lender. If you can't prove you earned it, you didn't! Lenders want to see either bank statements or tax returns for income verification. We've had many people turned down for loans because of this. Just don't do it! It isn't worth it. Finance Source Options There are 2 basic sources for you to look to for financing your grooming van purchase. Captive finance sources such as Ford Motor Credit or Daimler Financial Services and traditional banks like the one you do your banking with. A captive finance company is called that because they are owned and/or affiliated with automobile companies. The only way to access them for financing is through a dealer of that make of vehicles or through an authorized converter like Wag'n Tails. In other words, you can't trot down to your local Ford Credit Branch and apply for a loan but if (Continued on page 63)

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you are buying a Ford through a Ford dealer or us, you can access them that way.

usually do whatever you want with the money. This allows you to avoid the challenges outlined above.

Your local bank is a viable alternative to the captive finance companies but they present a separate set of challenges. While a vehicle loan is pretty simple, a grooming van conversion is very different animal, indeed.

When talking to local banks and credit unions, be sure they understand that it is a specialized commercial vehicle up front. Always ask if they make commercial loans so you don’t surprise them, or get a surprise yourself later if commercial loans aren't an option with the bank.

First of all, a grooming van is not a Camry. It’s a specialized commercial vehicle with no “blue book” value to tell the banker how they depreciate or that can give the bank a used vehicle value. Because of that, the loan is perceived by the bank as inherently riskier to a bank when compared to that Camry. Also, many local banks will not entertain a loan for a commercial vehicle. Some have a separate department that does commercial lending so you have to do a bit of research. Since mobile grooming is a relative unknown to many bankers, you should expect to have to educate them. A detailed business plan will go a long way to accomplishing that. Consideration should be given to getting a home equity loan because you may get a good interest rate and you can

Captive finance companies can be an easier route to take for a couple of reasons. Speaking strictly about my company, Wag'n Tails Mobile Conversions, the lenders we work with like Ford Credit and Daimler Financial already get it. They understand our business and industry because we have gone to the time and expense to educate them. That eliminates most of the challenges of trying local banks and we handle the entire process for you after you submit an application. In general, captive finance companies have a vested interest in helping the dealer sell the van. After all, that's the reason they exist; to help the dealership sell vehicles. Grooming vans are no different other than they've been altered (Continued on page 64)

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to groom pets. Another critical factor is getting the entire package financed with one loan. You do not want to have to finance the van, take delivery, send it to the conversion company and then finance the conversion with another loan. Not only will you have 2 loans, you'll have to pay on the van loan, insure the van while it's being made into a grooming van. The best way to go is to buy it as one package, sign the loan papers just prior to getting the van and have the first payment delayed so you get time to go earn some income before the payment is due. Down Payments Unless you are an existing business (at least 2 years in business to be considered “existing”) you should expect to have to put some money down. Lenders want to see you with some “skin in the game” because it demonstrates your commitment to success and lessens their risk in loaning you money. How much down will depend on the lender, your credit history and the price of the vehicle. To estimate it, take the van price and multiply by 15-20% for the down pay-

April / June 2017

ment amount. It can be a little more or less but that's a good rule of thumb. If you are an existing business, there are opportunities for smaller down payments and even zero down payment loans provided you meet the other credit requirements. Used Van Financing Now let’s look at used vehicle financing. There is a common misconception that used vans are easier to finance than new because they cost less. This is completely understandable. In reality, they can be more difficult to finance and usually require even stronger creditworthiness for several reasons. These reasons all stem from lenders having a limited understanding of mobile grooming as a concept and the market value for used grooming vans. First, there is no “blue book” market value for them to reference. They look at the value of a used cargo van which is always much less than the market value of a used grooming van. They see a used cargo van book value that is worth much less than the loan amount you’re requesting. Next, you explain that it is a specialty commercial vehicle and they realize (Continued on page 65)

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April / June 2017

they have no way to assign a value to it.

Summary

Finally, because it is used, they expect wear and tear issues, in some cases no warranty and they assume less dependability. That gives them the perception of a higher likelihood of interruptions in the income stream the van produces. This is perceived as even more risk. Our experience has demonstrated that used van financing usually carries larger down payments, higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms because of the higher perceived risk in the lender’s eyes. That usually boils down to a monthly payment amount on a used van that isn’t much less than a new one.

I hope this information is helpful to you. It doesn't have to be an intimidating process when you know how the game is played. Use this information to prepare yourself for the day when you decide that grooming less dog for more money by going mobile is your way to go. If you find yourself seriously contemplating going mobile, Wag'n Tails has all the resources you need to get going, including business plans, accounting projection spreadsheets, launching and operating a mobile grooming business, etc. All you have to do is ask! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions. ▀

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Air Oasis Animal Air Purifier www.dog-groomer-air-purifier.com All About Dog Grooming www.learntogroom.com Angel’s Grooming Apparel www.angelsgroomingapparel.com Atlanta Pet Fair www.atlantapetfair.org Aussie Pet Mobile www.aussiepetmobile.com Bandanas Unlimited www.bandanasunlimited.com Bardel Bows & Finishing Touches www.bardelbows.com Barkleigh Productions www.barkleigh.com Best Shot® Pet Products www.bestshotpet.com Clark Cages www.clarkcages.com Double K Industries www.doublekindustries.com Espree Products www.espree.com Golden Paws Consultants & Distance Learning www.goldenpaws.com GoMobile Conversions www.gomobileconversions.com Groom Pod www.thegroompod.com GroomerNetwork.com www.groomernetwork.com Groomers Best, Inc. www.groomersbest.com Groomers Choice Pet Products www.groomerschoice.com Groomers Helper www.groomershelper.com Grooming Business in a Box® www.groomingbusinessinabox.com Groomsoft Groomer Software www.groomsoft.com Intergroom Trade Show www.intergroom.com Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists www.petstylist.com JKL Pet Grooming School www.jklgrooming.com Jodi Murphy DVDs, Books, Apparel www.jodimurphy.net King Wholesale Grooming Supplies www.kingwholesale.com Kriser’s Stores Groomer Employment www.krisers.com Learn2GroomDogs.com www.learn2groomdogs.com Love’s Sharpening www.lovessharpening.com Madra Mor Canine Mud Treatments www.madramormud.com Metro Air Force® Dryers www.dogdryer.com National Dog Groomers Association www.nationaldoggroomers.com Northern Tails Sharpening www.northerntails.com Pet Care Insurance www.petcareins.com Petco Employment www.petco.com PetEdge Grooming Supplies www.petedge.com Retro Stylist Wear Quality Apparel www.petgroomerapparel.com PetLinx Software www.petlinx.com Petsense Stores Groomer Employment www.petsensellc.com PetSmart Employment www.petstmartjobs.com/salon Poly Pet-Tubs www.pettubs.com Puparazzi Mobile Franchise Opportunity www.groomall.com Quadruped Pet Care Products www.quadrupedpetcare.com Ryan’s Pet Supplies www.ryanspet.com Shake Your Tail Pet Management Software www.shakeyourtail.com Shampoo Lady Grooming Supplies www.shampoolady.com Showseason & Naturals Products www.showseasonproducts.com Snyder Mfg. Co. www.snydermfg.com Super Styling Sessions DVDs & Seminars www.caninegroomingsecrets.com SuperZoo www.superzoo.org Tag Along Mobile Pet Salons www.mobilegroomingtrailersforsale.com Teknopet Mobile Service & Conversion Center www.teknopetmobile.com The Successful Pet Groomer (Book) www.gomobileandsucceed.com Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions www.wagntails.com WAHL Clipper Corporation www.wahlanimal.com WI Assn. of Professional Pet Stylists www.wisconsinpetstylists.org Wilco Stores Groomer Employment www.wilco.coop 70 Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com

SCHOOLS OF PET GROOMING - ON-SITE TRAINING DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSORS

Golden Paws Schools (several locations listed below in Platinum Level) Paragon Pet Grooming School (Michigan) PLATINUM PLUS LEVEL SPONSORS

Clip Shoppe School of Dog Grooming (New Jersey) Groomer Training Center (JKL Classroom Associate) (Pennsylvania) John Paul PetSchool (California) American Grooming Academy (Florida) Merryfield School of Pet Grooming (Florida)

PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS Groomadog Academy (SC) Nanhall Professional School of Grooming (NC) Texas Allbreed Grooming School O.C. Academy of Pet Styling (CA) Dapper Dawg School of Prof. Grooming (MA) Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (WI) Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (NY) Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (FL)

Michigan School of K9 Cosmetology American Grooming Academy (CA) Golden Paws School of Dog Styling Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (MT) Just Four Paws Academy of Pet Styling (PA) Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (IN) Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (PA) Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (MT)

GOLD PLUS LEVEL 1 SPONSORS Canine Clippers Grooming School (VA) Oregon Pet Grooming Academy eGroomer Journal

Cindy’s Canine Companions Grooming Classes (PA)

Journalthat January / March 72 is not commonly known relates toPetGroomer.com It’s eGroomer commonly known all brands of A-52014 blades fit any brand of A-5 clippers. What blade sizes. MostPublications brands of A-5 blades have similar sizes, but how they perform varies. Manufacturers must use design differences in order to avoid patent and copyright infringement. The most common difference between brands is the blade thickness. Similar manufacturer sizes may cut at different heights. You could be in for a surprise if you change brands of the same size blade only to discover the cut is different! For your convenience Jeff at Northern Tails Sharpening prepared the multiple manufacturer reference charts below for blades and snap-ons. Be sure to check Jeff’s web site at www.northerntails.com for more helpful articles, videos and descriptions of his mail-in services. ♦

Clipper Blade Cutting Heights by Manufacturer BLADE SIZE

BLADE CUT

MASTER GRM.TOOLS

LAUBE

WAHL

KLEAN CUT

OSTER

ANDIS

Inches

1/125

0.2

0.5

0.2

1/100

0.3

0.6

0.1

0.3

3/50

—

0.4

1/50

0.5

0.8

0.2

0.5

3/64

1.2

1.0

1.3

1.0

1.2

1/16

1.6

1.5

1.8

1.5/1.6

1.0

1.5

10W

3/32

2.4

—

5/64

2.0

1.5

1.0/2.0

2.0

8.5

7/64

2.8

—

2.0

2.8

1/8

3.2

4.0

3.2

3.0

3.2

1/4

6.4

6.0

6.3

6.0

6.3

3/8

9.5

9.6

8.0

9.5

9.0

9.5

1/2

12.7

13.0

10.0

12.0

13.0

12.0

5/8HT

5/8

15.9

16.0

—

16.0

3/4HT

3/4

—

19.0

T-84

3/16

—

2.4

Snap-On Comb Sizes & Cut Lengths by Manufacturer COMB SIZE

LAUBE SELF ADJ & X-LARGE

WAHL STAINLESS STEEL

MDC ROMANI

OSTER UNIVERSAL

MILLERS FORGE

Inches

1/16

1/8

1/4

1/2

3/4

9/16

1/2 3/4

3/4 0

7/8

5/8

1/2

5/8

1 1/4

1 1/4 1 1/2

1/2

3/8

5/16

3/16

3/8

7/16

1/2

3/8

5/16

1/4

3/16

1/16

1/8

1/16

3/4

1 1/4

1 1/2

PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com

1 3/4

eGroomer Journal 1 5/8Subscribe Free S www.egroomer.com

7/8 1

Charts courtesy of Northern Tails Sharpening 251-232-5353 www.northerntails.com