Today we’d like to introduce you to Roy Pearson
Roy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In late 2020, our dog Annie was “let go” by our dog groomer. Our groomer was having to reduce his clientele due to health issues but Annie was also a challenge due to her inability to remain still. The search for a new groomer was challenging and we found that either dog groomers were full and not accepting new clients or the wait was so long that Annie would be a matted mess by the time she could get in. With so many pet adoptions occurring during the pandemic, it seemed that everyone was looking for a groomer. I had been searching for a new career path at the time and my wife came up with the idea for me to consider pursuing employment in the pet industry. My family often joked that I knew the names of the dogs in the neighborhood more than their owners. The thought of spending my time with dogs every day and their owners seemed like a dream job! We continued to research and speak with other groomers and I decided to go for it. While still working at my previous job, I completed my training and certification at Utah School of Pet Grooming and embarked on a career path that has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
One-on-one attention with the dog was important to me and I struggled with seeing dogs having to go into the crates during their salon visits. My own dogs never seemed excited to get their grooms and occasionally got sick after their appointments. I decided that I had to go into the mobile dog grooming business for that one-on-one attention, rather than working in a salon. We then took a leap of faith as I quit my job and sold a home in order to buy our first dog grooming van and spend time building up our clientele. I was doing everything I could think of to get my name out and start grooming. I reached out to my friend’s dogs to offer free grooms, went to dog parks and pet stores to show off the mobile van, networked, and networked again. For our first month, in January of 2021, I groomed a total of eight dogs at full price. It was a concern if selling the house and changing careers was the best plan. By the next month, I had 22 grooms which eased some anxiety and by March of 2021, I groomed a total of 80 dogs. From then on, it has been upwards of 80 dogs each month and a waitlist that has created a need for expansion.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our first hurdle was finding a good accountant. We didn’t do our homework initially in finding a good financial advisor who understood our business and the tax implications which set us back financially during the first year. Gratefully, we networked with other pet groomers and changed to an experienced CPA. Also, since we were busy right away but still brand new, it brought up additional challenges. We grew so fast and wanted to take on so much right away, our territory became quite large which caused extensive travel time for grooming. Our office manager had to work non-stop in finding appointment slots which fit the availability of the client with the proximity of the previous appointment so the groomer wasn’t having to travel from Lindon to Salem and back. We’ve now expanded to two mobile vans running in designated areas within central Utah County which is allowing us to continue to serve our clients. Another challenge has been finding the right full-time and part-time groomers as we are quite selective. We’re grateful with our critical selections as we’ve hired employees who are not only good at grooming but are also patient and kind to the dogs and receptive to our customers. Having the ability to safely drive a 22’ long van is also a necessity so our employees are top notch!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We specialize in providing the dogs with the personal attention that they need to feel calm and have a good experience as they are groomed. Some of our dogs have been in unfortunate situations with previous owners who neglected them, some were in shelters, and some have had inadequate grooming in the past. They often come into the van anxious and it usually takes a lot of work to win them over, but that’s our specialty. We’re able to give one-on-one attention to these dogs and allow the time needed for it. We avoid booking too many dogs each day so we can devote more time to them and their owners.
Mobile grooming is important for the community and it’s not just for the sake of the dogs.Our clients include elderly parents who are unable to drive to a salon, busy moms who can’t add another task to their day, owners with disabilities who need an easier option than traveling to a salon, and clients who work at home. Going into this business, we thought so much about the dogs and what’s best for them, but we’ve seen how valuable this service is for customers as well.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Support can come in many forms, following or interacting with our social media, trying out our services, or even just supporting other mobile groomers in your area.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unleashedmobilepetgrooming.com
- Instagram: Unleashed Mobile Pet Grooming
