{"id":878,"date":"2020-06-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.daysmart.com\/pet\/blog\/dog-grooming-van\/"},"modified":"2024-12-24T13:02:47","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T13:02:47","slug":"dog-grooming-van","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysmart.com\/pet\/blog\/dog-grooming-van\/","title":{"rendered":"Groomer Shares Tips for Success with Dog Grooming Van"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mobile dog grooming vans are convenient for their clientele. It\u2019s a personalized service that saves the client time, reduces stress for some dogs, and may even be more sought after in the post-COVID time due to less interaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a dog groomer, if you\u2019re thinking about transitioning into a dog grooming van, there\u2019s a lot to consider. From coordinating your grooms to handling drop off and pickups, a dog grooming van has a lot of differences from a physical salon. <\/span><\/p>\n

Krystal Purcell is a 3rd generation dog groomer who runs <\/span>Pooch Paws to Go<\/span><\/i><\/a> in Rockland, Ma. She\u2019s a Groom Team USA Alum, an AKC owner\/handler, and a seminar leader at grooming events. <\/span><\/p>\n

Krystal says she grew up in the business. Her mom still grooms, and her grandmother was a groomer. \u201cWhen I was a kid, I\u2019d sit on a stool and help brush dogs and bathe them. In high school, my school had a work-study program, so I\u2019d leave at the 7th period and go work at my parents\u2019 shop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Her mobile grooming business started due to a client\u2019s suggestion. \u201cA family friend in Boston wanted me to groom his dogs at his house. He didn\u2019t want to drive an hour to come to us. So I took everything with me; dryer, brushes, table. It was a lot of work. One day he suggested I go to other people\u2019s homes for grooming. He said, \u201cyou could get a dog grooming van, and this could be your business.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Once the seed was planted, Krystal looked around for vans and was able to buy a used one for $6000. That was in 2012. \u201cI was in college by then and had a little money left over from scholarships, and I bought a used van for $6000. Then I drove my van everywhere I could. I drove it to the supermarket, the mall, anywhere people gathered.\u201d She found it was an excellent advertisement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now she runs her mobile pet grooming business out of a late model Wag \u2018N Tail<\/a> van and serves an area between Boston and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Krystal says, \u201cFor me, it wasn\u2019t that big of a deal to transition to mobile because I already had a base clientele I\u2019d built working at my parent\u2019s grooming shop.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re launching a mobile pet grooming business, Krystal recommends being visible. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI recommend having graphics on the side of the van. Make sure your business name and phone number are easy to read. As mobile groomers, we\u2019re moving. So there\u2019s a short time-span for people to see the info they need.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, there\u2019s an interesting phenomenon that mobile groomers experience. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe general public seems to think mobile dog grooming is on-demand like pizza. They think that we can just groom their dog right now and people will stop you in parking lots. So there\u2019s some education that has to happen.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s education on the business side too. Krystal says staying organized has a significant impact on your profitability. From client scheduling to organizing your products. Having a set routine is essential for mobile groomers. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Organize Your Appointments <\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cIn the beginning, you have such a narrow clientele; you\u2019ll go anywhere. Even 10 miles away. However, as you build up a clientele, you want to keep things more focused and group neighborhoods and appointments together.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The timing between grooms is important too. \u201cNow, I have 110 regular clients. I try to keep them on a 4-6 week schedule. Then I can group 4 week appointments together and 6 week appointments together. More than that, you\u2019re eating up more time at appointments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She also recommends pre-booking. \u201cI pre-book my appointments six months out. I\u2019m not too specific on timing because things happen. So I give a range, I\u2019ll arrive between 9-11. I know how long it takes to groom the dogs. 60-75 minutes is typical, but some take 90 minutes to 2 hours. If your avg. is 75 min to groom a dog but it takes 2 hours, you need to charge accordingly. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I aim for 4-6 week grooms. An 8-week client will take you at least 1.5 x longer, and sometimes people don\u2019t want to pay the difference.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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By pre-booking, it\u2019s easier to keep a tight schedule. \u201cI try not to let clients dictate my schedule. I keep a rigid schedule, so there\u2019s not much leeway for rescheduling. I also don\u2019t take one-off clients or snowbirds anymore because they\u2019re not the ones who pay my bills.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Weather can also play a big role in your scheduling as Krystal found out the hard way. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Create a Buffer Day in Case of Weather Delays<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cWeather is a big obstacle, and a lot of people don\u2019t take that into consideration. In Massachusetts, we get a lot of snow and it freezes. One winter it snowed 110 inches, and every Monday was a snow day.\u201d Krystal says. She ended up going from a five day a week schedule to 4 days a week to create a buffer day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how they do it in Nebraska and places like that, but in Massachusetts, if the schools are closed, I\u2019m closed. I don\u2019t go out if the snow is over 2 inches. I\u2019d never suggest someone come from somewhere like California and jump right into mobile grooming in a cold area. I\u2019d recommend doing a ride-along and experiencing what it\u2019s like. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, I don\u2019t have to deal with high heat like in Nevada. I did have all my windows tinted which helps keep the temperature regulated. I also have a dehumidifier that runs in the summer because humidity will cause corrosion and rust.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Along with an organized schedule, Krystal is also organized in her placement of items in the dog grooming van and how she handles the dogs. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Grooming Organization <\/b><\/h3>\n

Krystal says she often talks about the importance of time-saving skills and organization in her seminars. \u201cIn a van, we\u2019re dealing with limited space, and I\u2019ve learned the less time I spend looking for equipment, the more money I make. The size of the bottles matters too. For example, I keep small shampoo bottles, not gallons because they take up too much room. I restock weekly and make sure my shampoos are full.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Her van has cabinets but found they weren\u2019t as useful as she first thought. \u201cAt first, I loved having cabinets, but I learned that opening the doors over and over takes up time. So now I have baskets on the outside that hold my hairspray and conditioning sprays. All my clippers and shears are within hands\u2019 reach.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Krystal\u2019s organization extends to how she handles the dogs too. \u201cI recommend all groomers keep to a routine. Start with the same area every time. It builds muscle memory. Plus, dogs are routine-based. For me, every dog goes straight into the bath as soon as they come into the van.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Handling Doggie Drop Off and Pick Up<\/b><\/h3>\n

Krystal says, \u201c25-50% are latchkey clients. When I do seminars, I recommend groomers do latchkey. It works out well because I know I can then spend more time talking with an older (senior) client who doesn\u2019t have a lot of company, and I don\u2019t have to worry about running behind on my next appointment. But post-COVID, I don\u2019t know if we\u2019ll be allowed to be in people\u2019s houses. I\u2019m going to suggest people leave the dog near the door in a kennel or a room in close proximity. Because before, I sometimes had to search all over the house for the dog.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She says post COVID she\u2019ll have additional protocol. \u201cI\u2019ll be texting clients when I arrive and if they\u2019re home to bring the dog to the door. I\u2019ll use a new mask and a new towel for every dog.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Since groomers are already used to maintaining high sanitary protocol due to parvo and canine influenza, the post COVID requirements will, hopefully, not be too difficult to implement. <\/span><\/p>\n

Krystal says, \u201cI did buy a UV light to disinfect cash\/checks. I will be asking clients to pay by CC as much as possible. I also bought a UV tool cleaner. All tools I use will go inside that to be sanitized in between grooms.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

She also installed an air sanitizer filtration system in her van last October. Hopefully, these protocols will be enough to keep everyone safe. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Every Dog Isn\u2019t Right for Dog Grooming Vans<\/b><\/h3>\n

When Krystal brings a dog into her van, it goes straight into the bath, followed by the haircut and blowdry. The dog doesn\u2019t get a break and can get overstimulated. <\/span><\/p>\n

Krystal says, \u201cA lot of times people think old dogs are great for mobile, but it\u2019s actually very physical, and that dog doesn\u2019t get a break. In a shop, a dog will have downtime in between if they need it. Plus, because all of our equipment is inside, it can be a little louder in the van since everything\u2019s enclosed. It\u2019s ok. You don\u2019t have to do every dog.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Krystal\u2019s mom still grooms, and she\u2019s in the area too, so Krystal sometimes recommends clients to her at <\/span>Pooch Paws.<\/b><\/p>\n

As you can see, Krystal is a highly organized and skilled groomer who has made mobile pet grooming work for her. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can find her at grooming events. Often, leading seminars like:<\/span><\/p>\n