Shed, Bath & Beyond | Capital Grooming Mobile Pet Spa
Pet Grooming
Tell us about your services?
We offer pet grooming for dogs and cats and have a wide array of collars and shampoos. We also introduced a new line of clothing, so we are now stocked with T-shirts, hoodies, and hats!
When and how did you get into this industry?
I grew up on a little farm in north Missouri (Princeton) with hopes of becoming a veterinarian. I fell in love with music when I was in junior high, so I graduated from St.Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in music performance in 2000. I worked through college for a company called Linens N’ Things, became a manager, and worked full-time for them shortly after graduation. I then realized I didn’t want to spend my life working retail, so I applied to the University of Missouri for animal science with hopes of getting back to my roots. During that time, I started working for a pet boarding and grooming shop. The owner was a master groomer and trained me through an apprenticeship.
What sets you apart?
We run our shop like a professional salon. All of our equipment and products are of high-quality. We have a full-time front-desk manager in addition to part-time staff to clean and sanitize every area of the shop on a daily basis. Our staff also focuses on continuous education with training seminars.
What’s one thing you wish everyone knew when it comes to pet grooming?
Groomers are here for the love of their job and the animals. This is not a career for the faint of heart. The relationships with our pet clients, and their owners, are what makes it all worth it.
What’s been your biggest struggle?
The biggest struggle would probably also be trying to find talented stylists. I’ve had to train most of the people that work for me by offering apprenticeships. Jefferson City is a tough place to recruit grooming professionals from outside the area.
What’s the best part of your job?
Nothing compares to working with animals. I like animals better than people. They very rarely have a bad day, and if they do, they usually just like to be loved on to make it better.
What is required to be a master in your industry?
Patience, patience, and more patience! I don’t have all the answers and can still learn from others is probably the top thing to accept. Being a master doesn’t necessarily mean you know it all. A true master learns to constantly adapt to new ways of doing things. The needs of the business have to dictate the progression of the shop to make the business sustainable in the long term.
What goals do you have for the future?
We are expanding our business base to include mobile grooming coming in early spring! We are so excited to open Capital Grooming Mobile Pet Spa. A lot of our clients are getting older, retiring, and look forward to the opportunity to have home front service. We also have a lot of professionals who have busy lifestyles and require more personal, luxury attention.
What are three words that best describe your business?
Professional, detailed, and hard-working.
How is community involvement important to your job/business?
We try to give back where we can by supporting local silent auctions for different fundraisers.
What are you most thankful for in your line of work?
I am thankful to have one of the hardest working teams to date in my shop. My staff is smart, hard-working, savvy, sassy, funny, and just a joy to be around and work with. I try to instill in my employees the notion that teamwork is the best way forward and that no one person is alone in what they do. What one person does represents all of us as a whole, and we take that very seriously.
Do you feel like you have work/life balance? If so, how do you do it?
When I first started my shop back in 2009, I put my blood, sweat, and tears into it to make it what it is today. I was working seven days a week almost 24/7. I missed out on so much when my daughter was really little. Now, I am able to turn it over to my staff more so I can get home to my family.
(573) 632-4364 | shedbathandbeyond.com | capitalgrooming.com