The idea for my shop started many years ago actually. That idea has taken several different forks in the road, but had to pretty much come back to the original plan. Just to begin it became necessary to start with the basics. The other stuff I want to do will have to come later after I build up a name and a clientele. So for now I am a basic groom shop and sell some pet supplies. I have gone into this business as a partner with my oldest daughter. I supplied the capital, my son-in-law supplied the creativity and talent for turning an old dilapidated building into a nice shop with tons of potential. My daughter, aside from assisting me with grooming duties and bathing dogs, keeps the books, and helps the customers. I do all the grooming and worrying and I answer all the customer's dog questions. We're off to an ok start I guess. Being in a new town, new state and knowing nobody, I think we're doing pretty good. The yellow pages ad only just came out so my only form of advertising was a pricey newspaper ad which cost me more money than I've made back so far. It ran 1 day. I also had a couple hundred flyers printed up which were distributed on car windshields at the mall. Later mall security called to chastise us for causing the litter in the parking lot which the mall employees had to pick up. I guess people just tossed them on the ground. What a waste of money. But I did get a few customers out of it. I bought pens with my shop name and address on them. I have been handing those out to everyone that will take them, along with my business cards. We've already built up over 20 customers and all have been happy and said they would be back and will tell all their dog friends. This is a bad time of year to open this type of business. The economy is down, Jan and Feb are usually slow in the groom business and with the weather we've been having I'm surprised anyone has shown up. Hopefully spring will bring in lots of new customers.
Nice logo!
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