By Khris Berry
October 4, 2019
The united states Bureau of Labor statistics predicts that our industry will need to recruit, train and employee 64,000 new pet groomers by 2026 just to keep pace with the American appetite for pet ownership.
Recently, we discussed a looming crisis in the grooming industry. The united states Bureau of Labor statistics predicts that our industry will need to recruit, train and employee 64,000 new pet groomers by 2026 just to keep pace with the American appetite for pet ownership. That of course, is assuming that no working pet stylist now steps away from their grooming table in the next five years.
If you are like lots of working pet groomers, you are already feeling the consistent climb in new client calls, have new family pets entering client households, and are seeing your normal wait time extend from days to weeks, to maybe even months. Capitalists and economic analysts would predict that it has never been a better time to be a pet groomer—but those who are suiting up and showing up everyday may disagree.
As an industry, we are facing what often times feels like an onslaught of not only new and boosted clientele, but new pet dog owners as well. We find ourselves explaining, educating, repeating, repenting and exhausting ourselves mentally and physically to find common ground with our clients.
But these are the crisis we already have identified. We know these challenges exist in the pet industry and are gearing up collectively to face them. There is another silent battle being waged that has been overlooked. Where are these new and existing pet stylists going to work? Is your current employer prepared for growth, to add employees, to navigate service ownership growth and expansion to accommodate them? Is the existing workforce able to foster new service owners and new establishments as they learn the pitfalls and joys of owning a pet grooming salon? Is the industry prepared to absorb the collective mistakes as new and existing pet grooming service owners catch up to enact safe handling, educated sanitation and professional practices? Is your employer prepared to operate a profitable, sustainable pet grooming beauty parlor while using fair employee wages and benefits? and we haven’t even touched on the retirement issue for pet groomers who will unavoidably face a shortened work lifespan due to workplace and innate job hazards.
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Ok, now we have a crisis on our hands. What are we going to do as individuals and as an industry to facilitate the answers to these issues? how will we accommodate this growth and create sustainable, professional, compassionate workplaces?
Let’s delve into some options and action items that you can carry out now and in the years to come.
Employers
Employers realize that employees and customers are the center of every business. Each service is reliant on people who desire to pay for their services and people who are paid to do those services. Establishing safe, sustainable, professional and legal workplaces will help the entire industry. stay up to date on legal pay structures. follow local, state and federal requirements. structure your service so that you are financially stable and can not only meet your current obligations, but save for future financial pitfalls as well.
While not a popular subject, apply functional policies that allow your employees to feel supported, safe and directed, and create boundaries that support your business. time off policies, flexible time off and paid time off are critical to delighted employees and sustainability in a growing business. health and wellness incentives and plans will make sure that your employees are able to stay in their positions for a lot more years.
As an employer, your initial action will be that these things are too costly or unattainable. It is your responsibility to figure it out. There is no other answer. If your current service model doesn’t allow for these things, then find a new one. service coaching, financial advisers or a service mentor can help you navigate your way to a better future for you and your employees. If you are contemplating starting your own pet services business, build it correctly from the beginning.
Employees
Groomers are a breed of their own. Ask one. Ask any individual who has employed a groomer. I often say that it takes a special person to accumulate the immense knowledge library, hand/eye coordination, skill set and behavior background required to accomplish the job—and then choose to work in an industry which is often undervalued, under-organized and overly dangerous. who would actually want to do that job every day? Groomers. So, what can you, as an employee, offer to help with the looming questions facing your industry? The responsibility does not lie completely with the employer. Each needs the other.
As a pet services employee, you can begin by ensurinull
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