Articles by Ryans Pet

As trade show season quickly approaches in with Groom Expo West in California next February, some may have made the promise to themselves that "this is the year I'll compete." However, for many industry professionals, considering entering into competing may be something that fills us with not only excitement- but also anxiety too. Luckily for Kayla Scott, owner of The Groomery, in Waco, Texas she was able to overcome those mixed emotions about hitting the competition floor earlier this year at the annual Pet Pro Classic and Pet Quest tradeshows. We caught up with Kayla to learn more about her journey to the competition floor, and here's what she had to say.

For many in the pet industry, grooming has been a blessing in disguise and also, a surprise to the overall impact that it can have on one's life. For our good friend Reggie, coming from a small town in South Florida and getting in some trouble in his younger years, pet grooming entered his life at a pivotal time while on probation back in 2018 and he hasn't looked back since. Since then, Reggie a.k.a. "Reggie Scissorhands" has established a prominent presence on various Social Platforms acting as a true inspiration and motivation to others. We sat down with Reggie to learn more about his story and journey, and here's what he had to say.

Being a boss requires deciding to take a chance. You?re ready to go off on your own but you may feel scared, unprepared, and maybe even clueless. Thankfully, you are not alone, and you won?t be the first person to feel this way! It all begins with an idea and whether you have an amazing idea or just want to create a future designed around your own terms sometimes it?s best to just take the leap! We caught up with our girl Ashley Tilson, owner of Ash The Spooky Groomer to find out more about her journey to business ownership. 

Today?s market is overflowing with retail and professional pet grooming products. As a professional groomer, you must sort through so many options to choose products that effectively deliver cleansing and conditioning ? both vital for the health, hygiene, and safety of the family pet. Fresh ?n Clean^? grooming products boast a long-standing history of science and safety for the consumer, groomer, and canine member of the family. Let?s dive deeper into some noteworthy attributes and distinguishing factors! 

Irrespective of where your dogs are walking or playing, there would be a significant amount of dust, burrs, and bits of grass that gather in the coat of your dog. It?s important that you don?t let any of this stay on. The problem worsens when these stay on and the dog gets wet. All of this ends up tangling the coat and the moist dust blocks the pores of the skin.

Like many people, you may think since your cat spends hours a day licking themselves, they must be clean. If you never took a shower or brushed your hair, then it's safe to say that's what an ungroomed cat feels like. Just like dogs, cats benefit from consistent grooming. Regular grooming removes shedding fur and dirt. It also prevents matting and tangles and redistributes the natural oils. When people are knowledgeable about healthy ways to care for their pets, they?re more likely to make sure they get the consistent care they need. We caught up with Whitney Bullock, a Certified Feline Master Groomer, and owner of The Charleston Cat Groomer located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina to explain why cat grooming is essential to your cat's health!

Contrary to popular belief; working in the service industry is hard. Many think that because a service provider is the owner of the business, that they keep all of the money that's earned when realistically, factors such as home and business expenses, payroll, taxes, supplies and more, all are deducted from the daily income.

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Christie?s Direct, we want to highlight a brand of theirs that we carry, Groom Professional. We love brands who are innovative and progressive, and Groom Professional is one of those! Groom Professional is Europe?s fastest-growing pet grooming brand. With shampoos, conditioners, colognes, tables, and much more, this brand has everything a dog groomer needs for a busy salon.

Finding a great groomer can be tough to navigate as a pet owner. Especially when you have so many options that exist. Unfortunately, not all grooming salons are created equal. While some prefer the traditional cage-style experience, many pet parents prefer to bring their pets to a place where they can receive full attention in a relaxed setting. That?s why our good friend Duke, from Duke?s Grooming Studio Pet Styling in Chicago, branded himself to creating a luxury grooming experience and emphasizes the importance of implementing an ?experience? vs a visit. We caught up with Duke to see if he?d share what makes him unique, and here?s what he had to say.

In a white, female dominated industry, men are often underrepresented and normalized as groomers. In fact, men are often faced with mistrust and resistance from prospective clients due to stereotypes that associate men with animals. As a black male in the pet industry, negative associations from the media and lack of representation of positive relationships as black pet owners, often make it hard for Black men to excel. As a Black, Gay male in our industry, the job is harder, as one must be prepared to continuously prove themselves or risk the stigma of being labeled or stereotyped. As a prominent Black, Gay male in our industry, our good friend Brian aka ?The Dog Barber? has endured his own set of challenges. While Brain can be seen in Vanderpump Dogs; a show featuring Lisa Vanderpump and her rescue and also Haute Dog, a Grooming competition series from HBO Max, the journey to get there hasn?t been easy. We sat down with Brian to learn more about his journey navigating the Pet Industry as a Black, Gay male and here is what he had to say.