The Pet Salon

The 2nd Annual Groomys Gala A Big Hit

Beth — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:57:36 +0000

SECAUCUS, NJ – On April 22, 2012 the best pet grooming has to offer gathered for an exciting night of recognition, dinner and dancing in conjunction with Intergroom. The night began with a serene harp music reception and ended with the dance band Phenomenon playing an encore set until one o’clock in the morning. In between Chuck Simons, the founder of The Groomys, hosted a sit-down dinner where The Groomy Awards were presented to the recipients.

The 2012 Groomy Awards:
• Marea Tully was presented with the “Groom Team Spirit Award”.
• Cheryl Purcell was presented with the “Groom Team Spirit Award”.
• Olga Zabelinskaya was presented with “The Peggy Harris Humanitarian Award”.
• Al Davis was presented with the “Grooming Industry Vendors Excellence Award”.
• Frank Rowe was presented with the “Grooming Industry Vendors Excellence Award”.
• Sam Kohl was presented with the “Contribution to the Industry”.
• Mary Meeks was presented with the “Contribution to the Industry”.
• Teri DiMarino was presented with “The “Grooming Industry Professional of the Year” Groomy Award”.
• Todd Shelly was presented with “The “Grooming Show Producer of the Year” Groomy Award”.
• Ann Stafford was presented with the “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
• Sally J. Liddick was presented with “The Sally J. Liddick “Legends of Grooming” Groomy Award”.
• Gwen Shelly was presented with “The Sally J. Liddick “Legends of Grooming” Groomy Award”.
• Liz Paul was presented with “The Sally J. Liddick “Legends of Grooming” Groomy Award”.

Commemorative Plaques were awarded to the current Traveling Team of GroomTeam USA. They included: Lindsey Dicken, Michell Evans, Jennifer Lee, Irina Pinkusevich and Olga Zabelinskaya. The Board of Directors also received the same plaques; they are Marea Tully, Teresa Dreese and Suesan Watson. As a token of GroomTeam USA’s appreciation, plaques were also awarded to their Premium Sponsors, which included Andis, Wahl, Lambert Kay, Kenchi Shears and 44/20.

The Groomys is presented by “GIVE A GIFT”, which stands for Grooming Industry Vendors Excellence Association and the philanthropic arm, which is the Grooming Industry Foundation Trust. The foundation of “GIVE A GIFT” is to increase the awareness of professional groomers to the general public, to champion the grooming industry and the professional groomers through awards and recognition and to support the efforts of GroomTeam USA. “GIVE A GIFT” will also do its best to assist groomers in a time of need, through financial assistance and industry support.

Meet Chuck Simons: The Pet ‘Groomers Helper’

Beth — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:05:31 +0000

By Alissa Wolf, About.com Guide

Chuck and Beth Simons in front of their Margate, N.J., pet groomers salon with the traveling Groom Team USA trophy.

Photo courtesy of Chuck Simons

Anybody who’s anybody in the pet groomer industry has heard of and most likely uses the Groomer’s Helper®, a pet safety and positioning system that many experts claim has revolutionized the pet groomers profession.The Groomers Helper® is a simple, metal clamp with a nylon tether that attaches to a grooming arm at the end of the table. A safety loop is put around the dog’s neck and hooked to the tether on the Groomers Helper®. (Click on ‘More Images’ to the right to see.)This creates a “tri-tie” for the dog, using the dog’s natural instincts to calm it and help it to stay in position. The loop is pulled away from the trachea, making it safer for dogs, while it prevents them from backing off the table or hanging themselves.Best of all, it reduces the dog’s bite radius by up to 90 percent, making it nearly impossible for the groomer to be bitten during the grooming process. This gives the pet groomers confidence that the dog can actually smell on their breath. It also gives pet groomers a “second pair of hands.”

Used by Pet Groomers Around the World

Since going on the market 10 years ago, the device is used by groomers the world over, including at the Pet Spa at Harrods, the posh London department store which launched a chi-chi pet salon in November 2010.

I recently caught up with the inventor of the Groomers Helper®, Chuck Simons, who owns The Pet Salon grooming parlor in the seaside resort town of Margate, N.J., along with his wife, Beth, a leading area pet groomer.

Simons, a mountainous bear of a man with salt and pepper hair braided in a ponytail that spans the length of his back, previously had been in the casino supply business. (Margate is just a few miles from Atlantic City.) He and his wife opened the salon and he came up with the idea for this device in roundabout ways.

‘Groom Smarter, Not Harder’

Simons’s wife embarked on a pet groomer career many years ago, following the death of the couples’ beloved black Lab, Russell.

“Beth was inconsolable,” said Simons. “So she got a job at a vet bathing pets, to keep her occupied. She loved it, and decided that this is what she wanted to do.”

Thus, 23 years ago, the couple decided to open the Pet Salon in a small storefront in the upscale Jersey shore town. Simons came up with the idea for his grooming system about 10 years ago, after repeatedly witnessing the struggles his wife and the grooming staff endured while handling pets.

“Groomers are the champions of the industry,” Simons said. “They are over-worked, under paid and under-appreciated. They often get bitten and scratched. So I do everything I can to promote and support them.”

A Mom and Pop Pet Business

What’s interesting about the Groomers Helper® is that it’s not some mega corporation; it’s a mom and pop operation, with all business conducted out of the salon. This is a relatively small, yet well-utilized space. There’s a pet photo studio situated in the front of the store; a retail area with a small but comprehensive assortment of holistic pet products and supplies; a room in the back that contains the grooming salon; a work area where employees sew the loops and prepare the devices for shipping; and an office cubicle where Simons conducts business.

In addition to his numerous business operations, Simons also participates in groom shows around the world, and is a sought-after lecturer, pet photographer (he takes ‘Pet Shots’ glamour photos), and writes a column called “SAGE (an acronym for Salon and Grooming Expert) Advice” for Groomer to Groomer, a respected pet grooming industry trade magazine. Plus, he has been nominated for a Cardinal Crystal Award, a respected maker of pet grooming products based in California. This prestigious award is presented to an outstanding groomer each year in conjunction with the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.

An ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ Toward Pets

Simons takes a very holistic approach to animal care and life in general with “an attitude of gratitude” – his personal motto – largely because he is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with malignant lung cancer in 1994. But he miraculously survived what is usually a death sentence, after which he decided to make a firm commitment to living each day to the fullest, and giving back to the world.

Simons is, indeed, a maverick who believes he owes his success to his belief in the importance of telling the truth, maintaining a positive attitude and his love of animals, as well as his respect for those who provide services for them.

“I am all about what I can do to leave a mark on the world,” he summed it up. “Pets heal us; they give us unconditional love. I do whatever I can to help them.”

Layton dog groomer earns grooming certificate, competes in competitions.

Beth — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:43:54 +0000

By Dana Rimington

Wed, 03/21/2012 – 6:44pm

LAYTON — When it comes to grooming dogs, licenses or certifications are not required, so the industry standards can vary dramatically.

One local pet groomer recently decided to complete the grueling national certifications, in hopes it would make her a better groomer.

The owner of K9 Designs by Tammy in Layton, Tammy Ellis, 41, spent months preparing for the three extensive written tests and four grooming demonstrations, where she was judged by top-level groomers.

She is now one of only a handful of groomers in the state recognized as a National Certified Master Groomer from the National Dog Groomers Association of America, the largest certification organization in the nation.

When asked why no licenses are required, Ellis said, “It’s because it’s more complicated than you can imagine. You aren’t just doing the top of their head. You are doing their whole body and you can accidently burn, cut or poke them since they’re constantly moving. It is completely different than grooming a person.”

Ellis chose to voluntary get the license to help learn how to avoid any injuries to the dogs she grooms. For those envisioning a pet groomer playing with puppies all day though, Ellis is quick to nip those thoughts in the bud.

“I wish it were like that, since it is more like occasionally dodging teeth,” said Ellis.

For her, grooming has become more than just a way to make a living; it has become a creative outlet for her since every dog cut is different.

“As I learned more about grooming, I realized there is so much more to it than meets the eye,” said Ellis, who specializes in small dogs less than 30 pounds.

“There are little tricks you can do to make the dogs look more balanced, almost like an optical illusion creating an ideal dog,” she said, referring to special cuts that can be made in certain areas to make the dog appear more symmetrical.

One of the problems for groomers is pet owners wait too long between grooming sessions.

The average duration between grooming is about four weeks for most of her clients, though some do bring in their dogs more frequently. Groomers see a big difference between dogs that come in regularly for cuts and those that only come in once a year.

“It’s stressful for dogs to be taken from the comfort of their backyard, and get a blow dry and haircut,” said Ellis. “Dogs like that can have a really hard time being groomed.”

Ellis travels to dog grooming competitions across the nation several times a year, which helps improve her skill. She was surprised to win first place in her first competition 2 1/2 years ago in Las Vegas.

She said she has been bitten by the competition bug, but does it for her clients.

“The competitions have helped my grooming skills, and I want my dogs to look the best. So my clients benefit in the long run,” Ellis said.

Her ultimate goal is to be a member of Groom Team USA, which consists of the top 10 groomers in the country depending on their accumulated points in the national competitions throughout the year. Two years ago she was in 34th place, and has since moved up to 15th place this year.

In addition to grooming, Ellis is trained in pet CPR. Dogs can have undiagnosed conditions that may present themselves while in her care, so she wants to be prepared if one of the dogs has a seizure or stroke.

“Safety is my top priority,” said Ellis, who also takes the time to hand blow-dry the dogs, rather than using kennel dryers that can often be harmful.

A Glowing Testimonial of the Groomers Helper

Beth — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:54:01 +0000

We recently received this testimonial via an email and would like to thank Jennifer Schwall for taking the time time to write it. By the way, if anyone is looking for a groomer in Longmont, Colorado here is her info:

BUSINESS: Widdle Waskles Grooming
WEBSITE: www.widdlewasklesgrooming.com
EMAIL: widdlewasklesgrooming@gmail.com
PHONE: (720) 309-8976

Here is her testimonial:

Hi there, I would like to start by saying…YOU ARE AMAZING!! Because of your product pets everywhere are getting better care in a salon. I have been a factory groomer (grooming LOTS of dogs in a small shop in little time)! For many years we used muzzles, e-collars, tranquilizers, 5 people to handle one dog and NOTHING is as humane and safe as your product!

I recently opened my own shop to MAKE A CHANGE. I am privately grooming 1 family at a time NO cages, NO muzzles, No tranquilizers, NO OTHER HELP, – I WORK ALONE! I do ALL sizes and all I use is a Groomers Helper.

I have used your product and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! You inspired me to open my safe private stress free salon. If you guys ever need someone to demonstrate this product in the Colorado area I would LOVE to do it!

BTW Your product saved a couple of dog’s lives – 2 dogs NOONE could touch. In 4 grooming sessions with the Groomers Helper the foster parents of dogs decided not to euthanize them

Have a nice day!!
Jenna

2011 PET PRODUCTS TREND REPORT

Beth — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:45:01 +0000

We pamper them. We bring them wherever we go. We surprise them with something new on special occasions. They even get holiday presents. They are our pets!

From high-end items to high-tech items, products for our companion animals now extend beyond traditional necessities. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) presents top pet product trends for 2011.

Reducing Your Pets Carbon PAW print
Around the world people are making conscious efforts to help our planet Eart, and the pet industry is no exception. From natural litters to toys, accessories and organic food options, earth-friendly pet products are sprouting up everywhere.

Going to the Dogs
More and more companies traditionally know for human products are going to the dogs, and cats, and reptiles. Big name companies including like Paul Mitchell, Omaha Steaks, Origins, Harley Davidson and Old Navy are now offering lines of pet products ranging from dog shampoo, pet attire, and name-brand toys to gourmet treats and food.

Pets Welcome
Many hotels across the country are adopting pet friendly policies. Several chains have announced new pet-friendly policies that include everything from oversized pet pillows, plush doggie robes, to check-in gift packages that include a pet toy, dog treat, ID tag, bone and turn down treat. Some even have a licensed dog masseuse on staff.

Pet Products Sold Here
Shopping for pet products is becoming easier than ever with an increasing variety of retail outlets now selling pet products. Right along side fertilizer and shovels, shoppers can now find pet products such as doggie doors and yellow lawn spot removers sold at many lawn and garden stores, nurseries, and major home improvement stores including Home Depot.

Ultra-Clean…
Pet-owners take grooming one step beyond a haircut, a quick bath and a nail trim. Mouthwash and an electric toothbrush for canines are routine steps in a beauty session for some pooches. Birds receive daily pedicures with special cage perches, while others enjoy manicures complete with nail polish. Pet-owning homes stay cleaner with automatic, self-flushing litter boxes, cleaning cloths for muddy paws that mimic traditional baby wipes, and scented gel air fresheners to keep rooms free of pet odors.

Dinner is Served
Today’s pet foods include complete and balanced diets that tantalize our pets’ taste buds and satisfy their tummies. Formulas for puppies and kittens, specialized meals for reptiles, birds and fish and diets for senior pets ensure a long and healthy life for our beloved companions.

State-of-the-Art
High-tech products including computerized identification tags, digital aquarium kits, automatic doors and feeders, enhanced reptile terrarium lighting systems and touch-activated toys help pet-owners take care of companion animals with ease and precision.

Loosen Up
As pet owners meditate in yoga class, cats relieve stress by frolicking in a toy gym or relaxing in a feline spa before enjoying herbal catnip packaged in a tea bag. Dogs sip fresh water from flowing fountains after a soothing rub with a doggie massager.

Help Yourself!
Products designed with convenience in mind lead this trend. Programmable feeding and drinking systems, automatic and battery-operated toys, self-cleaning litter boxes and self-warming pet mats let pets virtually care for themselves!

Straight from the Catwalk
Faux mink coats, hipster lumberjack vests, designer plaid jackets, matching jeweled and leather collar and leash sets, Halloween costumes, and holiday outfits keep pets in fashion throughout the year. Upscale leather carriers complete with a cell phone and water bottle holder are the perfect accessories to keep the pet owner in style as well.

Keep on Truckin’
Whether it’s a quick trip to the supermarket or a long ride to the beach, companion animals are now traveling animals too. Buckled up in a harness, seat belt system or a portable carrier, these pets stay safe and secure while on the road. Food and water along with safety supplies are on hand in all-in-one kits, waste disposal systems make for easy clean-up on quick stops and motion sickness aids are available too.

Hello, My Name Is…
From monogrammed sweaters and personalized food and water bowls to digitized collar tags and hand-made treats, owners embrace their pets as true members of the American family celebrating their fluffy, finned and feathered companions with their very own belongings.

GroomTeam USA Accepting Scholarship Applications

Beth — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:58:07 +0000

GroomTeam USA is now accepting applications for the Lonnie Lange Memorial Scholarship Fund. There are two levels of awards: one for college education, and the other for grooming education. The deadline for application submissions is April 30, 2012.

Level 1 will provide two recipients with $1,000 in college money. These funds may be used toward college education in any field and will be paid directly to the school. The only stipulation is that the applicant must be the child, stepchild or grandchild of a bona-fide professional groomer.

Level 2 is open to any and all applicants and provides one recipient with a full scholarship to a GroomTeam USA-approved grooming school. GroomTeam USA will also provide up to $1,000 toward the purchase of the standard grooming tool kit available through the selected school. The participating schools include Maser’s Academy of Fine Grooming (Kenmore, Wash.), Merryfield School of Pet Grooming (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Nanhall School of Dog Grooming (Greensboro, N.C.), Paragon School of Pet Grooming (Jenison, Mich.) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Pet Grooming (Indiana, Pa.).

The Lonnie Lange Memorial Scholarship Fund is intended to help the families of hard working pet stylists. It is made possible through the generous contributions of our Premium Sponsors, Andis, Wahl, LambertKay, Shark Fin Shears, 4420 Shears, Groomers Helper and Natures Specialties, as well as the continued support of the numerous manufactures, distributors and groomers.

GroomTeam USA employs the aid of The International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., a professional scholarship selection company. The use of this outside source insures that the selection of the recipients is professional, fair and unbiased.

For more information, visit www.GroomTeamUSA.com.

Chuck Simons Wins the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Award

Beth — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:47:49 +0000

Margate’s Chuck Simons Is Honored with Dog Grooming Industry’s Most Prestigious Award

AZUSA, Calif. – The Oscars of competitive dog grooming, the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards, were held recently at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, with members of the industry gathering to honor the best and the brightest groomers, contest judges and pet salons of the year. Among the award recipients was Chuck Simons of Margate, who was presented with the David. G. Salzberg Award for his outstanding contributions to competitive grooming.

Simons is the inventor of The Groomer’s Helper Pet Handling System, a patented system that assists groomers with handling dogs and cats during grooming sessions which helps to reduce the likelihood of injury to the pet and the groomer, and also enables a single groomer to clip nails. Simons and his wife Beth, who is a Certified Master Groomer, have owned The Pet Salon in Margate since 1983, a full-service grooming salon that also has a boutique and is home to PetShots, a photo studio offering memorable photos of pets and people.

“The David G. Salzberg Award is presented annually to the individual who personally inspires groomers and supports the advancement of the grooming industry, and Chuck has changed the way many groomers work for the better with his Groomer’s Helper system,” said Tony De Vos, President of Cardinal Pet Care. “Chuck’s innovative system helps to make grooming safer, easier and more comfortable for both groomers and pets. We are honored to present the David G. Salzberg Award to Chuck for his contributions to pet grooming.”

The Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards were founded in 1988 by Cardinal President Tony De Vos and Shirlee Kalstone, then owner of the International Intergroom trade show for competitive grooming, for the purpose of establishing standards of grooming excellence and recognizing professional skills in the competitive grooming industry. Since the beginning, the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards have been considered one of the highest honors in the pet grooming industry, annually presenting awards for outstanding achievement in six different categories.

New categories to this year’s Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards include the Retail Grooming Salon of the Year Awards, which are split into two categories – More than 5 Salons, and Fewer than 5 Salons. Also new to this year’s Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards is the Mobile Groomer of the Year Award. For a list of the other winners, as well as more information about the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards, visit http://www.cardinalcrystalAwards.com/card_AwardDesc.htm.

Cardinal Laboratories is a solar powered company “Devoted to Pets, People and the Planet.” In addition to providing pets with the highest quality products, Cardinal is dedicated to the environmental directive of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Pre-cycle whenever possible. Demonstrating its commitment to the environment, Cardinal has solar-powered corporate offices, warehouses and manufacturing facilities in Azusa, CA.

For more information, visit the Cardinal Pet Care website at www.CardinalPet.com or call 1-800-433-7387. More information is also available on the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/cardinalcrystalAwards.

On the subject of cats.

Beth — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:07:47 +0000

I am always amazed by the amount of groomers who refuse to do cats? And while I understand that it takes a certain kind of ‘cat’ person to really have a passion for it, there is a lot of money to be made grooming cats. And while some groomers specialize in feline styling, all groomers can benefit from working with cats.

The majority of groomers I speak with are not at all enthusiastic about working with cats. They say they are too unpredictable and downright frightening. In my opinion, nine out of ten cats are afraid of their own shadow. But it is that one devil cat from down below that keeps nine out of ten groomers from working with cats. And yet, cat grooming is an incredibly profitable part of the business.

There are many cat grooming experts in the industry, as well as, cat grooming organizations that promote the safe grooming of felines and offer tips and tricks for stylists who want to offer cat grooming in their salon. Many successful salons now offer a ‘cats only’ day which helps to keep the cats calmer since they are not mixed in with canines. (Ever hear the phrase ‘fighting like cats and dogs?’) You can find a ton of information online about the proper way to groom a cat.

But what many groomers don’t know is they already have an incredible tool for cat grooming available to them. The Groomers Helper Professional Set is the answer! I have demonstrated this to thousands of groomers who now have the ability to groom cats with ease and safety.

Using the Professional Set with a cat is different from using it with a dog. First of all, the grooming loop is placed around the cats shoulders at table level, rather than around the neck and connected to the grooming arm. By placing the mini-arm with hook at table level, and lowering the Groomers Helper to table level on the grooming arm, a groomer is able to place the loop on the table, open it and secure it around the cat’s shoulders. It is quite effective and an amazingly simple way to safely hold a cat in position while grooming.

You can watch the Groomers Helper training video online to see this set up in action. Just CLICK HERE to begin. The demo for using Groomers Helper with cats starts at nine minute mark.

And remember that we are still offering special holiday pricing on Groomers Helper Professional Sets including free shipping. Click here to order.

So please consider cat grooming as an excellent way to boost your profits in 2012. If you don’t already offer this service, now is a great time to start and Groomers Helper is a great tool for success. CLICK HERE TO SHOP ONLINE

Give The Gift Of Safety

Beth — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:27:44 +0000

What better gift to give a groomer than the gift of safety?While many spouses and significant others can also call themselves “Groomers Helper,” the Professional Set is that extra set of hands that every groomer needs to groom smarter and not harder. It is now being used by the top professionals in the industry and taught in the top schools. Can you imagine not having to struggle anymore?

I often ask groomers why dogs do not want to be groomed. They reply that the dog doesn’t want to be there, or that the dog is remembering a bad experience, or that the dog just doesn’t like being groomed. That said, I tell them the real reason is that dogs struggle at home with their owners and win, so they think it is normal behavior. By the same token, groomers struggle and wrestle with dogs because they think it is the normal way to groom!

But can you imagine an artist hanging a canvas from a rope and spin it to try and paint it? And would a woodworker roll a log down a hill to try and carve it? Of course not! But groomers chase dogs around a grooming table with razor sharp scissors and clippers without thinking twice. In that respect, the Groomers Helper is the easel that holds your pet canvas and it allows you to unleash your grooming art!

There Is Nothing To Fear

Beth — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:15:37 +0000

One of the biggest problems facing new groomers is FEAR. Whether they fear injuring the dog they are working with or fear of being hurt themselves, confidence in the grooming salon is very important. Perhaps you have seen the handlers at Westminster and other dog shows chewing gum or sucking on a mint. They do this to cover the smell of fear and nervousness they are feeling in the ring. Because we all know that dogs can smell fear from a mile away.

Let’s face it – everyone has some fear and nervousness in their life. Perhaps it is the fear of working with a new client or the nervousness of grooming a nasty dog.

Bu a lot of fear will go away with time, as confidence levels build and grooming skills are honed.

Instinct also plays a part in overcoming fear. How many times have you heard a groomer say, “I just had a feeling about that dog! I knew it was going to try and bite me.” People can’t see into the future, but they had a feeling about something and they were right. Trusting your instincts will go a long way to relieving your fears.

Another weapon in the fight against fear are the tools that you use. Knowing that you have quality clippers and scissors that will help you get the job done will be a big boost to your confidence. And having a Groomers Helper on your table will help, too.

When the dog’s bite radius is reduced, your confidence level goes up. Knowing that a dog can’t spin around and bite you when you are working on its back nails is a real confidence booster. And knowing the dog can no longer walk off the table, back off the table, or hang itself will give you peace of mind that the dog can smell and will submit to.

Right now, I am offering free gifts with the purchase of select items in the Groomers Helper line. Give the gift of confidence this Christmas and receive some great free gifts to boot. In addition to the free gifts, I am offering free shipping, too.

And remember – you can always walk away from the grooming table to regroup if you are dealing with a particularly nasty dog. We are our own worst enemies when it comes to drawing the line and will try to power through difficult grooms. This only serves to increase tension and is a formula for disaster.

The greatest skill a professional groomers can possess is knowing when to stop.

Click here for holiday specials.