Come winter, you’ll notice a steady rise in the number of pooch parents walking into your dog grooming salon. There’s a good reason for this.
The combination of lesser outdoor activity, colder temperatures, and moisture from snow can turn your dogs’ coats into a matted mess. If left untreated, this can lead to irritation or other painful skin conditions.
Also, with Christmas fast approaching, it’s easy to see why pet owners scramble for grooming appointments in this period, to get their dogs looking and smelling their best for holiday family visits.
All things considered, this is the best time for you to boost your bottom line and gain new loyal customers. Hence, you must ensure your dog washing station is functioning at full capacity. That said, this might be difficult when you have your hands full with daily busy work.
But don’t worry, we’ve got your back!
5 Tips to Getting Your Dog Grooming Salon Ready for the Winter!
Prepping your dog bathing station and grooming salon for the chilly season can be incredibly easy once you know where to start. Here are five simple tips to get your dog grooming salon winter-ready and get the most out of your Christmas foot traffic.
1. Hang Up Some Festive Decorations
Who doesn’t like Christmas decorations? Help your clients get into the festive mood by dressing your salon in artsy accessories like tinsel, stars, candy canes, and Santa hats. Soft Christmas carols can also add to the ambience, but be careful not to play loud music, as this can upset anxious dogs.
To take things up a notch, set up a Christmas photo booth where your clients can take pictures with their mutts, and post-grooming. Next, you can upload the snaps to your website and social media accounts. Not only will this please your customers, but it may also prompt them to share the photographs on their account and increase your organic reach.
2. Offer Discounts and Pre-Booking
A great way to service your regulars during the busy festive season is to offer to pre-book. Besides making it easier to accommodate clients, it’ll help you show how dearly you care for their pets. Moreover, this might encourage them to book future appointments and get a bulk discount.
Speaking of discounts, the holidays are when almost everyone is looking for a good deal. That’s why offering special concessions will help you get more customers and grow your dog grooming business. Plus, you can encourage them to try more expensive treatments at this time!
3. Thoroughly Clean Your Salon and Grooming Accessories
Your dog grooming salon will tend to get busy during winter, so it makes perfect sense to prepare well in advance. Once October rolls around, you may want to check your equipment to ensure you have enough. Don’t forget to replace worn-out tools with a brand-new batch.
Also, stock up on everyday grooming essentials, including shampoos and conditioners for different coat types. Have several extra sets of towels handy to see you through each busy day.
Because hygiene is the name of the game, all your equipment should be free of dust, debris, hair, and germs for each appointment. Clean your tools between grooming sessions and at the end of every day. And in case you want to go a step further, we recommend servicing all your tools before the winter rush begins. Better safe than sorry!
It’s not enough to clean your accessories alone, you need to make sure your salon is ready for the steady influx of clients. While you should deep clean your place before the holiday season to freshen it up further, consider cleaning your salon post-winter to provide excellent customer service all year round.
4. Upsell Grooming Essentials and Offer Christmas Merchandise
If your dog grooming salon sells retail products, now’s the time to promote them. Dog parents love spoiling their pups, so they’ll be on the lookout for special Christmas dog treats this time of year. We recommend you have a good display of seasonal gifts to grab their attention. Place it somewhere visible, such as the center aisle of your store.
Some pet owners may have a self-serve dog wash in their apartment building, meaning they’ll require a range of brushes, combs, and other grooming accessories. Talk to your clients about what could be the best additions to their pooch’s at-home winter grooming routine. The goal is to upsell as many products as you can after appointments.
Need another way to advertise your services? Consider selling gift cards/certificates. Besides bringing in new clients, they can also help promote your grooming business and spread the word far and wide.
5. Step Up Your Local Marketing Game
You should have a well-thought-out local marketing strategy for your dog grooming salon. But once the holidays roll around, you’ll have to step on the gas. Otherwise, you risk missing out on one of the most profitable times of the year.
Whether you use posters, pamphlets, paid ads, or social media, you must ensure you’re targeting the right audience. Get creative with your posts, touch base with older clients, and send regular emails- there’s a lot you can do to leverage your customer base during this season. All you need is a little due diligence, and you’re good to go.
For dog grooming salons yet to work on a local marketing game plan, the holidays are the best time to start. In fact, you’ll likely see faster results in this period, thanks to the increased rush.
The Bottom Line
There you have it! Five simple, easy, and effective ways to prepare your dog grooming salon for the winter. Now, it’s time you put these ideas into practice and significantly boost your Christmas revenue. We hope this article helps you achieve your holiday goals hassle-free!
You are topping up your grooming equipment before the winter rush begins? Why not trade your old dog bathing station for a brand-new K9000 dog wash machine? Our self-serve dog wash machine is the perfect fit for business-savvy investors looking to dig up quick ROI! We offer proprietary models and a full line of custom soaps for all your pet grooming needs. For more information, call us today!
