Behind the Scenes at Paws Gone Pretty
Where has the time gone? I can't believe it has already been six months since starting Paws Gone Pretty! So much has happened in such a short amount of time, and the days fly by so fast. Here we are at the beginning of fall. It is definitely time to catch up a bit on the human level and paint a behind-the-scenes of Paws Gone Pretty and what we have been working on with our recent growth.
In March, we received our LLC from the state of Oregon, putting Paws Gone Pretty officially on the books. That is when we started diving into the best way to structure the business and what would work best for both me and my clients. We looked into all the different permits and licenses needed if I were to have clients drop off their dogs and cats. Even though we could technically make drop-offs work, our home is not ideally set up for a traditional business space, and there were a few gaps we needed to close before being approved to groom here. Closing those gaps would be expensive and time-consuming, so I decided to adjust the vision of my business and focus entirely on house-call grooming.
By now, you may understand that house-call grooming means we groom right in the comfort of your home, providing a premium experience for your four-legged family members. When I first started, I was significantly undercharging for my services—something I recently adjusted in early August. I classify those initial prices as a "test" to see if clients would be open to letting me groom inside their homes and to gauge the demand for such a rare service. Mobile grooming in a van is widely known and sought after, so it doesn't surprise me when a client is initially unfamiliar with the in-home house-call model.
In late July, I had the realization that my low prices could actually be affecting my growth and might be part of the reason my books were not filling up as much as I wanted them to. I realized my starting perceived value was missing, which could create a lack of upfront trust during a first impression. I discovered this after doing a lot of digging and research (and going down a few rabbit holes!). Things finally started clicking into place. I had my "aha!" moment: the high value of my grooming and handling skills equals premium pricing. Let's not forget that you don't even have to leave your house to get your pets groomed; it is all done right in the comfort of your living space. Think of us as your personal chef versus a food cart that just parks outside. We are your pet's "personal chef"!
Moving into August, it was crunch time. We now have everything set in place to create a thriving business that brings the best qualities of grooming directly to you. During this time, I have also been doing a lot of personal growth. My biggest struggle—which I am still working on is self-worth. It means knowing without a doubt that I am worth premium pricing and finding that fine balance between my worth and the true value a client receives when a professional groomer comes directly to them. Reconnecting with this mindset has helped build confidence in my value, which shines through in both my handling and grooming skills. I am now fully ready to run this as the premium, full-time business it was always designed to be.
Working as a two-person team has given Shiloh and me so much room to breathe. Having that extra set of hands comforting the dog or cat helps make what might seem like an impossible groom entirely possible, no matter how scared or anxious the animal is. We are so grateful for everyone who has stuck with us from day one, as well as the new clients joining us today. This dream business would not exist without you and your furry family members. Let the thriving continue—request your next appointment today! Click Services to see what we offer, then click on "Request Appointment" to view our pricing and availability.
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