Grow Your Business By 30% Without Adding New Clients
đĄ What If You Could Grow 30% Without Gaining a Single New Client? Imagine increasing your revenue by 30% and boosting your business growth by up to 15%âwithout spending a dime on marketing or acquiring a single new client. No ads. No fancy funnels. Just by reframing how you present the services you already offer. Thatâs the power of intentional, ethical upselling. And yet, so many groomers hesitate to implement itânot because they donât care, but because it feels pushy, awkward, or even dishonest. Letâs bust that myth wide open. In a perfect world, every grooming business would operate on an all-inclusive model: đŸ These are the services your pet needs.đČ Hereâs what they cost.đ Please sign this estimate. Simple, transparent, and holistic. But not every facility has adopted this model. And by not doing so, they may be leaving serious incomeâand sustainable growthâon the table. The truth is, many groomers are offering additional services⊠theyâre just not getting paid for them. Others hesitate to upsell at all, often for reasons like these: đ« “Upselling Feels Like a Scam” Letâs get something straight: upselling isnât sleazy when the service has real value. The issue usually comes down to a disconnectâeither the groomer doesnât fully understand the benefit, or theyâre unsure how to clearly communicate that value to the pet owner. Take toothbrushing, for example. Most groomers know brushing only works if maintained at home. But are you framing it as a life-extending wellness practice? Poor dental health can reduce a petâs lifespan by up to 30% and cause chronic pain that results in behavioral issues. Thatâs powerful information. Imagine offering a take-home kit that includes a free brushing with every refillâa better upsell, better compliance, and better pet health. Or consider brush and comb sales. Instead of simply selling tools the owner likely wonât use, what if you offered a kit bundled with a 15-minute tutorial? Help them understand how regular, proper use leads to cleaner homes and less stressful grooming for their pet. Youâre not selling a comb. Youâre selling peace of mind. đž “I Donât Want to Nickel and Dime My Clients” No one wants sticker shock. And yes, jumping from $50 to $85 on a grooming ticket can feel like overchargingâunless the value is clearly communicated. Clear pricing distinctions matter, especially for services like de-shedding. Is it a light touch-up included in the bath? Or a full treatment with masks and soaks? Spa add-ons, like conditioning masks or paw soaks, arenât frivolous if they address real concerns. But the key is confidence and competence. Is the groomer trained to explain how a skin-soothing soak helps relieve chronic itching? Can they explain the value of deep conditioning for coat health and mat prevention? 𶠓Iâm an IntrovertâI Donât Want to Have These Conversations” Even the shyest groomer can upsellâif the system supports them. Relying on posters or countertop signs doesnât cut it. How many of us push a door that clearly says pull? đââïž Instead, imagine using custom carbonless estimate forms during check-in. As you evaluate the pet, check off the services they need. The owner now sees exactly whatâs recommended, whatâs optional, and what it all costsâwithout a sales pitch. Add smart line items like âCollar Washingââa small, convenient service that solves a real problem. Or offer an in-salon-only discount on a new collar. Itâs about showing options, not pushing them. đ “Thereâs No Incentive for Me (or My Team) to Upsell” Letâs be honest: if the upsell doesnât benefit the groomer, why should they bother? Build in fair, motivating compensation. Start by calculating what each upsell costs in time and product. Then, design a system that rewards the groomer while still delivering excellent value to the client. đ What Does Effective Upselling Actually Look Like? It looks like this:For my husbandâs birthday, he wanted a $70 bird sculpture from a John Oliver segment. Simple purchase, right? đȘ¶ Add to cart.đȘ¶ âWould you like a $20 figurine to go with that?â Yes.đȘ¶ âSpend $20 more for free shippingâhere are some $20 items.â Sure. Suddenly, my cart jumped from $70 to $150. Not because I was pressuredâbut because I was offered choices that made sense to me. That’s the secret sauce: educate, donât sell. đ§Œ The Takeaway You donât need to be a smooth-talking salesperson. You just need systems, services you believe in, and groomers who can communicate value. When you nail that? Upselling naturally evolves into all-inclusive pricingâand your business becomes simpler, stronger, and more profitable. đ Want a tip? Create your own carbonless estimate forms at Vistaprint.
Pet First Aid Kits
When seconds count, your petâs life could depend on whatâs in your first aid kit.Emergencies donât wait for veterinariansâ office hours, and in those critical moments, being prepared can mean the difference between panic and purposeful action. Thatâs why one of the most common questions I get asked is: âWhatâs in your pet first aid kit?â I prefer to build my own kit. Pre-packaged ones are convenient, but they often lack the essentials I wantâor omit items companies canât legally include. My kits evolve as I discover new products, update best practices, and refine what truly works in the field. Hereâs my current kit of must-have items: Activated charcoal (pill form): Absorbs ingested poisons. Use only under veterinary direction. Antibiotic cream: For wounds (avoid triple antibiotic cream on cats, as it can be fatal). Antihistamine & safety pin: For allergic reactions. Use diphenhydramine gel caps, puncture, and apply directly; always consult a vet for dosage. Smartphone apps: Pet Poison Helpline (paid, but fast in an emergency) and a free vet locatorâlifesavers for mobile groomers. Baking soda: Neutralizes topical poisons/chemicals. Band-Aids: For you. (Youâll use these most often!) Bandanas: Serve as triangular bandages, slings, or restraints. Expired gift cards: Cushion paw pad injuries or remove bee stingers. Eyewash: Flushes both eyes and wounds. Gauze (rolls, pads, nonstick pads): Nonstick first, then standard gauze on top. Honey packets: For hypoglycemic petsâONLY under veterinary direction. Hydrogen peroxide: Induce vomiting in dogs (never cats), but only with a vetâs guidance. Ice: To slow bleeding (use clientâs freezer). Liquid bandage: Effective but risky without vet instruction. Muzzles: Essential for handling pets in pain. Plastic baggies: Collect vomit or fecal samples. Rubber gloves: For protection and safe sample handling. SAM splints: Moldable support for injured limbs. Sanitary napkins: Absorb blood efficiently. Squirt bottle: Administer hydrogen peroxide to dogs. Styptic powder: For nails onlyânot wounds. Tea bags (tannic acid): Stop bleeding; safer than sugar for pets. Vet wrap (or human equivalent): Secures wounds; remove daily to prevent constriction. Wound cleanser: Best options: sterile saline (eyewash), chlorhexidine, or Vetericyn. Avoid peroxide, alcohol, or plain water. đ Donât forget: many items expire. Update your kit yearly. And if you opt for a pre-packaged kit, open it before you need it, then add the missing essentials. đĄ Quick, knowledgeable action not only speeds recovery and reduces pain, it can also save on costly vet billsâa win for pets, owners, and professionals alike. Â