Friday Programs

Good, safe groomers and businesses need to stay around. Whether you are an owner (groomer or not) or considering starting a business, this class will answer questions and help you be successful. The following steps to a successful, less stressful business and career will be discussed:

Customer Service & Appreciation: Learn how to provide great customer service and have customers you enjoy working with. Linda will offer several scripts for dealing with common customer interactions, as well as what to do when things go wrong.

Employees: Linda will cover managing, motivating, and training ideal employees, as well as tips on how to keep employees happy. It’s never about the money!

Promotion & Complaints: Learn tips on promoting and growing your company as well as handling problems and complaints.

Work on Your Business, not just in Your Business: It is easy to get so focused on doing the next dog and forget to work on your business. Learn to set reasonable goals and other tips to create a business that makes you happy and not stressed.

Profit First: Know your numbers. Make sure you figure in your profit with other expenses or you will always be stressed!

Never stop learning: Whether you are a non-grooming owner or a groomer, there is always more to learn about business, safety, and techniques. The more you learn, the better you can support your business and your staff.

Location & Brand: We’ve all heard how important location is, and this includes parking, pricing, and availability. You’ll learn why your brand is important, too!

Salon Setup: The better your work space flows, the easier it is to get things done efficiently. From drop-off to pick-up, a great setup makes cleaning easier and helps to have a salon your staff wants to be in and customers enjoy visiting.

Paperwork & Tax Prep: This is no one’s favorite but VERY important. Linda will share bookkeeping and tax tips from Kimberly Easton, CPA.

Goals: Know what your business and personal goals are and work toward them starting tomorrow. Having a goal makes every day better.

Groomers have seen it all! Dandruff, flea dermatitis, and alopecia are some of the common skin issues we have seen in our shops, but how do we go about recommending proper treatment? With the correct knowledge, groomers can resolve or prevent most skin issues that we see. Groomers are the first line of defense for pets since we see them more frequently than a veterinarian. And now, with the limited access to veterinarians at present, groomers serve a key role in keeping pets’ skin and coat healthy.

In this course, Dr. Cliff will help you decipher which ailments are within your ability to treat and what truly needs to be seen by the veterinarian. Empower yourself and your salon with the confidence to act as a consultant to pet owners for common skin issues. This course is presented by a veterinarian that has treated hundreds of thousands of cases by partnering with the groomers he works with.

Let’s be honest—being a new groomer can be scary. Interviews feel intimidating, clients have opinions, mistakes happen, and everyone else somehow looks more confident than you feel. This four-hour session is designed to help new groomers tackle the stuff that keeps them up at night—from finding the right salon and surviving consultations to handling “oops” moments and figuring out how to stand out without pretending to be perfect.

Hour 1) Interviews & Finding the Right Salon

Interviews don’t have to feel like an interrogation. This hour helps new groomers feel prepared for job interviews and working interviews while learning how to spot salons that are safe, supportive, and a good fit. We’ll cover what employers are really looking for, how to present yourself professionally without overselling your skills, and how to advocate for your experience level. You’ll also learn how to recognize red flags, understand what a fair working interview looks like, and ask smart questions that help you avoid toxic or unsafe salon environments.

Hour 2) Clients, Consultations & Confidence

Talking to clients can be just as scary as grooming the dog. This hour focuses on building confidence during consultations, learning how to ask the right questions to figure out what owner actually wants, and managing expectations before scissors ever touch fur. We’ll also discuss how to handle difficult or demanding clients with professionalism, set boundaries, and build trust so you feel more confident at the table—even when the conversation gets uncomfortable.

Hour 3) Accidents, “Oops” & Transparency

At some point, something will go wrong—and that’s part of grooming. This hour tackles one of the biggest fears new groomers have: accidents and mistakes. We’ll cover common grooming “oops” moments, minor injuries, clipper irritation, and what to do when things don’t go as planned. Learn how to stay calm, prioritize safety, document incidents, and communicate honestly with pet parents. Transparency and accountability are emphasized as tools that build trust, not panic.

Hour 4) Tips & Tricks for Standing Out

You don’t have to be perfect to stand out. This final hour focuses on helping new groomers shine without pretending to be more experienced than they are. Topics include building and using portfolios, taking effective grooming photos, highlighting soft skills salons value, and developing professional habits that leave a strong impression. Students will walk away with practical tips and tricks to boost confidence, show growth, and stand out as reliable, teachable, and professional new groomers.

One of the most popular mixed breeds we see in our salons continue to be drop-coated mixes. In this seminar, Chris Anthony will show you a simple method to add style to small mixed breeds without adding more maintenance for the pet owner. Join Chris to learn how to style those cute teddy bear faces and stylish little bums!

Brows and beards are trending now and dogs are no exception to this! There are ways to make faces softer or more edgy, and Victor wants to share his best tips on these terrier faces. In this live demo, he will show you how to set them properly for great looks sure to turn heads.

Top-hat top knots are a thing in the past! Let Allison show you how to perfect your transitions for a seamless look. Not sure of the proper pom tail placement or what to do when they have a full tail? And don’t get her started on those bevels! Allison has plenty of tips that will make you the poodle person in your shop.

Getting the proper breed profile and balance in some dogs is more difficult than in others. The Bichon Frise can fall into the latter category, unless you're equipped with the knowledge and skills incorporated by Sue and Jay. You'll learn how to use snap-on combs to establish breed profile and balance in half the time you'd otherwise have to spend. Using these scissor and thinning shear techniques, you'll create the perfect Bichon head, and achieve the beautiful Bichon expression.

Curves, straights, chunkers, off-set, Japanese style…the list goes on and on. How many times have you gone to a grooming convention to buy some new shears but just don’t know what you are looking for? In this seminar, Teri will pull back the mystery shroud that confuses so many people when they go to buy shears. Do you have a larger hand or a small hand with shorter fingers? Do you groom smaller dogs, like Shis Tzus and Yorkies or the big guys, like Standard Poodles and doodles? All these things come into play when selecting the right shears for the job. Teri will not tell you which shears to buy, but will send you out onto the trade show floor as an educated consumer with the ability to make better choices.

We spend so much money on our tools and equipment to do our job, but are you doing everything you can to keep them in tiptop shape to get the best finish possible? Our tools and equipment are our livelihood. Learn to how keep everything running smoothly and why it is so important to maintain upkeep. Mindy will walk you through daily to yearly maintenance to preserve that like-new feeling.

While the post-COVID world has reinforced the importance of cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing in our salons; the same cannot be said for caring for our grooming liquids. Sadly, the reality of shampoo spoilage more often than not comes down to genuine ignorance and neglect by the user. This seminar acknowledges the misunderstood details behind product spoilage and contamination in the bathing room. It explains the role water plays in fostering bacteria, product contamination, and potential skin reactions. Learn the necessary tips and protocols required to be self-accountable for proper storage, dispensing, and managing inventory. Avoid potential problems and liability issues from happening under your watch.

All the way from the simplest to the most complicated systems, each of the primary types of shampoo dispensing systems will be reviewed with respect to the pros and cons. This includes gallon hand pump, 32oz mixing bottle, open-tub sump pump, compressed air tank, venture-type gallon draw, and diaphragm pump reservoir-type systems. Each of these systems offers unique benefits that relate to a faster, better, lower-cost bath. Maintenance and care for each type of system will be also discussed, helping shop owners to finalize their shampoo dispensing system decision, and also enable pet groomers to have the confidence to dig deeper into the shampoo system that they are considering recommending or investing in.

Not sure what creative products you want to incorporate into your salon? Which brand to try? What do you charge? How long does it take to apply? Will it rub off on the furniture? How long does it last? Is it messy? Do I need special tools? How do I get it out of the dog’s coat? Should I have a release form? What creative products are good for mobile groomers? Creative gurus Angela Kumpe and Adriane Pope will answer all these questions and many more in this extremely informative class. If you offer creative styling or want to offer creative styling as an add-on service in your salon or mobile, don’t miss this class!

In this session, Angela and Adriane will show you how quick and easy simple creative finishes can be. They will walk you through temporary color products and accessories, explaining how to use them, where to get them, and give you the pros and cons to each of them. They will do multiple live demonstrations with a tropical theme as well as a PowerPoint full of examples to help get your creativity flowing.

In this class, Angela and Adriane will show you how to complete a multicolored, dimensional, more complex dye job, with a tropical twist. You will get to see the entire process, from planning to picture-perfect competition.

Do you want to do more creative in your salon but are afraid that the picture in your head may not be the same as your clients’? Take the stress and guess out of the picture with a Creative Consultation! In this class, Alyssa will explain how to discuss a creative project with the client. She will go over getting from the client’s idea to what is actually possible, using color swatches of like coats to prevent color confusion, how to set reasonable expectations, and explain how long the design will last. This class will help you work with the client to make creative designs that drop jaws in a good way!

Unlock the secrets to building a successful pet care team in this seminar, designed for pet care business owners and hiring managers who are eager to refine their recruitment strategies and create a seamless onboarding experience. Whether you run a pet grooming service or animal boarding facility, this will equip you with insights and tools to attract, hire, and retain passionate and skilled individuals who share your love for animals. Crafting an attractive help wanted ad, identifying key characteristics for your position, creating an offer letter, and adopting effective interviewing and onboarding processes are some of the key takeaways that will be covered.

Want to learn how you can get your name out there without breaking the piggy bank? In this seminar, Misty will go over how to do things for just the cost of your time and materials—you don't have to take out a full page ad in the paper! You'll be excited to try these low-cost tricks to market your business right away.

Leading groomers is rewarding, but it comes with unique challenges. Strong salon culture doesn’t happen by accident, and the ability to guide a team means setting expectations, addressing issues directly, and following through. In this seminar, Rachel will share practical communication strategies that help leaders inspire growth, provide constructive feedback, and create accountability within their teams. Learn how to coach employees toward success, and when to make the tough calls needed to protect your business.

Managing difficult client interactions is one of the most challenging parts of grooming. In this practical, real-world seminar, Shannon shares proven strategies for handling tough conversations with confidence, clarity, and professionalism. This session will help you set clear, realistic expectations; communicate boundaries effectively; and build trust from the very first interaction. The focus is on shifting relationships through better communication, turning challenging clients into loyal, long-term supporters. Attendees leave with tools they can apply immediately to create smoother appointments, stronger client relationships, and a more positive salon environment.

The secret to mastery lies in knowing where to start. In this seminar, Rachel introduces her signature system of reference points: precise, repeatable markers that simplify every pet trim. Born from years of experience in a high-end salon, this method breaks complex styles into small, digestible sections guided by clear anatomical landmarks. You will learn how to approach each area with intention, maintain balance and proportion, and reassemble the parts into a refined, cohesive groom. This practical framework builds confidence, sharpens technique, and transforms the way you see structure in every dog you groom.

This seminar focuses on the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between personal and professional life, fostering a positive work environment, and enhancing overall well-being. Key topics covered in this seminar include defining boundaries, personal vs professional, communication, recognizing violations, and organizational policies. Employees and employers alike can gain valuable insights and tools to create a more harmonious and productive workplace, leading to increased job satisfaction and overall well-being.

Show trims are not practical for all pet owners, although they are beautiful, it can be too much coat to keep up with. Join Ashley in this seminar and she goes over basic poodle structure. She will explain how to use that structure to add flare to any pet groom while also keeping the coat easy to maintain for the owners. You won’t want to miss this take on perfectly primped pet poodles!

As a pet care professional, you want to be equipped with the skills to handle medical emergencies that arise while a pet is in your care. Whether a pet becomes ill, injured, or needs help in a disaster, this course will teach you how to respond. In this two-hour course, you will learn how to stock a first aid kit, perform CPR, respond to breathing and heart emergencies (including choking), and disaster procedures, with some of these exercises being demonstrated on a live dog. This unique course is customized for pet care professionals and you will learn how to respond to emergencies specific to your industry. Upon completion of this course, you will receive a frameable certificate stating that you are certified in Pet Professional First Aid & CPR.

We all go through the same things in business when we’re having a hard time figuring out what we should be charging, dealing with difficult clients, and figuring out how to move forward. If you are struggling with this, then this is the seminar for you! Figure out what you should be charging, how to streamline your day-to-day operation, and be confident that you are doing everything to its maximum potential.