09/05/2021
Credit; Renee Balow
She asked a question in Pro Groomer Group
About why we are under charging and under valuing ourselves as an industry. With over 500 answers, she came to this conclusion...
Thank you to so many for answering my earlier research question. After looking at your answers the number 1 reason we as an industry are not raising our prices is FEAR!! So let's break the FEAR with facts -
1) if ever there was a time for real price change, it is now - there are currently more dogs to be groomed than there are groomers to groom them. This is facts I have received through speaking to salon owners and groomers. The phones will not stop ringing.
2) FACT - When you have a significant price increase, you are going to lose customers, but many come back. Would you rather groom 8 dogs a day and make $400 or groom 4 dogs a day and make $400? or groom 6 dogs a day and make $600?
3) Raising your prices at $2 to $5 a dog is only keeping up with the cost of living, not increasing your actual income.
4) Your value is not based on the guy or gal down the street. Ruth Chris Steak house doesn't care what Sizzler is charging. And as a side note, Sizzler went into bankruptcy years ago and has very few locations anymore - that is what underpricing will do.
5) The cheapest salon in town can only groom so many dogs per day - let them. Not all consumers shop price as there primary concern. Some do - do you really want that customer anyway?
6) Separate your compassion from your business. This is hard!! Volunteer at a rescue or shelter to feed your compassion. The hard economic fact is a business must make money to thrive or else it will only survive. When a business is only surviving, one major hiccup puts it in jeopardy.
7) You don't owe your clients an apology for raising your prices. Some will complain. Some will try guilt. It is temporary. Either you are running your business, or your business is running you. The latter never thrives.
😎 Fear is only temporary. Learn to face it, not shy away from it.
A change is coming and I can feel it. If we, as an industry, want to bring up another generation of groomers, we must make it lucrative enough that there is a reason to put your body and mind through the daily rigors that this occupation requires. If we don't do this, we are going to continually be understaffed and undertrained.
