New standards for professional groomers and stylists will affect the grooming business in practices and private locations over time. First aid, housing, safety and emergency veterinary care top the list of standards.
Professional groomers and stylists must keep a pet first aid kit nearby and know where to find an emergency veterinarian, according to the industry’s first-ever safety and sanitation guidelines. These and 42 other standards were announced Friday at Groom Expo, an annual pet grooming show in Hershey, Pa. The Professional Pet Groomers and Stylists Alliance developed the protocol after soliciting ideas from group members and veterinarians. The guidelines are available online. (PDF)
INSIGHTS: Veterinary teams, their groomer clients or staff members, practice managers and the sales reps that support them with products and services will need to be cognizant of these new standards of animal care. Vet teams may wish to contact private groomers and potentially even offer to help them implement the standards. Consider referring clientS only to compliant groomers if no grooming services are offered in-clinic.
For sales persons, consider using this information as a chance to have a different dialogue in current or new practices. Consider meeting with the practice manager and in-clinic groomer to present this info, then determine if you can service needs not expressed up to this point.