Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Grande NCMG FFC.
Hi Suzanne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in the pet grooming business in the Tampa Bay Area. When I branched out on my own, I purchased Poodle Penthouse Inc. a pet grooming salon established in 1966. I achieved National Certified Master Groomer status in 1995 and have won many National dog grooming awards.
I am a Fear Free Certified Salon and I am pursuing Certified Canine Esthetician this month. I have been professionally grooming in the Tampa Bay Area for over 40 years.
My salon now specializes in dogs under 15lbs, just like small children need a pediatric dentist, small dogs need a place suited just for them,
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had an advantage growing up in this business and working alongside some of the industry greats. While being a small business owner is always a struggle, I was prepared to take on the daily challenges.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a small dog specialist, I have designed my salon to cater to the smallest spoiled dogs. My tools, tables, and practices are designed to help them relax during the salon experience. My one hour pet grooming and While you Wait services are a big hit with pet parents who worry about leaving their little one.
While I have groomed over 250 champion show dogs, and have put Grand Champion, Obedience and Rally Titles on my own dogs, my passion is pet grooming and serving pet parents.
On my YouTube channel, I groom pets live from 9-5. This offers a behind the scenes look into the pet grooming experience.
I designed the only true pet grooming harness to keep pets safe during the groom. Groomers Harness is making grooming safer!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t exactly call it luck, but I am truly blessed. When I started out, I dreamt about owning my own business. I was a loyal employee of a pet store who had me sign a no compete that prevented me from grooming within a 5 mile radius of their store. When I decided to leave, my husband was seeing which salons were legal for me to find employment at. He walked into the very first one and asked if she was hiring. She knew of my reputation and offered to sell us her well-established business with no money down and manageable payments as she was moving up north. It was truly a God thing.
Pricing:
- $65 for dogs under 15lbs for a full service salon experience
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Grandestylepet.com
- Instagram: @grande_style_grooming
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandestylepet/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/GroomersHarness
Image Credits
Ren Netherland with Animal Photography for the photo of me with my own dogs. I am the photographer of the rest
