JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE BUSY??

I just wanted to know if you are ladies busy. I found for last two weeks that my calls have died a bit. Is this something that is hapens to me only or is it begening of September slower? Thanks
Does anybody going to ODGA meeting (and pot luck)?

Its normal to notice things slowing down at the end of august early september.
Currently, we're still busy, maybe not booking 2 weeks in advance but rather a week in advance, mind you we're still doing 20 - 30 dogs a day depending on which groomers are working.

Busy busy busy! It does generally slow down a bit at the beginning of Sept. as people are busy getting things organized for their kids, school, activities etc. Don't worry it will pick up again soon. I think Sept is going to be very warm so those little doggies will be needing their hair cut

Thanks, Ladies. This is my "first September" in business and it is very slow for me. I was very busy over the spring and the summer, but now is just way too slow.
I hope it would pick up soon. Mind you I was never as nearly busy as you sk9klippery and Admin!
At least I was able to go to gym few times a week to join some classes (something I was not able to do for a quite a long time) and prepaire my kids to school.

I'm not busy at all. Last week I had three bookings, and this week four. Everything went dead around the middle of August. In July, I couldn't fit everyone in when they wanted to come in. I'm really concerned, but I just did a newsletter mail out to all my customers and am offering a discount on their pet's next groom. I also reminded them to book for Christmas. A new grooming shop opened up at the end of my road, they have two groomers, so I'm wondering if some of my customers have gone there instead. But, I think most people have been concentrating on back to school expenses, I'm sure things will pick up.

Hi Atalantic44! Thank you for your respond. How long you are in business? This is my first year and I am so fresh... still...
I would not worry about the groomer salon next door. I belive that choosing a groomer is personal prefference. Some people like the groom, some personality, some convenience, some like prices... and is always enough dogs around to sooth all of us out there.
But I am glad to hear that some other groomers are slow not only me. Enoy your time, Christmas is near and you will again have a hard time to book all of the appointments ...Best luck to you in upcoming months!

Atlantic, it is very normal for everyone to slow down now.
From my experience watching shops around me open up, some clients will always try something new, but if you are giving them great services, and clips they will be back. Remember too, that you are new, so some of your one timers may have done the same thing to you, came to try you when you opened up, some will stay and some won't. Just keep giving them a product/service that you know another groomer may not. I believe its very important to find your knish (sorry for the spelling), something that makes you different from others.

You will hopefully find too, you will pick up by the end of the month in time for thanksgiving, then you will get your regular clients in, but most by the end of october, are trying to get the most out of there grooms and wait until closer to christmas!!! Thats partly why everyone is so busy then, and because of the obvious, CHRISTMAS!!!

bailey, I have been in business for two years this October. sk9, thanks for the encouragement, things are starting to pick up again, this week I have 7 dogs booked so far, two of them are Standard Poodles! The funny thing is, when I opened my business, if I had 3-4 dogs all week I thought that was great! I guess once you get used to being busy, you forget what it was like when you first started.

Has anyone noticed a slow down just recently? I thought for sure we would be picking up now, but we're even slower than what i thought was a slow down. Usually its slow in september then gradually gets busier and busier, but it seems like its getting slower and slower, anyone else noticing this trend? I'm starting to get worried!!!

We are only slow that we are not booked as far ahead as normal but we are still filling our days. We just won the Readers Choice award so maybe that is keeping us busy. The weather is supposed to be good next week so I'm sure it will pick up again.

Oh congrats Shona on the award, we won one as well, but it hasn't helped. Today we're swamped which is great, but as for monday, there was only 8 dogs booked as of friday afternoon. I'm used to doing 20-30 a day, crossing our fingers that things pick up!!! I'm wondering if perhaps the issues with GM have finally caught up with us???

Ya I've also noticed it's slower then usual! I was also starting to worry!

Maybe slowdown has something to do with news about the recession and economy slow down, stock market etc. Yes I am still slow... but I did not do any mail out or advertising since spring.
I am glad that some groomers will be busy for Christmas. I have to go on surgery in the begining of December and this year I will not be able to groom till sometimes after mid of January when things will be slow again. It looks gloom for me...

I can't believe how quickly things slowed down. I have been consistently busy all year, even through September, then 'bam', last week and this week it dropped right off.

I have to admit, for the first week I didn't mind 'that' much as it was nice to have a day or two when I finished mid-afternoon. It was like being on holiday! LOL! But, by this week, not so funny. Christmas is filling up nicely, though, so at least there is that to look forward to.

I don't know if this is an 'October' thing but I don't remember this in other years. It's weird though, that everyone across Canada suddenly decided to stop getting their dogs groomed at the same time.

Maybe they are spending their money on Christmas gifts and will get their pets done once they are done their shopping! That's my theory anyway! People around here were running around getting Halloween and Christmas stuff done, so with them being busy I have been slow as well.
BTW; Happy Birthday Atlantic 44 !! Have a good one!