Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Gallardo.
Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Heather Gallardo and I am the owner of Paw-Pup Pedicure & Grooming.
But once upon a time, I was a 17 year old kid who really needed a job. I had the rare fortune of finding the perfect one straight away.
I began working at Pampered Paws Grooming in the spring of 2000 and immediately knew I had found my career path. As a life-long animal enthusiast, I felt right at home working with dogs.
The staff was fantastic, the work was gratifying, and the dogs were so much fun! I loved learning all the different breeds, haircuts, and personality quirks. I was so happy to come to work everyday!
Twenty six years later, I am still just as enthusiastic about dog grooming. I currently live in Blue Springs where I operate my home-based salon and pedicure pop-up. Starting this business has given me the opportunity to really slow down and enjoy my clientele.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Three challenges that come to mind are:
Working with impatient groomers.
It’s very distressing to work with people that have poor handling skills and not enough patience for the dogs.
Witnessing neglect.
I’ve seen dogs in all manner of bad shape. Dog hair that is so overgrown that it has essentially become a cast that has to be chiseled off. Wounds and infections revealed underneath the hair. Toenails that have curled around and penetrated the flesh of their pads. Flea infestations so bad the water rinsing from their bodies is red. Paws that have become disfigured from the toenails being overgrown for so long. Untreated ear infections. Puppy mill dogs that have all of the above.
Injuries.
This work can be extremely hard on the body. I’ve had my fair share of back troubles and wrist problems. As much as my heart would like to do this work until I retire, that’s not realistic due to the physical nature of the job. I have all kinds of ideas for grooming products and tools I would like to pursue in the future. It’s quite fortunate that my husband is an architectural scale model maker and prototype professional!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Paw-Pup Pedicure & Grooming?
Paw-Pup Pedicure believes in a “humanity over vanity” approach to grooming. Prioritizing positive experiences will always yield better results in the long term.
Grooming shops can be really fast-paced. Having the opportunity to slow down has been so beneficial to the quality of my work. I was able to build up a solid clientele of standing appointments in a short amount of time, so I rarely take on new dogs for full service grooming.
I’m often asked what it’s like to groom from home and I can confidently say that I’m the happiest that I’ve ever been. My clients are outstanding and I’m so fortunate to be their pet beautician.
The other side of my business is an idea that had been brewing for many years. I noticed how inconvenient nail trimming was for the groomers and pet parents.
During salon hours, the groomers are usually in the throes of baths and full body haircuts. It’s inconvenient to pause for nail trims, and the wait times were less than ideal for the patrons. I knew there was a better and faster way to
provide this much needed service. So I opened Paw-Pup Pedicure and started popping up around the metro. In the first years of the business I experimented with different locations, but there was one particular location that had consistent success: The farmers market of Blue Springs on 11th & Main St.
This concept has been so well received by the community that we rarely pop-up anywhere else.
We get to connect with fellow animal lovers while also seeing the cutest dogs in our town. I’m also very partial to the offerings of our local vendors. Talk about a dream job!
Providing affordable pedicures in a low stress environment is very important to us.
Paw-Pup Pedicure can be found at The Market on Main every Saturday in May-September, from 8:00-12:00. It’s a walk up service with no appointment needed.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I would advise new groomers to be ready to advocate for yourself and the dogs entrusted to your care.
You have to be prepared to confront difficult situations with your co-workers, your boss and sometimes the pet parents themselves.
If you’re putting the safety, comfort, and well-being of the pet first, you can never be wrong.
Wear a mask while grooming. There’s so much hair, dander, and particulates circulating around a grooming shop. Always consider your lung health in the long term.
Wear compression socks. This is a very active job with long periods of standing.
Take precautions with heavy dogs. Back injuries can happen in the blink of an eye and your life will never be the same. I’ve seen it firsthand.
Learn from the good and the bad. Recognize behaviors and protocols you don’t want to carry into the future. Accept constructive critiques and be coachable.
Don’t participate in workplace drama and gossip. If they’ll trash talk your co-worker, they’ll trash talk you when you leave the room. Focus on the quality of your work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pawpupkc.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pawpupkc/
