You may well be aware that veterinarians in this country are currently being investigated by the UK's Competition and Market Authority for inflated pricing.
It may give suspicion that dog groomers - often the front line in your dog's wellbeing (not just their haircut) - have likewise attempted to cash in on the so-called Hound Pound.
But let's break down the maths for dog groomers.
Let's say your dog's groom requires 90 minutes and you've paid a reasonable price of £65 (a typical price at Just Barking for a Shih Tzu).
Less the VAT that's £55. From this we need to deduct the groomer's wages AND the wages for any staff that help with taking your booking or managing the phone/email etc.
After the VAT and Wages, there's approximately £20 to cover overheads like Rent, Business Rates, Gas, Elec, Water, Telecoms, shampoo, never mind expenses for maintenance of tools and equipment. And more.
Rent and business rates are not inconsiderable. We're not a charity but from this simple example you can see that there isn't much left over in net profit.
Re-locating just up the street
At Just Barking we took the difficult decision recently of re-locating to our new premises further up the street, to Pear Tree Yard, 264 Chamberlayne Road.
Because we already operate a workshop here making Dogs & Horses leather dog collars and leads, and have transformed the rear of the building into a dedicated grooming salon, the rent is more affordable.
Which means we can therefore keep our pricing at reasonable levels.
We don't live along The King's Road or in Mayfair after all.
The alternative, staying in our original location, was to increase our prices dramatically because of increasing Rent and Business Rates, Insurance, Electricity and more. And it would make us desperate to squeeze in as many dogs as possible during the day just to stay in business.
But that's not how we roll. We are not a conveyor-belt type of salon. We're not under that kind of pressure.
What difference does that make? ALL the difference, when it comes to your dog having a stress-free relaxing visit.
No pressure. Just a calm, restful, efficient pace of dog grooming
We're not under the same pressures as other salons to book to the maximum number of dogs possible. We don't need to. Because that's when accidents happen. That's when your dog is just a number as the groomers scramble to maintain a pace to keep the business afloat.
We are still local, just further up the street. But the move comes with the amazing benefit of being set back from the road with Free and Easy parking. Without the stress of parking attendants, or congested pavements, or buses and lorries rumbling past.
This way you can start your dog's treatment calmly and restfully. You can have a meaningful conversation with your dog's groomer when you drop off and pick-up.
Instead of Racing a Groom, we Raise Standards
Previously, at the old location of so-called 'gridlock intersection' (Wrentham and Chamberlayne), it was nigh-impossible for anybody coming and going by car to take the time for a proper conversation about their dog.
Yes, we admit, our space is now limited. But this is a good thing.
MORE space equals MORE dogs equals MORE drama (let's face it, too many confined dogs with their unique characters all separated from their owners - it doesn't make for the most heavenly atmosphere any way you slice it) (we speak from hard-won experience).
LESS space equals FEWER dogs, equals LESS drama.
Instead of racing through a groom, we are ensuring high standards.
We're not driven by a maximalist mindset of 'as many dogs as we can possibly take'. Instead, the journey for us (since 2009), and your dog, is much more relaxed, easy going, still efficient, but with happy staff who aren't under pressure to churn out a dog groom as quickly as possible.
Ultimately therefore, more inviting, calm, restful, and safer. Which is liberating. Joyful. Your dog will know it too.