Today we’d like to introduce you to Alissa Palm.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alissa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After years working in corporate retail, I wanted to do something completely different. I was out shopping and saw a dog grooming shop. I poked my head in and asked if they were hiring. I was hired, on a trial basis as a dog bather. Eventually, I learned how to groom.
I was ready to take the leap and go out on my own. I accepted a job as a groomer at a local doggy day care and boarding facility, all the while, I was dreaming of opening my own shop.
In August of 2016, I quit my job and signed a lease on my own shop. We opened our doors in October without one client lined up! As we come up to our one year anniversary, we can’t believe how much our business has grown.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think any new small business has a tough transition. We are lucky to be in a great location with busy anchor stores. It still took months of trial and error, word of mouth and advertising to get our appointment book full. The biggest stress was dealing with the inspections and permits. I’ve never owned my own business before and dealing with the red tape and county permits was a challenge.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dapper Dog Grooming – what should we know?
Currently we offer only grooming and bathing. I am entertaining the thought of expanding our services by adding dog boarding and retail as well. I’d like to think I specialize in persistence and patience. Our shop joke is that if we can’t do your dog, no one can. We have dogs that are handicapped, high maintenance and difficult. We love our jobs and we try to create a fun working environment.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I’ll be forever grateful to the women who took a chance on me and hired me with little experience and trained me. I take that knowledge and level of quality grooming with me everywhere I go.
My husband and children have been amazingly supportive. They’ve pitched in when we have been busy and they are the only reason I was able to realize this dream.
Also, I am not a one man show. I’m so lucky to have my apprentice and dog bather, Savannah. She took a chance leaving her job to come work for me when we didn’t even have one dog on the books. She is a senior art student at KSU, and she brings her artistic talents and flair to the shop.
I have a silent but “not so silent” business partner, Karmen. We have been friends for years and we joined forces while I was at my last job. She bathes a few days a week, won’t pick up scissors despite my begging and she runs our social media.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2864 E. Cherokee Dr.,
Canton, GA 30115 - Website: Dapperdoggroomingllc.com
- Phone: 678-493-5889
- Email: dapperdoggroom@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Akdapperdogs
- Facebook: Dapper Dog Grooming, LLC
- Yelp: Dapper Dog Grooming, LLC
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