Pay Your People and Lead With Respect:Greg Thomas of Salty Dawg on Building Teams, Brands & Big Wins

Alex Martin
December 3, 2025

Insights on scaling pet grooming businesses with practical tips, real stories, and strategy for all

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Summary

In our latest episode of The Daily Groomer, I sit down with Greg Thomas—a multi-unit franchise owner who’s built an impressive career, starting out delivering water and eventually running dozens of businesses, including his newest venture, Salty Dog Pet Grooming. We dig into his humble beginnings, how he turns struggling businesses around, what it takes to build a loyal team, and the simple, low-cost marketing strategies he actually uses. Whether you’re launching your first salon or looking to scale, Greg brings real numbers, real talk, and a few wild stories about growing big without losing who you are.

Timestamps

08:47 Overwhelmed New Business Owner Journey

13:54 Ideal Business Start Timing

22:53 Employee Retention Framework

27:12 Increasing Success through Collaboration

39:04 Skyrocketing Franchises in Dog Industry

43:31 Boosting Profits in Grooming Salons


Stay Connected

Follow them on their social media⁠ Salty Dawg Pet Salon Atlanta⁠. For more grooming tips, insights, and stories, check out our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Groomer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join and be part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Groomer Community⁠⁠!⁠