The Results Are In: Is Grooming Slower Right Now? 📉

Happy Friday Daily Groomers,

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Last week we asked a simple question:

“Is your grooming business slower than usual right now?”

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Here’s how it shook out:

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127 groomers from across the country weighed in on whether business feels slower right now — and the results paint an interesting picture:

😩 Slower than usual — 52.7% (67 votes)

🤷‍♀️ About the same

🔥 Busier than normal

A few said it depends on the week

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Over half of you feeling slower is… not nothing.

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But the why is where it gets interesting.

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If You’re Slower, You’re Not Alone

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The biggest themes:

1. Weather

“We have had a lot of weather issues.”

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Snowstorms. Extreme cold. Reschedules. Cancellations.

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Ontario groomers mentioned record snow + freezing temps.

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Others said February dipped after a normal January.

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Weather is temporary but it absolutely wrecks short-term cash flow.

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2. The Economy

“Revenue is down 15%.”

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“People are watching their wallets.”

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“There is no question the economy and fear are driving spending decisions.”

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Multiple groomers mentioned inflation and post-holiday pullback.

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One comment stuck with me:

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“It becomes a vicious circle.”

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When customers spend less locally, local businesses spend less locally… and the cycle continues.

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3. Client Behavior Is Changing

“Not many people are coming back regularly.”

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“People want in right now or they’re calling the next groomer on Google.”

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This one matters.

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It’s not always demand disappearing sometimes it’s loyalty weakening.

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But Here’s The Other Side…

A surprising number of you are 🔥 slammed.

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Florida?

Snowbirds = full books.

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“Running 7 days a week solid through April.”

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High Rebook Shops?

“My people book out 1 yr in advance.”

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“90% rebook at checkout.”

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“Booked until end of April.”

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That’s not luck. That’s systems.

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Shops That Got Aggressive

One groomer shared:

• Ran January–March specials

• Increased Facebook + Instagram presence

• Rescheduled aggressively during storms

• Stayed open later to fit clients in

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Result?

“February is completely booked and March is now booking.”

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That’s operational intensity.

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Another said they lost 3–4 competing groomers nearby and are now overflowing with demand.

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What This Really Shows

The market isn’t universally slow.

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It’s fragmented.

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Some are down 15%.

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Some have 200+ person waiting lists.

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Some just opened a year ago and are “extremely busy.”

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That tells me something important:

📍 The groomers with:

• Strong rebooking habits

• Consistent marketing presence

• Flexible scheduling

• Clear communication during disruptions

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…are feeling it less.

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Not immune. But steadier.

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My Take

January and February are historically weird months in grooming.

• Post-holiday spending hangover

• Weather disruptions

• Routine shifts

• Snowbirds in some regions

• Local economic swings

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If you're slower, don’t panic.

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But also don’t sit still.

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This is the season where:

• Rebooking discipline matters

• Automated reminders matter

• Review generation matters

• Local partnerships matter

• Social visibility matters

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The groomers who treat “slow” as a signal… not a sentence… tend to come out stronger by spring.

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Slow seasons expose weak systems.

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At Teddy, we keep coming back to two levers that can be automated and strengthened with software:

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1️⃣ Maximizing Reviews

More 5-star reviews → stronger Google presence.

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Stronger presence → more new client calls.

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More new clients → more stability when regulars stretch appointments.

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Reviews compound.

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2️⃣ Driving Rebookings

The shops that are steady right now?

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They’re not guessing.

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They’re rebooking at checkout.

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They’re sending reminders.

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They’re building predictable calendars.

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Rebooking discipline smooths the rollercoaster.

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If you're slower, stay disciplined.

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This season passes — strong shops don’t.

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Alex

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🛠️ Behind The Scenes Building Teddy

At Teddy, we’re building Review + Rebooking Assistants designed to drive revenue automatically.

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Two things we believe should not rely on memory, hustle, or “hoping staff remembers”:

• Generating consistent 5-star reviews

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• Locking in the next appointment before clients drift

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Our goal is to put both on autopilot so even during slower months, your systems are still working.

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If you have thoughts, frustrations, or ideas around reviews or rebooking, I’d genuinely love the feedback. This is the season we’re building for.

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That’s all folks! Keep calm and groom on 🐶🤘