Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Sagara.
Hi Lindsey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first began working with dogs in 2015 when I rescued my three-legged Australian Shepherd, Mia. From that point on I continued working with dogs and eventually learned to how to groom. I decided that I wanted to open my own business because I wanted a small space where people felt comfortable leaving their dogs of all sizes, ages and temperaments, without worrying that they may be stressed or overstimulated. My dog Mia was nearing her senior years and I was always nervous when leaving her anywhere, so my goal was to create a space where I knew that if Mia was comfortable, most other dogs and owners would be too. I first opened The Grateful Dog out of my house in Leucadia where I was bathing dogs in my bathtub on my knees. After a bit of doing that, I realized I needed a bit more mobility and invested in a van that was converted so I could do mobile grooming. After a few years of mobile grooming, I decided to open my shop in downtown Encinitas. I had the same vision in mind that I did in the beginning, to create a small, quiet space. As of now, I have both the mobile grooming business as well as the new shop, which focuses on one-on-one, personalized grooming experiences.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been smooth, there’s so many costs and hoops to jump through constantly for small businesses and navigating them on my own has been challenging. In addition to that, owning a business is just tough in general. It’s incredibly rewarding but when every decision falls on your shoulders, you’re bound to make a mistake and it can take a toll on you. My best advice is to surround yourself with a team of great employees, friends and family. On the rough days, I know I can count on my people, like my mom Steph, to lift my spirits. And on the great days, I know she’ll be there celebrating along side me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Grateful Dog offers both mobile and in-shop grooming. We prioritize one-on-one grooming experiences. Meaning that when your dog is dropped off with us or picked up in our van, your groomer begins working on them immediately and stays with them from start to finish. We avoid using kennels unless necessary or requested and there are generally no more than 3-5 dogs in the shop at a time. We find this keeps the shop calm and inviting for dogs that may be nervous or new to the process. All of our groomers have been safety certified and come from experienced backgrounds. Our goal is to not only give your dog a pleasant experience but also have them looking better than ever before.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
To be honest, I’m terrible at networking. I’m not great at using social media or putting myself out there to make business connections. I’ve found throughout the years that I’m best at interacting with people face to face and have relied mostly on word of mouth recommendations and organically built relationships. In terms of finding a mentor, I was extremely lucky to meet my best friends, Haley and Vince, who have supported and guided me throughout the last nine years. They are both small business owners and have always given me the encouragement I need and shared the do’s and don’ts of all things business. If you aren’t fortunate enough to have your own Haley and Vince’s, I’d say the best thing to do is to take any and all advice you’re given. It’s up to you to sort out whether it’s good or bad advice, but regardless, any insight is valuable and it’s what you do with the information that matters most.
Contact Info:
- Website: gratefuldoggroomingshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gratefuldoggroomingshop/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-grateful-dog-grooming-shop-encinitas-3
Image Credits
Michaela Trujillo Cameron Mertins
