As the holiday season rushes towards us I was thinking about my very first dog, Chamois, a golden retriever. When we traveled, we’d send Chamois to a local kennel before we left. When we picked her up, she would always be freshly bathed and sporting a simple piece of felt fabric attached to her collar in the form of a bow. The color would change with the seasons, but this simple bow was there every time! In our small community you could always tell when a neighbor had been traveling, because their dog would be wearing the same type of bow. As we stopped and chatted, mixed in with the conversation would be the name of the place where Chamois stayed and how wonderful they were. If that basic little bow was not there, the name of the business would never have been mentioned and a marketing opportunity missed. 

I carried these lessons of my childhood over into my grooming business. No dog ever stepped out of my salon or mobile van without this bright finishing touch – unless the client requested “No Bow,” which wasn’t very often. The bows were always subtle and very tastefully made. I used the seasons and holidays to dictate the color and themes of the bows. Christmas and springtime bows were always the most highly regarded. At Christmas all the stops were pulled out to add a festive sparkle and shine to the bows. Springtime brought about basic bows adorned with small silk flowers, reminding us that spring was just around the corner and lifting everyone’s spirits. 
 

As minor as it seems, a well made, brightly colored bow or bandanna can be one of your best marketing tools. The eye is naturally attracted to bright colors. No matter how beautifully groomed it may be, a pet will attract attention much faster if it is sporting a bit of bright color. Applying bows or bandannas as a finishing touch on a fabulous groom is a sure way to generate interest – interest, that is, in you, the person who got that animal looking so fine in the first place. Remember, the number one sales tool for any business is referrals from word of mouth advertising!  Check out how easy it is to make your own bows in my 'grooming tips' section of my website, www.melissaverplank.com/ 
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Have a great and safe holiday season! 

Melissa



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