As I look outside my office window, I find it hard to believe that we're going to be leaving in just a few weeks for the Atlanta Pet Fair. Up here in Michigan, were still buried in snow -- in fact, someone just took out our mailbox last night with the slippery roads. Marc and I always questioned this time of year whether will actually be able to get our ‘big rig’ out of a storage barn that she stored for the winter and get it loaded with all the products for the show. Many of you have seen our horse trailer in the parking lots of the show sites or at nearby RV campgrounds. For us it's a great way to travel, we drag our house with us and if we are not traveling with horses the rig doubles as a perfect cargo trailer!

So Marc and I are scrambling to get ready for the show. Marc's job is packing the rig and getting a road ready while I put the finishing touches and four brand-new lectures that I will be presenting prior to the Atlanta Pet on Thursday, March 4. I'm excited about these lectures, a couple of them I've wanted to create for years, while one of them I really questioned if I could even do it? And Stafford, the promoter and founder of the Atlanta, asked me last year to create a lecture in handling difficult dogs. Hmmm… I've got a problem with this, I don't deal with difficult dogs! But the more I thought about it, the more I realized there is a need for a lecture like this. Our hands are livelihood and their future. Over the years I've learned a few things about keeping my hands safe while still dealing with a wide variety of personality types with pets. For full description of my lectures, I got them listed at the bottom of this blog.

I will also be judging at the show and from the reports that we're getting, the competition ring is extremely full! I absolutely love to hear this because I personally think the greatest education you can give yourself is by stepping into the ring and having your work judged. There is no better place to get a full hands-on education than in the contest arena.

And Stafford and her phenomenal team put in a super show! The Atlanta Pet Fair is always extremely busy with lots of vendors, a wide array of speakers and a fabulous grooming competition. If you haven't already preregistered for the show, I highly encourage you to take the time to get to the show and be inspired - plus there's lots of show specials going on if you are looking to purchase for your salon or your career.

For Marc and myself, the Atlanta Pet Fair is always the kickoff to the show season for those of us on the East Coast and Midwest. We're looking forward to packing up that rig and starting our drive - it always amazes us as we leave the snow behind and drive south the wonderful transition of spring by the time we actually hit Atlanta.

Happy Trimming

Melissa

Ruff Times in the Economy? What Are the 4 R’s to Keeping Your Appointment Book Full? The secret is with maximizing your Referrals, Rebooking, & Retention Rate. One of the biggest differences between a salon that has a full appointment book and a salon that does not is the ability to retain clients. Melissa will illustrate the power of growing your client base through in-house marketing efforts.

I'm a Professional Pet Stylist Not a Professional Pet Wrestler! Let face it, throughout our careers we will constantly be faced with less than cooperative pets on our grooming tables. How do you win the trust and cooperation of a pet that doesn't enjoy the grooming process? In this presentation, Melissa will discuss a rating system that easily identifies the personality of pets and will share with you tips on how to manage a challenging pet while minimizing the frustration.

Life Is a Bowl of Popcorn Opportunities abound for those who look for them. Do you have the mindset, determination, and dedication to fill your personal bowl? With over 30 years in the professional pet care industry, Melissa has seen her share of ups and downs with her own career. In this presentation she will share with you many of her personal tactics that have allowed her to keep her bowl of popcorn extremely full.

What Does It Take to Become a Premier Stylist? The key to becoming a premier stylist is through a commitment of motivation and education. Top stylists are well-trained, keenly aware, and highly skilled. So where do you go to get the knowledge that can put you on top? There is a wealth of information available to help you learn how to produce top quality work with a little bit of effort. Knowledge is the key that unlocks the door. Melissa will guide you a wealth of avenues for continued education within our industry.