Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri King.
Hi Bri, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
+ Lavender Fields Pet Spa opened its doors August 15th of 2023. Ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to work with animals. Caring for them and learning about them has always been a passion of mine. I loved to read and anything about animals was my go-to topic, from my dads wildlife guides to “The Everything Cat Book”. My first cat, Biscuit, was my best friend. He taught me at a very young age just how deep the bond between people and animals can be. I would dress him up in my baby doll clothing and push him around in a toy stroller- he was the sweetest, most patient cat! Biscuit also made me realize how much capacity to feel animals possess; because of this realization I became vegetarian when I was 12 years old and vegan some time in my twenties. Compassion for animals has remained the foundation of everything I do and is the guiding principle of my salon.
I began my career in the pet grooming industry in 2015 as a dog bather at a corporate pet store. In September 2018, I completed the company’s four-week grooming academy and then spent about a year learning hands-on from several experienced groomers before becoming a fully certified pet groomer in 2019.
In April 2021, I was promoted to salon manager, a role that helped me grow both professionally and personally. For more than two years, I treated the salon as if it were my own. I hired and trained new groomers and bathers, made daily safety training a priority, earned the best safety rating in my district, and led my salon to win a nationwide company contest for achieving the highest percentage of beneficial grooming product sales.
As leadership changed within the company, I realized it was time to pursue a path that better aligned with my values and long-term goals. Looking back, I’m grateful for that experience because it gave me the push I needed to finally pursue my dream of owning a salon.
After leaving my corporate position, I interviewed at several private grooming salons. While each business had its own approach, I realized I was looking for something different. I envisioned a salon where safety, cleanliness, quality, and each pet’s comfort would always come before the number of appointments scheduled each day. I couldn’t find the environment I was looking for, so I decided to create it myself.
Then I came across a Facebook Marketplace listing for a pet salon for sale. The location was perfect, and the moment I walked through the doors, I could see its potential. After convincing my husband that opening a small business was the right step, we took a leap of faith, and I purchased the salon on August 2nd—my 29th birthday. I worked morning to night transforming the old salon into the vision I had- a salon that focused on safety and quality of grooms over quantity of appointments. And on August 15th, Lavender Fields Pet Spa was born!
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?
I did encounter some bumps along the road, which I was expecting opening a new business for the first time. I had to figure out how to appropriately price my services, went through trial and error figuring out what kind of advertising would make the most sense for my business, I researched products extensively and trialed different products used on the pets , navigated difficult decisions regarding staffing, and I had to find a way to balance working very long hours- usually 10-12 hour days, 5 days a week, along with coming in on days the salon was closed to catch up on salon maintenance and management at times.
As a young woman running my own business, I also sometimes found it challenging navigating certain situations with vendors and service providers. In a few instances, communication and processes were not always as clear or timely as I would have hoped, such as withholding of documentation or delays when addressing billing-related questions.
The most significant challenge came during the early stages of opening the salon after purchasing it as a turnkey business. Once operations began, I discovered the hot water system that I was assured had no issues, was an inadequate size for a pet grooming facility and in disrepair. This required additional time, cost, and coordination to resolve.
From my perspective, it would be beneficial for grooming salons to have inspections to help ensure safe and appropriate conditions for pets. The process of replacing the water heater and contesting the contract I signed was costly and stressful, but I gained valuable knowledge on how to navigate contracts which will be necessary as I hope to expand my business.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets Lavender Fields Pet Spa apart is that our main focus is the comfort of the pets in our care. From the very beginning, I designed the salon from the pet’s perspective. My goal was to create an environment that feels more like a spa than a traditional grooming salon.
To make each visit more spa-like, we offer spa-inspired treatments such as Jolly Rancher facials, a banana cream deep-hydrating mask during the bath, nose and paw balm, and a selection of pet-safe seasonal colognes. This summer, our scents include Watermelon Margarita, Honeysuckle, Pineapple Mango, and Limoncello, while Honeysuckle, Lavender, and Cinnabun are available to purchase by the bottle year-round. We also love creative grooming, it would be awesome to have some clients reach out with creative hair coloring project ideas for their pets!
The salon itself is designed to promote a calm and welcoming atmosphere. We use lavender aromatherapy throughout the salon, play soothing classical music, and have large windows that fill both the lobby and grooming room with natural light. Pet parents can even watch their furry family members being groomed through the viewing windows. Our spacious lobby allows pets to relax comfortably on the couch while they wait to be picked up, and we take great pride in maintaining a clean environment by regularly washing toys, beds, couches, and other shared items.
We intentionally schedule longer appointment times so pets can be groomed at a pace that is comfortable for them. If a pet becomes overwhelmed during part of the grooming process, we can give them a break before continuing. Our team uses gentle handling techniques, a variety of safety equipment, and every groomer is certified in pet first aid and CPR.
At Lavender Fields, we provide an honest update at pick-up about hot their pet handled their appointment. If they struggled with a particular part of the grooming process, we work together with the family to develop a plan that may include desensitization exercises at home, guidance from their veterinarian, or both. Through these methods, I am proud to say we have helped many pets gradually overcome their fear of the grooming salon.
Another important part of running Lavender Fields is doing everything I can to ensure my employees are happy and comfortable. My management style is centered around being approachable, kind, communicative, and honest. I believe pets can sense the energy around them, and when their groomer feels supported instead of overwhelmed, the pet is more likely to have a positive and calming experience. My team has full control over the pets on their schedule and is never pressured to take on more appointments than they can comfortably handle. Our priority has always been safety first, quality second, and quantity third.
I am especially proud of our commitment to continuing education. I believe it is important to stay up to date with the latest information on pet safety, grooming techniques, products, and equipment so we can continue providing the highest level of care. I am equally proud of the feedback we receive from clients who tell us their pets are noticeably more comfortable after their appointments than they have been with past grooming experiences. Being able to help pets gradually overcome their fear of grooming through patience, gentle handling, and trust is exactly what I hoped to accomplish when I opened Lavender Fields Pet Spa.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I absolutely love attending grooming expositions! Every year, I take my team to Intergroom in Secaucus, New Jersey, and Groom Expo in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Continuing education is something I’m very passionate about, and I always come home feeling inspired and excited to bring new ideas back to the salon. Some of my favorite seminars have been taught by Master Cat Groomer Dana Chavez-Rey on cat handling techniques and Dr. Cliff Faver, whose four-hour seminar on skin and coat health was incredibly informative. I also love GroomHaus for its educational grooming videos. Outside of work, I enjoy listening to Abraham Hicks on my drive to work because it helps me start each day with a positive mindset.
And of course, I can’t forget my own personal “Human Resources Department”, which are the wonderful humans I turn to for support, encouragement, and the occasional reality check. My husband, Jeff, has been one of my biggest supporters from the very beginning. He is always willing to lend a hand around the salon and somehow manages to bring just about every project or idea I dream up to life. He provides endless encouragement and emotional support, and he does an amazing job taking care of our fur baby, Brewski, during my long workdays.
I don’t know if I would have had the courage to begin this journey at all if it weren’t for my best friend, Happy. She encouraged me to follow my dream when I was doubting myself, and she continues to be a constant source of positivity, motivation, and encouragement. I truly don’t know what I would do without her.
I also have the most amazing clients. Their kind words, encouragement, and unwavering support have meant the world to me, and I hope they know just how much I appreciate each and every one of them.
My team member, Caitlyn, has been by my side since the beginning of her grooming journey in February 2022, when I hired and trained her while we worked together at a corporate salon. I can’t emphasize enough how much it has meant to have such a reliable employee, teammate, and friend supporting me over the years. She embodies all of the qualities I value in a compassionate groomer, and it’s no surprise that both the pets and their families absolutely adore her.
Lastly, I am the oldest of six sisters and have five beautiful niblings- three nieces, and two nephews; being a person they can look up to has always been a driving factor in my life. I am so beyond grateful for everyone who has helped me reach success so far in my business venture!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://LavenderFieldsPetSpa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavenderfieldspetspa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LRPM4bvBv/?mibextid=wwXlfr
