Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Pitoscia.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started working part-time in a grooming salon as an assistant while I was in college. I found working with the dogs very enjoyable and started to learn how to groom them. 15 years later, after working in a number of grooming salons around the Midwest, I had the opportunity to lease a storefront and open my own grooming salon. I really wanted to focus on dog behavior.
My goal was to ensure that the dogs were not only getting clean and receiving a beautiful haircut but also that they felt comfortable and safe while they were with me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I was really fortunate to have a good network of clientele that followed me when I opened my salon. These clients have been so helpful in referring my business to their friends and family.
I also have developed a good relationships with other pet professionals, such as vets and pet trainers, in the community who have sent referrals my way as well.
While learning how to manage a business has had its challenges, it hasn’t been overwhelming or difficult. Having worked in this industry for many years gave me a pretty solid background as far as what to expect and how to handle things.
As you know, we’re big fans of Diva Dog Grooming. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Diva Dog is a dog grooming salon where the pet’s comfort and safety are valued over all else. I became Fear Free certified upon opening my salon and together with my groomer employee we are currently the only Fear Free grooming salon north of the Twin Cities.
This means we work with dogs, rather than against them. We evaluate the dog’s comfort level with all aspects of grooming and try to make the process as stress-free as possible. We never force an animal through services that frighten or hurt them. Our commitment to helping fearful and anxious animals has led many clients to us. These are dogs that other groomers in the area have been unable or unwilling to work with and have been referred to our business due to their behavior.
We work with dogs individually and the salon is fairly quiet and calm compared to a lot of other pet grooming businesses. The “difficult” dogs tend to do quite well here. We also have a retail selection that we hope to continue to expand. We offer toys, treats, grooming supplies, and other pet supplies that we have personally tested and used with our own dogs at home.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned that by reducing my own stress, I reduce the stress of the dogs I’m working with. Keeping the environment relaxing and easy-going has made a huge difference for myself, my employee, and our clients (human and canine).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.divadogduluth.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivaDogDuluth
