Groom Expo West

Fun Fact

“According to the 2017-2018 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 68% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 84.6 millions homes.”

Two weeks ago I attended Groom Expo West, Pasadena. Groom Expo West is a 4 day event where they host grooming shows, competitions, seminars, and a trade show with over 100 major pet care manufacturers and distributors from all over the nation. Pet professionals and attendees from around the world flew or drove to attend every year. This is a convention for anyone who is interested in improving their knowledge, skills, handling and care of pets.

This was my first time at a groom expo and I was overwhelmed by the entire experience. I bought the 'All Day Package' which allowed me to access all seminars, grooming contests, floors demonstrations, and the trade show. My days were booked back to back with seminars starting as early from 9 am - 9 pm. I was amazed and inspired by all the groomers who all hold their own technique and style!

My favorite groomer: Kenichi Nagase from Netflix’s Original Series “Dogs.”

TOPICS

01. Tips and tricks of grooming
02. How to handle difficult dogs
03. Dog demonstrations on specific dog breed cuts
04. Various ways of styling dog cuts
05. Mobile grooming - pricing, scheduling, and maintenance
06. How to start and manage your own business
07. Certification courses

These are just a handful of seminars that were available. On my breaks, I went to the trade show to look at bargains, show specials, demonstrations, discount pricing of pet supplies, accessories, latest trends, and the newest technologies (i.e. Tool Klean - A safe and effective way to sanitize your workspace and grooming tools with the power of non-toxic UV light).

My favorite purchases: cordless Wahl clipper and the 3 piece Dream shear kit.

Groom Expo West is the beginning of what's more to come. There are other events and expos like Natural Products Expo West, America’s Family Pet Expo, and SuperZoo. The pet industry is quickly expanding and growing because of cultural changes and what owners want now when they own pets. Millennials and Generation Z have embraced pet ownership lifestyles more than previous generations. As a dog owner myself, I want to give my dog the best life as possible.