Province
TANIA TOMPSON
Name: Tania Tompson
Business: Rover’s Makeovers Mobile Pet Grooming, Vancouver
Contact: 778-834-3649; www.roversmakeovers.com
Number of employees: One
Time in business: Four years
What is your business? I have a mobile pet-grooming business across the North Shore, Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster. I provide all services from a simple bath and blow dry, nail trimming and ear cleaning to full pet styling. I bring all my own equipment and set up in my clients’ homes, then clean up everything. I even bring my own vacuum cleaner.
How did you get started? I was working at a doggie daycare and the owner had a mobile pet-grooming service come to bathe his dogs. After a couple of years, I called and asked the groomer if she would train me. I worked in the van for five years, then the business closed. When I was calling clients to tell them the service was closing, they begged me not to go away — it’s kind of like having a hairdresser you like decide to leave town.
Are the dogs happy to see you? Some of them run, but most of them are torn — they want to hang out with me, get the pats and attention, but as soon as I start heading for the bathroom, they head for the back door. But they know the routine — they recognize the different steps and they get really happy when we’re almost done. They are much more relaxed being in their own home.
What do you like best? I get to spend my time with dogs, and the people I spend time with are dog people.
Hardest learned lesson? Pace yourself. I spent years working 10- and 12-hour days trying to help everyone I could, but you can’t keep it up. It becomes work and your passion for it goes out the window.
Future plans? Just keeping going. The good thing about this business is, there’s always another dirty dog.
© The Vancouver Province 2007
