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“Dogfather of Harlem” Kicks Off Global Groomer Training Quest:

Pup Relief Tour Heads to Nigeria for Intensive Dog Grooming Workshop Feb 8 – 15th powered by Paragon Curriculum

Four trainers. Twenty-five students. Eight days. Two job offers. And a lot of dogs! The inspired mind behind the national sensation of the Pup Relief Tour is going global with his quest to promote the grooming profession in an intensive skill development workshop in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

Paragon School of Pet Grooming is delighted to lend professional curriculum support to Brian Taylor, aka the “Dogfather of Harlem,” and his team of volunteers as they prep to train 25 self-taught groomers who will vie for employment at a popular daycare, boarding and grooming operation. The tour kicks off February 8^th, with Paragon providing the training curriculum, process and procedures.

Critters Veterinary Centre in Lekki, which also serves as a boarding and grooming facility, is hosting the workshop and supplying the dogs. In addition, Critters will offer employment to 2-3 groomers exhibiting impressive skills and potential which will significantly improve the groomers’ annual income.

“Paragon’s mission is to elevate the grooming profession, in North America, and around the world, through excellence in skill development. We’re thrilled to help Brian and his team bring the highest level of groomer training to this outreach project,” said Joe Zuccarello, President of the Paragon School of Pet Grooming.

In preparation of their departure, the volunteer trainer team brushed up their coaching skills using Paragon’s online training platform, and were supplied with additional textbooks and materials to make the most of the intensive workshop.

Taylor cited Paragon’s curriculum, textbooks, beautiful illustrations, and instructional videos as key advantages of the Paragon partnership.

“The school’s curriculum is rooted in the unmatched experience and teachings of industry icon Melissa Verplank, Certified Master Groomer, and their team is hand-picked from the best of industry experts. This is an incredible opportunity for groomers in Nigeria to access this kind of content not readily available in their country,” Taylor said.

Taylor is passionate about opening avenues to the grooming profession at home and abroad. The banker-turned-successful grooming business owner became a social media sensation during the height of the pandemic when he spearheaded the non-profit Pup Relief Tour in 15 cities across the United States. The team groomed 1918 pups whose pet parents faced financial hardships and raised awareness of pup health and well-being through grooming.

For the Nigeria venture, Taylor is joined by Pup Relief Tour Ambassadors, Labree Blaxon, Owner, Fluffy By Nature, (California), Latonya Smith, LC’s Detroit Salon, (Michigan) and Gianna Richardson, Gia Styles Grooming (Virginia). All have successful pet grooming businesses here in the U.S. and are primarily Black-owned.

Together, Paragon and The Pup Relief Tour are committed to raising awareness of the shortage of dog groomers and to help pet lovers discover the lucrative opportunity of a career in pet grooming.

Boost Your Pet Business with IBPSA FLOW Sept. 22-24 in Orlando!

Would you like less “sweat” and more “equity” in your pet business? Check out the International Boarding & Pet Services Association’s FLOW Business Conference, sponsored in part by team Paragon! Conference tickets include full access to all education sessions, workshops, roundtables, and panels; plus the IBBY Awards, Exhibit Hall, and the traditional Meet & Greet held the night before opening.

Paragon President Joe Zuccarello will lead three seminars this year on topics close the the heart of pet business owners:

10 a.m. Sept 22 – To Groom or Not To Groom – Joe will discuss proven strategies on how to attract, build, and lead a team of grooming producers you are proud to serve your customers. Learn more.
1 p.m. Sept 23 – Perfect Pricing – Joe will help you understand just where your prices need to be in your market, what the customer is really buying, and how to communicate pricing and price increases to your customers. Learn more.
8 a.m. Sept 24 – Employ Differently – Joe will share with you FOUR key elements to positioning yourself as an employer people want to come work for and a place where they are more likely to stay longer. Learn more.

Joe will be joined by our groom-focused friends Dave Campanella at Best Shot Pet Products and Chris Miller from Boss Pet Products on topics ranging from Mastering Rebooking to Grooming at Retail insights.
We’re so excited that IBPSA will have such a strong representation in the grooming category this year. We hope you’ll join us!
Learn More & Register below!

Come See the Paragon Team at SuperZoo in Vegas

Planning to be at WPA’s SuperZoo show August 23 – 25 in Las Vegas? Stop by and visit the Paragon & Learn2GroomDogs.com team at booth #7563! And if you own a pet business, don’t miss President Joe Zuccarello’s talk on How to Add Grooming Services to Your Retail Store to Drive Traffic and Profit!

Our partners at WPA put on a great show!

Here are some of the highlights for SuperZoo 2022:

800 New Products
See, touch and test debut products in every category to get ahead of buying cycles—and the competition.
1200 Exhibitors
Source the hottest products and trends in the marketplace to delight returning customers and attract brand new ones.
20,00 Pet Pros
Meet, mingle and talk shop with people who “get it” to generate new ideas and lasting connections.
65 Education Sessions
Uncover marketing, hiring and other business-boosting insights with SuperZoo’s industry-leading education program

Don’t Miss Artero Jornadas Grooming Show May 15 & 16

Our good friends at Artero are getting ready to host some of the most prestigious groomers from around the world in this 2-day Grooming Extravaganza May 15 & 16 in Atlanta! ARTERO JORNADAS is a unique spectacular show which has been celebrated in Spain for over 15 years.

Artero will feature 12 of the top Groomers from around the world who will share their expertise and extensive knowledge! (Several are Learn2GroomDogs.com experts, including Victor Rosato, shown above!)

The extravaganza promises to be educational, fun and interactive!

Featuring: Riza Wisnom, Lindsey Dicken, Irina Pinkusevich, Michell Evans – The Grooming Tutor, Pammie Charmichael-Hogg, Luis Martín del Río, Jessica Adorno, Fan Yu, George Goginashvili, Jay Scruggs & Sue Zecco – Super Styling Sessions

Guest Hosts: Victor Rosado & Sue Zecco

Brought to You By Edu Artero & Alex Artero.

Learn More Register

Pssst: Paragon Students USE CODE PARAGON50 to get 50% off ticket prices!

Check out a preview of what’s in store:

Paragon Teams Up with PACCC for FREE Grooming Employer Webinar

Pet businesses knows good grooming staff are worth their weight in gold. In this special Webinar, Paragon President Joe Zuccarello teams up with partners at the Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC) to give you 4 Ways to Win the Employee lottery! As an extra bonus, webinar attendance is worth a CEU credit in PACCC’s credential program. Check out the details below and register early!

Employ Differently: How to Compete for Employees and Win

WHAT: It is a great time to talk about how you can put your business in the best position possible to attract and retain employees! How? By Employing Differently!
Join Joe Zuccarello, President of Paragon, and the PACCC leadership team for this PACCCC Educational Series. Learn the FOUR main elements to being a competitive employer in a world where it seems almost impossible to find employees.

PRESENTER: Joe Zuccarello, President of Paragon. leaders in grooming education. He possesses more than three decades of experience in the pet grooming, product development and pet business consulting disciplines.

WHEN: April 4, 2022 at 2:00 PM in EST

WHERE: Online via the link – click below to register. The webinar is FREE but you must register to be able to access. Easy.

Paragon and Learn2GroomDogs.com Founder Makes Pet Age’s Power 50 List

Melissa Verplank, CMG, petentreneur and founder of the Paragon companies, was recognized by Pet Age as one of the “Power 50” influencers and visionaries who’ve improved the pet care industry.

According to the popular trade magazine and media brand, the inaugural Power 50 list is designed to recognize the people whose vital work has made a substantial impact on the pet market. The selection team identified the people influencing the pet care community in positive way.

“The Power 50 honorees are making important contributions to the pet care community, to the well-being of companion animals and using their dogged drive and steadfast leadership to pursue uncharted territory in the pet care industry,” Pet Age wrote in its article.

“I am deeply honored to be included in this collection of outstanding industry icons,” Verplank said. “Our work at Paragon is truly a team effort and our impact on the industry was made possible through the synergy of our collective talents.”

Honorees of the Power 50 include mavericks such as Chris Rowland, CEO of Pet Supplies Plus, Mike Bober from the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, and Andrea Faccio from Nestle Purina.

Pet Age cited Verplank’s involvement in the ground level of the voluntary certification testing programs, where she earned her Certified Master Groomer title in the mid-1980s. She was a member of the traveling team for GroomTeam USA, representing the United States in World Team Competition in France in the early 1990s. Later, she was the GroomTeam USA team coordinator, served on the board of directors and currently sits on its advisory board. She assisted in the start-up of the International Judges Association and is an approved grooming judge with the United Showmanagers Alliance. Today, she remains a highly sought-after industry speaker, contest grooming judge, author and a two-time Cardinal Crystal Achievement winner.

Verplank’s foundational Notes From the Grooming Table and Theory of Five are perennial top sellers in the grooming instruction category and underpin the curricular development of Paragon’s educational platform. Verplank founded Learn2GroomDogs.com in 2011 and took the renowned Paragon School of Pet Grooming online in 2018 to extend its reach, training individuals and corporate teams.

“Our unifying mission across the Paragon companies is to elevate the grooming profession and those who work in the industry to the highest possible standard through continuing education. For my own skill development and the thousands I’ve witnessed who’ve become better groomers, I know first-hand that education is everything,” Verplank said.

Hershey Groom Expo

The Paragon and Learn2GroomDogs.com team will be at Hershey Groom Expo 2021!

Stop by our booth to meet the team and learn more about our services!

When: September 9-12, 2021

Where: Booth #7

Facebook Live Event: Dog Is Good

You’re not going to want to miss this month’s Facebook Live, it’s going to be GOOD! Join us Thursday August 26, at 6pm EST to learn creative ways to…

Leverage your time to make money effortlessly.
Offer strategic retail streams that don’t require inventory or staffing
Enlist your client base to help you make more revenue

Your Hosts: Joe Zuccarello & Gila Kurtz

Join us this Thursday, with Dog Is Good!

Visit Facebook Page

Webinar: The $15/hour Wage

Joe Zuccarello will be joining forces with National Kennel Sales & Appraisals to offer a FREE Webinar on May 6th, 2021 at 1pm EST to discuss The $15/Hour Wage.

Does the thought of paying a minimum wage of $15 have you questioning what you can do to absorb such a cost in your business? Is the pool of available employee candidates drying up or completely void in your area right now?

Is this really going to be imposed on businesses or should this be something we will need to do regardless of new laws?

In this session, Joe will be touching on the topics that will greatly impact your hiring decisions.

Turnover
Retention
Training
Efficiencies
Opportunities

Practice Makes Pooch Perfect: An Interview with Groomer Contestant Deb Compton

How do you go from an everyday bather to Pooch Perfect all-star stylist? If you’re Deb Compton, the answer is that practice makes perfect.

“Never stop learning. Always seek out judgment, and learn to take critique because you can’t grow without it.”

Compton and her son Jordan Jones made their debut on Rebel Wilson’s Pooch Perfect. The pair joined ten top groomers competing from across the country in ABC’s latest canine fashion reality show. At stake is a $100,000 grand prize.

Striving to be the best is, according to Compton, in her blood. But it really wasn’t until she experienced working alongside nine other top groomers that she felt she belonged there.

“It was so awesome to meet all the Facebook friends and people whose work I’ve followed for years – to be there with them shoulder to shoulder. I felt like a fan-girl,” she said.

A Foundation in Bathing

Compton started working in the pet industry when she was 16. When Petco needed groomers in South Florida in 2003, she signed up, not knowing exactly what that would entail. After a couple of days of bathing, she was thrown into the training program to fast-track her way forward in the grooming kingdom. Today, as Regional Grooming Team Lead at Pet Supplies Plus in Wisconsin, she prefers her hires spend at least 90 days bathing first before pursuing the profession as a groomer.

“Bathing is half the groom. There’s so much you need to learn about dog handling, coat types, and using the right products,” she said. She’s delighted that PSP now has a structured bathing course for their employees through Paragon Pet School’s Distance Learning program. “This standardization is the best thing that has happened to training at PSP.”

The first episode of Pooch Perfect relied heavily on the lessons learned in the tub in what might be called a bathing skills bonanza. The teams hustled to combat enemy #1 – mud, lots and lots of mud. So much mud that team Compton had to re-bathe, she admits.
“Never underestimate the power of mud.”

Trials and Tribulations

True to her own advice to novice groomers, Compton turns every trial into a lesson to do better. She once was disqualified from a competition for missing a matt in the armpit of a deep-chested Portuguese Water Dog – an omission caught by eagle-eyed judge and Learn2GroomDogs.com trainer, Lisa Leady. She went on to persevere in the competition ring for eight years, triumphing in All American Creative for her sumptuous sculptures. Although at one time “terrifying,” the experience in competitions helped prepare her for the pressures of performing on Pooch Perfect.

In competitions and on the show, Compton relies on her artistic background to craft creative results using coloring and sculpting techniques.

Colorful Inspiration Through Groomer Community

Her inspiration came from hours of watching icon “Pina” Irina Pinkusevich create masterpieces in Learn2GroomDogs.com tutorials and elsewhere.
“Watching (Pinkusevich) I had a transformative moment where I realized it was a form of subtractive sculpting, using the dog’s body as leverage.”

This epiphany propelled Compton to hone her skills while simultaneously running her own grooming salon, In the Dogz House, for a decade while homeschooling her children. From the vantage of a Salon Owner, she said grooming can be a lonely business if you don’t reach out to work with others in the groomer community and continually sharpen your skills. Two years ago, she joined Pet Supplies Plus, a move she says gave her the best of both worlds due to the company’s highly personalized approach. Her son Jordan, who trained with her since he was 14 years old, now also works with PSP.

The Pooch Perfect Experience

In addition to the camaraderie of working with fellow groomers on Pooch Perfect, the show also gave Compton and her son a unique opportunity to bond in both a personal and professional capacity.

“It was amazing. I learned how much I had to rely on him and to know when to ask for help. It really strengthened our relationship.”

While she can’t share too many details of what’s to come in future episodes, she said the casting company did a great job bringing all kinds of different dogs to the show.

“It was nice to be able to bring everything I had to every dog I worked on,” Compton said.

Rebel Wilson’s organic and rapid-fire wittiness on and off the camera made the experience memorable, and the collegial bonding among groomers gave the time in California a “summer camp for groomers” vibe. But apart from being a once-in-a-lifetime personal experience, Compton hopes Pooch Perfect gives something beyond entertainment to its audience.

“What I hope comes from the show is that people sitting in their living rooms who love connecting with animals realize that making them beautiful is an actual, rewarding career. I hope it inspires them to take the next step in life.”

The first episode of Pooch Perfect premieres on ABC at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30. The Trio of Celebrity Judges include TV personality Lisa Vanderpump, dog groomer Jorge Benersky and veterinarian Dr. Callie Harris.