Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Johnson.
Anne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been an animal lover, of any kind!!! and I always wanted to open a pet spa since I was 12 years old. I wanted to be a massage therapist and my mom said, “no, you are going to be a vet!” I went to the Fort Worth Stockyard and met a woman who was a massage therapist for the bulls and horses. I thought! That’s it! I will open a pet spa for animals!!! I got a job as a bather in high school, when I graduated I went to massage school and used my license to go to college.
When I got married we move a lot for business reasons and I worked at veterinary clinics as a vet tech, massage therapy and at pet boarding facilities. In Kansas I worked at this amazing boarding, daycare, grooming facility and they needed a groomer. They ask if I knew anyone and I said, well I was a bather in high school and I groom my own dogs! They took me in and Tara, the groomer, showed me the ropes and I was hooked!!! After we finally moved back home to Texas, I went to work at a vet again. I was unhappy and I always knew I was meant for more. My family kept asking me what about your pet spa? It was twirling in my head, but I did not have any clientele or equipment.
One day I was on my lunch break and I saw this tiny building up for rent. I thought that would be perfect for a grooming shop. My mom called me the same day and said, “hey! I saw this building that would be perfect for your pet spa’ it was the same building. I called the number and two days later we went to look at this place and my husband wrote a check on the spot. We knew this was the perfect place to began my dream. This building was 246 sq ft! I had just enough room for my tub, a desk and my grooming table and a tiny closet bathroom!!! Within 5 weeks my dream, Anne’s Pretty Pups was born. I was so nervous and scared, because I had no clientele, but I knew a lot of people and I had social media! Within three months I was already booking a week out!
After a year I had almost outgrown my little shop! I hired my first employee, who was a groomer in training and started working on my next location. At the end of my second year I was moving into a 2200 sqft building with four employees!!! At the new location we added a self service dog wash with the addition of more groomers. We book by appointment and work the pups straight through, so the pups are there an hour to two hours verses all day. We take extra caution to make sure these pups are not only treated like one of our own, but they are treated right, with love and an excellent haircut! We have one of the cleanest and healthiest shops around and we like to have fun! I am coming up on our fourth year of business and we have been so unbelievably blessed I can not express to you.
God has blessed me with these amazing employees, clients and dogs that I could ever imagine! I literally wake up every day in disbelief and such thankfulness! I still have more dreams to fulfilled! I have plans to expand and to continue to grow and add additional services. When I dreamt of owning a pet spa when I was younger, I never thought it would come true to this extent. I love what I do and who I do it with. I could not do it without my Savior, My family and all there love and support, my employees-who are amazing- or without my amazing clients!!!! It has been such a fun ride and lots of slobbery kisses!!!!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are always obstacles when opening a business, I originally wanted to open at the beginning of December 2013, but a massive ice storm hit that slowed everything down for two weeks, my grandmother passed away and I my tub almost didn’t make it. When opening the new location, the contractors got two months behind and I had to arrange for three of us to groom and bath in the tiny house haha that was fun!
Finding the right people to add to your team, that have the same mentality and who are on board with your mission statement. Growth has been both a blessing and curse, and we are currently looking for great groomers to be a part of that growth. My family and friends have been such amazing support. They helped me paint, build, strategize, work and put blood sweat and tears into this business just as much as I have. There can be no us without the downs. Just gotta stay focus and keep moving.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Anne’s Pretty Pups story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a professional dog grooming and self-service dog wash. Our grooming, we book by appointment and work the pups straight through. So, the pups are there an hour to two hours and then ready to go vs having to stay all day. We require all pups to be up to date on vaccines and we go out of our way to make sure every pup is treated like one of our own and with lots of love. We pay extra attention to details and make sure the pup is not only treated excellent, but also the haircut is excellent. We use all natural products that are made right here in Texas!
Our self-service dog wash in a service we provide as a walk in and provide the owner everything they need to bath and dry their pup. We have girls up front they can help and assist with as much or as little as the owner needs and the best part, we clean up the mess!!! We also, post pictures on Facebook and Instagram every day, so everyone can see how fabulous their pup is. I am very proud of how me and my employees go above and beyond to have to best customer service, the cleanest shop and how the pup is put number one in all area to make sure they have a safe, healthy and happy groom. I love how our clients tell us how happy the dog is when they pull up to the shop and they can not wait to get out and come see us. I love how every groomer knows every dog and how they act even if they have never groom that specific dog.
I am proud that we have won “best of the best” Keller two year in a row. I am proud to have so much support from local vets, boarding facilities, trainers and social media that recommend us to all their clients, friends and family to entrust us with their family members. I am happy that we have a personal relationship with not just the dogs, but also the people! We literally have the best clients any business owner could ask for. I am proud the amazing staff I have!!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
ALL OF IT!!! haha! Why am I so blessed to have this amazing business? Why did God choose me? I have no idea!!! Yes a lot of hard work, sweat and tears have gone into this!!! A lot of time!!!! But why I am so blessed I will never understand, but I am so, so, so, so grateful and I will continue to work my tail off to keep it the best dog grooming shop around!!!!
Pricing:
- Self Service Dog Wash is $15 plus tax per pup
Contact Info:
- Address: 750 S Main Street St110
Keller, Texas 76248 - Website:AnnesPrettyPups.com
- Phone:817-431-6007
- Email:AnnesPrettyPups@gmail.com
- Instagram:AnnesPrettyPups
- Facebook:AnnesPrettyPups
- Yelp: AnnesPrettyPups
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
