Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Otto.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kendra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I think we all begin as children who simply adore pets however, I discovered that as a young child, I was naturally connected to dogs and cats with an innate ability to actually calm and soothe them. Entering my teen years my passion for pets grew exponentially as I continued to study and learn the differences in coat textures, rare breeds, gait, stance, pets’ health, behavioral issues, the artistry of drawing pets, and more. Growing to a young adult desiring a career in the pet industry and to enhance my artistic gift, I enrolled in The Great Lakes Academy of Professional Pet Styling in Illinois, graduating with honors as a certified Pet Stylist where under the tutelage of many expert instructors, I honed my artistic skills, specializing in hand scissoring, rustic coated breeds, hand stripping, extreme makeovers, rare breeds like the Hungarian Pumi, the Lagotto Romagnolo, the Brussels Griffon and creative coloring. With my comprehensive training and industry knowledge, I continued on a successful and professional path as a competitive pet groomer, earning status as a “Nationally Ranked, Award Winning Pet Stylist”, winning numerous, illustrious awards like the prestigious “Liz Paul Scissoring Award”, the “Barkleigh Honors Award for Up and Coming Judge” and the “Will Stone Memorial Award” for kindness to animals. I placed in all major grooming competitions around the country, won multiple “Best in Show” awards, won “Best All Around Groomer”, first recipient of the “Groomie Spirit Award” and I ranked in the top ten on GroomTeamUSA from 2007 to 2010. I also proudly hold the title for the State of Illinois #1 Pet Groomer for four consecutive years. As my industry knowledge, trophies and awards increased, I recognized the need to not only fulfill my dreams of small business ownership, but need dictated that I should create a grooming salon that offers a more holistic approach to grooming. A salon that focuses on a “healthy pets first” concept for my clients, by incorporating soothing botanical spa services that includes a massaging bath and aromatherapy to calm the nervous pets. Thus in 2015 my dream came to fruition and I opened The UpScale Tail, Pet Grooming Salon, in Naperville, IL; an upscale boutique salon that uses the finest botanical products, offers aroma therapeutic add-on spa services like my Blueberry Pet Facial, Blueberry Bubble Bath and Massage, Shea Butter or Hot Oil Skin and Coat Conditioning Treatments, Pawdicures, Dental Health Packages and more. I require my Pet Stylists to continue their studies of the latest safe handling techniques, industry practices and the latest grooming styles. My entire staff, which includes all Pet Stylists, Bathers, Managers and Administrative are CPR and Pet Tech, First Aid Certified. We use state-of-the-art equipment like the Ultra Lift Safety Tub, MDC Romani Support Systems and non-slip surfaces. And in honor of all anxious pets, I founded the free “Meet & Greet for Anxious Pets” to help even the most frightened pet acclimate to our salons sounds and scents but also to help them learn or re-learn their trust, so that they enjoy their grooming. We have helped countless, fearful pets and now they happily run through our door, wagging their tails and can’t wait to see us and spend time in our salon. When time allows, we like to “Paw it Forward” by grooming local shelter pets, to help increase their chances for adoption. I am also very pleased to announce that my salon recently won Pet Age Magazine’s “Silver Award”, Kudzu’s “Best of Pet Grooming Award” and that we are “Voted Naperville IL Best Grooming Salon”. While I’ve countless accomplishments as a published author in Grooming Industry Magazine, teaching worldwide seminars, judging worldwide grooming competitions, via video through learn2groomdogs.com, an Andis International Pet Styling Consultant and Ambassador, hosting Barkleigh Productions’ Groomertv.com, guest radio appearances for WTMJ “Ask the Pet Vet” in Milwaukee and grooming celebrity dogs for television series, commercials and international ads of which I’m very honored to get to do, owning my own pet grooming salon and mentoring my passionate and dedicated pet stylists is so very fulfilling and rewarding. Knowing that my workday will be filled with wet noses, sloppy kisses, assisting senior pets, puppies, cats or helping a scared or special needs pet to enjoy their grooming, makes my day. And, witnessing the joy of a freshly groomed shelter pet, grinning ear to ear after their grooming makeover fills my day with the utmost joy. Paw it Forward! Sincerely, Kendra Otto The UpScale Tail, Pet Grooming Salon Naperville, IL
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being very dedicated and accomplished Pet Stylist with a “Can-Do” attitude, I have always encouraged and empowered women Pet Stylists to take that chance, learn hand-scissoring techniques, rustic breed grooming and all breed grooming specialties that will make them stand out and be recognized. I’ve always lead by example to take the challenge as a grooming industry expert, to be a competition judge, an international and U.S. Pet Stylist Teacher and to mentor novice groomers. But, never did I think that with all of my awards, accolades and accomplishments that I had earned in my career, that I would have some trouble when it came to starting my own grooming salon, beginning with obstacles from landlords unwilling to lease space for my small business dream, to obtaining a small business loan, when bankers didn’t want to lend. My destiny was hanging by a thread and it was time to call upon my own “Can-Do” attitude…and I never did care for the word, no, anyway. So, with paws planted firmly into the ground and much perseverance and dedication, I found the solutions to achieve my dream of owning my own business. My truest role model and inspiration was my grandfather, who as a business owner himself, encouraged me to “GO FOR IT!” (He never liked that word, no, either.)
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The UpScale Tail Pet Grooming Salon – what should we know?
What sets The UpScale Tail apart from other pet grooming salons is that my Pet Stylists are highly trained and educated and they know all of the latest styles and safety techniques. We specialize in grooming all breeds of dogs and cats. From Conformation Show Dogs, Senior Pets, Rare Breeds, Puppies, Anxious Pets, Special Needs Pets, Cats, Extreme Makeovers, Rustic Coated Breeds, Creative Coloring, Creative Styles, Hand Stripping, Hand Scissoring, Hand Drying and especially the pets that have been rejected from other grooming salons due to their inability to either provide safe grooming or that their groomers aren’t Pet Stylists that are trained to groom special needs or pets that may display fear or behavioral problems. We’re known for being “Voted Naperville’s Best” and ensuring that all of our clients’ pets enjoy their grooming experience in a clean, safe environment. To ensure they have an enjoyable grooming experience I created the “UpScale Tail Meet & Greet”, offered free, to help establish pets trust. During the “Meet & Greet”, these anxious pets gently get to know us and the sights, sounds and scents, associated with grooming. Seeing the transformation of their behavior is the part of my job that I find more rewarding, than any award I’ve ever received.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
My career is a whirlwind of hard work and of lots of fun but I think my proudest moment, besides seeing a shelter pet smile after I had given them a grooming makeover, would be receiving that little silver key that opened the door to my destiny; my salon on its very first day. A dream filled day bursting with pride and joy and making that phone call to my grandfather to let him know that I’ve followed in his shoes.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1419 Plainfield Naperville Road
- Website: http://www.theupscaletail.com
- Phone: 630-632-8245
- Email: info@theupsaletail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upscaletailgroomernaperville/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUpScaleTail/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago 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.
