Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachelle Dye.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It all started in a Toyota Corolla. I was so eager to get started in the world I was born in the car on the way to the hospital. Twenty-two years later it’s only natural I’d choose a career spending 50 hours a week inside a vehicle!
As a kid, I would always go with my mother to dog shows and growing up I briefly showed and trained dogs myself so I always had a passion for dogs. When I was 9 years old I actually got mauled in the face by a friend’s 130 lb. dog. He broke my nose, ripped out 2 teeth, and put in a few deep gashes less than half an inch from my eye. It was pretty bad. I wouldn’t even look at myself in the mirror because my whole face was just one swollen purple bruise. You’d think that experience would scare a kid to death but the craziest part is I had zero fear of dogs afterwards. I still couldn’t wait to come home from school to see our own giant dogs. When I tell people the story they are shocked I own dogs, let alone groom dogs in a small confined space for a living!
I always wanted to get into a career with animals but I could never put my finger on what. In high school I was really good with numbers so I went to college to follow that path. I wanted to get a summer job and passed a sign that said “dog bather wanted” so I thought that would be fun! I got the job, the groomer showed me some basic skills, and I was hooked. I knew 30 years down the road if I continued a grooming career I’d still love my job everyday versus any desk job.
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?
I was just 22 yrs. old when I started my business. I opened right after the economy crashed so I knew I would struggle with a slow start. That would deter most people but failure wasn’t in my vocabulary. To ensure survival I wanted to keep bills down while slowly building the business. Having a brand new van with an $1,800 payment with no clients in the state of the economy wasn’t an option. I knew buying a cheap old van wouldn’t be smart because in return that would bring breakdowns which meant multiple costly repairs and down time. Instead I chose to start with a converted grooming trailer. A trailer is a little less fancy but easily reliable to keep on the road. We already had a few trucks in my family to pull it so it was a no brainer. Learning to back up the trailer was really tricky! For the first few months my great husband would come to the appointment just to back it in the really twisty long driveways. Not long after I was a pro at backing it in the tightest of places in pitch black darkness!
Starting at a young age I found it was hard being taken seriously at first. I’d often hop out of my truck and the first thing the new client would say is “wow you’re just a kid, are you the groomer?” But, I was very good at what I did so repeat business was the easy part. All of my new clients loved my service so much they would schedule their next appointment before I left. In fact, eight years later I still groom for many of my very first clients! Once I had a stable clientele, I purchased a beautiful newer van that shined as bright as my skills.
Mechanical failures are always a pain but the biggest overall struggle over the years has actually been battling our harsh winters. I learned how to be a great driver in the snow but there is no so such thing as battling icy roads in a 10,000 lb. sled. Even with heaters going water sitting in the pipes often will freeze at night because there isn’t water flowing through them for multiple hours. Frozen water lines mean hours of dethawing before you can make it to your appointments to make money and pay your bills. The trailer I started in had water lines in the rear compartment that would even freeze between appointments because it wasn’t designed with our climate in mind. The newer van was designed very well but when it’s -30 degrees you are still biting your nails all night hoping the heaters keep up. I’d also often spend hours every bitter cold night prepping the van for the next day in what otherwise would be a 5 minute job in warm temperatures. First, I’d have to dethaw the water spigot on the house, then I’d have to dethaw the van’s water intake valve where water goes into the holding tank, and one time it was so cold the water in the garden hose froze on the way to the van!
I quickly learned a smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.
Please tell us about Pamper Parlour Mobile Grooming.
Since 2009 Pamper Parlour Mobile Grooming has been Barrington and McHenry’s “paws down, the best around” service. I just came out with a brand new look on my state-of-the-art grooming van. With a special thanks to Franny Cheung Design for my adorable new logo and The Graphics Company in Gurnee for bringing my pink van envision to life in a full vinyl wrap.
Some dogs get a little nervous about grooming but they do great in my mobile van because it’s a quiet one-on-one environment. There aren’t any other dogs barking at them and they get the same groomer for every appointment to build a safe relationship with. Safety is my number one priority which is why I went as far as installing a commercial UVC sterilizing light that disinfects everything between houses which really sets me apart from others. I am especially known for my patient gentle care. I am very punctual while still not rushing through appointments. I take my time so each and every dog feels comfortable and has the best experience possible. I am very talented with all hair types but specialize in the “foo foo” dogs, especially when it comes to hand scissoring. The owner’s reaction when they see their dog go in the van looking a little shaggy and come out glistening like a show dog, happy as can be, is always priceless.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was a young girl, I begged for a show dog of my own. One day while I was doing homework, my mom came through the door with Tango, an 8-week-old Boston Terrier puppy wearing a big red bow. Tango became my side kick, heart, and soul from before I learned how to drive, through high school drama, to after marriage and starting this business.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.pamperparlourmg.com
- Phone: 815-355-4931
- Email: Pamperparlourmg@gmail.com
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/pamperparlourmobilegrooming
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