Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Owens.
Hi Meredith, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always had a special connection with dogs since I was young. I spent a summer volunteering for the local dog shelter and knew immediately that dogs were my passion. I came up with the name The Better Bark when I was 14. Using that business name, I made and sold dog treats at the flea market. I toyed with many ideas for my future career but ultimately went a different route and went to college, majoring in political science, to attend law school. After college, I knew I had to follow my dreams, and by luck, I spoke with a master groomer (Liz Holdren), and she offered to train me to groom. After a year of apprenticing, I ventured out on my own.
I opened the first grooming salon, including boarding, in 2006 Central, SC. I had great success, but after a year, I was forced to close to attend to my health. I spent some time in different jobs (Marketing Manager for Science Diet Dog food) but working directly with dogs. So, in 2012, I reopened The Better Bark, LLC in Clemson, SC. We are going on our 11th year in the heart of Clemson and cannot be more grateful for all the clients, dogs, and humans that have gotten us to where we are. I have made lifelong friendships with clients and watched some go from dating to marriage to children. I gave a puppy its first groom and was honored to give it its last before it crossed the rainbow bridge. I have cried with owners as I grieved over their loss. On several occasions, I had owners relinquish their pets to me to rehome because they could no longer care for them. I have grown from a one-woman salon to an incredible team of employees: Kristin Peters (manager), Krystal Hoskins (groomer), Chelsea Kompier (groomer), and Anna Williams (bather/dryer). I am as successful with their amazing talents and support. We make sure to give back to all dogs and our community by fostering dogs, making financial donations to dog rescues, hosting events for dog rescues, etc. On a personal note, I have 2 little boys (6 and 9 years old), and my husband is a marine veteran and highly awarded Narcotics Detective with the Greenville Police Department. He had a narcotics K9 Scooter. Both will be retired in 2 years. I have only God’s grace; I would not be so blessed without him.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The health struggles initially, and that life throws our way occasionally. Grooming is severely taxing on us physically. We have to make time to take care of ourselves physically. Besides, we are blessed because the road has had a few obstacles, but nothing my team couldn’t handle. When Kristin was hired, she came in and overhauled the scheduling process. We now have so much automation, and everything runs like a machine. All dogs have special profiles, clients can book online, she responds to calls and texts within the same day, and she has perfected our check-in/out process. She is a God send!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about The Better Bark, LLC?
The Better Bark has been featured in several publications. We have been commended for our work for at-need dogs in our community. The Better Bark specializes in special needs clients: dogs kicked out of other salons, elderly dogs, dogs with chronic illness, etc. We guarantee a client’s dog is in the safest environment, treated with respect and compassion, and loved! Our motto is humanity before vanity always. We will never groom a dog in a way that could cause pain or injury. We are not here for the human clients; we are here for the dog clients. We have 24-hour video monitoring, so every groom is recorded. At the start of 2024, we will be expanding! The Better Bark will be dog grooming, boarding, and daycare. We will have those services at another location and keep our original location going at full speed! In the social setting, we have “gone viral” on TikTok and will use TikTok and Instagram to feature more of our clients’ dogs! We will also host our annual “Santa Paws” (pet pictures with Santa) on Dec 10, which benefits Freedom Fences and Friends, a 501c3 rescue whose mission is to unchain dogs!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
Spend a lot of time helping and volunteering at a grooming salon. You can learn a lot by just watching and listening. Make sure this is the job for you. There is a high turnover rate in the industry. It’s a tough, physically taxing job, and you must love people as much as you love dogs. We don’t “play with dogs” all day; I wish it were that easy. I wish I spent more time learning the business end of things. Being a groomer and being a good boss are two separate things. Grooming comes easy to me. Being a boss does not.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebetterbarkdog.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thebetterbarkdoggrooming
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/thebetterbark
- TikTok: Thebetterbarkdog
