Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Purvis
Hi Heather, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story starts with a standard poodle puppy. When my husband and I first decided that was the next breed we wanted, after more than a year of research, one of the main concerns was the grooming needs. Both of us had only ever had short haired dogs so I made the decision to learn how to do it myself to save money. It’s just cutting dog hair; how hard could it possibly be?
At the time I worked in retail management at a pet supply store but had managed a dog daycare for over 5 years prior until it closed. I taught training classes there in the evenings after brutal 12-hour shifts Tuesday-Friday running around with the daycare dogs and cleaning up. As the owner and I noticed revenue falling, we struggled to come up with ways to save the business. When the topic arose of bringing in a dog groomer it was not favorable. It was said that a dog groomer’s whole profession is forcing dogs to accept things they weren’t comfortable with, and it was extremely stressful for them. Groomers, like vets, were equally hated by all dogs. I carried this untruth with me for many years and it was almost the entire deciding factor in why I would provide these services for my new puppy myself. Surely I could make this “horrible process” easier for him? Not to mention I didn’t know a single other person I could trust.
Now, back to the puppy situation. When we brought Noodle home at 9 weeks I continued the feet and face shaves, brushing, combing, nails, just as his breeder had showed me. I had all my tools ready and I worked with him daily. I turned the clippers on regularly to get him used to the feel and sound before I ever attempted his first haircut. I lightly scissored parts of him to get a feel for it and when the time finally came for me to whack off that crazy hot puppy hair (we were going into summer in St Louis afterall) I found it curious that Noodle just stood there on the table, not a care in the world. He wasn’t stressed. He wasn’t scared. And he sure acted like he loved me still. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
As time went on, I continued to perfect my skill. Whenever I would have a bad day at that job in retail management (which was almost every day) I could come home and Noodle was more than happy to jump on the table. I would brush, comb, and shave my troubles away while he tried not to fall asleep standing up. When the day came that I left that place behind I felt lost at what I could do next. My husband suggested I find someone to mentor me and grow my ability in dog grooming since I seemed to enjoy it so much with our own dog. I applied to numerous places around my hometown but nobody really seemed to want someone they had to train. After feeling pretty hopeless I consulted my dog’s breeder. She gave me the name of a good friend of hers who also had one of her puppies, had owned her own shop and perhaps needed some help. It worked out beautifully.
I’ve heard it said if you can groom a poodle, you can groom any dog and I had ALOT of poodles to practice on! We also had several other breeds we seen but they all had one thing in common. Like my dog, none of them seemed shaken by the process. What I have discovered in my years in this profession is that the dogs we see with poor temperament on the table often are already reactive, fearful, anxious. Puppies who have not been exposed to these stimuli at a young age are done a real disservice. More often than not, we are able to work them thru these issues and they become perfectly well-adjusted dogs for grooming and handling.
A year and a half into this adventure my husband received a transfer opportunity from his work office in St Louis, MO to Columbia, SC. We jumped at the chance to move back to his home state. This was the summer of 2020. Dog groomers were needed everywhere, and it was not difficult for me to find a job, despite being in the middle of COVID. I had learned a ton during my time with my mentor and was doing complete haircuts on my own. I decided early on that I wanted to open my own shop but where we used to live there wasn’t a lot of opportunity, plus I didn’t want to compete with my mentor. I felt stuck with the inability to further succeed. Around August 2022 I began the planning stages to open my own place. I wanted somewhere that I would want to bring my own dog had I had the option years ago because I know there are lots of dog moms and dads out there who feel the way I felt. There were things I liked, and things I didn’t like about how other places were run. There never seemed a place where everything was just right so I set out to create my own. In the summer of 2023 I finally secured a location and the buildout began. Poodles & Company opened for its first appointments on December 15, 2023.
We are a small, quiet shop with an open concept and 100% transparency. There are no hidden rooms where the dogs are kept; they can see us and we can see them at all times for maximum safety. Our drying room is in front with big windows that the dogs love looking out of and watching the activity in the plaza. The door in the lobby to the back where our tables, bathing area and kennels where the dogs rest is usually open for all to see (unless we have a particularly distracted pup we’re trying to groom). It’s just me and one other groomer, Daciana. We use some of the best products in our industry and we’re proud to always be reading and continuing our education. This is our absolute passion.
Alright, 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 don’t think anyone’s journey in the world of small business is a smooth one! Hats off to you all. Yes, there were several bumps in the road. The location I am at now (Colonial Village) was initially my pick when I first began looking for a place. When my agent inquired though he was told the complex was undergoing a change in ownership and all new leases were frozen until further notice. We looked for months. My husband and I would just pick an area within 30-45 minutes of our home and drive around weekend after weekend, desperate to find SOMETHING that would work. My agent eventually saw this going nowhere and let me go. The next day I called the representing agent of Colonial Village to see if by some chance that leases were open yet. Turns out they had been for months. I scheduled an appointment that weekend to view the available spaces and made a decision nearly right away. There were some hiccups during the buildout. It took way longer than I’d hoped. Opening 10 days before Christmas was not how I’d seen things going but with such a small client book in the beginning we were able to accommodate every single one! Over the past 11 months I have learned so much that is way out of my comfort zone in relation to being a business owner. I live and breathe this endeavor, determined for its success. It is not for the faint of heart. Everyone wants to “be their own boss” until you factor in taxes, employees, building inspections, expense reports, supplies, customer complaints, and on and on. I am a woman who wears many hats and most days they are just piled on my head!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My name is Heather Purvis and I am the owner of Poodles & Company at 1420 Colonial Life Blvd W, Suite 40 in Columbia, SC. I am a professional dog groomer specializing in senior dogs and poodles, though I groom all breeds and ages. I am most proud of how far I’ve come from grooming my own dog in the basement of our home back in St Louis in April 2018, to opening my own shop December 15 2023. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s all still real. When I opened my shop I wanted somewhere clients and their dogs could feel comfortable and happy in. I remember how I felt when trying to decide how to best handle Noodle’s grooming needs before he came home. Hearing negative stories about grooming salons in mainstream media, coupled with unfavorable opinions from an earlier employer left me feeling my only option was to do it myself. The ability to bond closely with your dog thru the grooming process is something I would never change, but not everyone has the ability to handle the equipment expense and time commitment it takes. I understand clients who are initially nervous their puppy’s first appointment because I too had those same feelings. I understand that for many people and couples, myself and my husband included, our dogs are like our children which is why we prioritize safety, wellbeing and cleanliness above all else. We always encourage open communication with our clients. We strive to be partners in your dog’s care team and will always let you know if we notice something out of the ordinary. A good dog groomer is often times the first line of defense against serious health issues. While we are not vets and cannot diagnose anything, many groomers have saved dog’s lives by being present and observant!
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t really believe in luck, especially in business. Decisions can either be positive or negative with a ripple effect in either direction. I believe we make our own story. However, sometimes bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandco_sc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poodlesandcompany/
