My Blog

2013 Brewerytown Spring Festival

01/21/2013 20:53:00

Yo Philly! Block off Saturday, May 18th, 2013 from Noon to 5:00pm, in your calendar. That's the day the Brewerytown neighborhood celebrates its annual spring festival.

The Brewerytown Spring Festival is a celebration of arts and crafts, live music and deliciously unique food.

Arts and crafts vendors will be set up along the 2700 and 2800 blocks of West Girard Avenue. Live bands will be playing at 28th Street and Girard Avenue. And, NEW for this year's festival, 25 food trucks from the Philadelphia Mobile Food Association (www.PhillyMFA.com) will be stationed on the lot at 27th Street and Girard Avenue. These food trucks specialize in nouveau American cuisine, specialty tacos, soul food, Jamaican, pizza, mac 'n cheese, cupcakes, handcrafted ice cream, and more. The North Star Bar (www.northstarbar.com) will partner with its beer distributors to sell some interesting brews.

We'll also have FREE outdoor ZUMBA demonstrations, followed by a drum circle/percussion session.

Activities for children include Make 'n Take projects by the Philly Art Center, and sports competitions by Give and Go Athletics.

Keep up-to-date on who's vending at the festival by following Twitter.com/BtownFestival or liking the festival Facebook page http://goo.gl/AtSa5.

ARTS & CRAFTS VENDORS: Do you have something unique and handmade you want to sell? Email brewerytownspringfestival@hotmail.com. You will receive a Vendor Form. Fill it out, complete the $25 payment and email back the form. You will be registered with the festival.

SPONSORS: This is a fantastic opportunity to get your brand out in front of thousands of Philadelphia foodies, art lovers, crafters, and music fans! Email your request for more information to brewerytownspringfestival@hotmail.com.

2012 Fairmount Fling

10/02/2012 16:16:00

Come party with the fun folks of Fairmount Thursday, November 15, 2012. The Fairmount Fling is the premier annual fundraiser for the Fairmount CDC (www.fairmountcdc.org). Restaurants from Fairmount will provide free food samples to go along with free wine and beer. Live music will be provided by the York Street Hustle (www.yorkstreethustle.com). Funds are raised through ticket sales and from proceeds of the silent auction that will be held during the Fling.

2012 is a special year for the Fairmount CDC. The Fairmount Neighborhood Plan, which has been the strategic guide for the Fairmount CDC, is 10 years old. So, to celebrate, this year's Fling will feature an exclusive VIP Food Fight that will kick off the rest of the Fling activities. Around 10 Fairmount restaurants will participate - creating special tasting menus and pairing them with a cocktail, craft beer or wine. Attendees will get to vote on the winner of the Fairmount Food Fight. After the coronation of the winner, VIP Food Fight attendees will join the rest of the Fling and party until 10:00pm.

The Fairmount Fling is held in Founders Hall at Girard College, Corinthian and Girard Avenues.

Ticket information is as follows:

$75 VIP Food Fight & Fairmount Fling - from 6:00pm until 10:00pm

$40 Fairmount Fling - from 7:00pm until 10:00pm

$15 Children's ticket (12 years or younger, Fairmount Fling only)

The Fairmount Fling and VIP Food Fight is a great time with great food for a great cause. Purchase your tickets today: http://fairmountcdc.org/events/fairmount-fling/

Brewerytown Food Truck Roundup

07/21/2012 17:09:00

Hey, don't bother making dinner plans for next Friday night, July the 27th. From 5pm til 10pm, Brewerytown will be hosting a Food Truck Roundup, courtesy of the Philadelphia Mobile Food Association, and other sponsors.

Date: Friday, July 27th, 2012

Time: 5pm til 10pm

Where: Grassy lot at 27th Street and Girard Avenue

Who/what: Around 15 food trucks, beer and live music.

It should be an absolute blast, and a great way to spend a Friday evening, after a long week in the office (booooooooo)!

Click on this link for more details: http://goo.gl/W4qiW

Brewerytown Spring Festival

03/17/2012 15:55:00

Make a note in your calendar to swing through Brewerytown on Saturday, May 12, 2012. The annual Brewerytown Spring Festival will be in full swing.

The West Girard Business Association, the Fairmount CDC and the Greater Brewerytown CDC are the organizers of this event.

The festival kicks off at noon, and officially ends at 4:00pm, however, it usually runs several hours past the official closing time.

We are hoping to make this year's festival the most exciting, creative and tasty one to date. Our emphasis will be on handmade arts and crafts, specialty food trucks and lots of live music.

If you're an artist and/or know any artists that may want to exhibit at this event, please have them send their contact information to brewerytownspringfestival@hotmail.com or call 215 232-4766.

Please note, if you're a vendor, there is a $25 fee, and you must provide your own table and chairs. There is no fee for the public to attend this event.

If you're interested in sponsorship opportunities, email brewerytownspringfestival@hotmail.com or call 215 232-4766.

Please help spread the word...we hope to see you, and your family, on May 12th.

Flower Power!

02/14/2012 20:37:00

Well, I was going to write a short article on my foray into the world of flowers, however, some very nice journalism students from Temple University came to my store, interviewed me, then wrote and posted the following article.

Please click on this link to read it, then stop by my store to see what I have:

http://goo.gl/ugDoJ

Best In Show Loyalty Program

01/27/2012 15:24:00

Ladies and gentlemen - the Best In Show Loyalty Program is finally here. I haven't done any advertising for it yet...a window poster and other signage is coming soon. However, it's set up and ready to track the grooms of any client who wants to participate in the program.

The program is very simple. Once you've signed up for the program, you have one year to bring your dog in to get groomed six times. You must pay full price for five of those grooms, and the sixth groom is free. The grooms can be Full Service Grooms (with a haircut) or Bath and Brush Services, or a combination of both. The sixth groom can be whichever one you choose.

There are two main reasons why I'm rolling out this Loyalty Program:

First, I want to reward and thank all of my loyal customers who bring their dog in well over six times per year. This will give them one or two free grooms per year. They have been wonderful to me and my business, and they deserve my gratitude.

Second, I'm hoping this will encourage some of my less diligent customers to step it up and get their dog groomed on a regular basis. Six grooms per year will keep their dog in great shape, and since one is free, the average cost of each groom will be very, very affordable (Six $48 grooms, with one free, averages out to $40 per groom).

HERE ARE THE RULES:

1) You have one year to get your dog groomed 6 times. The 6th groom is free. The program resets annually from your sign-up date..

2) The five grooms can be Full Service Grooms, or Bath and Brush Services or a mixture of the two. The free sixth groom is your choice.

3) The five grooms must be paid at full price. Discounted grooms, specials promotions, etc., will NOT count toward your sixth free groom.

4) Only our standard Full Service Groom or Bath and Brush Service packages are free. Add-ons like a flea bath, teeth brushing, nail grinding, pickup/delivery, etc. must be paid for at full price.

Hey 9-to-5ers! Consider This New Service From Us.

01/25/2012 17:51:00

So, your dog (or cat) needs to be groomed. You work a typical Monday to Friday schedule, and your weekend is already packed solid with chores and activities.

What do most people in this predicament do?

They get their dog groomed after work at a shop that offers evening hours. This CAN be a convenience, if you don't mind going home to pick up your dog, driving to the groomer, then trying to kill 2 or 3 hours until they call you to pick him up. Now's it's 8:00pm, you're tired, hungry, aggravated, still need to walk the just-groomed dog, and won't get home until 8:30pm or 9:00pm.

THAT'S A LONG DAY!

Our solution? Drop your dog (or cat) off in the morning on the way to your job (we open at 8:30am Monday to Friday). While you're at work, we will groom him, walk him, then let him chill - on a fluffy towel in a spacious cage - until you pick him up after work (sometime between 4:00pm and 6:00pm). Our fee for this service? $20.

Here are three reasons why we think this is a great value:

1) Peace of mind - you can stay at the office and work. You don't need to sneak out at lunch to pick up your dog, or ask a friend or family member to pick him up.

2) Convenience - drop off your dog and go to work. No need to get this done after work, at night, nor spend precious weekend hours waiting for your dog to get groomed.

3) Save money - since this service is ONLY available Monday to Friday, if you Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, we'll take 10% off your total grooming bill.

So, next time your dog needs to be groomed, consider this time-saving/money-saving option, then call us. We think you'll agree that freeing up more hours at night, or on the weekend, is worth an extra few bucks.

Yes, We Groom Cats!

01/23/2012 17:16:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Handsome Himalayan

www.bestinshowgrooming.com

Occasionally a customer will call the store and lambast me for having a dog-centric website and marketing material.

I think it's pretty clear that we provide grooming services for cats, but obviously some cat owners don't agree. This is one reason why I really enjoy feedback from customers - I need that outside perspective in order to improve and grow.

So, for the record, Best In Show Grooming Salon does groom cats. In fact, we groom a lot of cats.

Our grooming services for cats fall into two basic categories - bath and brush service, and full service groom. Our bath and brush service for short hair cats costs $44. We will shampoo the cat, condition the coat, clean out the ears, and trim the nails. For a medium or long hair cat, the bath and brush service is $50 to $54. For this higher price, we can shave out the sanitary, rear and underbelly. For long hair cats, this helps the cat keep himself clean after using the litterbox, plus helps minimize tracking.

Our full service groom includes everything in the bath and brush service, plus a hair cut. For most cats (regardless of hair length), the full service groom costs $66. If the cat is unusually large, very aggressive and/or matted, the price may go up to $80.

Our hair cuts for cats are very limited. We either shave down the cat or give him a Lion Cut (there are several variations to the Lion Cut; see one example in the video above). Unlike dogs, cats won't stand still on the grooming table, nor will they follow commands. Cats have very flexible bodies, thin skin and a generally low regard for the grooming process. So, to minimize stress to the cat and groomer, we opt for very simple cuts - shave downs or Lion Cuts...nothing fancy or extraordinary.

You may never have thought of getting your cat groomed, or if you did, weren't sure how often to get it done. If you have a long hair cat, and have allergies, or dislike shedding, get your cat shaved frequently - probably every few months. For all other cats, I recommend having them professionally groomed (even if it's just a bath) at least twice a year. Even though nature has equipped cats with the instinct and tools to clean themselves, they can always use a hand now and then. Think of all the dead hair, dander, dirt, litter, dust, food, etc., that cats must lick off of themselves everyday. Give them a break, and let us do the dirty work.

Spring 2012 Dental Clinic. Are you in?

01/19/2012 14:02:00

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of good dental hygiene for our dogs and cats. As the owner of a grooming shop, I see the neglected teeth of many pets, but don't believe I have any truly effective solutions I can offer to my clients (other than to recommend them to a vet for an expensive dental cleaning that probably involves anesthesia).

After googling forums, articles, companies, products, etc., I came across this company:

http://houndstoothpetdental.com/

I found them through an online article I read about a former Wall Street guy who was bringing them in to service his clients at his high end doggy daycare centers in Manhattan.

I read through their website, read online reviews about them, and have had several phone and email conversations with them. I believe they could be a great alternative to dental cleanings that require anesthesia.

Since they are not located here in Philadelphia, I will need to schedule a 1 or 2-day clinic - probably April-May 2012 timeframe - for them to come in. The two main benefits of bringing them here - they are cost-effective and don't use anesthesia. They estimate their teeth cleanings run around $180 to $210 for a thorough/complete cleaning. A traditional cleaning, with anesthesia, can run several hundred dollars more, plus involve an office visit fee, exam fee, etc. If the dental problem is too severe for them to treat, i.e. periodontal disease, they will not treat the dog or cat, but will recommend the client take their pet to a veterinarian.

By the way, in accordance with PA state regulations, a licensed veterinarian will be present to ensure compliance with current veterinary practices, provide advice and guidance, as well as respond to any medical issues should they arise.

So, this is how it will work:

1) If you are interested, please email me at bestinshowllc@hotmail.com. Let me know what animal you have (dog or cat), and what breed. Please provide contact information, too...a phone number AND email address.

2) Once the required minimum number of participants has been reached, I will contact everyone to confirm they are still interested, PLUS will need to ask for a deposit - probably $75, but will confirm the amount later. The purpose of the deposit is to ensure attendance. This company is from out-of-state, and they need to ensure it's worth their while coming here.

3) Each participant will be given an appointment - in 1/2 hour increments. Come in at your appointed time, though keep in mind, it's probable the clinic may be running a little behind.

4) The dental technician will take your pet back to the area we will set aside for the cleanings. Hopefully, within 20 to 30 minutes, or less, your pet will be back with shiny, clean, polished teeth.

If this clinic is a success (i.e. large turnout, most people happy and satisfied), I will consider offering more clinics throughout the year.

I look forward to hearing from you, and hope you will participate. Please pass this information on. Thank you.

If At First You Don't Succeed, Try And Try Again.

01/12/2012 09:40:00

At Best In Show Grooming Salon, our goal is to have every client leave our store happy and completely satisfied with the groom their dog or cat received. In fact, we want them to be more than satisfied, we want them to be so blown away, they become lifelong customers...coming back on a regular basis, and recommending Best In Show to others.

However, we know that doesn't always happen. Being in the service industry, we''ve quickly learned that while we strive to please everyone, it is virtually impossible to make everyone happy every time. Why? Here's a short list:

1) Sometimes groomers have bad days. Yes, we've all been told to put our personal life aside when we walk through the door of our job, but let's face it, lack of sleep, a family illness, fighting with one's significant other, can impact the quality of one's work. Groomers are no exception.

2) Sometimes dogs and cats have bad days. They may be the cutest ball of fur to you, but put them in a room with strangers, grooming equipment, other dogs barking, the smell of other dogs and cats permeating the air, and your cuddly pet becomes a Tasmanian Devil. Every groomed a Tasmanian Devil? It's NOT easy!

3) Miscommunication and misunderstanding. You said "a light trim", we heard "half off". During the initial consultation, we try to be as thorough and clear as possible, however, describing the specifics of a hair cut for a dog or cat can be more challenging than some people realize.

4) Every groomer has a specific skill set. There are very few, if any, groomers who are good at every breed cut and hair type. Some groomers have exceptional scissoring skills and a keen eye, and can scissor the hell out of a Poodle. However, ask this groomer to create a "cute, girly" look on a mixed breed, and the result is a boxy, boyish-looking dog.

The bottom line. If you are not happy with the service and hair cut - whether here at Best In Show Grooming Salon, or anywhere else - speak up. I like feedback - negative and positive. Positive feedback means I'm on the right track; negative feedback means I have more work to do. Nothing is more disheartening, from my perspective, than the customer who is unhappy, doesn't say anything, but never comes back. I cannot improve myself, my business, my services, etc., unless I hear from YOU!