SLUMP SURVIVAL TIPS
By Barbara Bird

  A slump is a unscheduled dip in cash flow.  Usually they last 2-3 weeks.  Any slump greater than a month is a more serious problem.  Most self-employed groomers are going to experience an occasional slump.   Most often slumps occur around seasonal variables.  A common one is back-to-school, a calendar event that preoccupies pet owners with children and causes them to put off taking care of their pets.  Christmas holiday often results in a clumping of appointments in the last 2 weeks of December, often leading to early December and/or early January slumps.  After a few years in business, you learn your local ups and downs and can anticipate slumps.    

It's "a gift of time"

Maintaining a positive attitude is key to surviving a slump.  Look at it as a gift of time to do other than grooming activities related to business health.  This is the time for cleaning under the tub, filing, making bows, dusting retail merchandise, having a yard sale, or starting a reminder card system.(editors Note: This is also a great time to develop marketing strategies to increase your business so work on a newspaper ad or internet website to promote your business.)  The important thing is that you do not get sucked into the vacuum created by the lack of cash flow.  This is not easy advice to follow, as it is easy to freak out or get depressed when little is happening at a shop.   

Contact Your Clients by Card or Call

One way to kick start your way out of a slump is to send out (reminder) cards or make client calls.  Direct calling takes courage, but once you get going it’s not so hard.  You might want to write out a guideline of what you want to say.  “Hi, this is Mindy from Precious Pets.  We’ve missed you and Muffin and just want to make sure that everything is ok with Muffin and that you are happy with our service.”  The “happy with our service” part is important.  This gives clients the opportunity to clear any negativity they may have that could be causing them to look around for another groomer.  Communication clears the air and allows for return.  Sending out cards is less scarey, but less personal.  Still it communicates that you care.  You can use a routine reminder card or design a special “We Miss You” card for the clients that might be slipping away.

Use Your Card File

    Remember, your card file is your greatest asset.  Use your slump time to “work your file”.  Clean out dead energy, any clients you haven’t seen in 12 months.  Flag those clients you feel comfortable calling, and use another color to flag some that could use extra reminder cards. Post-it makes great little stick on flags in many colors.

Develop a To Do List

    Another thing you can do is make a list of tasks that need doing. Filing invoices, organizing info for taxes, cleaning chores, making bows, clipper maintenance, cleaning out vacuum cleaner hoses, tool repair and organization, are just a few possibilities. (editors note: Try making this To Do List during the busy season and when you finally get a slow business time, you will be glad to have the time to finally do all the things you have listed) If you don’t know what to do first or can’t decide who should do what, you can put each chore on a slip of paper and draw one out of a box.  Bingo! Your slump chore picks you!  This prospect in itself may be enough to help you decide to call clients.     Your slump is an opportunity to rest your hands and wrists, and to stretch your imagination.  The key to survival is to use the time.  The time will come when you will welcome the opportunity a slump provides.

Related Subject LINKS:

Reminder Cards For Clients