My first job was as a dump girl for Nordstrom.  A dump girl is the person who picks up the clothing you tried on off the floor of the dressing room, presses it, and puts it back out onto the floor.  It was where I learned about customer service from the floor up.  At the Fabulous Fur Institute, we have a new class of grooming students beginning their grooming careers today.  The difference between a job and a career is not lost on me- if I had stayed just a dump girl at Nordstrom, I would have learned a lot, but Nordstrom taught me that if I worked hard, focused on the details, and committed to a lifetime of learning, I could achieve so much more. 

The Fabulous Fur Institute is the only licensed grooming vocational school in Alberta and is the oldest licensed grooming vocational school in all of Canada.  The staff and I at the Fabulous Fur Institute feel that the basic, foundational grooming and grooming business skills you learn during your twelve weeks of training give you a running start when opening your own business, building your own pet grooming clientele, or just working out of your home as a professional pet groomer.  Twelve weeks is hardly long enough to teach you everything you need to know, so we commit to our student's education for the lifetime of their career. 

Pet owners are always surprised to hear that the pet grooming industry is entirely unregulated outside of licensing the vocational training.  A pet groomer can literally buy some scissors and a clipper, hang a shingle out, and start using sharp instruments and harmful chemicals on your pet.  In North America, the best pet groomers are advocates for beginning and continuing your career with formal education.  The National Cat Groomers Institute of America offers a cat specific grooming course and the author of a commonly used grooming instructional book, "Notes from the Grooming Table", offers licensed professional pet grooming courses.  Apprenticeships are not a bad way to learn- just inconsistent and if a client is looking for a consistent experience, a formalized education in pet grooming is the easiest way to ensure that the bath will be done the same way, that the standard of humane treatment of your pet will be the same, and that unfortunate incidents with your pet as the victim are less likely to occur. 

Fabulous Furballs is one of a handful of salons in the Edmonton area that requires all stylists to be Certified Professional Pet Stylists and we are the only ones in Canada that require all cat groomers to be Certified Master Feline Groomers under the NCGIA guidelines.  These requirements are just a start- our company believes passionately that all stylists should be licensed just like the hair stylists that give you a trim.  Until that day, we will continue to raise the standard for pet stylists around the world because we believe pet grooming is a highly rewarding career for pet lovers.

Sunday, March 20th, 2011
Hello Fabulous People!
In addition to running our fabulous company, I am also the mommy to 3 year old Bella and almost 2 year old Mia.  This astounds most people, as I was pregnant for 18 out of the first 24 months I started Fabulous Furballs.  If that is not proof that women can do anything- I don't know what is!  My husband, Dwayne (AKA Mr Meow), and I have always had a heart for humane societies that goes back long before we had children.  I grew up thinking everyone got their new pet from the humane society and Dwayne grew up in a house that didn't allow pets, so he dreamt of the day he could have a family of his own complete with furballs. Before we even opened the doors to our first Fabulous Furballs location, we sponsored a booth at the Edmonton Humane Society's Pets in the Park event in June 2007 and our partnership was born.  Ever since, Fabulous Furballs has served as the major sponsor for the Pets in the Park event, offered 50% off grooming for new adoptees from the Edmonton Humane Society, and committed that our grooming students will donate at least one day per session to beautifying pets that are up for adoption there. 

Now, we are taking our commitment to an even bigger level by partnering with Edmonton Music Studios to create the first annual Play for Pets event that takes place on Saturday, April 2nd.  From 11AM-4PM at the Edmonton City Centre, music students and professional musicians from around the Edmonton area will be playing music to raise money for the Edmonton Humane Society.  You get to come, enjoy some beautiful music, donate some change, and change the lives of pets looking for their forever home.  This past Thursday our family was donating our time at the shelter petting the animals that are looking for homes and spending time giving back.  The spirit of community and volunteerism can start early- don't wait to get your kids involved in giving back and feel free to bring them out to the first annual Play for Pets. 

- Be Fabulous, Krista

Sunday, March 6th
Meet Sadie!
Sadie was adopted by one of our senior groomers, Gayle Compton, a few years back and under Gayle's loving guidance, Sadie has transformed from a shy mistreated rescue dog to a dog that tells jokes in Chinese, knows how to say "please" when asking for a treat, and is so impressively well behaved she makes my chihuahuas look like an embarrassing mess.  This past week our management team has been spending time analyzing why we do what we do.  I know the old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but we are constantly trying to make sure we are doing things as efficiently, as fabulously as we possibly can.  The idea of teaching an old dog new tricks came to mind and Sadie instantly popped into my head as a shining example of how great things can eventually become with the right loving guidance. 

As a result of the analyzing we did this past week, the feedback from our fabulous team, and the input from our fabulous clients, we will be implementing some really cool things in the coming three months.  Every thing from a "fabulous furball of the week" program- where you and your furball can be featured on our website and in our newsletter if you've been into a store in the preceding week- to a centralized customer service telephone number that you can call to rave about the truly fabulous experience you had or to make sure that if you have a less than fabulous experience, we address it immediately.  I am more excited than ever for spring and summer 2011- even more fabulous excitement is coming very soon and I am confident that you can teach an old dog new tricks!  ve always got a job with us should that bear building gig not work out.

- Muah, Krista