\u201cGroom Expo is where we gather and speak the language of grooming,\u201d says Jayne Gallagher, seminar speaker and co-star of Pooch Perfect<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s the heartbeat of our industry!\u201d<\/p>\n More than 5,500 groomers from all over the globe gathered at the Hershey Lodge and Convention center in Hershey, Pennsylvania to attend the 2022 Groom Expo.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was my first visit to any grooming show outside of Australia,\u201d says Sarah Warner. \u201cI heard that Groom Expo was the biggest in the world, and when I found out that I had been nominated for a Barkleigh Honors Award, I knew I had to attend.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAfter traveling 30 hours and over 10,000 miles, I arrived in Hershey,\u201d Sarah continues. \u201cThe first person to greet me by name was Rebecca Shipman at the registration desk, and from that moment on, I felt like I was among \u2018my people.\u2019 I found the vendors, attendees, and even the grooming competition judges to be the most approachable, kind, supportive, and friendly collection of people.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeff and Elizabeth Childers, who were also first-time attendees, drove from Tennessee to attend the expo. \u201cWe are preparing to open a self-serve dog wash and will also be offering professional pet grooming services,\u201d says Elizabeth. \u201cThe Expo has provided an enormous amount of valuable information that will help us to provide the right tools and information to our pet owners and our employees. Dr. Cliff Faver\u2019s \u2018Business 101\u2019 seminar was enough to make the whole trip worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n Jennie Smith, who owns a grooming salon and grooming school in Loveland, Colorado, calls Groom Expo the \u201cSuperbowl\u201d of grooming expos: \u201cThis year I brought all 13 of my staff members to Groom Expo and signed every one of them up for the VIP package,\u201d says Jennie. \u201cThe VIP lounge always had a supply of coffee, hot chocolate, water, and chocolates. And it was nice to have a place to go to relax and absorb everything you learned in the seminars.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd, the seminars! Where else can you go and have one-on-one conversations with the top people in our industry? One of my girls got to be Victor Rosado\u2019s assistant for his \u2018Supercharge Your Grooming\u2019 seminar. Let me tell you\u2014she is still on cloud nine!<\/p>\n \u201cI loved the mental health series and feel it is so needed in our industry,\u201d Jennie continues. \u201cWe are all such empaths for the dogs, our clients, our staff, that we forget to take care of ourselves. All of the speakers in the series opened up and were honest about struggles they had. And I think for myself, a 37-year veteran in the industry, it was powerful and impactful to know I wasn\u2019t alone.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the educational seminars and grooming demos designed to help you take your skills from good to great, grooming competitions were held throughout the weekend. You could sit in the audience and watch some of the best groomers on the planet work their magic from start to finish, observing their techniques and seeing the products they use.<\/p>\n The enormous trade show was buzzing all weekend long. The vendors had products for every skill level and budget, and the groomers were taking full advantage of show specials to stock up on their favorites.<\/p>\n Groom Expo is not all business though, there was plenty of time for fun.\u00a0 The Internet Social, \u201cGroomers of the Galaxy\u201d opening-night party and the Barkleigh Honors after party gave attendees the opportunity to meet up with old friends, make new ones, and unwind and really enjoy themselves.<\/p>\n Saturday evening featured the Barkleigh Honors Awards and dinner. It was a spectacular event that solidified the fact that groomers are \u201cfamily.\u201d The ballroom erupted with tumultuous applause and cheers for the winner of each of the grooming tournaments as they vied for placement in the Best In Show Awards. Then, the 26 contestants of the Abstract Runway competition displayed their amazing creations on the catwalk, and were rewarded with the audience\u2019s thunderous approval.<\/p>\n During the Barkleigh Honors Awards, every nominee received a huge ovation as their name was announced. When Delise Knight received the Barkleigh Honors \u201cLifetime Achievement Award,\u201d there wasn\u2019t a dry eye in the house. Everyone rose to their feet in tribute to her and to honor her achievements.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s Creative Grooming competition drew entries from all over: \u201cI traveled 3,576 miles from England to participate in the Creative competition,\u201d says Vikki Pearman. \u201cIt was a dream come true for me. Everyone was so helpful and friendly, and I received many compliments for the groom I did. It was a great experience and a memory I will have forever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been going to Groom Expo since I started my grooming business 18 years ago,\u201d says Jolene Siebeneck. \u201cWhen I got into competing in Creative, my goal was to win the \u2018People\u2019s Choice Award.\u2019 I can\u2019t even begin to explain the feelings I had when I was announced as the winner!\u00a0 I was ecstatic! Then, when my name was announced as taking 1st place, I was in complete shock. Every competitor works so hard and puts in countless hours for this moment. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I won both awards!\u201d<\/p>\n Creative groomer Andrea Zelinsky didn\u2019t let a case of nerves and anxiety keep her from competing: \u201cRight before the competition, I ran to the bathroom, splashed some water on my face, and gave myself my best mirror pep talk,\u201d says Andrea. \u201cI opened the door and saw Stacy Przbylinski who quickly asked me if I was all right. My tears started flowing, and Stacy immediately showed me her love and support and said, \u2018Just listen to the music and forget about the crowd.\u2019 And, that\u2019s exactly what I did.<\/p>\n \u201cTo my surprise,\u201d continues Andrea, \u201cMY name was announced as Rising Star. After the show, a fellow groomer says to me, \u2018Man, creative groomers really just love when each other places. That\u2019s so awesome to see.\u2019 And, it\u2019s so true. I have found my place among a community that strives for personal best but also strives for community success.\u201d<\/p>\n Time after time, Jayne Gallagher\u2019s comment about Groom Expo being the heartbeat of the industry was confirmed by the groomers at the show.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough I was traveling alone, never once did I notice it amongst the incredible community of groomers I was with,\u201d shares Sarah Lagos. \u201cI learned more than I could ever explain about the art of pet grooming, about myself, and how grateful I am to have found this career.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI could tell you all the things I bought and what I did every day, but my biggest takeaway was during the Barkleigh Honors Awards,\u201d continues Sarah. \u201cAs the awards were presented, speeches given, and tears shed on stage, I felt a sudden and immense gratitude. I realize that this career is the reason I\u2019ve been able to find happiness, hope, and a purpose.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a future,\u201d Sarah affirms. \u201cIt\u2019s what I was meant to do. I\u2019m sure of it!\u201d \u2702\ufe0f<\/p>\n Kathy Hosler opened her shop in 1971 when she was just nineteen years old. She has built a terrific business and is still actively grooming today. Kathy is also a feature writer for Groomer To Groomer and Pet Boarding & Daycare Magazines, and has been nominated twice for the Barkleigh Honors Journalist of the Year Award as well as a Cardinal Crystal Achievement Award for Grooming Journalist.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.groomertogroomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/pg21.jpg?resize=375%2C292&ssl=1\")
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