11/01/2026
Today marks 6 years since I became the owner of Wags to Riches Grooming Salon! What a journey it has been! I've officially owned it for half of its life.
For those who don't know the history, I started grooming at Paisley Pooch in 2011. When Paisley Pooch closed, we opened as Wags to Riches in 2014, and in 2020, I took the leap and purchased the salon myself.
And what a leap it was! 😂
Going from being a groomer to being a groomer AND a business owner has been one of the hardest, most exhausting, and most eye opening experiences of my life, outside of parenthood.
Owning a business isn't always sunshine, rainbows, and sweet puppies. There are so many people to keep happy. The dogs, their owners, my employees, and somewhere in all of that, remembering myself. Some days, no matter how hard you try or how much of yourself you give, it just isn't enough for everyone. People can be unkind. Mistakes happen. Feelings get hurt. And sometimes, you lose people (and dogs) you genuinely cared about.
It hurts to lose longtime clients who have been part of our journey for years. It hurts even more to watch the dogs we've loved and cared for grow old, knowing that eventually we'll have to say goodbye. Those dogs become part of our lives, too, and I don't think people always realize just how much they mean to us.
But there is SO much good mixed in with the hard. I've made some wonderful friendships along the way. I've had the privilege of grooming thousands of beautiful, goofy, stubborn, sweet, and wonderfully unique dogs. I've watched puppies grow into seniors, families grow, and clients become friends.
I've also had the opportunity to watch talented groomers develop their skills, find their confidence, and grow into artists in their own right. That matters.
I've learned a lot in these six years. About business, about people, about patience, and about leadership. I haven't always gotten everything right, and I'm sure I never will. But I have always cared deeply about this salon, the animals entrusted to us, the people who work beside me, and the clients who continue to choose us.
To every client who has stuck with us, encouraged us, defended us, recommended us, forgiven us when we weren't perfect, or simply trusted us with a pet you love so much, THANK YOU. You have helped make this little grooming salon something I'm incredibly proud of.
I'm grateful for this era of my life. Even the hard parts. I'm grateful for the lessons, the friendships, the laughter, the tears, the dogs, and every person who has shared even a small piece of this journey with me.
Six years of ownership, twelve years of Wags to Riches, and fifteen years since I first started grooming here. That's a whole lot of dog hair and memories. In honor of this milestone, as well as my birthday on Friday, check back this evening to see about the free groom giveaway I'll be doing this week!
Here's to another year of doing what we love, learning as we go, and making a difference one dog at a time! Check back later on the giveaway. I'll be posting lots of pictures and videos all day!
With love and gratitude,
Amber
