Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Juju Castelo, owner of Juju Grooms, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Juju Grooms is a pet grooming salon located in the heart of Parkdale. I have worked in the pet grooming industry for over ten years, and during that time, I had always felt like there was something lacking in the industry. I always thought that there should be more focus on building relationships with clients' pets and the clients themselves. For me, that all starts with education; I have always been the type to be upfront with my clients about what their pet's needs are. I've learned that working with the client as a team makes all the difference when it comes to their pets' comfort, safety, and anxiety.

Our typical clients are a pretty good mix of everything. Each of our groomers has a specialty; I specialize in little dogs, challenging dogs, senior dogs, anxious dogs, reactive dogs, and cats. Amethyst specializes in Samoyeds, anxious dogs, and naturally coated dogs, Lynne specializes in Doodle breeds, and Timeka is an all-around groomer; she does a bit of everything. Our skills combined together as a team allows us to care for everyone's pets without exception, and I think that's what has made us stand out amongst other Toronto groomers.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Juju; I'm a proud queer, first-generation immigrant from the Philippines; I immigrated to Canada in 2007 with my family. I first came across pet grooming when I was in nursing school; I was looking for a weekend job to make some extra money while in school. A grooming salon was hiring a dog bather, and I applied, not knowing what the job entailed. From my very first day, I was hooked, and I haven't looked back. I loved working with dogs, so much so that I left nursing school to take on an apprentice position to be a groomer. 11 years later, here I am, still in love.

Building real relationships with my clients over the years and knowing that they trust me with their pets and that their pets trust me has really been my motivation to keep going. My clients are the ones that made me the groomer I am today, and being able to expand Juju Grooms into a brick-and-mortar store has given me the opportunity to create a team with the same vision and purpose as I do. Making sure that our team has the same goals and passion is extremely important to me.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is my reputation in the pet grooming industry. I've always taken pride in my work, but to hear people recommend us and talk highly of us as a business makes all the hard work and risk worth it.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest is definitely having to play different roles; I have to be the groomer, the manager, the owner, the accountant, the boss, a friend, and a coworker. Having to balance those roles, my work life, and family life, has been hard but rewarding. Trying to separate work from home has been difficult because when I go home, I still do work, sometimes with the help of my fiancé, Britney.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

My first tip would be to know the ins and outs of the industry you're looking to start a business in. Second, know who your customers are, the demographic, what they want, and what they value. Lastly, just take the risk and start; there's never going to be a right time to do something; you just have to start. Just know that there are going to be bumps along the way; not everything is going to be a smooth ride but don't forget to enjoy the ride.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I couldn't have done a lot of this without the help of my partner. She designed the store; she created our websites, the branding, and the logos. She picked and curated all of our products for our sister company Shop Juju. Shop Juju is an extension of Juju Grooms. We are always looking to provide the best products for your pets to help enrich their lives. We offer a lot of unique pet products, local Canadian brands, hard to find items, and we strive to provide single ingredient healthy treats for your pets.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.jujugrooms.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JujuGrooms/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jujugrooms/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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