This week, we chat to Ashley Hewitt Jordaan about how she turned her love for animals into a successful pet grooming business called Funky Pets Mobile Grooming.
What services do you offer for pets?
I offer the grooming of pets including dogs, cats and bunnies. Grooming can be anything from cutting the hair into different styles to just a wash and brush to nourish the skin and natural oils as well as cutting their nails, so it doesn’t hurt them to walk.
How and when did you decide to start your pet grooming business?
I started my own business in March 2023. After returning from maternity leave, I spent some time at home with my daughter until she turned one. During that time, I realised how much I missed grooming and working with animals. That passion inspired me to start my own business, allowing me to do what I love while building something for myself.
Do you have any background or training in pet care or grooming?
Yes, I am a certified qualified professional groomer with six years’ experience. I got my certification in March 2019.
Do you run the business on your own, or do you have a team?
I do run my business on my own for now, but I would like to grow later.
How has the response from pet owners been since you launched?
I’ve been incredibly grateful for the support and kindness I’ve received. Many of them have shared my work with their friends, family, and on Facebook, and that word-of-mouth has meant the world to me. I feel blessed to have amazing clients who trust me and refer my work to others.
What are the top three most important things you focus on when grooming?
Compassion, reducing stress on the pet, and patience.
What’s your favourite grooming style or look to create for pets, and why?
I enjoy the creative requests I get from some of my clients. For example, I groom a beautiful spaniel who has a mullet, a Yorkie who keeps only his beard while the rest is shaved, and two playful pugs who get a V-shape trimmed into the back of their heads. But my favourite has to be the six large poodles I groom with classic standard poodle cuts. I love seeing everything come together. The transformation is so rewarding, especially when they’re all fluffy and pampered.
Have you faced any challenges in your work, and how have you managed to overcome them?
Over the past five years, I’ve faced a few challenges, from dogs who want nothing to do with grooming despite being matted, to cats who seem ready to pounce just because you looked at them the wrong way. I approach each situation with patience and understanding, always trying to figure out why the animal is reacting that way. My goal is to help them feel safe and realise I’m not there to hurt them. Sometimes, that simply means sitting with them, offering love and reassurance, and showing them that I’m not just about business.
What are some of your goals or future plans for your grooming business?
My biggest goal is to be able to help animals who have a fear of grooming because something may have happened in the past. I want to help them overcome that fear and make grooming fun and enjoyable again. It should be a pamper session, not a stressful one. My future plans are to hopefully be able to get an assistant who can help me grow as a business.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own pet grooming business?
You need to know it can be stressful but the rewards will show, especially when you go back to the same client and the animal is happy to see you.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
I take my job seriously. If I make a mistake, I want my clients to know they can be honest with me and let me know what I have done wrong and how I can fix it. No-one can fix a mistake without knowing about it. I love my work and all my clients. I love what I do, to be able to see the love in a dog’s eyes while I have them in my care is the most amazing feeling. Just knowing that they trust me, and I truly appreciate all the love and support.
Where can our readers find you? (Contact details/social media handles).
Facebook: Funky Pets Mobile Grooming.Contact number: 082-834-4066.
