Pet grooming wars in Encino

For a while there I was encouraged when I saw fewer For Lease signs in Encino. Could things be coming back?

My optimism increased when I saw that no less than two pet grooming stores were set to open near Louise. A few years ago, when the recession began to bite, we saw a proliferation of hair salons. Those salons were essential, of course, to the psychological well-being of Encino women during these difficult times. However, the dark side of all this manicuring was that there wasn’t enough business to go around, so margins shrank and salons began actively trying to poach new clients from their rivals. It was truly horrible for a while.

The new trend in retail, interestingly enough, is an attempt to cater to the same clientele. However, it is their pets who are being primped and pampered this time. The same brutally competitive situation still exists, and another pet grooming store, Petrock Hotel and Spa, will open just along the street in September.

If I were the owner of Pride ‘N Joy Pet Grooming & Supplies (by CVS) I would be annoyed at these newcomers with their flashy signage and “self wash” deals (this means you wash your pets, not yourself). The trouble began when a chain, Centinela Feed and Pet Supplies moved in by Office Depot and, while that could be survived, now the flashy new Bubbles Spa has moved in a stone’s throw away. Bubbles is a chain too, so they will be a real threat to Pride ‘N Joy, but let’s see how the war plays out.

The web is now full of “how to start your own pet grooming business” advice. A sure winner, they say. I confidently predict we will see more pet grooming “spas” opening and closing along Ventura over the next few years.