May Business of the Month: Barking Beauties

Sponsored by the Canton Association of Business and Industry and the Economic Development Committee

Who wouldn’t want to have a job where you really love what you do and who you do it for? Amy DePrisco does. As the owner of Barking Beauties on Washington Street in Canton Center, she gets to translate that love to her clients on a daily basis.

“I have always been an animal lover,” said DePrisco. “Growing up in Canton, our family had four dogs, two parrots, a monkey, ducks and rabbits.”

DePrisco graduated from Canton High in 1994, and after earning her grooming certification in 2005, she went to work in Hanover for a national pet store chain, eventually becoming the grooming manager for one of the chain’s other locations in Plymouth. It was in 2009 when she ventured out on her own, opening Barking Beauties right here in her hometown, but bringing with her a devoted clientele from her previous work.

“I still have customers from my days in both Hanover and Plymouth who travel from Plymouth, Kingston, Carver, Middleboro and Truro.”

Her business in Canton appears to be a howling success, adding as many as three additional groomers during busy times with a sign welcoming sometimes more than a dozen dogs a day. But despite the added help and the occasional bark for special attention, DePrisco still maintains the personal touch with each of her clients, both human and canine.

“I understand that getting groomed can be stressful, so I try to treat each dog as if it were my own,” she said. “I try to get as much information from the owners as possible, not just about the groom, but also the dog’s personality and specific needs. I believe that grooming goes beyond a haircut or a bath; it’s the pet’s owner’s experience as well.”

Services offered at Barking Beauties range from getting a dog’s nails trimmed, teeth brushed and ears cleaned all the way up to a full-service spa day. DePrisco’s clients leave her care shiny and scented, including the popular ‘snickerdoodle’ during the holidays, and sporting an appropriate bandana for the season.

“People really like the bandanas after their grooming,” DePrisco said. “I am so used to changing my dogs’ collars for seasons, I liked the seasonal bandanas too. Also, so many dogs get groomed for the holidays to spend time with their families – I thought it was cute.” And it makes her clients very recognizable.

But it’s not all fun, games and treats at Barking Beauties. DePrisco recognizes it’s hard work getting sometimes uncooperative clients to heel for a nail clipping or a shampoo. It’s right there in the entrance on a sign, entitled “Top 10 Reasons Why It Costs More to Get Your Pet Groomed Than Your Own Hair Cut!”

Those reasons include such things as “you sit still for your hairdresser” and “your hairdresser doesn’t clean your ears.” And of course, for a reality check of how tough a job this can be, there’s “the likelihood of you pooping on the hairdresser is pretty slim.”

On the other hand, a big doggie kiss at the end makes for a pretty good tip!

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=5311

Posted by Canton Citizen on May 18 2011. Filed under Business. Both comments and pings are currently closed.