Crates full of clean dogs by three o'clock
Your salon takes dogs in from half eight. Owners are told 'about lunchtime' or 'we will ring you'. By three in the afternoon, four finished dogs are in crates, waiting for owners who are at work, shopping, or assumed the groom would take longer.
Crate space is limited, so the next dogs cannot come in on time. Staff ring the owners who are late, one by one, between grooms. Some answer, some do not.
Meanwhile another owner arrives at twelve for a dog that still has an hour to go, and stands in reception watching the groomer through the window.
At closing time, one dog is still there. A groomer waits with it, unpaid, until the owner turns up apologising.
The receptionist, meanwhile, has spent the afternoon juggling. The phone rings with new bookings while she is trying to reach owners of finished dogs, and every call she makes to a late owner is a call she is not taking from someone who wants to book.
Nobody knows when the dog will actually be ready
The collection time given at drop-off is a guess. When the groom finishes, the salon rings the owner if someone remembers, and nothing tracks how long each dog has been waiting.
- Collection times are vague and not recorded.
- Ready calls depend on whoever is free.
- Owners arriving early have no update on progress.
- Nobody tracks how long finished dogs have waited.
- Late collection policy exists but is not applied consistently.
Crate space, stressed dogs and unpaid evenings
Dogs waiting in crates for hours are often unsettled, and some undo the groomer's work by the time the owner arrives. Crates occupied by finished dogs slow down the next drop-offs. Staff time goes on phone calls. And groomers staying late for late owners feel it most.
How we build collection management
- At drop-off, the owner is given a collection window based on the dog's usual groom length and the day's diary, and it is recorded on the booking.
- When the groomer finishes, one tap on the table tablet sends the owner a ready-to-collect text, with a photo of the dog if you like.
- Owners who arrive early can be sent a progress update, such as in the bath or on the table, from the same tablet.
- A crate board in the salon shows each finished dog and how long it has waited since the ready message.
- If an owner has not arrived after a set time, they get a friendly reminder. Later reminders can mention your late collection policy.
- Late collections are recorded against the owner, so your policy can be applied consistently and discussed if needed.
| Moment | Today | With collection management |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-off | About lunchtime | Collection window on the booking |
| Groom finishes | Call if someone is free | Ready text with photo |
| Owner late | Rung between grooms | Automatic reminders |
| Closing time | Groomer waits | Late owners known earlier in the afternoon |
Late collection charges, if any, are your policy. The system records collections so the policy can be applied fairly.
An afternoon with fewer full crates
Owners get a message the moment their dog is ready, often with a photo that they share with friends. Most collect promptly. The crate board shows the receptionist who is waiting, so the next drop-off can be planned. Late owners are reminded automatically, and staff spend their time grooming instead of dialling.
Is this your salon in the afternoon?
- Finished dogs wait in crates for hours.
- Owners are told vague collection times.
- Staff ring owners between grooms.
- Early owners wait in reception with no update.
- Groomers stay late for late collections.