What’s the origin story of your business?
My name is Pearl Sharpe, I am the owner of Pearly Pawz. I am a mother and have been a groomer for 9 years. I discovered my passion for grooming at 18 when a lovely lady took me under her wing. It was then that I discovered that being a groomer was my purpose. I started my journey at Petsmart, where I received my initial training. 4 years later, I decided to relocate and expand my knowledge and skill set with more education, training, and learn from fellow groomers. I have worked for veterinarians, pet hotels, and mobile groomers all with the goal of mastering my skills, expanding my knowledge, and building a network. Grooming to me is so much more than cutting a dog’s hair and getting a paycheck. It is truly what I love to do.
What’s an obstacle that you’ve had to overcome to build your business?
I would have to say that one of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome in my business is not knowing all about the financial side of it. I had to break down every little part to make sure things were done correctly. When you start a business you think, “I’m just going to make a lot of money” but that’s not always the case. There are a lot of things you have to think about and you have to have a good business plan.
What is unique about owning and running a business in Murfreesboro?
I would definitely have to say the community. The people here are so sweet and have become my family in a way. I love the small-town feel and coming from a big city to a smaller one has been a great transition!
As a business owner, what keeps you up at night?
I would say that scheduling appointments would be the thing that keeps me up late. I have a scheduling platform for my clients to use, but a lot of my clients like to speak to me personally. I’m definitely okay with that because I love that the customers feel like they can contact me with any problems or just to have a conversation.
If you could wave a magic wand and make one problem go away in your business what would it be?
I love taking care of animals but if there was one thing I could make it go away it would be dog clean up. However, I have a great team and we all work together to get the job done.
If you could travel back in time to the day you started your business, what advice would you give yourself?
I would have to say, “You need to take your emotions out of it and focus on the important aspects of the business such as; who will give you the money to start up your business, your business plan, and your long term goals. Sometimes emotions can get in the way of your true goals. You need to write them down and go for it!”
What time of the day are you most productive?
I am most productive in the morning and I go to bed around 11 to 12. This gives me time to have some personal time and to spend time with my daughter.
What’s one thing you’d say to a person starting a new business?
I would say talk to as many people as you can in your field and learn what they would have done differently. Ask them questions. It is always good to get an outside look at what other people did in their business.
What’s one thing you’d say to a person who’d owned a business for a long time?
I would say ask them the pros and cons and what they would want to change. I feel like this is a good question because it can help both parties understand where growth was made and where things could have been better.
To learn more about Pearly Pawz visit their website!
