Our new England grooming Family: part 2
By Missi Salzberg
August 8, 2013
For the past several years, I have been invited to host and emcee the fall festival for my home show at the NEPGP. It has been an honor and so much fun. It has also been an eye-opener to be privy to how hard the board members of this organization work all year leading up to the show and then the show itself. When the NEPGP first began running the trade show, there were only a few trade shows running throughout the year. The industry was smaller, there were fewer manufacturers, and I would say the pie was divided into larger pieces. With the terrific success of the trade shows, the growth and boosting respect for our trade, as well as lots of new advancements and vendors coming on the scene, there are a lot more shows throughout the country.
The past few years, between this change in our industry, as well as a struggling economy, attendance at our new England show has fallen. It is simply a different world out there, and organizing a big show has gotten tougher on the volunteers. It was concerning to me, and I found myself worrying about the future of the organization.
Flashback to Groom Expo several years ago.
Sally Liddick approached me after one of my seminars on retailing. She shared with me that the attendees loved the program, and she asked me if I would consider writing an post for this very magazine. I was thrilled. I had known Sally for lots of years and had extraordinary respect for her as a businesswoman. easy money was the article, and I was with Barkleigh as a writer and teacher for lots of years.
The other part of that conversation, however, was on my mind at the NEPGP show last year. Sally had said to me that the industry was going to change, and she knew in her heart that I would be a part of that change. At the time, I really didn’t think anything of it besides it being a substantial compliment, but the industry had changed tremendously considering that that conversation, and Sally had already been thinking about it 20 years ago.
After Sally’s death, her service partner at Barkleigh, Gwen Shelly, handed the reins to her kid Todd and Adam Lohr, although she continues to keep tabs on these youngins! Todd and I have become very good friends, and he invited me back into the Groomer to Groomer fold last year. I also have been working on GroomerTV and some other projects with him. I had a strong feeling at that NEPGP show that somehow Todd and I could brainstorm some ideas relating to the tradeshow, considering the overwhelming success of Groom Expo and other Barkleigh endeavors.
What came out of that brainstorm is not what I expected at all. I wanted to figure out a way to keep the integrity and flavor of our NEPGP show but clearly needed help with the marketing and production side of things. After several meetings with Todd and current board members over the course of the next few months, I am thrilled to share with you that the NEPGP and Barkleigh productions will work as partners on this year’s trade show! We will honor the flavor and traditions of our new England show with the support and show production competence of Barkleigh.
The NEPGP will continue to offer the educational programs it set out to supply its membership with over 40 years ago and will have the time and energy and resources to continue its mission. Barkleigh will transition over the next few years to include the new England show as part of its family of successful trade show events while honoring the traditions and years of hard work by our new England board members, past and present. Barkleigh will also supply our NEPGP with advertising support and help to continue our educational mission. It really is a win-win-win. NEPGP will return to its roots of education and excellence, Barkleigh will produce another successful trade show, and our new England grooming community and industry vendors will take part in a terrific show ideal here in our own backyard!
Linda Claflin reflects on her years with NEPGP and looks ahead:
“I went to my first new England Pet grooming professionals (NEPGP) seminar and competition in the early 1980s and thought I was a pretty good groomer. I was blown away by the quality of work back then and continue to be inspired. I joined as member M174 and am pleased to say that today, we are just about to the M2500s. It was suggested I join the Board and have served my organization for over 20 years.
“For the past seven years, I have had the challenge of being the show Coordinator. From a person who was terrified to turn on the computer and was freaking out that ‘replacing these contents’ would erase everything, I feel pleased to have checked myself, learn and grow in a lot more than just organizational skills. I am one of those who can benefit and have benefitted from the principles of NEPGP. I am thrilled to have the Barkleigh staff partner with us at our fall show so I can immerse in the energized atmosphere and receivenull