I am determined to give back to my community by showcasing small businesses in Wright County. As a small business owner myself, I am privileged to learn about other small business journeys and bring attention to the individuals who run them. Savannah Solis, of Dows, is the owner and operator of Dows Dapper Dog. This extraordinary woman is a mother of four and the wife of CGD graduate Sam Solis. We cannot forget about their six energetic fur babies, who are a part of their family in every way.
In 2023, Savannah started Dows Dapper Dog out of her home in Dows, Iowa. She is an experienced and dedicated dog groomer. My son and I were met at the door by two of her fur babies, who were ecstatic to welcome us. While speaking with Savannah as she worked, I gained first-hand insight into her grooming process. It was immediately evident that the dog was at ease in her presence, showcasing her expertise and compassionate approach to grooming animals. Savannah is a highly skilled groomer with over eight years of experience. She received her education through the PetSmart Grooming Academy, which she had discovered would fast-track her education over an actual grooming college. After completing the program, Savannah continued with a two-year paid apprenticeship with PetSmart.
She explained that she has chosen to continue her learning because things are constantly changing in her field. In August, Savannah will attend a 4-day grooming show outside Chicago. She plans to continue her education through courses given by the best in her field.
When asked what was the most rewarding part of her job, Solis replied, "I am a lot more present with my kids, and because I get to set my own hours, I'm not experiencing the burnout that I felt when I was in a corporate setting. They really push you to do more and more, and I don't experience that at all here. It's great. I am also one-on-one with the animal, so I'm able to give each dog individual attention. I give myself at least half an hour in between clients so that I can focus on my family, who is home full-time with me this summer. For the most part, the kids just play in the adjoined playroom or help me greet clients as they come in. It's nice that they can wander downstairs when they wake up, and I don't have to worry about rushing them to daycare."
"What I find most challenging is definitely the technical side." Solis continued. "I'm not good at technology. I actually had a huge system crash about six months in, and I lost all of my client information and vet paperwork, so that was really hard."
Savannah has also had to cope with clients' "no-showing" for appointments, which has challenged her in a way she was not expecting. She was forced to enact a No-Show Policy early in the year to ensure her time was well spent. Her business is booming in our area, and since she is one-on-one with the animals, it can leave a significant gap in her schedule when clients do not attend their appointments.
Dows Dapper Dog also offers an excellent boarding program for current clients. Solis explained, "They kind of just joined my pack for the majority of their stay here. There is no kennel time, except at night or if I have to be away from my house. So, they kind of do everything with us. They are around my kids and with my dogs. They go for a 45-minute walk every single day. They are treated like my own dogs are treated on a daily basis. I wanted to offer something like this because I know how stressed my dogs would get at a traditional boarding place or kennel. I just wanted to offer what my dogs would most benefit from."
At her office, Savannah offers grooming materials and items for dogs, such as odor-eliminating candles and spray, dog brushes, and handmade dog collars with engraved tags. She discussed wanting to open an Etsy shop in the future with dog-based products. Savannah is active on Facebook with her business. She can be contacted by email at dowsdapperdog@gmail.com or directly on her phone at (641) 640-8494. Texting is her preferred mode of communication, as she can't always stop while working with dogs for their safety.
As a bonus question, I asked, "If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?" Solis replied, "I would love to have at least one extra arm. I'm constantly saying I would be a much better groomer if I had at least three arms. Mainly, so I can give the dogs some extra love."
