Its Sunday, I work on a Sunday, My salon is right next door to Columbia Road Flower Market in the heart of London's East End and the market is on a Sunday so there really isn't any choice. Good job I love my job eh. Its 5.50pm and I have a quick glance at Facebook as you do....then WHAM....there it is. Someone has asked a controversial question and I am just waiting for the fall out. What's the question you ask??
Is it worth being a member of the BDGA (British Dog Groomers Association) and PIF (Pet Industry Federation)?
So, I'm the current chairman of the BDGA and the Grooming Director for PIF. As such, I feel that it is my responsibility to answer these questions with honesty and frankness. The problem is, this question is highly controversial and always conjures up colourful views and so it should. I think its great that groomers have such an opinion about the industry that they work in.
So why, I hear you ask, would you be worried about the 'fall out'?
Well, I totally support the Pet Industry Federation. I think that it is imperative that we have an organisation that has Codes of conduct and practices to follow and I personally think that it is essential for every professional industry to be answerable to someone so that the public (our valued customers) have a route to follow in the event of a complaint or query. This practice also protects us as members and shows that we want to offer the very best service available. Not only does it give you peace of mind to know that you are under the PIF umbrella it also gives you a voice through the BDGA. The BDGA is a group of representative groomers from all over the country who get together as often as possible to meet and discuss topics that have been brought to our attention through our members. We as a committee try very hard to make sure that those questions are answered whether positively or negatively. Any member of PIF can apply to be a member of the BDGA committee, it is an open shop and people simply have to be voted in.
Along with that, PIF offers a number of other incentives such as a legal helpline, discounts on insurances, CCTV offers, etc etc.
Not everyone agrees with the positives of PIF and the BDGA. People want change to happen immediately. Believe me, I want everything immediately, much to the disgust of my partner, he says that i'm one of the most impatient people he has ever met. Obviously he is mad!!! (but probably speaking the truth). It just doesn't happen that way, much to my disgust!
People want to see things moving forward and I totally get that. We all do. PIF as with any other non profit organisation, has to have an income and manpower to do the things that the members want. Unfortunately there isn't a never ending pot of gold to dip in to, PIF has to raise money in order to carry out groomers wishes and it does this through membership. In other words, if you want the industry to move forward with your ideas and visions, you have to be a member to allow them to afford to action those ideas and visions.
I totally understand that in the past members don't feel as though they get 'value for money' by having membership and I have heard it stated so many times that you can get the same benefits with the FSB. (Federation of Small Businesses). Yes, the benefits that they offer are very similar but they are not geared solely towards the Pet Industry and so will not have a bearing on it in any way. You are just paying for the legal helpline and newsletter etc. I'm not saying that what the FSB offer isn't brilliant, just that it definitely wont help sculpt the industry in to what you want it to be. At least with PIF and the BDGA there is a chance to say your peace.
I think that the BDGA and PIF has lost a certain amount of contact with its members and communication has been less than ideal in recent months. There has been a lot of frustration and mud slinging and there really isn't any need for any of that. We are all working towards the same goal and that is to have the industry that we are proud to be a part of. We want the public to know that we want to be respected as pet professionals and understand what they need to do as owners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their pet. After all, we end up having a special relationship with our clients, they will see us much more than a vet with any luck.
Currently, to be a member of the BDGA and PIF, you don't need to be a qualified groomer. Yes they work closely with City and Guilds and have several schools that offer the C&G qualification but that doesn't mean that membership is exclusive to C&G qualified professionals. Its currently open to any pet grooming professional including people that hold other qualifications that are available.
Dog grooming is a creative and artistic industry and to this end will bring heightened emotions out in people. I totally understand that having worked in another creative industry for years before becoming a dog groomer. I think its important though to take a step back before shooting from the hip and realise that we are all looking at the same end game, its just a question of how we get there. I think it would be better to work together than to work apart.
For more info on PIF, go to www.petcare.org.uk
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