We recently connected with Ronny Junkins and have shared our conversation below.

Ronny, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

Over the 30 years in business, I have been in various locations within a strip shopping center. It is sometimes challenging to be locked in a lease subjected to the whims of the management company. Every year even after paying the rent the additional fees for the “common area maintenance” is reconciled usually resulting in additional rent money due, sometimes over a thousand dollars. Last year, the property where I rent was sold to a different company now based in California. After almost a year, I have still yet to meet anyone from the new management company. The only reason I know there in position is the mass of emails with new policies and procedures…

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The beginning of my path to where I am today has been just short of cosmic intervention and began with the purchase of my first Lhasa Apso. I had just gotten out of the Army and really wanted a dog. My preference at the time was a Pekingese or a red Pomeranian. In my local newspaper there were many ads for dogs, but not what I was looking for. My eye did catch an ad for a Lhasa Apso puppy $125.00. I had not a clue what a Lhasa was, but again, I really wanted a dog, and I am not the kind to wait. Besides $125 was right in my budget. I arrived at the breeder’s home to find 6 Lhasa puppies, 3 black males and 3 white females. I truly liked the black, but I really wanted a female in case I might want to breed later. The first one that came to me I took home and named her Natasha. As she grew, I realized I needed to get her groomed. Back in 1987 there were not the options there are now. I found a place called For Paws. They did a decent job. After she was older, I did decide to breed her so back to the local newspaper I went and was lucky to find an ad for Lhasa Apso stud service. Long story short Natasha was bred to a puppy that would later become a show dog. She had a healthy litter of five. I chose a male out of the lot and named him Sabastian nicknamed the Booger Dog. I thought that since my puppy was out of a show dog, he could be a show dog, too. I took him to a dog show and met a woman that bred and showed Lhasas. She kindly hinted that my Booger Dog may not have what it takes to make it as a show dog. The lady invited me to her home and sold me my first show dog Abigale. At that time, I decided that I might like to own a grooming business. It was suggested to me that I go to a grooming shop to learn how to groom. I ended up at For Paws where I had gotten Natasha groomed earlier. Of course, I had no idea that I would end up owning the place. I have now been the owner/operator of For Paws for over 30 years. Because of my first dog Natasha, I bought my first show dog Abigale who was the grand-mother of Dolly who was the great-grand mother of “JJ” GCHP CH Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice the Non-Sporting Group winner at the Westminster Dog Show.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After College I found my way to becoming a manager of a corporate owned convenience store. Somehow, I found that I had a very good head for business. I became one of the top managers and was working my way to District Manager. Then, the corporation filed Chapter 11 which meant they had to cut costs. One of the first things they did was fire the managers that were making the most money. I was one of the unfortunate ones. I decided to do something I never would have had the guts to do otherwise but to go into business for myself. I took my 401K from my job, maxed out my credit cards and took a small loan from my dad, and without even knowing how to groom a dog, bought ForPaws, the place that I had had my dog groomed earlier. I have owned the business now for over 30 years.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Without knowing how to groom a dog, I bought a grooming business. That was like being tossed into the deep end of a swimming pool and told to swim. Luckily there were a couple of talented groomers working for me that were willing to show me the ropes. One of the ladies bred and showed Standard Poodles and the other lady was classically trained at a top grooming school. With the coaching of the two ladies and visiting numerous dog shows first, as an exhibitor then, as a judge. I developed a style that today is difficult to match. Even after 30 years I still have some of the same clients with many of my clients being with me for well over 20 years. I am constantly amazed and grateful for the loyalty that my customers bring.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ardysforpaws.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ardys.forpaws

Image Credits

Most of these photos were taken by me. The BIS photo I do not recall, but I have the rights to the photo