We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Torina Yamada. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Torina below.
Torina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for Balanced Dog Grooming started while I was searching for a new apartment, during the pandemic. After a divorce and a vision from God, I decided to recruit my business partner Anndrea Gutierrez to approach luxury apartment complexes about their pet amenities. Although many residences billed themselves as pet friendly, there were very few actual pet luxuries for residents. Within a month of inquiring about offering services Anndrea and I had signed and partnered with two complexes in Marina Del Rey. It was at that moment we knew that starting a pet grooming amenity business would be a success. During COVID many became accustom to having items delivered to their door, so Balanced Dog Grooming became a new spoke to the old grooming wheel. A hybrid company, mobile, stationary and convenient. Door to door service. BDG has since grown to having partnerships with 11 luxury complexes, Marriott Hotel, a members only dog park in Santa Monica, and we recently opened a storefront in Venice Beach. BDG’s unique approach to pet grooming during the pandemic solved a problem that many didn’t know they had. Once renters knew they could conveniently come downstairs to a stationary state-of-the-art customized, fully equipped trailer for a full spa experience for their pet, they wouldn’t stop calling. One resident gave a review saying, “Great service and convenient setup right outside my complex!” The convenience of having door to door services was really what made people pay attention to BDG but it was the love BDG had for their pets that made people loyal to us.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Sure! Balanced Dog Grooming opened its doors almost 3 years ago. Taking Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica, Culver City, Brentwood and DTLA by storm. We managed to become staples in these communities. Our innovated take on pet grooming has changed the neighborhoods we service; our motto, “creating a more convenient community,” and we have! With Doordash and other “leave at your door services,” Anndrea and I thought the same could be done for the grooming world. We are a luxury apartment complex and hotel amenity, although we note, that all are welcome. We provide apartment complexes, hotels and member dog parks with the ability to market and advertise pet amenities as one of their luxuries. Balanced Dog Grooming has been blessed with the opportunity to services the pets of these buildings and become a familiar face of the neighborhood. The reason for our success in such a short amount of time is the love that exudes through us, from us the owners to our amazing staff. The love and care Balanced Dog Grooming shows to each individual animal is second to none. It’s apparent through the one-on-one attention each pet receives, cage free environment each pet experiences and through the product lines used like the USDA approved organic, all natural 4-legger line, and other specialty shampoos and conditioners tailored to each breed. Our storefront boasts products that are healthy, and safe for pets. We even offer our own organic human grade dog treat line. The relationship we have built in these communities goes past the traditional customer, vendor transaction; they have become family to us. I wanted to build a business where we could give a population of people, who are at times overlooked, unheard or judged, the forum to love their pets without any discrimination. Many people in the surrounding area either have adult children or are not in a place in their lives to have children, so for many their pets are their babies, and we take that love very seriously. We have proven this concept with our animal geared community events. Our mixers are where people connect. “You brought a whole community together. You gave people a reason to come together, celebrate, mingle, and they came! Because of you and what you built with Balanced” Sasha – client. It is safe to say that our company is just gaining its momentum and will surely be a household name across the nation one day.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of our biggest complexes sent us an email at the beginning of August asking us to stop services. Beaches and Harbor had asked for profit sharing and the complex did not want to ask us to do that so instead they asked us to cease services indefinitely. Being our biggest complex we had to pivot and find a storefront rather than another complex so that we always had accommodations for our clients. It wasn’t necessarily in our vision but it’s been the best thing to happen to us.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing your clientele is to be genuine. When clients know you actually care about them or their loved pet they want to come back. They feel safe and know their pets are safe. Word of mouth does a lot for you, especially it tight-nit communities.

Contact Info:
- Website: https://balanceddg.com/
- Instagram: balanced.doggrooming
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Balanced.Here.There.Everywhere/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/balanced-dog-grooming-venice
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=balanced+dog+grooming+&newwindow=1&sca_esv=580697965&sxsrf=AM9HkKkcerBEzzMNI8tWaFjpVjj42Ln9NA%3A1699500480160&ei=wFFMZb-7CYjnkPIPspmr2AM&ved=0ahUKEwi_m6nT_LWCAxWIM0QIHbLMCjsQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=balanced+dog+grooming+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFmJhbGFuY2VkIGRvZyBncm9vbWluZyAyBBAjGCcyBBAjGCcyBxAjGIoFGCcyBRAAGIAEMg4QLhiABBjHARivARiOBTIGEAAYFhgeMgIQJjIIEAAYigUYhgMyCBAAGIoFGIYDMggQABiKBRiGA0iFClCeBVieBXABeAGQAQCYAW6gAW6qAQMwLjG4AQPIAQD4AQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgINEAAYRxjWBBjJAxiwA8ICCxAAGIoFGJIDGLAD4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGBw&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
Image Credits
Iris Chen

