Thank you for checking out my Fundable page! I am a woman with a vision and a relentless desire to make it happen. I am not just any pet groomer--I am absolutely one of a kind with the referrals to prove it.   After having been in the Western suburbs of Minneapolis for 22 years, I have come home to South Minneapolis. I have found a perfect location! Bright with natural light and a large lot-- I'll even be able to have a garden!  I have the skills,the desire and a long client list waiting for my return.  I want to create the peaceful grooming studio that I have long dreamt of.  An oasis of plants and locally made art will help further the charm of the building and therefore the entire corner.  I want to make Cool Dog something that everyone wants to be part of.   

Visit my website for a lot more information about Cool Dog Studio

https://www.cooldoggroomingstudio.com

or Check out my client recommendations on Linked In:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooldoggroomingstudio

My name is Sarah.  I have been grooming for almost 22 years. I trained as an apprentice to a master groomer for 3 years.  I see grooming as an art, and take great pride in what I do.  It also makes me very happy!

 I have a motto, "it's cool to be kind." Yes, it is a play on that old song, but it is far more than that. There are a lot of groomers in this business that aren't properly trained or lack patience.  They "muscle" their way through hard dogs, or quit and kick them out.   Time and again, I have proven to my clients that with kindness and an awareness of their state of mind, I can get just about any dog groomed, no matter their behavior. There's no screaming in my shop, unlike some others. My job is not to punish or disipline your pets.  It's to teach them that I'm a fun chick, that grooming isn't scary and that nothing bad will happen. I have an amazing success record and a long list of happy clients.  Dogs who once had to be sedated to be groomed became happy, non-sedated, tail wagging clients.  My goal is maintaining a calm, positive environment.  Some people call me the "Zen groomer" but that's not really it.  I'm just a patient groomer.  I don't expect to manipulate them into my timetable or plan.  We just work together.  It does wonders for the attitude of the dogs (they actually like me!)

 My goal is to have every dog go bouncing joyfully out the door--not bolt from a stressful situation.  When they return I expect to see trepidation as drop off can be high anxiety, but it is always short lived when they remember that fun happens with me! I love my clients. I remember every silly boy and girl that has come through my door. I love to watch them grow up, I hate to watch them grow old.   I am proud of their accomplishments, however silly or small.  Heck for little Jersey it was finally walking forward across a slippery floor (yes, as opposed to backwards). I laugh at them and with their owners. I check for changes in their coat, composition and skin. I catch ear infections, eye infections, other things that may have gone unnoticed. I see the gray creep into their muzzle and know their owners do too. I remember that Cash takes every single toy into his kennel one at a time.  That if my door flies open its going to be Sammy the bull terrier who likes me so much he lets himself in.  That Max has a favorite bunny toy that he's had at the shop for years.  Kevin will try to escape but Ren will cling to me like a squirrel.  Otis smiles, only for special people.  Freddie and Daisy must be together on the table or they are not happy. Tiny Clover needs to be in my backpack (only she knows why). I worry when they are sick and cry with their families when they are gone.  I have lost sleep roaming neighborhoods helping my clients find their runaways.   These dogs shape my view of life. I do not take for granted the trust their owners put in me. I love them.  I care for them as I would my own dogs. I miss the ones who have left us as I miss my own.  

Things are happening!  The building was previously gutted and is close to being finished on the inside.  The outside will depend on the weather, and this being Minnesota, that'll probably be next spring.  I plan to do a soft opening and solidify the interior design once I've started working in it.  Tentative opening will be early December!  I can't wait!

I am crowdsourcing because due to some personal issues, I had to take quite a lot of time off.  Those same issues tore through mine and my familie's finances. My clients are begging me to get back to work but in order to do that,  I need your help.   

Fundable works in such a way that I will only be paid if I am completely funded so please share and help if you can!  Also, they only allow one transaction per email, if you want more than one reward you'll need to use another email address.

The lot sits on a corner of a former 1920's filling station.  The building absolutely radiates character!  The lot is large and begs for a garden.  I come from a long line of conservationists and this lot will be filled with raised butterfly gardens and native grasses or rain gardens...the possibilities are as endless as is my inspiration.  The area around 42nd and 28th is really thriving and I am excited to be a part of it.

This neighborhood is also; home.  My dad, Bob "Nordy" Nordstrom, grew up blocks from my new shop.  He graduated from Rooselvelt in 1948 and was the legendary golf pro at Hiawatha Golf Course for over 50 years.  My sister and I both worked at Lake Nokomis concession stand in the summers. We learned to ice skate and found our first family dog, Willie, at nearby Sibley Park. This very corner used to stir up fear in my young heart as it was the location of Dr. Broman, the dreaded (but very kind) dentist.

The idea that I am going to have my own business just a few blocks from the golf course that felt more like a sibling than a plot of land makes me so happy!  I cannot wait to come home and start building my own legacy here on the South Side!

Though I am currently a one person shop, I plan on hiring an apprentice and at least one other groomer.  I know there are people out there like me and I will find them!  I was lucky enough to get an apprenticeship with one of the most all-around amazing women when I started and I would like to pay it forward. 

I also intend to have A LOT of art in the shop.  I will deal in the spring with the old fading mural on the outside of the building nextdoor, but on the inside--! I have longed for a place to help support local artists that enhance the pet business. There is so much cool stuff out there and I want to help the people that make it so I will also have a small shopping area of  pet/animal related products. I promise you, none of the boring stuff you see everyhere else!

Expect very cool, unique things from Cool Dog Grooming Studio.  There will be far more than the name implies for the entire community. 

I was an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau for 5 years until membership became cost prohibitive for me.  When I left I had the highest rating possible and was nominated for an integrity award.  I have an A rating on Angie's List, and have won serval small local pet business awards.  I attend seminars regularly and continue classes in T Touch and animal communication.  I have many great referrals, among them some of the past and present Twins and Vikings players, local radio personalities, authors, elected politicians, local news anchors and many popular musicians. 

"Sarah is an incredibly caring, patient and loving dog groomer.  I first became acquainted with Sarah when I had a very senior dog that no other groomer was willing to groom, but Sarah did, and did it with so much care and understanding.  I would HIGHLY recommend Sarah to anyone who loves their dog as much as I do!  She's amazing! And more than that, she's just a wonderful person." 

--Muriel Seidenstein

"Sarah is so dedicated to her clients and her superior service. The benefits and key values Sarah provides includes flexiblity in scheduling, personalized and customized services,attention to changes in pet health and behavior.  She is a true professional in every way."

--Nancy Johnson

"Sarah is a wonderful knowledgeable, caring professional.  She is concerned about her clients and their owners.  We love Sarah.  My dogs are so excited to go and see Sarah.  She does a fabulous job grooming my dogs and making them happy.  She is the best groomer I have ever used....I valued her judgement with Max and Charley.  We would be lost without Sarah in our life."

--Charlene Destefano

"Sarah is someone you can trust.  --She cares for our dog in the same way that we care for her at home.  She always provides Reagan with great grooming and is a pleasure to work with.  I highly recommend working with Sarah for your pet grooming needs."

--Paul Muchulas

"Sarah has been grooming my dogs for about 10 years.  They always are treated with the highest respect and love...I highly recommend Sarah and Cool Dog Grooming Studio to work with your pooch for the greatest results."

--Patty Peterson

"I can't say enough about Sarah and Cool Dog.  Her inherent love of animals, dogs in particular, is so apparent.  She is patient and loving with the dogs in the studio and the environment is much calmer than in other studios I've tried.  Sarah has a great gift with dogs;she speaks to them calmly and gently.  The result is that the dogs come out of the studio beautifully groomed, but more importantly, not stressed.  Beyond all of this, her rates are incredibly reasonable--I have paid significantly more rates at the larger, commercial grooming shops, for lesser results, and my pet has typically been out of sorts for sometimes as much as a day.  Now, when I pick her up from Cool Dog, she is excited and settles back into her world immediately.  I won't take my Gertie anywhere else!"

--Aimee Lee