Some businesses grow fast.
Some grow loud.
And then there are businesses that grow deep — through discipline, patience, and doing things the right way for decades.
On this episode of Building Loved Businesses, I had the privilege of sitting down with Melissa, the owner of Terry’s Pet Styling School in Davenport, Iowa. And her story is one of those quiet success stories that remind you what real business building actually looks like.
Terry’s isn’t just a grooming shop.
It’s a 47-year-old grooming school that trains future business owners from across the country — while still serving dozens of loyal, local clients every single day.
And it all started with patience.
A School Built Before It Was Popular
Melissa didn’t grow up dreaming about owning a grooming school.
In fact, she found it by accident.
At 18 years old, she was bouncing between factory jobs and trying to figure out college when she stumbled across Terry’s. She took a chance, enrolled in the school, and was hired shortly after.
Within a few years, Terry — the founder — trusted her with nearly everything:
Students. Payroll. Operations. Day-to-day leadership.
So when Terry mentioned retirement, Melissa quietly started preparing.
She didn’t announce it.
She didn’t rush it.
She simply saved everything she could for five straight years — even while becoming a new mom — until one day she walked in and said:
“I’m ready.”
And she was.
Two Businesses Under One Roof
Today, Terry’s Pet Styling School runs two businesses at the same time:
• A full-scale grooming operation serving up to 50–60 dogs per day
• A 13-week hands-on grooming school that trains students from all over the Midwest
Students don’t learn on mannequins.
They learn on real dogs, with real clients, under real supervision.
And Melissa is intentional about who she lets into the program.
This isn’t for people who “like dogs.”
It’s for people who deeply love animals — physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Because grooming is demanding.
And patience isn’t optional.
Training Business Owners — Not Just Groomers
What I loved most is that Melissa doesn’t just teach a trade.
She teaches ownership.
Students learn:
• How to register their business
• How to set up taxes and inspections
• How to price services
• How to order equipment
• How to launch from home or into a storefront
By the time they graduate, many of them are ready to open their own shops — often in small towns that desperately need groomers.
She isn’t just filling jobs.
She’s creating business owners.
Why This Industry Is Exploding
Since 2020, demand for grooming has surged.
More dogs.
More doodles.
More frequent grooming schedules.
More repeat business.
And with low overhead and high demand, grooming has quietly become one of the most stable service businesses in America.
Melissa sees former hairstylists, vet techs, and career-changers coming through her doors — not because they failed elsewhere, but because grooming can actually provide a better living.
Quiet Leadership That Lasts
Melissa doesn’t love advertising.
She doesn’t love hype.
She doesn’t chase trends.
Her business is built on word of mouth, discipline, and relationships — and her building stays full because her reputation stays strong.
Her biggest challenges today?
• Rising insurance costs
• Finding employees who treat animals with the same care she does
• Training the next generation of instructors
But her mission hasn’t changed:
Train people who love animals.
Build businesses that last.
Protect the animals.
Protect the people.
The Lesson
When we wrapped up, I told Melissa what her story really proves:
Patience builds loved businesses.
Not hype.
Not shortcuts.
Not trends.
Just discipline, care, and showing up every day — for decades.
And that’s exactly what she’s done.