Middle Eastern dog owners have got a problem: how to primp and clean their pooch without turning it into some bizarre addition to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. This shouldn’t be a surprise, the region’s behind the times when it comes to services catering to animal lovers. Live in New York and don’t have the time to Lassie around the block? No problem, there’s someone to do it for you. Not so here… However, that’s changing.
Sadly, it took a little drama for this sea change to come about. Shaheen Shahani’s beloved dog Bailey had come off worse after an argument with a razor. Having picked the dog from a groomer, Shahani received something of a shock, “They shaved him bald! They shaved everything! He looked naked, all his lovely golden hair was gone … even he was embarrassed and hid under the couch for days,” says the managing partner at Shampooch.
Wishing to avoid repeats of this canine trauma and quick to spot a gap in the market, Shahani began to think about how to save dogs in Dubai from shear-happy snippers. The basic concept behind Shampooch is this: You contact the company to let them know you have a dog in need of a little TLC. A van will arrive at your home at a scheduled time (the company keeps record of all the preferences, health issues and general details of the animal and owner so that the groomer has all the relevant information to hand). The dog’s then put in the van, the doors are locked, and the clean-up begins. Each van is staffed by two people, one to clean the animal, the other to coif and style. The result: A stress-free, squeaky-clean canine.
Like all great ideas, it’s simple, yet it was absent from the market. “The standards of grooming were very low compared to the Europe or America, where pet owners have lots of choices. At the same time Dubai was going through an economic boom, new rules had come into place where you could own your own house. The old way of thinking was changing,” says Shahani. Sensing a gap in the market, Shahani undertook research for a year or so, confirming her own impressions.
She quickly decided that a mobile service was the way to go. Soaring rents meant that a physical site would be difficult and people weren’t impressed by the idea of fighting the Dubai traffic every time they wanted to give Spot a manicure. Vans were the way to go. Shahani adopted for colour scheme reminiscent of the Austin Powers movies, with brash psychedelic pinks and floral motifs, “The pink vans are kind of hard to miss and when people stopped to read what it said on the vans and discovered what it is that we actually do – they were ready to sign up to get their dogs groomed,” says Shahani. Gap filled.
It’s tempting to not take Shampooch terribly seriously. That’d be a mistake. Behind the loud colours, the novel concept and the comedy name lies a sound, practical business, and one that’s taken off. Just as their vans zoom along like something out of Wacky Races, Shampooch is going from strength to strength. “We are very fortunate to have been fully booked from the third month we were in operation – we are lucky to have such great, loyal clients,” says Shahani, the Alexandre de Paris of the canine world. Plans are afoot to take the company to the next level, with expansion in the offing, currently serving customers from Jumeriah to Arabian Ranches and from Palm Jumeriah to the Emirates Hills, Shahani’s team seem set to blaze new trails, offering their services to other dog lovers in need.
Shampooch raises a smile, that’s for sure. It’s a colourful, family-run business that’s offering a much needed service to its customers. A great fillip for the pet industry in the area, it’s well ahead of the competition and seems set to offer so much more in the future.
Shampooch
Dubai, UAE
Tel + 971 4 344 98 68
