All American Grooming: Show Information

Dear Groomers,

It’s that time of year again and we hope spring is in full bloom where you are with summer fast on its heels. We can’t always depend on Chicago area weather, but we can certainly count on the upcoming All American Grooming Show. We will happily be at a fabulous new Westin Hotel on Milwaukee Avenue, in Wheeling, Illinois, that is welcoming us with open arms. The hotel is large, beautifully appointed, smoke-free, and dog friendly. Parking is complimentary and the hotel’s backdrop is a forest preserve offering walking/hiking/biking trails. (Yes, you can rent bikes!) There are lots of places to eat up and down Milwaukee Avenue (locals refer to it as “Restaurant Row”), but the hotel’s kitchens are under the supervision of award-winning chefs, so you may never want to leave.

Vendors will be housed in the huge Ravinia Ballroom; with nearly a 100 booths, it should be a shopper’s paradise! Out one side-door of the Ravinia Ballroom will be competition in the River Ballroom. And out the opposite side-door will be lectures in various break-out rooms. Is anyone going to miss going to the other side of the hotel and down the stairs to get to seminars? We don’t think so! Speaking of lectures . . . Besides 40 management, stylist, and mobile lectures, we have two all-day Thursday offerings, one featuring Teri DiMarino and the other with Sue Zecco and Jay Scruggs. These are some of the top speakers in the industry so the decision might be tough, but, oh well! If you are planning to attend any lectures, remember to bring note-taking materials. Some speakers will refer you to their websites, some will provide handouts, and yet others find rising printing costs to be prohibitive. So please come prepared to make the most of whatever information is presented.

There is lots of news in the contest ring. First off, Edemco is providing 35 hydraulic grooming tables which will make contestant commutes easier, beautify the ring, and be discounted and sold at the end of the show. We all should thank Edemco for this opportunity to upgrade the competition ring and also some of our salons. Second, all contestants will receive a stress-relieving squeeze ball that’s actually a cute little squishy dog. So relax! The next two items are in response to competitors’ requests: (1) There will be a dedicated drying room. You can bathe dogs in your room, but please bring towels from home. (2) There will be an additional prize offered for a first-time Creative Styling contestant. We understand that, even if you want to “get your feet wet”, competing against seasoned professionals is intimidating! (That’s why we have different levels in regular classes.) So if you’re feeling inspired, this might be your golden opportunity. Just be sure to read the rules. Finally, as always, you (and your assistant if you have 3 or more entries in regular classes) must attend a Mandatory Pet Care Orientation before you can compete. And the closing date, which means “in our hands” not “in the mail”, is midnight of 08/01/08, CST. Contestants must use Competitor Entry Form which is available with the Contest Rules on our website or call 847-364-4547.

In conjunction with our show this year, several certification opportunities will be offered. NDGAA will have a workshop Friday evening and testing on Saturday, ISCC will also offer testing on Saturday, and the National Cat Groomers Institute of America will offer written testing Saturday evening from 7 - 8 p.m.

This past March the Atlanta Pet Fair had a Fun Match–a no-holds-barred Creative Styling competition using little plush dogs with no entry fee, no pre-registration, and no rules. It turned out to be very creative and loads of fun. So Ann and Richard Stafford, the APF producers, are sponsoring a Fun Match for us. It will be Thursday evening immediately following the Pet Care Orientation.

Since you can’t possibly see everything at the show, or remember all that you do see, a photo DVD including all the professional and candid photos taken throughout the weekend is a great option. The pre-ordered price is $35 (included in competitor fees), or $50 if ordered on-site, with no charge for shipping. Other things to help you remember the show include, for the first 1000 attendees, a souvenir business card sized address book (very portable, yet it provides entry spaces for names, addresses, numbers for home, work, cell, pager, and fax, and even e-mail addresses); a chance to win $1500 in Hanvey Specialty Engineering products for a first-time competitor and another $1500 in products for a first-time attendee; and finally a $500 Cash Door Prize. Winners must be present for all drawings!

Lastly, a big thank you to all returning and new sponsors and attendees. We appreciate your support and want you to have a great weekend. As always, we welcome inquiries, suggestions, and requests. Our request is that you respect and care for our new show site. We want to be welcomed back and we know you will want to return.

See you in August

Jerry and Sally Schinberg

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