Bark & Purr · Team Reference

Stylist / Senior Stylist

Expert Artistry. Trusted Relationships. Brand Excellence.
DepartmentGrooming Operations — Senior Specialist
Reports ToShop Manager / Managing Partner
Updated2026-08-23
About Bark & Purr

Bark and Purr Pet Grooming & Boarding is Allen, Texas's premier pet wellness destination. Located at 803 W. Main Street, we are a certified Fear-Free grooming salon. Our proprietary Tranquil Tail Grooming® method creates individualized, stress-free experiences for every pet and every PAWrent. We do not just groom pets — we care for them holistically and become trusted members of their extended family.

Our team is our brand. We hire only individuals who combine technical excellence with genuine, natural empathy for animals. If you are reading this document, you have already demonstrated qualities that set you apart.

Our Culture & What We Expect of Every Team Member
  • Family First — Every pet and PAWrent is treated like a beloved family member.
  • Authentic Passion — Your love for animals must be genuine. It shows in everything you do.
  • Radical Transparency — We are honest with clients and each other, always.
  • Continuous Growth — We invest in your development; you invest in yourself.
  • Accountability — We hold ourselves and each other to the highest standard, with kindness.
Role At A Glance
DepartmentGrooming Operations — Senior Specialist
Level / TierExpert · Commission + Performance Bonus
Reports ToShop Manager / Managing Partner
Location803 W. Main Street, Allen, TX 75013
Position Summary

The Stylist is Bark and Purr's highest-level technical grooming role. You are a master of breed standards, creative styling, and complex coat management. Your client relationships are deep, loyal, and long-term. You serve as a technical mentor for the entire grooming team, a brand ambassador in the community, and a driving force behind the quality reputation that makes PAWrents drive across the Dallas Metroplex to see you. The Stylist role is built for professionals who treat grooming as a craft.

Core Responsibilities

Expert-Level Grooming

  • Perform complete grooms at expert level across all breeds, including the most technically demanding coat types: heavily textured, stripped, hand-scissored, creatively styled.
  • Produce show-worthy finishing quality on every pet, every appointment — not just the complex ones.
  • Pursue and maintain advanced grooming certification with company support.
  • Stay current with breed standard changes, new grooming techniques, and Fear-Free science.

Creative Styling & Trend Leadership

  • Develop and execute creative styling for clients who want distinctive, personalized looks.
  • Contribute to the shop's social media presence: produce photo-worthy grooms and participate in content creation.
  • Participate in competitive grooming events to elevate the Bark and Purr brand regionally.

Team Mentorship & Standards Leadership

  • Serve as primary technical mentor for Groomers and Junior Groomers on the floor.
  • Conduct advanced technique demonstrations and mini-workshops for the grooming team.
  • Assist management in setting grooming quality benchmarks and training standards.
  • Review and provide feedback on advanced breed work submitted by Groomers for approval.

Client & Brand Relationships

  • Maintain the deepest, most loyal personal client book in the shop.
  • Serve as a wellness advisor, social media subject, and community-facing representative of the Bark and Purr brand.
  • Proactively identify and recommend new service opportunities for high-value clients.
Qualifications & Requirements
ExperienceMinimum 3 years professional grooming; Bark and Purr Groomer track preferred
Breed RangeExpert-level proficiency across all breeds including complex/stripped coats
CertificationsActive Fear-Free certification; advanced grooming certification in progress (company-sponsored)
CommissionCommission + performance bonus; see offer letter for rate schedule
Client BookEstablished personal client book with ≥ 85% rebooking rate
Non-NegotiablesTechnical mastery; mentorship commitment; brand ambassador mindset; continuous learning
What You're Measured On
Key Performance IndicatorTarget / Standard
Client rebooking rate≥ 85% within 6 weeks
Google review generation≥ 3 new reviews per month
Add-on attachment rate≥ 30% of services
Quality complaints / redos< 1% of monthly grooms
Social media content contribution≥ 2 post-worthy groom photos per week
Team mentoring hours≥ 2 hours formal mentorship per week
National certification progressActive enrollment tracked semi-annually
Career Pathway

Stylist → Senior Stylist → Training Director or Franchise Development (5-Year Growth Plan)

📌 Stylists who demonstrate exceptional mentorship and business acumen will be prioritized for leadership roles as Bark and Purr expands to additional locations.
Training Agenda — Integration Program (Weeks 1–4)

Stylist development is a continuous professional growth plan. New Stylists complete a 4-week integration program. Ongoing quarterly development plans maintain advancement momentum.

Duration4 weeks
FocusBark and Purr standards calibration, mentorship role orientation, brand engagement
MentorManaging Partner / Shop Manager
AssessmentDay 30 full integration review
Week 1 — Standards Immersion & Quality Calibration
  • Complete all onboarding, handbook review, and policy acknowledgments.
  • Fear-Free certification: confirmed current; if lapsed, enroll immediately.
  • Shadow each groomer on the team for 1 groom each — observe technique, client communication, and Fear-Free practice.
  • Produce 5 grooms observed by managing partner: calibrate to Bark and Purr finishing standard.
  • Study the three-point assessment documentation system.
  • Review the top 20 current client profiles: understand client history, pet profiles, and PAWrent communication styles.
Week 2 — Mentorship Role Orientation
  • Review the Groomer and Junior Groomer Training Agendas in full.
  • Identify the current development needs of each Groomer and Junior Groomer on the team.
  • Conduct one 15-minute technique debrief with a Groomer — practice praise-redirect-praise model.
  • Lead one mini-demonstration for the team: a breed or technique of your choosing.
  • Develop a 90-day personal mentorship plan: which team members, which skills, what format.
Week 3 — Brand & Community Engagement
  • Produce 3 social media-worthy groom photos — submit to management for review and posting.
  • Study Bark and Purr's social media presence: tone, format, and engagement style.
  • Identify 2 community engagement opportunities (local events, shelter partnerships, grooming demos).
  • Develop a Stylist-level rebooking and upsell strategy — present to management for review.
  • Begin National Certification research: identify target exam, timeline, and study resources.
Week 4 — Full Integration Review & Development Plan
  • Day 30 formal integration review with Managing Partner.
  • Present 30-day observation findings: team technical gaps, operational improvement ideas, client opportunities.
  • Complete Stylist Competency Checklist with sign-offs.
  • Establish 90-day and 6-month professional development plan including certification timeline.
  • Assume mentorship responsibilities for the team officially.
Ongoing Quarterly Development
  • KPI review against all targets — identify areas of strength and growth opportunity.
  • Breed skill audit — are there any breeds or coat types to add to the repertoire?
  • Mentorship effectiveness review — are the Groomers you mentor advancing?
  • National Certification progress update — is the timeline on track?
  • Social media contribution review — are the photo/content targets being met?
  • Community engagement: at least one event or partnership contribution per quarter.
  • Competitive grooming: participation goal set and tracked annually.
Watch & Learn

External professional references until Bark & Purr films its own — techniques shown may differ in small ways from our Tranquil Tail method; your mentor's instruction always wins.

Asian Fusion on a Model Dog — GroomerTV (Barkleigh)
Why it fits: Barkleigh's GroomerTV is the grooming industry's own education arm — top-credibility source for the creative, competition-level styling this role is built around.
How to Groom a Poodle — Jodi Murphy
Why it fits: Jodi Murphy is a 2x Master Pet Stylist; breed-standard caliber technique on one of the most demanding show-style coats a Stylist is expected to master.
Competency Checklist — Sign-Off Required
Trainee: Date:

Supervisor: Date:
Accountability Checklist — Every Shift

As the most senior technical voice on the floor, your consistency sets the ceiling for the entire team. This checklist ensures your impact is felt in the groom room, the client relationship, and the brand — every day.

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

📌 The Stylist is the standard that every groomer on this team is reaching toward. Your daily habits are their benchmark. Make them worth reaching for.

Daily Shift Task List — Opening / Start of Shift

During the Shift

Closing / End of Shift

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Bark & Purr Pet Grooming & Boarding · Allen, TX · Internal team document · Pay and commission details live in your offer letter