Community Conversations: Bingo Pet Salon

BINGO PET SALON IN ROYAL OAK!

Welcome to Community Conversations: Bingo Pet Salon! Jim Shaffer sits down to talk with Brian Lane, owner of Bingo Pet Salon in Royal Oak, about his experiences as a small business owner in Royal Oak during Covid.

Approaching a decade in Royal Oak, Bingo Pet Salon is the place for your pet grooming needs. Brian and his team recently moved from their original space with barely 1,000 square feet to a new location on 11 Mile with 2,6000 square feet – the new lobby is almost the size of the entire old space! This move has marked an exciting evolution for the salon as they doubled their number of grooming booths and added more tubs in varying sizes. With an average of 30 – 40 Labradoodles groomed at Bingo in one week, these added resources will mean a comfortable and quick groom for dogs of any size. The salon also now has dedicated parking for customer drop-off and pick-up ease. Bingo’s new neighbors on 11 Mile are excited to see an established business move into the area.

These changes and all the added space have allowed Bingo to successfully adapt to COVID-19 precautions, providing a worry and contact-free experience for customers. Customers can now pay over the phone or using Venmo, and in certain circumstances can even remain in their car while a groomer retrieves the pet for a truly contactless interaction.

While business is running smoothly now, it was difficult getting there. The shutdown was abrupt, and Bingo had to cancel many appointments without knowing when they could be rescheduled. Once the green light was given to start accepting customers again, Brian and his team were taking 400 calls a day for appointment scheduling. Throughout this time Brain stayed on top of any grants or financial support available for small businesses, and Bingo was able to secure city and county grants. Without those grants, Bingo was in danger of closing its doors due to all the moving costs incurred prior to shutdown. Rising to support his other local businesses, Brian brought his learnings of the grant and financial processes to his neighbors to help them stay afloat as well.

Brian reminds us to keep in mind that all groomers are currently behind but doing their best. Through it all, try to be patient and as loyal as you can to your local small businesses. And remember - “COVID cuts” happen but we’re in it together and getting back on track.