Check Out Marlene J. Escajeda’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlene J. Escajeda.

Hi Marlene, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It started as a part-time job during college, and it became my passion. Life put me on this path at the right time in my life, and I’m so grateful for it. I’ve groomed in 3 different states, private and corporate salons, and I’ve learned so much from coworkers and bosses. Being self-taught and learning on the job is sometimes not well seen by some customers and coworkers, but I have 10 years of experience and knowledge that can prove my love for what I do.

It took me years to lift my head high and get the respect I deserve. I used to let people walk all over me, Naoimi Barlow is now Store Lider and Services Capitan for Oregon District at Petsmart. She brought confidence, respect, and the appreciation I needed to continue my journey. (She still is my number one reference for job interviews)

Formerly, I was working at Blackpaw, where the new owner of the store Elissa Tompkins, believed in me and my passion for grooming that out of the kindness of her heart, she sponsored my trip to Pasadena, CA, and learn with her employees (groomers) at the Gromm West Expo, all-access pass to all the seminars. I can’t express the amount of gratitude, for allowing me to assist with my first Grooming convention.

Being able to educate on helping dogs and their owners have been a big part of my inspiration to become a better pet groomer, I want to provide my best to every single client. I am based at Wagz Pet Market, I’ve had the opportunity to work one on one with clients and be able to communicate in depth with them and their concerns, we take one dog at a time, and cage time is minimal since we make our best to provide comfort and less stress to pets, I’ve been working there for almost a year, customers can see the difference in our work by giving the pets exclusive space and time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t. It took me years to develop my skills. A lot of people don’t understand the work, time, money, and education that you have to put into it to be a groomer. Our industry has become a big part of people’s lives, and we are getting more respect over the past years. We are often the first line of defense ” See them regularly.

We are not just groomers anymore. We can prevent bigger issues with pets by pointing out external issues. It’s hard to earn that trust, respect, and confidence. I believe the hardest thing in life is to find something that you’re good at, be able to make a living, and inspire others to pursue it.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a dog groomer. I’m currently working on my own business, I want to specialize in Senior dogs, skincare, and special needs dogs(such as disabled dogs, anxious, etc. Dogs that struggle at a regular salon) I can’t wait to see what else I can accomplish.

What do you think about happiness?
Making a difference in someone’s life, being able to share my love for what I do, and guiding and educating pet parents about the importance of grooming and the benefits that come with it. I want to make sure pets are well taken care of, and earn the trust and love of my four-legged customers.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Pet_groomer_marlene
• Facebook: @Little Visits By Marlene