About
Lisa, and the story behind Pearl & Paws
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Portrait of Lisa
Chapter one
A dream more than twenty years in the making
Hello, I'm Lisa, founder of Pearl and Paws Groom Room. If you'd told me twenty years ago that I would one day be opening my own dog grooming salon in Sheffield, I would have smiled and said, "I hope so."
My journey into dog grooming actually began over two decades ago. While on maternity leave, I trained as a dog groomer and quickly discovered how much I loved working with dogs. Life had other plans at the time, however, and family commitments meant I couldn't pursue that dream any further. Instead, I continued my career in nursing, caring for people and building the skills that would eventually become an important part of the way I care for dogs today.
But the dream never really left me. Years later, I decided it was time to follow my heart. I retrained, completed my Level 3 Dog Grooming Diploma and immediately fell back in love with the profession.
The name
Why Pearl & Paws?
Pearl was my grandmother's name.
She was an incredibly strong, kind and inspiring woman who built a successful business of her own. She had a deep love for animals and taught me many of the values I still carry with me today. She believed in treating people with kindness, working hard, doing things properly and never losing sight of what matters most. Those values continue to guide me every day.
Chapter two
From home salon to Groom Room
Like many small businesses, Pearl and Paws began with a dream and a lot of determination. I started grooming from home, gradually building a loyal client base through word of mouth and recommendations. Watching clients return time and time again, often with dogs who were genuinely excited to see me, gave me the confidence to take the next step.
What makes me most proud isn't simply building a business from scratch. It's the relationships I've built along the way. Many of the dogs who first came to me as nervous puppies or anxious adults now walk through the door happily and confidently.
Moving into my own dedicated salon gave me the space to set things up exactly as I wanted, somewhere quiet and clean where dogs have room to settle.
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The Groom Room salon
Chapter three
What nursing taught me
Years on hospital wards teach you to notice small things: a change in breathing, someone bracing before they're touched, the moment a person needs you to stop and explain. Dogs give the same signals, just without words. Some love every minute of being pampered; others need time. Before picking up a brush or turning on a dryer, I want to understand your dog's personality, their likes and dislikes, and any concerns you may have as their owner.
So appointments are paced around the dog rather than the diary, with breaks taken when they're needed. And if carrying on with a groom wouldn't be right for a dog that day, I'll stop and talk it through with you.
Humanity should always come before vanity.
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Mabel
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Teddie
Meet my own dogs
Mabel & Teddie
Like many of my clients, I'm a dog mum too. My two Cockapoos, Mabel and Teddie, played a very important role in my grooming journey. They were my practice models while I completed my professional training and helped me develop my confidence and skills as a groomer.
As dog owners ourselves, we understand how much your pets mean to you. They're family, and that's exactly how we treat them when they're in our care.
Always learning
Always learning, always improving
One thing I've learned throughout both nursing and grooming is that learning never stops. I regularly attend educational courses, workshops and grooming conferences to continue developing my knowledge and skills, whether that's new grooming techniques, understanding canine behaviour more deeply or finding ways to create an even better experience for dogs.