Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam Duenas.
Hi Miriam, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Since I was a young kid, I would come home with a stray cat; I just wanted to be around animals! I went to veterinary school, but I ended up crying every time I saw a hurt animal, so I knew I wouldn’t be happy with that career choice. Later on, I found out about grooming school, and I loved the idea!!!
I have been a groomer for 15 years now. Unfortunately, I had to stop grooming due to a shoulder surgery, but that doesn’t stop my love for animals.
I had to think of something else that would help me to still be involved with animals, so I decided to make our own brand and open an online pet store.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening the business has been a challenge for me in so many labels, I never thought I would find myself having employees and dealing with customers on top of expenses, social networks, etc., etc. But you know what? I have learned so much!!! I didn’t have another choice but to learn as fast as possible. At first, in my head, I had the vision of me just working with the dogs at the grooming salon. It never crossed my mind that there was much more needed to keep the business running.
To be honest, most of the struggles I had have been due to being afraid of making mistakes, having to take important decisions such as hiring someone, letting someone go, decisions about money, prices, expenses, etc.
This business has been an excellent training for life.
As you know, we’re big fans of Cute to the Bone. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cute to the Bone started as a dog grooming salon in the area close to Katy and Cypress, I opened the business with literally nothing but the wish of doing what I like the most, working with animals. I have loved being in a job that involves animals; I have been a dog groomer for over 15 years now.
Everyone in the family is an animal lover, that’s why the business has a little something from everyone in my family from the idea of becoming a dog groomer to the name of the business and so on, my family has an important role in this adventure, and that’s having a business with heart.
Everything we do at Cute to the Bone is done thinking about the dogs and their owners, their needs, and their desires.
I had to take the difficult decision of selling the grooming salon due to health issues and opening an online pet store, Cutetothebone.net
We are venturing into this world of the internet but with the same passion for dogs and their needs that we had when working at the grooming salon.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I wanted to become a veterinarian when I finished high school, I went to vet school for 2 years but seeing hurt animals made me cry every time, so I quit school. The idea of me going to a dog grooming school was given to me by my oldest brother, and that idea changed my life!
Contact Info:
- Website: cutetothebone.net
- Instagram: @cute2bone
- Facebook: Cutetothebone
