BROWNSTOWN — A Tampico woman took the skills she learned from trimming goat and sheep hooves for 4-H shows when she was young and turned them into a dog grooming business that’s growing by leaps and bounds.

At 20 years old, Sydney Kidd opened Waggin’ Wonders Boarding and Grooming just behind Blondie’s Pizzeria in Brownstown.

Two short years later, Kidd’s business has grown into a new location to offer more services for her clients.

Since the opening of her business, she has made a name for herself in the community and made many connections with both furry friends and their humans.

“Starting out, I had customers who I didn’t really know or heard of, but now, we are really good friends and I think of their dogs as like my own. … It’s kind of like one big family,” she said.

After graduating from Jennings County High School, Kidd was hesitant about going away to college, yet went anyway and completed her associate degree in agriculture business.

Growing up in a rural area, she was familiar with agriculture and livestock through FFA and 4-H shows. After receiving her degree, it was difficult for her to find a job related to the field, so she decided to focus on traveling to the surrounding states to groom livestock.

While this position generated a good income for Kidd, it took a physical toll on her body, and the long hours became difficult.

Through her connections and her experience with livestock, people in the community started asking her to do other things, such as clipping nails for dogs. This led her to work at a small grooming business in Crothersville, where she learned the basics of grooming dogs and other animals.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Kidd worked at various grooming shops, yet she always knew she wanted to start a business of her own.

“I am an outgoing person, and I like to do my own thing,” Kidd said. “My parents will tell you I’m the kid that they didn’t have to tell me to do something because most likely, I was already doing it.’”

After countless searches for somewhere to start her business, she finally found a place for rent behind Blondie’s Pizzeria where Country Pups — another grooming business — used to be located. The finances to start her business were solely covered by her and her immediate family, who came together to bring her vision to life.

Once her business was established, it immediately took off.

“I really did not have a slow period, and I still do not have a slow period. The business really picked up,” she said.

It did not take long before she outgrew her small shop and was able to relocate to a larger place just past the Jackson County Fairgrounds east of Brownstown. In the process of moving to a new and larger location, the business continued to flourish.

“I still had grooming appointments on the books before I was officially at my new location,” Kidd said.

Since setting up in her new shop, Kidd has been able to expand her grooming and boarding services to more residents in the community. With this expansion, she was able to hire a few employees and launch a volunteer program to introduce youth to the field of animal care.

In her free time, she likes to give back to the community through the local animal shelters. For Mercy Rescue in North Vernon, she provides free grooming for the animals to help their chances of adoption.

In October 2022, she threw a Halloween party at her business and invited the Humane Society of Jackson County to bring some adoptable dogs for pictures. Kidd said these experiences are one of many benefits to owning a small business.

“I feel more connected to the community through my small business and my small town. I want to do things that help support my small town,” she said.

Another benefit to starting her business at a young age is it will allow her plenty of time to grow the business and change as she matures.

“It is really is a positive to owning a business because as I get older and my life changes, I can change the business to suit my needs at that time,” she said.

While Kidd experiences many benefits to owning her small business, there are some challenges, as well, to a new businesses owner. With any business, it can be hard to keep a balance between work and a personal life.

“I am in there every day, and if I’m not in there, I feel like I should be there,” she said.

Another factor when owning a business is establishing a steady income. For some business owners, the uncertainty can be a lot of pressure.

“If something goes wrong, you are the whole financial supporter of that business. As a small business, I am still building up my savings so I have something to fall back on in case of emergencies,” she said.

With the continued growth of her business and her dedication to keep it successful, Kidd is always reminded why she started this venture whenever she feels like giving up.

“There are some rough days, but when I see a dog doing something funny, I just have to laugh,” she said. “I realize that this is why I do all of this.”

Kidd said she hopes to see more small businesses grow and the younger generations get involved in the community.

Waggin’ Wonders offers full grooming services, from dogs to cats to even smaller animals like ferrets and rabbits. The shop is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For information, check out the Facebook page at Waggin’ Wonders Grooming & Boarding.

The Tribune plans to publish Small Town Saturday as a series. If you know a small business or an individual that is involved in the community, contact [email protected].