By CLAIRE SANT
BGSU Student Contributor
Oliver and Max, the shop’s furry ambassadors, may not be the ones cutting the checks or handing out the trims but they sure are great spokespeople for the business. Owner Sydney Craig runs the shop with her two dogs eagerly greeting customers at the door.
When Craig first opened the doors to Olivers & Max dog grooming in March 2022, he aimed to focus on each pet individually to provide a ‘paw-sh’ experience.
The recent move and expansion of the space has helped a lot. The business was once located in a strip of businesses tucked away from the street but is now at 192 S. Main St.
Wall-to-wall windows and window benches allow dogs to bask in the sun after being pampered. The space benefits Craig and makes work more fun while grooming five to six dogs per day.
“I like the windows. Nobody used to be able to see me groom the dogs,” Craig said. “Now there are kids lined up watching the dogs.”
The larger space gives Craig more room to keep the dogs happy. If owners can’t pick up their dogs right away, they can rest or play with toys until picked up.
“It’s nice to have that much back space now,” says Craig. “I don’t have to put them in a cage, they can run around.”
Craig’s mother and business partner, Jodie Serrato, said Craig had a knack for organizing. Both said they have always loved dogs. “Probably more than people, let’s be honest,” Serrato said.
“He always wanted to be a dog groomer, all through high school,” Serrato said.
Craig said he started by shadowing and training other nearby dog groomers until he took on his own business. The mom-daughter duo grew up in Bowling Green, making it the perfect place to open their salon.
“A few months after I graduated, I threw myself out,” Craig said. “I’m training with Oliver and Max.”
The two dogs who inspired the name of the business were anxious to get groomed elsewhere, but once the salon opened, the dogs felt more at ease trusting their owners.
Serrato, a full-time teacher in Maumee, helps her daughter during her vacation. She also bakes homemade dog treats that are sold in the store. “I only help him when I’m available,” Serrato said. “This is Sydney’s show.”
One thing Serrato loves is the daily interaction between her daughter and the canine clients.
“The dogs would walk through Sydney downtown and meet him,” Serrato said. That’s a lot of fun, because they don’t have a voice, and you can just go off their body language.”
They iron out the details as they go. Serrato says he just wants to support Sydney in her goals. “Our heart and soul is in this,” Serrato said. “What better way than to fix it?”
The couple said they would like to find an additional organizer to help lighten the workload. Craig strives to give one dog or sibling pair undivided attention at a time.
“It’s trying to keep his passion for why he started it, but also looking at the business side to take the pressure off,” Serrato said. “We’re trying to balance it out.”