KARLA ADDINGTON SMITH

Karla Addington-Smith is a Certified Master Groomer from Cincinnati, Ohio. Spending 24 years in the world of professional dog grooming, Karla is an international contest judge, grooming contest winner, noted speaker & writer.

After completing a two-year veterinarian technician program & groomer apprentice position, Karla opened the first of three grooming & retail shops in 1978. The Bow Wow Boutique was an immediate success as pet owners & the media alike discovered the upscale services & unusual products available at Karla’s establishment.

As a member of the 1988 & 1989 USA Groom Team, Karla represented the U.S. in international competition. She won the 1988 Creative Grooming Competition & 1989 Best American Groomer title at Intergroom. Karla has received four Cardinal Crystal Achievement Awards: 1988 American Groomer of the Year, 1990 Congeniality Award, 1991 & 1996 Grooming Journalist of the Year. In 1996 Karla received the prestigious Scratchex Award For Journalistic Excellence In Dog Grooming And Skin Care.

She is well versed in business relations too, being named the 1988 Outstanding Young Entrepreneur in America by the United States Association of Small Business & Entrepreneurship. Her case history appears in college textbooks used in small business & entrepreneurship classes throughout the United States. Karla served on the committee for curriculum development of the Animal Sciences Program used by the State of Ohio Vocational School System.

Karla’s articles on business & pet related topics have appeared in various industry & pet owner publications including Today’s Breeder, Groomer to Groomer, Groom & Board, Veterinarian Product News, Pet Product News & Cat Fancy. Karla wrote the Groom-o-Gram newsletter for Barkleigh Publications from 1994 through 1996 & was the grooming columnist & regular feature writer for Pets Supplies Marketing magazine from 1989-1992. She has contributed to two books on coat & skin care for dogs & cats, published by T.F.H.

Karla served as the Educational Director for the Professional Products Division of Sunbeam Oster from 1995 through 1997 developing the 1-2-3 Clipper System, writing and appearing in two video productions & conducting sales & training sessions both nationally & abroad. She has appeared on numerous local & national television programs promoting pet care & education.

The Bow Wow Boutiques were sold in 1989. Karla, with her husband Craig W Smith, now own and operate Pet-Pro Marketing, a sales & marketing company representing category leading pet product manufacturers to the trade.