Andrea Richardson glams up Inman Park’s furry residents with elevated grooming services

At first glance, it would be easy to assume from the myriad facials, massages, hair coloring and nail polish options listed on its menu that Jazzy Pawz is the place to go for a day of pampering. And although it’s a true assumption, there’s a catch: No humans are allowed.

Richardson opened her doors to the pups of Inman Park last October and has been changing the grooming game ever since. A dream turned reality for the longtime pet lover, Richardson’s vision was to create a peaceful, relaxing and cage-free pet salon to pamper canines.

Motivated to pursue her life passion by the sudden loss of of her mother and grandmother, Richardson began to notice an undeniable link between her day-to-day happiness and close proximity to dogs. Although unfulfilled from her career as concierge at a luxury hotel, she found one perk that always brightened her day. “When clients would come in to the hotel with their pets, my face would just light up. All I wanted to do was play with the dogs,” Richardson remembers. Taking a major pay cut, she enrolled in online classes and became a certified groomer. “I spent lots of time practicing on my own dogs, as well as for any family member that would let me try out my skills on their fur babies,” she says.

Richardson spent four years building a loyal client base and grooming out of her west Midtown apartment. “My clients travel from all over the city and the surrounding areas, so a storefront became necessary,” she says. Richardson set her sights on dog-friendly Inman Park. “It’s like the movies over here. Everyone’s so happy and smiling with dogs, I love this area.” Inman Park’s high volumes of pedestrian traffic, especially those of pet owners with close proximity to the BeltLine, were ideal for a blossoming pet care business.

After establishing a strict cage-free policy, Richardson turned her attention toward the quality of her pet care products. “I was looking to do something all-natural, so I started making my own cleansing products. That way, I could know exactly what was in them,” she says. However, crafting artisanal pet care products while simultaneously establishing a fledgling business proved too much to take on at once. After personally meeting the owners of a company that makes all natural pet care products, Richardson felt she could focus her energy on dog pampering and grooming. “A lot of the pets I deal with have allergies, so using hypoallergenic products ensures the best results,” Richardson says.

Although Jazzy Pawz does accept walk-in appointments for bathing, reservations are required for all other grooming services. “I strive to give my clients an exact time at which their fur babies will be ready for pickup, unlike the estimates at most groomers,” Richardson says. To maintain a functioning, cage-free environment, Richardson must strategically choreograph grooming visits based on canine to canine behavior, situational anxiety and any other behavioral issues her furry clients exhibit. Doorfront pickup and delivery pet taxi services are also available for busy pet parents. Pawdicures and paw soaks are among some of her clients’ favorites; however, nail clipping is not offered. Instead, Richardson uses a gentle grinding technique that she claims many dogs have less of an aversion to.

As an owner who’s committed to personal oversight and quality customer service, Richardson says she won’t focus on franchising. “I strive for perfection. I don’t want to attach my name to something that isn’t the service that I personally guarantee and deliver,” she says. However, something Richardson does hope to pursue is an Atlanta–themed, airport gift shop for dogs selling jerseys, toys, leashes and collars. “People are always bringing back souvenirs for their friends and coworkers, so why not for their fur babies, too.”

Jazzy Pawz
245 North Highland Ave.
NE, Suite 225, 30307
678.510.8973
jazzypawz.com

STORY: Juliette Cheatham
PHOTO: Nathan Bolster