About this episode

Jess Rona shares her journey from aspiring actress to successful dog grooming entrepreneur and founder of Shmoop.

Jess Rona is a content creator, the founder of Jess Rona Grooming Salon, and the founder of the new dogcare brand Shmoop. Before she had her own dog-grooming empire, Rona dreamed of becoming an actress. At 18, while pursuing her acting dreams, she got a job as a dog bather at PetSmart in Los Angeles. While working this job, she slowly began to learn how to groom as well. She took a break from dog grooming to move to New York City and start doing improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade. She ultimately returned to Los Angeles and began dog grooming once again, even participating in grooming competitions. Eventually, she opened her own grooming business out of her garage, transitioning into being her own boss. Then, her slow-motion dog-grooming videos on social media began to go viral, which helped her business take off. She moved her grooming salon to a brick-and-mortar location in Larchmont Village, and now, Rona is about to launch Shmoop, "a beauty brand for every dog."

People in this episode

Host: Second Life

Guest: Jess Rona

Topics covered

• dog grooming
• entrepreneurship
• social media
• pet care
• acting
• personal journey

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Jess Rona Grooming Salon, Shmoop, PetSmart, Upright Citizens Brigade

Places: Los Angeles, New York City, Larchmont Village

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