Gabriel Feitosa is not any odd dog groomer.
Dogs come out of his San Diego establishment looking like giraffes, lions, cheetahs and — even Pokémons.
“This salon is a dream for me,” Feitosa, who’s from São Paulo, Brazil, told CNBC Make It.
“I got here to the US with two scissors and a clipper, and now I even have a spot where I feel like an artist and show the world that this profession is feasible.”
His salon’s costly creations — the costs range from $500 to $1,200 — can take anywhere from three to 5 hours to finish. Throughout the process, pups are pampered with food and take as many loo breaks as needed.
The 31-year-old opts for vegan, pet-friendly dyes while using traditional grooming techniques to execute his unique designs.
Feitosa’s salon raked in about $1.2 million in 2022, in response to CNBC Make It.
The dog grooming artist — whose social media presence includes 2 million followers on TikTok and 400,000 on Instagram — earned $125,000 that very same 12 months from brand deals and sponsorships.
Feitosa found his passion for dog grooming on the age of 12. His sister tasked him with taking her dog to the groomer and he curiously watched while they worked. Soon, he began learning from them how you can wash dogs.
The eager dog grooming student left highschool early to pursue it full time.
By the point he was 23, Feitosa got a grooming internship with a dog breeder in Sacramento.
After moving to the US, Feitosa worked with groomers and dog shows across the country for 3 years. He settled in San Diego in 2017, working part-time job as a dog groomer for a small salon. He also assisted a poodle breeder.
Eventually, he ended up buying his boss’ grooming business.
Feitosa now has a team of 10 employees that “groom about 20 dogs a day, and a minimum of 500 per thirty days,” he told CNBC Make It.
“The designs may appear fancy and unnecessary, but the quantity of smiles you place on people’s faces by walking by with a dog in one in every of these designs is an unforgettable experience,” he said. “It brings a lot joy to people.”