All-American Grooming Show 2025: Style & Smiles in Schaumburg

Welcome to Groomer Paradise

In Illinois, the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center returned to its status as the epicenter of fur, fashion, and fabulousness at the All-American Grooming Show 2025. From Aug. 21–24, thousands of pet groomers, vendors, educators, and industry pros filled the trade show halls with buzzing clippers, wagging tails, and enough glittery smocks to light up the Chicago skyline.

If you missed it, don’t worry—Team Gingr was on site, and we combed through every seminar, competition, and vendor booth to bring you the highlights. Spoiler alert: There were poodles with cityscapes shaved into their fur, Bedazzled creative styles, terriers clipped to perfection, and even a few mohawks that would’ve made your favorite rockstar jealous.

Team Gingr on the Scene

Our crew was on site all weekend, chatting with groomers about optimizing the business side of their craft so they can spend more time conceptualizing unique cuts and bonding with their furry clients — and less time worrying about booking issues, unpaid invoices, or clunky checkout processes. 

Here are a few features that had groomers stopping by our booth:

• Detailed appointment cards – no more sticky notes falling off dryers.
• Flexible scheduling – because doodle trims don’t always fit neatly into 30 minutes.
• Easy tipping & commissions – fewer awkward convos, more happy staff.
• 24/7 online booking – so clients can snag a spot on their own while you’re busy with the clippers.

Between demos, free swag, and friendly chats, Team Gingr showed that pet-care business software can be just as essential to a groomer’s toolkit as a good pair of shears.

Creative Grooming Takes Center Stage

While every booth and classroom had its buzz, creative grooming was the undeniable star of the weekend. From the moment the first pup strutted out in shimmering color, it was clear that artistry was in the spotlight.

Educational sessions explored the safe and effective use of creative grooming products, from airbrushing techniques to temporary dyes and coat-safe glitter. Groomers learned how to transform everyday trims into show-stopping designs without compromising pet comfort.

On the competition floor, the Creative Styling Tournament drew some of the biggest crowds of the show. Dogs transformed into tigers, zebras, superheroes, and fantasy creatures, parading with confidence as the audience cheered. The artistry was jaw-dropping, but the innovation made it even more impactful — designs felt fresh, playful, and boundary-pushing.

Creative Grooming Trends Worth Watching

• Airbrushing Accents: Subtle gradients and bold streaks gave grooms a polished, professional edge.
• Themed Designs: From pop culture references to seasonal inspirations, groomers leaned into storytelling through fur.
• Eco-Friendly Products: More competitors showcased natural, pet-safe dyes that matched the industry’s growing focus on sustainability.
• Texture Play: Beyond color, creative grooms incorporated sculptural cuts, shaping coats into dramatic forms.

Tools of the Trade

Creative groomers flocked to vendor booths for the latest gear, from precision airbrush kits to specialty shears designed for sculpting. Vendors showcased vibrant, coat-safe coloring products, as well as stencils that made intricate patterns easier to achieve. Groomers also swapped tips on mixing traditional grooming tools with newer tech, like AI-powered design apps that let them mock up creative looks before ever picking up a brush.

Competitions That Stole the Show

The World Cup Grooming Games lived up to their reputation as the ultimate grooming showdown. On Friday and Saturday, groomers of every level—from first-timers to seasoned champions—tested their skills in the ring.

• Poodle Perfection: Sculpted topknots and flawless cuffs had the crowd gasping.
• Wire Coated Wonders: Stripped coats so sharp you could almost hear them shimmer.
• Sporting & Salon Freestyle: Creativity reigned from sleek spaniels to funky freestyle.
• Rescue Round-Up (Sunday): This heartwarming competition highlighted adoptable dogs, giving them a glow-up and a shot at forever homes.

Of course, the Creative Styling Tournament turned dogs into living works of art.

Learning, Laughing, Leveling Up

Education has always been at the heart of groomer-focused industry events, and this year’s seminar lineup was stacked. Groomers split their time between the trade floor and classrooms where industry icons shared tips, tricks, and some hard-earned wisdom.

A few favorites:

• “Grooming Business Mastery: Policies, Profit, and Perfect Grooms” with Elli Bultemeier – packed with lightbulb moments.
• “Feline Safe Handling Certificate Course" with Diana Chavez-Reyn - filled with the tools, materials, and techniques needed for stress-free cat grooming.
• “Turn Your Business Into a Brand” with Joey Villani – because a cute logo is a start, but it's not enough.
• “Tech-Savvy Grooming: Leveraging Software, AI & Social Media” with Denise Heroux – our ears perked up at this topic since software is our specialty.
• Creative Design Workshops – quick-fire sessions where groomers turned everyday trims into jaw-dropping art.

Vendor Hall Vibes

The trade show floor opened Friday morning, and let’s just say… groomers shopped ‘til they dropped. From the latest dryers that sound like jet engines to shears so sharp they practically sparkle, there was no shortage of temptation.

Vendors like Geib, Electric Cleaner Company, Earthbath, PetEdge, Joyzze, Kenchii, and Waggz drew big crowds with product launches, show specials, and free demos. We saw several familiar faces from just a couple weeks ago at SUPERZOO 2025, along with some new brands and products making their showroom debut.

Why This Show Matters

The All-American Grooming Show isn’t just about competitions and products. It’s about community. From fresh-faced students earning their first certificates to world champions perfecting their craft, every attendee left with new skills, new inspiration, and a stronger sense of pride in the grooming industry.

In our conversations with the pet professionals on site, the message was clear: Great grooming is about more than just sharp skills with the shears — it’s about building sustainable, thriving businesses that let groomers focus on what they love most: the pets. 

If you're ready to reach your full potential doing what you love, book a demo with us today! We'll show you how Gingr can optimize your operations, maxinize revenue, and help you build loyal customers for life.

Until next year, keep those dryers humming, those tails wagging, and your calendars (powered by Gingr, of course) full.