Webinar Recap: 'Back to School with Gingr' - Mastering Group Classes

As summer winds down, many pet-care businesses are turning their focus toward training programs. To help facilities get ready, Gingr hosted a recent webinar: “Back to School with Gingr: Mastering Group Classes.”

The session walked through setting up group training classes, creating private lessons, and even running virtual sessions. Whether you’re offering puppy socialization or structured obedience courses, Gingr makes it simple to build and manage your training programs.

Here are the highlights and key takeaways:

Why Training Programs Matter

Training programs not only drive revenue for pet-care businesses, but they also build stronger customer relationships and help pets become happier, better-behaved family members.

Gingr’s tools simplify what can otherwise be a complicated process — from pricing, scheduling, and enrollment to ensuring packages and payments are handled seamlessly. Here's how to set up a group class in Gingr:

Step 1: Create Your Reservation Type

The foundation of any service in Gingr starts with Reservation Types & Services Configuration.

• Go to the Admin gear icon → Reservation Types.
• Choose Group Training Class as your booking category.
• Fill in the details (class name, location, color code, etc.).

Pro tip: Name your class using a clear format, like Group Class | Basic Manners, so it’s easy to identify later.

Step 2: Add Rates

• Each reservation type needs a rate, but here’s the trick:
  • Instead of charging the total class cost, you’ll enter the per-session rate.
  • Example: A 6-week class costs $180 total. Divide that by 6 = $30/session.
    This keeps billing accurate while setting the stage for package creation.

Step 3: Build a Package

Packages tie everything together:

• Navigate to Packages & Subscriptions.
• Add a new package, give it the same name as your class, and include the total number of sessions (e.g., 6).
• Set the price to the full class cost ($180 in the example).
• Make sure “Can Purchase Through Customer Portal” is disabled here — you’ll turn that on later when linking to the class.

This ensures customers can’t buy a package without enrolling in the correct class.

Step 4: Create the Class

Now it’s time to actually build your class in Gingr:

• Go to Group Classes under Admin.
• Add a new class (or edit an existing one).
• Connect it to your reservation type and package.
• Add details like:
  • Class name with day/time (e.g., Basic Manners | Fridays at 5 PM)
  • Capacity (so you don’t overbook)
  • Commission for staff (optional)
  • A description for clients (you can even include links, videos, or photos!)

This is also where you enable “Should customer purchase package in Portal?” so clients will be prompted to check out with the full package when enrolling.

Step 5: Schedule the Class

Finally, add the schedule:

• Choose start and end dates for the first session.
• Select the repeat pattern (e.g., weekly, every other week).
• Enter the number of sessions (e.g., 6).

Gingr automatically builds the calendar. Need to skip a holiday or reschedule? You can easily edit or delete individual sessions.

Open Enrollment vs. Series Classes

Pet businesses offering training classes may want to offer different scenarios for their services depending if it's a one-off workshop or event, or if it would be more adventageous to each pup to enroll in several classes. Here's the difference:

• Series Classes: Run for a set timeframe (like 6 weeks). Attendees enroll for the full program.
• Open Enrollment: Ongoing classes that repeat indefinitely (e.g., weekly puppy socials). Clients can pick and choose which days to attend.

For open enrollment, facilities can either:

• Charge per class based on the reservation type rate, or
• Create a one-credit package that applies to each session selected.

Enrolling Pets

Enrolling is simple:

1. Go to Group Classes → Upcoming Classes.
2. Select your class.
3. Add the pet from the roster.
4. The system automatically prompts you to sell the package if it hasn’t been purchased yet.

The shopping cart process makes sure every client is correctly billed, and staff can add notes about pets during enrollment.

Beyond Group Classes: Private & Virtual Lessons

While group setups offer numerous benefits for socialization, enrichment, and dog training services, pet parents may prefer smaller sessions for more focused lessons or anxious pups. Private lessons and virtual training are two excellent options that add flexibility and a personal touch.

• Private Lessons – Great for one-on-one training, scheduled similarly to classes but tied to an individual reservation type. A private lesson is considered a "reservation type" under "additional service" in Gingr.
• Virtual Training – Offer remote sessions through Zoom, Teams, or pre-recorded videos. This opens doors for clients who can’t attend in person. You can set up private virtual training sessions in Gingr in Admin » Reservation Types and Services Configuration.

Extra Support for Pet Businesses

To reinforce what was covered, Gingr now offers a Gingr U course dedicated to group classes. The course includes a setup guide and a short quiz so you can test your knowledge and get up and running quickly.

Visit GingrU in your Gingr app to get started!

Quick Wrap-up:

• Use reservation types and packages together to manage both per-session billing and total class cost.
• Always link packages to group classes so customers are prompted to purchase correctly.
• Decide whether a series class or open enrollment makes the most sense for your program.
• Gingr supports private and virtual training to expand your offerings.
• Gingr U courses are available to help you (and your staff) revisit training anytime.

You can watch the webinar on demand if you missed the live session or want a refresher.

Stay tuned for future sessions, and get ready to make this back-to-school season your best one yet with Gingr!