The Brief
A dog grooming business in Trafford was managing appointments in a paper diary and client information from memory. The owner wanted an online system where she could see her schedule, record client and pet details, send appointment reminders and track payments. She also wanted clients to be able to see available slots, though not necessarily book directly online.
Day 1 — Requirements and Data Model
Video call to understand the workflow. Key insight: the groomer needed to record breed, size, temperament, coat type, any health issues and specific grooming preferences for each dog. Some clients have multiple dogs. Appointment duration varies by breed and service type. I designed the data model around clients, pets and appointments with configurable service types.
Days 2-3 — Core System
Built client management (search, add, edit with full contact details), pet profiles (linked to clients, storing all the specified attributes), and the appointment calendar. The calendar is a weekly view showing appointments colour-coded by service type. Creating an appointment is quick — select client, select pet, choose service, pick a time slot. The system calculates the end time based on the service type and breed size.
Day 4 — Reminders and Payments
Added automated text reminders sent 24 hours before appointments. Built payment tracking — mark appointments as paid/unpaid, filter outstanding payments, and a simple end-of-day summary. Added a notes field for each appointment so the groomer can record specific instructions or observations.
Day 5 — Polish and Handover
Added a public-facing page showing available slots for the current week (no client details visible). Refined the mobile view since the groomer primarily uses her phone between appointments. Recorded a Loom walkthrough video. Deployed and handed over.
The Result
Missed appointments dropped from 2-3 per week to nearly zero thanks to automated reminders. The groomer saves 30 minutes daily on admin. Pet-specific notes mean she never forgets a dog's preferences or health requirements. The system paid for itself within the first month. Get in touch if you need a booking system for your business.
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