2 hours a day saved on scheduling

In 2015, Natassa Contini had a dream. She was drinking a cortado with her dog in a café. At the time, there were no spaces in the U.S. that offered a full food and beverage experience for you and your dog, so she built it.

“I opened the place with a dollar and a dream,” Natassa recalls. “I took all of my savings and threw it into this tiny little location. I didn't know what I was doing. I just figured it out.”

Based in Astoria, Queens, Château le Woof is a thriving hub for the local pet community. Part café, part pet market, part dog grooming salon, it’s a place where neighbors become friends and dogs find their second family. But running such a multi-faceted operation requires serious organization, especially when you’re breaking new ground in the industry.

When “pen and paper” scheduling just isn’t enough

Before Acuity Scheduling, Natassa tracked everything manually. “I’m old school,” she says. “I’d keep everything on pen and paper.”

As the business grew, that system couldn’t keep pace. Natassa had to manage grooming appointments involving specific breed and health requirements, table reservations for brunch, and event bookings, all while trying to engage with customers on the floor.

The lack of a centralized dog grooming scheduling software made coordination a daily challenge. “I drove myself a little crazy keeping things organized in some sort of app or spreadsheet… You have to constantly monitor it. You have to go in every single time and edit and that drives you nuts.”

There was no easy way to route specific service requests to the right employees or handle last-minute changes without a flurry of phone calls and emails. To maintain the high-quality, community-focused atmosphere Château le Woof was known for, Natassa needed a solution that could handle the complexity of her business without sacrificing the personal touch.

Putting scheduling on autopilot with Acuity

The turning point came when Natassa integrated Acuity Scheduling into her newly refreshed website. “As soon as I downloaded the Acuity app and I added it to the website, I immediately noticed the difference in filling appointments,” she says. It was an aha moment that reshaped the entire business.

“I use Shopify,” Natassa adds. “They are my website host and it ties in exactly with Acuity. That was the moment when I went, ‘Wow, this is really cool.’ I'm never going to use anything else.”

A smooth, self-serve scheduling experience

By using Acuity as her dog grooming booking software, Natassa empowered clients to self-schedule. Whether someone needs to book a “Full Groom” for an extra-large dog or quick services like teeth cleaning and nail trims, they can go online and find a time.

“Everything's done on our website through Acuity. It’s actually incredible. You can go online and you can book a grooming session. Our calendar's on there, the availability, all the services that we do… It’s really simple and easy.”

Clients can customize their experience with add-ons in the booking flow, pay online at booking, or reserve their spot without paying—everything is in one place.

Safety and personalization built in

Château le Woof relies on Acuity’s client intake forms to collect important information and keep every pet (and human) safe: dog name, breed, weight, age, sex, skin sensitivities/allergies. Owners upload vaccination records, share health and behavioral notes, and agree to policies upfront.

“The beauty about Acuity is I can create the scheduling exactly how I want it to read,” Natassa says. “I have my customers go in and upload their vaccinations for grooming, because people have to show their vaccinations. Everything is on there. I can put my waiver forms on there. I can put everything on there.”

Automated communication and coordination

Every time an appointment is booked, clients and staff automatically receive confirmations, while Natassa retains full oversight. “I can funnel things to different emails, have different people be in charge of certain services, and it makes it seamless,” Natassa says. “I really love it.”

Plus, automated appointment reminders keep the day moving. Groomers get a heads-up when the next pup is on the way before they even walk in the door. “Time reminders are always really, really great… My groomer will get an update and say, ‘Hey, your next appointment, it will be here in 15 minutes.’ So she can wrap up what she's doing with the existing client and prepare for what's next.”

No matter what the day has in store, everyone stays aligned without extra effort.

A business that runs smoothly and a team that feels the difference

Implementing Acuity Scheduling fundamentally changed the trajectory of the business, keeping time and relieving the team of administrative burdens. “My day-to-day is so much easier now that I switched to Acuity,” Natassa says.

Hours back every day

The most significant impact has been on Natassa’s schedule. “The best thing about having my schedule managed is it allows me to do other things,” she explains. Instead of being buried in documents, she can focus on social media, customer engagement, and strategic growth.

“Because of Acuity, I have probably freed up a good two hours of my day by allowing it to just flow smoothly. I can focus on other things. I can focus on social media and make sure that my customers are satisfied, make sure that I touch every single table and talk to everyone, and I figure out what people need.”

An efficient process makes for happier staff

The best dog grooming software experience is one you don't have to think about. Automated booking workflows and clear calendars have removed friction (and stress) from the workplace. “The biggest win I've had switching to Acuity is making sure that my staff is happy because it's easier for them. Their jobs are easier. In turn, my job's easier,” Natassa explains.

Going viral online

The ease of online booking has also impressed clients, leading to increased exposure and engagement. “What's nice is I could tie it into our social media and do a post and say, ‘Hey, I have a few slots open tomorrow, go online and book immediately,’ and people can do it instantly.”

Château le Woof now attracts customers from outside the immediate New York metro area who find the seamless booking process—and the unique experience—worth the trip.

“Acuity has allowed us to be more visible to people. People can find us anywhere.”

Always ready for what’s next

Last-minute changes? No worries. Real-time availability means customers can grab open appointments 24/7 without Natassa lifting a finger—even the ones created by cancellations.

“Acuity does it for me, so I really don't even have to worry about cancellations because someone will go online, cancel, the spot will be open, and then someone that's looking for grooming will just jump on that spot so I don't have to go back and forth. I can even charge a cancellation fee if I want to.”

A café, a community, and a system built to grow

Château le Woof started as a dream to bring dog lovers together, and with the right tools, it grew into a blueprint for pet-friendly businesses everywhere. By adopting a robust dog grooming appointment app, Natassa moved from pen-and-paper chaos to a streamlined, digital-first operation that allows her to focus on what matters most: her community.

“It's helped me organize my business and that's helped me grow because Acuity does everything for me. I don't need somebody managing it all.”

As she looks to the future, Natassa hopes to help other entrepreneurs replicate her success, advising them that a booking tool is non-negotiable. “I would absolutely say you should use this platform… I didn't realize how essential it was going to be for this business.”