WHO WE ARE

The GCGA connects, educates, and inspires Creative Groomers worldwide.

Welcome

Global Creative Grooming Association

Where Artistry Thrives!

Step into the vibrant world of the Global Creative Grooming Association (GCGA), where artistry thrives and sets the gold standard for excellence in creative grooming. Beyond the traditional bounds of an organization, GCGA forms a dynamic global community where passionate artists converge to celebrate and elevate the craft.

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What's New

Featured Events

Superzoo

SuperZoo is North America's largest pet industry trade show held annually in Las Vegas, where pet product manufacturers, retailers, groomers, and industry professionals gather to discover new products, learn about emerging trends, and network. Organized by the World Pet Association (WPA), the event features a large show floor with over 1,000 new products, extensive educational programs on various business and grooming topics, and networking events like the famous Beach Party.
What happens at SuperZoo?

Product Showcase:

Attendees can explore the New Product Showcase to find the latest innovations in pet foods, toys, grooming tools, and other supplies.

Education:

The event offers a robust educational program with seminars and sessions covering topics such as e-commerce, digital marketing, consumer behavior, and grooming expertise.

Networking:

It's a prime opportunity for pet professionals to connect with peers, industry experts, manufacturers, and potential partners in a vibrant setting.

Competitions:

Professional grooming competitions with significant prizes are a highlight of the event, showcasing the artistry and skill of groomers.

Social Events:

The show includes fun activities and social gatherings, such as the legendary Beach Party at Mandalay Bay Beach, to foster camaraderie and connections.

Who attends?

SuperZoo attracts a wide range of pet professionals, including:

Retailers from pet specialty stores, grocery stores, mass retailers, and online businesses.
Groomers and grooming salon owners.
Manufacturers and suppliers of pet products.
Other industry experts and decision-makers.

Featured

August 12-14, 2026

Mandalay Bay Convention Center

https://www.superzoo.org

Barkleigh Groom Expo

The Groom Expo in Hershey, PA is the world's largest professional pet grooming trade show, hosted by Barkleigh annually, featuring educational seminars, a large trade show of pet products, live grooming competitions, and other networking and social events for pet professionals. Held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, the event draws thousands of attendees to learn, shop for the latest innovations, and compete for titles in various grooming contests.

Educational Seminars:

Barkleigh offers a wide range of classes on topics like animal behavior, skin and coat health, and advanced grooming techniques.

Trade Show:

Attendees can browse over 170 booths from pet care product manufacturers and suppliers, with opportunities to see new products, attend demos, and purchase items.

Grooming Competitions:

The event hosts multiple contests, including the World Cup Grooming Games and the Creative Styling Tournament, testing different skill levels in various breeds and styles.

Networking & Social Events:

Groomers can connect with peers, make new contacts, and participate in social events and parties during the weekend.

Awards:

The expo features the Barkleigh Honors Awards ceremony, recognizing excellence within the grooming industry.

Featured

September 10-13, 2026

Hershey Lodge & Convention

https://www.groomexpo.com

Barkleigh's All American Grooming Show

Barkleigh's All American Grooming Show, run by Barkleigh Productions, is a major annual pet industry event that combines education through seminars, challenging grooming competitions, and a large trade show for pet professionals. As the world's longest-running grooming show, it offers programs on pet handling and care, skill-honing competitions, and a marketplace to purchase supplies and equipment.

Education:

The event features seminars and workshops on various aspects of pet care, animal behavior, and grooming techniques.

Competitions:

Groomers compete in sanctioned events for different skill levels and classes, showcasing their skills in various categories, including Poodles, Terriers, Sporting, and creative styles.

Trade Show:

A significant component is the trade show, where over 80 vendors offer show specials, demonstrations, and discounts on a wide range of products and equipment for the pet care industry.

Industry Networking:

The show provides a platform for professionals to network, learn from industry leaders, and stay updated on the latest trends and innovations in pet care.

Tradition:

The event maintains many of the long-standing traditions started by its founder, Jerry Schinberg, while also introducing new educational opportunities.

Featured

August 13–16, 2026

Schaumburg Convention Center

http://www.aagroom.com

Superzoo

Product Showcase:

Attendees can explore the New Product Showcase to find the latest innovations in pet foods, toys, grooming tools, and other supplies.

Education:

The event offers a robust educational program with seminars and sessions covering topics such as e-commerce, digital marketing, consumer behavior, and grooming expertise.

Networking:

It's a prime opportunity for pet professionals to connect with peers, industry experts, manufacturers, and potential partners in a vibrant setting.

Competitions:

Professional grooming competitions with significant prizes are a highlight of the event, showcasing the artistry and skill of groomers.

Social Events:

The show includes fun activities and social gatherings, such as the legendary Beach Party at Mandalay Bay Beach, to foster camaraderie and connections.

Who attends?

SuperZoo attracts a wide range of pet professionals, including:

Retailers from pet specialty stores, grocery stores, mass retailers, and online businesses.
Groomers and grooming salon owners.
Manufacturers and suppliers of pet products.
Other industry experts and decision-makers.

Featured

August 12-14, 2026

Mandalay Bay Convention Center

https://www.superzoo.org

Barkleigh Groom Expo

Educational Seminars:

Barkleigh offers a wide range of classes on topics like animal behavior, skin and coat health, and advanced grooming techniques.

Trade Show:

Attendees can browse over 170 booths from pet care product manufacturers and suppliers, with opportunities to see new products, attend demos, and purchase items.

Grooming Competitions:

The event hosts multiple contests, including the World Cup Grooming Games and the Creative Styling Tournament, testing different skill levels in various breeds and styles.

Networking & Social Events:

Groomers can connect with peers, make new contacts, and participate in social events and parties during the weekend.

Awards:

The expo features the Barkleigh Honors Awards ceremony, recognizing excellence within the grooming industry.

Featured

September 10-13, 2026

Hershey Lodge & Convention

https://www.groomexpo.com

Barkleigh's All American Grooming Show

Education:

The event features seminars and workshops on various aspects of pet care, animal behavior, and grooming techniques.

Competitions:

Groomers compete in sanctioned events for different skill levels and classes, showcasing their skills in various categories, including Poodles, Terriers, Sporting, and creative styles.

Trade Show:

A significant component is the trade show, where over 80 vendors offer show specials, demonstrations, and discounts on a wide range of products and equipment for the pet care industry.

Industry Networking:

The show provides a platform for professionals to network, learn from industry leaders, and stay updated on the latest trends and innovations in pet care.

Tradition:

The event maintains many of the long-standing traditions started by its founder, Jerry Schinberg, while also introducing new educational opportunities.

Featured

August 13–16, 2026

Schaumburg Convention Center

http://www.aagroom.com

Superzoo

Product Showcase:

Attendees can explore the New Product Showcase to find the latest innovations in pet foods, toys, grooming tools, and other supplies.

Education:

The event offers a robust educational program with seminars and sessions covering topics such as e-commerce, digital marketing, consumer behavior, and grooming expertise.

Networking:

It's a prime opportunity for pet professionals to connect with peers, industry experts, manufacturers, and potential partners in a vibrant setting.

Competitions:

Professional grooming competitions with significant prizes are a highlight of the event, showcasing the artistry and skill of groomers.

Social Events:

The show includes fun activities and social gatherings, such as the legendary Beach Party at Mandalay Bay Beach, to foster camaraderie and connections.

Who attends?

SuperZoo attracts a wide range of pet professionals, including:

Retailers from pet specialty stores, grocery stores, mass retailers, and online businesses.
Groomers and grooming salon owners.
Manufacturers and suppliers of pet products.
Other industry experts and decision-makers.

Featured

August 12-14, 2026

Mandalay Bay Convention Center

https://www.superzoo.org

Barkleigh Groom Expo

Educational Seminars:

Barkleigh offers a wide range of classes on topics like animal behavior, skin and coat health, and advanced grooming techniques.

Trade Show:

Attendees can browse over 170 booths from pet care product manufacturers and suppliers, with opportunities to see new products, attend demos, and purchase items.

Grooming Competitions:

The event hosts multiple contests, including the World Cup Grooming Games and the Creative Styling Tournament, testing different skill levels in various breeds and styles.

Networking & Social Events:

Groomers can connect with peers, make new contacts, and participate in social events and parties during the weekend.

Awards:

The expo features the Barkleigh Honors Awards ceremony, recognizing excellence within the grooming industry.

Featured

September 10-13, 2026

Hershey Lodge & Convention

https://www.groomexpo.com

Browse Artists

Marina Battistini

Artists

European Chapter

Marina has been a professional groomer for 16 years, with the past five years dedicated to developing her skills in Asian-style and creative grooming.

Her passion for continued education has taken her across Asia, training with renowned educators at schools including Mavis School in Chongqing, China; Starwood in Bangkok, Thailand; Kimi’s School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Steven Hong’s School in Changsha, China. Each year, Marina spends approximately a month in Asia studying Asian-style grooming, creative grooming, and advanced scissoring techniques with different educators.

Two years ago, she opened her own grooming school in Italy, where she teaches scissoring, Asian-style grooming, and creative grooming to students from around the world.

In 2024, Marina began competing in Europe, turning her passion for grooming into an opportunity to challenge herself, connect with other groomers, and travel the world.

Looking ahead, Marina hopes to continue learning, refining her craft, and eventually begin competing in the United States.

Her philosophy is simple: no matter how long you’ve been grooming, there is always something new to learn.

Certifications

Asian style certificate in Chonqing China
Asian style certificate in Changsha China
Creative Grooming certificate in Bangkok Thailand
Creative Grooming certificate in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

Accolades

First place in Asian style Italian Championship 2024
Second place in Creative grooming in Spain 2025
First place in scissoring in Milan 2025
First place in model dog in Milan 2025
Third place in Creative Grooming on model dog in Spain 2026
Third place in Creative Grooming on a real dog in Spain 2026

For as long as Natalie can remember, animals have been at the center of her life. Raised on a ranch, she spent her childhood riding horses from the age of two, competing in barrel racing, participating in rodeo pageants, and eventually earning the title of Rodeo Queen. Her passion for animals wasn't something she discovered later in life—it was simply how she was raised.

Growing up, Natalie was immersed in the world of dog grooming. Her mother was a professional groomer and breeder, so much of her childhood and teenage years were spent helping in the grooming salon, bathing dogs and assisting wherever she could. Those early experiences naturally led her into a career in professional grooming, where she has now spent more than 15 years, including the last five years specializing in creative grooming.

Although she loved working with dogs from the beginning, Natalie initially wasn't convinced traditional grooming would be her lifelong passion. Routine pet trims didn't fully satisfy her creative side, and she knew there had to be another path within the industry that would challenge and inspire her. The moment she discovered creative grooming, everything changed.

Determined to learn, Natalie began asking trusted clients if she could create artistic designs on their dogs at no charge, simply for the opportunity to practice and improve. Each design fueled her passion even more. She dedicated countless hours to attending seminars, studying advanced techniques, and expanding her skills through continued education.

Her creative journey reached a new level when she welcomed her Standard Poodle, Nikki, into her life. Nikki became both her muse and creative partner, allowing Natalie to push her artistic abilities even further and bring increasingly ambitious designs to life.

Today, creative grooming is far more than a service—it's Natalie's artistic expression. She loves transforming every dog into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece while always placing the pet's comfort, health, and well-being above everything else. Each groom is thoughtfully designed to reflect both the dog's personality and the owner's vision.

For Natalie, the greatest reward comes from watching a dog proudly show off its new look and seeing the excitement on the owner's face. Those moments are a constant reminder of why she fell in love with creative grooming.

To Natalie, grooming has never been just about haircuts. It's about building trust, celebrating creativity, and creating unforgettable experiences for both pets and the people who love them.

Accolades

2024 super zoo best first timer
2024 super zoo 2nd place creative grooming
2025 2nd place December groom of the month

GCGA Seal Program

Seal of Attendance - Masters Den | CC Structural Map™ Creative Design Workshop | Cecilia Schalken | Awarded May 24, 2026

More Info

Nevarna Craigie Macbeth

Artists

Australian Chapter

GCGA Seal Program

Seal of Attendance - Masters Den | CC Structural Map™ Creative Design Workshop | Cecilia Schalken | Awarded May 24, 2026

More Info

Explore our Artists

GCGA

Our Chapters

GotM

Groom of the Month

GotM August 2026: Anna Marie Schuth

This month, we’re celebrating the incredible creativity of Anna Marie Schu...

GOTM - June 2026

Celebrating Pride: June 2026 Groom of the Month Winners June was a month o...

GotM May: Amber Messenger

Bringing the Heat For May 2026, GCGA is proud to recognize Amber Messenger...

GotM April: Laura Hogan

Soft Pastels, Timeless Style For April, GCGA is proud to recognize Laura H...

Blog

Behind the Shears

September 11, 2026

GotM August 2026: Anna Marie Schuth

This month, we’re celebrating the incredible creativity of Anna Marie Schuth of @citrusk9grooming, and her stunning Standard Poodle, Saoirse! Saoirse’s breathtaking blue wings are more than just a beautiful creative grooming design. They’re a tribute to one of Anna Marie’s favorite book series and a reflection of the meani...

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Talent Agency

Talent for Hire

The GCGA Talent Agency

The GCGA proudly represents an exclusive roster of internationally recognized creative grooming artists and Animals. These professionals are not only master groomers, but visionary artists who transform pets into living works of art through color, design, and sculptural grooming.

Whether you're a brand seeking a standout campaign, a studio looking to feature jaw-dropping pet transformations, the GCGA Talent Agency is your direct connection to the most skilled and innovative creative grooming artists in the world.

Learn More