About Intergroom History

The first Intergroom conference was held in 1981; since that time, the event has become the largest international conference of its kind in the world. Over 2,000 dog and cat groomers from over 20 different countries attend Intergroom yearly. 1997 marked the first year Intergroom was held both in the United States and in Europe.

Intergroom was founded by Shirlee Kalstone. Meeting groomers here and abroad was the inspiration for Mrs. Kalstone to begin organizing Intergroom. It was conceived as a forum for professionals from different nations to meet and exchange ideas, to improve skills and education, to encourage competition, and to raise the standards of the profession.

Beginning in 1996, many changes have taken place. Christine DeFilippo, who had served as Intergroom Program Coordinator became a full partner.

The success of the international event in the United States, coupled with requests from groomers abroad who were unable to come to this country, led to the decision to expand and include a European Conference as well, in Brussels, Belgium, the week of September 27 and 28, 1997.

As of the 1999 show, the American Conference is totally in the hands of Christine DeFilippo, leaving Shirlee Kalstone free to expand the European Conference plus other important special projects.

Grooming Competitions

At the conference held in the United States each year, Intergroom always begins with an international grooming competition that leads to the title of "Intergroom International Groomer of the Year" - one of the most prestigious awards in the the world of grooming. The quality of grooming is extremely high and the competition is keen as top groomers from the United States, Canada, England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, compete for over $20,000.00 in cash, trophies, rosettes and prizes.

Groomers can compete in six different classes: (1) Poodles, (2) Terriers, (3) Handstipping, (4) Spaniels and Other Sporting Dogs, (5) All Other Purebreeds, and (6) Mixed-Breed/Miscellaneous (this includes dogs of mixed-breed parentage plus any purebreeds that will be trimmed in styles other than "standard"). 

Competitors are judged by a panel of international experts. Each year, in addition to the well-known Americans, several judges from other countries are invited to be a part of the jury.


Each year, one of the high points of the conference in the United States is our annual festive gala dinner, featuring the presentation of the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards - the "Oscars" of the grooming industry. The awards are sponsored by Cardinal Laboratories and honor professional groomers by recognizing extraordinary achievement in six different categories:

• American Groomer of the Year - honoring an outstanding American groomer;
   

• International Groomer of the Year - honoring an outstanding groomer from a country other than the United States;
   

• Grooming Contest Judge of the Year - honoring an outstanding male or female from any country who has made a valuable contribution to the grooming world as a contest judge;
   

• Grooming Journalist of the Year - honoring the writer, editor or publisher who has helped to promote interest in grooming or to inform readers about grooming news or better grooming techniques during the past 12-month period;
   

• The Congeniality Award - honoring the man or woman who has demonstrated good-fellowship and other positive attributes which have bettered the grooming profession during the past 12-month period;
   

• The David Salzberg Award for Outstanding Contributions by an Individual or Organization - honoring the individual or organization that has contributed significantly to the advancement of the grooming industry during the past 12-month period.

The winners are determined from ballots that are published in trade industry magazines both in the United States and abroad.

Educational Seminars

The educational portion of each INTERGROOM conference is quite extensive and covers a myriad of topics concerning dog and cat grooming. The educational sessions, called the Intergroom Master Class Series, are designed to improve and increase grooming performance. They focus on all aspects of grooming the various breeds of dogs and cats, as well as scissoring proficiency; new techniques for de-matting, shampooing and drying; the art of hand stripping; handling and grooming difficult, large or giant breeds, finishing touches, and more. Topics vary by conference.

In addition to the many sessions on grooming, we also schedule classes on business, merchandising, the health care of groomers and the animals they groom, and other important sub-themes. Some important topics covered in the past include: Equipment Maintenance and Repair; Selecting a Dryer/Maintenance and Repair; Bite Prevention Workshop; Bacterial Safeguards for Shop and Kennel; How to Calm Aggressive Dogs; Marketing for Profitability; Managing Grooming Stress; Handling Difficult Clients; Shears: Technology Catches Up to Art; How to be Successful in the Business Side of Grooming; Becoming a Mobile Groomer; Pesticide Control (these sessions are approved by various State Departments of Environmental Protection for pesticide re-certification); Infectious Diseases Transmitted from Animals to Humans; How Nutrition Affects Skin and Hair Coat; Improving the Indoor Air Quality of a Shop/Kennel/Cattery; and much more.

Product Exhibitors

Many manufacturers and distributors of grooming products; equipment for grooming salons, kennels and vans; nutritional products; unique boutique items, and others, display products at the Intergroom Trade Show every year. As our tag line indicates, "If it snips, clips, combs, brushes, de-tangles, lathers, rinses, dries, or has anything to do with dog or cat hair, you will find it at Intergroom."

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© 2010 - Intergroom, Inc. - Christine DeFilippo, Producer  - 781-326-3376. All Rights Reserved.