Two years after moving to Shaker Heights, Déja Pearson opened True Vibes Unleashed on Lee Rd.
Interview by Jennifer Proe
Photography by Jason Miller
Who: Déja Pearson
Residence: Winslow Historic Neighborhood
Business: True Vibes Unleashed, a holistic dog grooming salon that focuses on the pet’s entire experience while in our space. We use aromatherapy, calming colors, crystals, music, and one-on-one attention. We’re located in the Lee Road Corridor, next to Process Canine.
Mission: Our mission is to create the most relaxing experience we can for owners and their dogs by focusing on every dimension of well-being: body, mind, and spirit.
What I Love About My Work: I absolutely love working with dogs. I work with only one pet family at a time, so there are no sights, smells, and sounds from other dogs that can overstimulate them and cause stress.
In this quiet environment, I can provide reiki, which further relaxes the dog before they go home. We’ve also begun providing yoga classes, with options for private one-on-one classes, small private classes for you and your friends or coworkers, and classes open to the public.
True Vibes Unleashed is conveniently located next to Process Canine, which provides boarding, daycare, and training. I love working in this little plaza where I can see dogs being walked back and forth between their daycare and training facility. We provide a service where a dog who is staying in daycare at Process Canine can then come to True Vibes Unleashed for grooming before they go home.
Personal Background: I grew up in East Cleveland and was an artistic, only child who would get lost in creating drawings, paintings, and digital art. By the time I was applying to colleges, I was convinced I wanted to be an art major. I attended Kent State University for a year and a half before I realized that wasn’t working for me, so I came home. I wrote down a list of things that made me happy and ranked them. Dogs came out on top, so I applied for any job where I’d be working with them every day.
In 2012, I landed a job at a luxury pet hotel as a kennel attendant where I learned bathing and grooming. I loved seeing the transformation between a dirty pet and one that was clean, soft, and cute. I then decided to take classes with Animal Behavior College, and after I graduated, my mentor hired me as her assistant. After working there for six years, I felt confident enough to go out on my own and started looking for a space.
Grooming is tough on the body, and at one point I almost quit because I was in so much pain. I couldn’t imagine giving up my passion, so I took up yoga. Yoga not only took the pain away but improved my posture, balance, mood, and started me on a path to a healthier lifestyle. I personally experienced so many benefits that I enrolled in yoga teacher training.
True Vibes Unleashed actually started as a brand name for teaching yoga to other pet professionals, and it was well-received. When I was ready to register True Vibes as an LLC last year, the perfect space had become available. It was love at first sight. Once I was ready to move forward, Nick Fedor of the Shaker Heights Development Corporation worked closely with me to guide me in the right direction, network with people who could help, and answer any questions I had; and he was instrumental in helping me get the space ready.
On Working and Living in Shaker Heights: The help I received from the City gave me so much confidence, especially because I found out I was pregnant with my first child during the process. It had been a goal of mine to live and work in Shaker Heights before I had children. I moved to the Winslow neighborhood two years ago and I am in love with the community and how child- and dog-friendly it is. I’m very excited to work so close to home and raise my son here. I love visiting the Van Aken District and I recommend that area for my clients. They’ve already found their favorite shops to visit while they wait for their pet to be groomed. I was always a fan of University Heights Nutrition, so when I found out they opened Shaker Heights Nutrition (on Lee Road) I was ecstatic. Now I can have my shake with a New Mommy booster more often. Heinen’s makes a great fast stop to pick up a few groceries, and 3-19 Coffee is also a great stop before work for their tasty breakfast sandwiches. I rarely have to leave the area for any of my needs, which gives me more time for my growing family.
Contact: True Vibes Unleashed, 3702 Lee Road. To book appointments visit truevibesunleashed.com or call 216-600-TRUE (8783).
