Commitment to Skin and Hair Care: The True Bespoke Care That Mr. Imamura of "LUCERA" Prides Himself On [Cheers Member Introduction Vol. 3 (Part 1)]
Hello everyone! This is the CHOKIP Marketing Team ☺️
On June 3, 2026, which marked our 2nd anniversary, CHOKIP launched a team called "CHOKIP Cheers," composed of groomers who use CHOKIP daily or are involved with CHOKIP, along with the CHOKIP members themselves!
What do we want the grooming industry to look like in the future? What kind of work styles do we want to see spread? To achieve that, what mindsets, knowledge, and techniques should groomers acquire? This is a team where we think, act, and share information together about these topics 📣
For our third interview, we are introducing Yoshiki Imamura, the owner of the highly popular grooming salons in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture: "Dog Care Salon LUCIANNA" and "Dog Care Salon LUCERA by LUCIANNA" 😊
In this first part, we will delve into Mr. Imamura's origins as a groomer and the "bespoke care" that LUCERA prides itself on.
The starting line of an unwavering dream: Deciding to "have my own shop" in junior high school
— Please tell us what inspired you to become a groomer.
I have loved animals very much since I was a child, and by the time I was in elementary school, I had already decided,"I want to work in an animal-related job."A major turning point while holding onto that desire came between the time I was in 6th grade and entering junior high school.
My parents told me, "There is a job called a groomer, which is a hairdresser for dogs," and that sparked my interest. I went to visit a grooming salon where we always took our dog for grooming.
Seeing them actually working, I felt a strong attraction to it even as a child, thinking, "This looks like so much fun."
From then on, by the time I was in junior high school, I had been walking toward my goal, thinking,
"I will become a groomer," and "Someday I will have my own shop."
Every staff member possesses correct skin knowledge. The "bespoke care" that LUCERA prides itself on
— Please tell us about your salon's "unique commitment" or strengths that you feel are second to none.
Regarding the"skin care and hair care"that we have set as our shop's concept, I believe we are fundamentally unbeatable.
At first, I was self-taught, but there was so much information on the internet that I didn't know what was correct, so I worked hard on studying for certifications.
Of course, there are some differences, but since the structure of the skin has commonalities between dogs, cats, and humans when it comes to the basics, I thought basic knowledge could be applied. So, although it is aimed at humans,I obtained Grade 1 of the Cosmetics Certification. Even now, I am ordering and studying textbooks for the Cosmetic Ingredient Certification, which specializes in ingredients.
As for our commitment to treatments, we call it"bespoke care,"which means performing care that is suited to each individual child.
I am committed to ensuring that my employees, including myself, have the knowledge to propose and perform care tailored to each individual dog.
— You opened your second store, "LUCERA," this April. What was the trigger for that?
Honestly, I didn't really anticipate opening a second store at this timing myself. I was thinking about it in a vague way, hoping to do it eventually.
The trigger for the opening was receiving a referral from someone saying, "This property is available."
The space was large and seemed to fit what I wanted to do in the future, so I thought this was a chance for me and took action.
"LUCIANNA" means "elegant light" in Italian."elegant light"I compare dogs to light, and I believe that a dog in a family is an existence that illuminates the home with light. I put my heart into the wish that this elegant light will always remain cute, clean, and healthy, shining within the family.
The new store, "LUCERA," has the implication of focusing on that "LUCIANNA" light like a spotlight. The fundamental concept is the same as "LUCIANNA," but "LUCERA" uses the large space to offer food that provides care from within the body through retail, and we have set up a space for dogs to exercise (a dog run), so we arefurther strengthening support that leads to health.
~To be continued in the second part~
Mr. Imamura has established care that gets close to each individual dog with overwhelming knowledge. In the first part of the interview, we delivered his professional commitment and the behind-the-scenes of the challenges he has walked as a business owner.
In the second part, we will delve into the "discomfort" Mr. Imamura feels toward the grooming industry and his "employee-first" approach to ensure staff can truly work happily.
Look forward to it! 🐾