Buddies Pet Daycare Boarding and Grooming in Las Vegas kept missing calls while staff were in the back with dogs or busy with walk-ins, and callers went elsewhere. Now the AI answers unanswered calls, takes the details, and texts and emails a transcript to the owners. It can also transfer callers to a person.
Business type: Salons & spas. Tool used: Upfirst (AI receptionist). Result: The owners say staff now know what a message is about before calling back, so they can jump right in.
Source: Upfirst case study (Company case study) · Added Tue, Oct 20 · Last updated 2026-10-20
The owners say staff now know what a message is about before calling back, so they can jump right in. (as reported by the source)
Guide: AI receptionist for small business: real examples and how to set one up
Our own prompt for copying this setup. Swap in your details. Not quoted from the source.
You answer calls for [Pet Daycare] when staff can't. Ask the caller's name, their pet's name and what they need (daycare, boarding, grooming, a question). Stay calm and polite even if the caller is upset. Say a team member will call back soon.
A WhatsApp agent answers salon clients any time, checks the schedule in Google Sheets, books, moves or cancels appointments, and sends 24-hour reminders to cut no-shows.
A Chicago barbershop was missing calls while barbers were cutting hair. It set up an AI receptionist that answers calls, checks each barber's open times, books visits, texts confirmations, and gives walk-in wait times. The vendor's case study says the shop booked 55% more appointments from calls that were previously missed, within 60 days.
Mermaid Hair Extensions, with salons in Kirkland and Seattle, closes at 6 PM, and staff came in each morning to a long list of voicemails. Its AI receptionist, named Ariel, now books and cancels appointments in Phorest and answers questions about extensions, prices and services, any time.