Member Article

Dog Grooming Business Secures Building Lease Marking Start of £50k Investment

A dog grooming and day care business has signed a three year lease on the 2223 sq ft Gough Building in Headingley, Leeds.

Mrs B’s Dogs, founded by Mel Sheard in her garage during lockdown, is growing fast and has an ambitious five-year business plan.

Planning permission has been granted for the changes required ahead of the business’ relocation in February 2022. As well as including a change of use for the former retail outlet, Mel has big plans for the design and fit-out of the interior and has appointed an interior designer to maximise the space and achieve a very specific look.

The company is investing £25k in the new premises which will see it completely redesign the building’s interior. The ground floor will be home to the reception and a dog day care centre with capacity for 16 dogs in various rooms including quiet and agility areas. The first floor will be converted into a state-of-the-art grooming salon.

A further investment of £25k is planned later in the year including the development of a mobile app which will enable customers to log in to the day care area’s cameras to check on their dogs as well as see where they are on walks via collar trackers.

Mel said: “I’m thrilled with the way the business has taken off. We’re right on track with our business plan and will be recruiting more staff.

“We provide a real home from home environment for the day care dogs. We’re like a huge family and I think that’s why we’ve been so successful so quickly. People are returning to work and their dogs just aren’t used to being home alone.

“I adore my job and to be able to combine the hands-on element of grooming with my vision for what I want the future of dog day care to be like, is like a dream coming true.” Over the next five years, Mel plans to open a further 10 premises in the Yorkshire region as well as an academy to train dog groomers.

She concludes: “We’ve got so many exciting and innovative plans for Mrs B’s Dogs. Signing the lease on the Gough Building was just the beginning.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jane Wright .