A hopping mad idea, now a thriving business
Lisa Newton of Hop Inn in Stonesby PHOTO: Tim Williams
WHEN Lisa Newton of Stonesby first mentioned the idea of setting up a holiday retreat for rabbits and guinea pigs her friends thought she was joking.
A year later her business is booming, so much so that she has registered her company’s trademark and begun selling unique toys for much-loved pets.
The Hop Inn holiday home near Waltham-on-the-Wolds offers pet-owners an alternative to relying on the neighbours to look after their small furry friends when they want to go away.
Animal-lover Lisa transformed a barn and outside space on her land into a secure housing environment for rabbits and guinea pigs in April last year and has been inundated ever since, caring for up to 400 pets to date.
She started out on a shoestring budget, spending £600 over five months to purchase, clean and paint second-hand chicken coops for rabbits and rabbit hutches for guinea pigs to resemble beach huts.
Since then she has reinvested her earnings into designing and having made her own branded Hop Inn toys, which are being sold at Downtown on the A1, Natural World, Syston, Amazon and on her company’s website.
She said: “After the giggles about my business plans died down, my best-friend of 43 years said, ‘Lisa if you are going to do it - do it properly.’ I feel she always sits on my shoulders when I am making plans, it’s been great advice to follow.”
l Visit www.hopinn-info.co.uk
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Weather for Melton
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
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