Dog grooming salon in Melton in running for prestigious award

The Dog House was set up by co-directors Anna Pollard and Selina West a year ago and is based in a barn at Roots Farm Shop, in Barkby Thorpe,

It has just been short listed in the Best Rural Start Up Category in the prestigious Rural Business Awards for the Midlands.

Anna said the salon had gone from strength to strength with the co-directors overcoming a series of challenges from undertaking a full refit of the barn to seeing off tough big brand competition.

She said: “It has been a true labour of love.

“It’s been a pretty full on year to be honest and when we entered we did think that it might have been a bit premature.

“But, if the last year has taught us anything it is that you have to throw yourself in to opportunities when they present themselves.

“We had nothing to lose. Just to be short listed is amazing and gives us the confidence to know that we’re doing something right.”

Selina says, “We’ve approached this business with all of the organisation and planning that you could imagine.

“But the reality is that it doesn’t always go according to plan.

“We’ve had a great support network and I think our flexibility and ability to adapt has been the reason we’ve done so well in our first year of trading.

She added: “We’ve still got a way to go before we reach our goal, but we love what we do and work so well as a team and that’s what makes it all possible.”

The regional finals are on October 11.