A YOUNG businesswoman’s new venture has proved so successful in just her first couple of weeks that she is planning to employ her first staff this summer, writes Adam Drummond.
Caroline Gray opened Dogs Body Design in Kelso’s Woodmarket two weeks ago, and has been inundated with customers to the extent that she is now booked up a week in advance.
In addition to dog grooming, Caroline sells homemade treats and handmade dog coats and bandanas made locally.
She has been helped by the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust.
“They were really helpful when I was first looking to set up the business,” Caroline told TheSouthern. “They got me a business advisor, Karen, who helped me to put a business plan and cash flow plan together, and now Scott McLean is my business advisor.”
She added: “They help people to find available funding, which is especially important in the current economy as the banks are so reluctant to give people loans.
“They helped me get a £5,000 loan to help with the start-up costs and I also got a £250 grant which was used to see if the business was going to be viable.”
Caroline trained for a year before taking up a post in a dog grooming salon. She then moved up to managing a salon in Newcastle.
However, when she decided to move back home to the Borders she decided it was “now or never”if she was to set up her own business.
Caroline said: “It has been really good so far, and it has been quite busy.
“I was thinking that it would be a year before I looked to employ anyone, but it has been so busy already that I am booked up a week ahead, so I’ll be looking to employ someone through the summer.”