A Buckingham dog groomer has assured customers that her business will not close, but will relocate.
Natalie Ayris announced the closure of her Woofs and Washes dog grooming salon in Cornwall Place one month ago, on February 2.
Natalie, aged 28, told the Bucks Herald that a rent rise made the premises unaffordable. a two-week trip to visit her sister in Australia had inspired her to emigrate.
It was a tough decision for Natalie, with her business gaining a loyal following since it opened in September 2017.
Natalie’s company has even been nominated for the Animal Stars Awards 2023.
Natalie asked around for another salon that would rent a table to herself and her two groomers, Sophie Beacon and Nicola Evans.
On February 10, she was overjoyed to inform her customers that Woofs and Washes would be operating from The Mutt Hut in Tingewick beginning in May.
Natalie said: “I messaged a few groomers and then the following day had The Mutt Hut respond to me to say that she’d be interested in me running a table.
And then later that week she told me there was space for two tables so now all three of us can go, and alternate on Saturdays”.
“It is absolutely lovely that she’s done that, it’s really helped us out. We’ve all got that sort of stepping stone and the girls can decide what to do, and when I leave for Australia in January, the girls will keep the company running so that they can continue the legacy of it.
“We do have a loyal following. So many of our customers commented on the original post when I said we were closing, and they’ve all said that they want to stick with us and they want to follow us.
“And for now I’ve got the rest of this year to sort of ease the transition for them, get them so that they feel comfortable with either Sophie or Nicola, so that they can continue to stay with Woofs and Washes and know that their dogs are going to be treated the same, and know that we follow the same ethics.”
