A family business which has seen sales more than double in the past year is expanding.
A new grooming parlour will join Pet Van Store at Kingswood.
Owners Paul and Leanne Nightingale have taken on a second unit at the community retail park developed by Priority Space on Monks Way. Now LA Dog Spa will open in early December.
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The additional 1,000 sq ft will also provide the business with a larger stockroom facility to the rear of the premises, from where they’ll be able to load up delivery vans as part of the 海角视频 delivery service.
As dog ownership has rocketed during successive lockdowns, online customers have increased from 150 to 5,000, with footfall in the store also up by 50 per cent every month since it opened six months ago.
Paul said: “We’ve built the business both through our website and in-store over the past year and now need more space to meet rising customer demand for our products and services in both directions.
“We’re not just a High Street or online retailer. I’m proud to say we’ve developed a real rapport with both the people who come into the shop and those who contact us online and over the phone. Our aim is to offer the best possible advice on nourishment and care of pets whatever their needs.”
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The Pet Van Store sells 2,500 products online and specialises in good diet advice for dogs and cats, especially those with allergies or health conditions, as well as specialist food for more rare pets.
Its online sales of fresh locusts and mealworms for reptiles have rocketed from five packets a week to 250 since being launched three months ago.
Paul says the hybrid business model of ecommerce and community-facing sales has been core to their success; and their spacious, easy-access Monks Way premises has proved the perfect base to meet both sides of the business.
“Without a doubt the business has thrived on having both an online sales outlet as well as a community-based shop.
“Monks Way looks smart and is a great place to be based. We love serving the people of Kingswood and Bransholme face-to-face and we’re part of an excellent little selection of community shops and services for convenience here. We hope the new dog spa will prove another asset to our customers.”
The LA Dog Spa, which will be run by Leanne, with colleague Amanda, will offer clipping, stripping, washing and grooming and all other pet care services.
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Pet Van was founded in 2019 when the business was run entirely from its company van and focused on deliveries of specialist pet foods direct to customers’ doors. It moved into its first premises in Partington six months later, before establishing itself at Monks Way in June.
The company still delivers direct to people’s doors within 48 hours, using couriers rather than self-delivery.
Director of site owner Priority Space, Adam Richardson, said: “Paul and Leanne have put in such a lot of work to develop their business against the backdrop of the global pandemic and lockdowns, and we are delighted that Monks Way is proving such a great location for them to operate both their online and local community-facing offer.
“At Priority Space, we are committed to developing commercial properties which help local enterprises meet the needs of local communities and contribute to economic growth.”
Monks Way is part of the wider Kingswood development of 1,700 new homes by the Hull Citywide Developer Partnership.
Paul found the retail park when driving around and house-hunting on the new Kingswood estate.
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