The owners of pet shop that specialises in selling parrots have spread their wings to a neighbouring property to increase sales and storage areas.
Midland Parrots, which has been based in James Street, Coalville, for four years, has moved into a former computer sales and repairs shop on the junction of James Street and Belvoir Road, the town’s main shopping thoroughfare.
This expansion means the shop has five times more space and better exposure in the town centre.
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The shop sells more than 1,000 different items – from ‘beef sausages’ for dogs costing 20p, up to parrots costing more than £3,000 each.
As well as parrots it also sells budgies and finches, small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs and reptiles such as tortoises, snakes and bearded dragons.
It also sells pet food, treats and toys, cages, bedding, health and medical items and accessories.
Pre-Covid-19, it would attract pet lovers from across the country including as far as the Isle of Wight. Such is its reputation it also sends products to customers across Europe, America and even Australia.
Business owner Bob McClumpha and co-director Heather Wright said the £25,000 investment in the expansion was also a new start.
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In addition to the shop opening seven days a week Bob has a stall at Long Eaton market every Saturday.
He said: “With this move we are hoping to get a lot more footfall now we are on a main road.”
Bob, 67, said for him and his partner Diane Gray, birds were not just a business but a passion.
They get up at 5.30 every morning to feed and clean more than 100 birds at home, some of which are used for breeding, some of which have been re-homed.
After Bob leaves the shop after 5pm it’s a case of looking after the animals again until late at night.
Bob said: “The birds are our family, they give us so much pleasure with their antics and conversations.
“They are good companions.”
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Bob said he also hoped pet lovers who visited the shop will help with the cost of looking after more than 70 unwanted birds that he and Diane have taken into care.
The pandemic hit business revenues, particularly a parrot hotel that Bob and Diane run for birds while their owners are on holiday.
He said the cost of catering for the birds is up to £100 a month.