Maidenhead Small Business invited to Downing Street to mark Small Business Saturday

A small business from Maidenhead, Berkshire was one of less than 100 from
around the countryinvited to represent the UK’s 5.2 million small
businesses in Downing Street on Friday to mark the UK’s second Small
Business Saturday the following day - on December 6th - when small,
independent businesses in communities across the country were put in the
national spotlight.

Multi award winning Poodles and Pompadours designs and makes pet
accessories inspired by the 1950's and runs a pet grooming parlour
following the same theme. Owner Hayley Woodham will attend a Small
Business Saturday Christmas fair inside Downing Street to be attended by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne and businesswoman and The
Apprentice star, Karen Brady.

Small businesses around the UK planned events, promotions and other
activities to attract clients and customers to them both on December 6th
but also as a way of creating a mindset for people to more readily think
of doing business with small, local companies. Already more than 30,000
small businesses around the UK have engaged with the campaign on various
social media platforms, many of which have downloaded marketing packs and
posters to display on their premises.

“The first Small Business Saturday last year was an exceptional example of
collaboration and co-operation with small businesses teaming up in
communities around the UK,” explains National Campaign Director Michelle
Ovens.

“We always said we wanted this to be the start of something amazing; a
regular event that shines a light on small businesses throughout the UK in
a way which is hugely beneficial to both the local and the national
economy. Small Business Saturday reinforces that message and demonstrates
the level of diversity, innovation and talent that is active within our
small business sector,” Michelle adds.

Michelle goes onto say that, with 5.2 million small businesses in the UK,
the chances are that if you don’t own one, then you work for one or know
somebody who does.

“This isn’t some abstract economic concept,” she says. “This is personal.
It’s about getting out and supporting your friends, your neighbours and
your family members and reinforcing your local community and economy.”

Speaking about Small Business Saturday 2014, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, George Osborne, comments:

"Britain's small business owners deserve our support. They are the ones
who take the risks to create new opportunities and new jobs, that show off
British ingenuity and innovation and I am glad that once again they will
be able to be the focus of all our attention and support."

Small Business Saturday UK has attracted the support of leading business
organisations including Federation of Small Businesses, the Association of
City and Town Management, Association of Convenience Stores, Northern
Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, as well as corporates like
American Express, O2, Lloyds Bank and NatWest and prominent entrepreneurs
Theo Paphitis, Karren Brady and Martha Lane Fox.

More information on Small Business Saturday, participating retailers and
details on promotions and other incentives to ‘shop locally’ can be found
on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturdayuk) Twitter page (@SmallBizSatUk)
and website (www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com).

Booking Your Christmas Appointment

**Please note that we are now fully booked until December 5th.**

November and December are extremely busy months on the grooming calendar. If you would like your pet to be groomed before Christmas please book your appointment in now to avoid disappointment. We already have limited availability for December and our Bath & Dry only slots for Christmas Eve are filling up fast!

We have a special Christmas Grooming Menu with some fabulous festive treatments available too so please ask us about these in The Parlour when you come in for your appointment.

You can also book your pooch in for a Bath and Dry only on 23rd of December or Christmas Eve to ensure they are looking beautiful for your family Christmas photos.

If you would like to book in please call us on 07577 466996 or do so via the Appointment Request page on our website.

Merry Woofmas!

Hayley x

Fireworks: Keep Your Pets Safe

Our top 5 tips for keeping your pets happy tonight during the fireworks:

1. Keep them inside. Many dogs will get spooked whilst walking during fireworks and can run away  and get lost.

2. Make them a safe den to hide in with plenty of blankets. Let them snuggle up inside and feel safe.

3. Shut all doors, windows and draw all curtains in the house. Block out as much of the light and sound as possible.

4. Do not leave them alone unless absolutely necessary. They need you to feel safe. If you can't be there, please get a trusted pet sitter to be with them.

5. Use relaxing aromatherapy techniques and relaxing music to create a calm environment for them. Scents to use for dogs include Lavender, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang. Scented candles featuring these 3 main ingredients will work a treat. Light a lavender candle a few hours before the fireworks start to give the scents time to take effect. 

Stay safe! X