I needed Aldous Animal Care

So in the last few weeks we finally got round to using the kids Christmas presents from last year, tickets to Harry Potter studios. We went on a Saturday night, stayed in a hotel ready for an early time slot on Sunday morning. 


However, before we left, we came across the dilemma that many people do, which is what do we do about the dogs whilst we are away? They've never been in kennels and I needed them looked after for about 24 hours. 


The irony is, that I needed someone such as Aldous Animal Care to look after my own dogs. Thankfully we have some brilliant friends who were able to help us out on this occasion. But what if they weren't able to, and we couldn't find anyone to look after them? 


Do you feel that you have asked your friends and neighbours just one too many times?  This very scenario is what contributed to the idea of setting up my business. It’s a situation that many pet owners come across. You can still have pets but still enjoy days out or weekends away without the stress of worrying about who is going to feed the cats or walk the dogs.


I needed someone like me offering the services I do.


Hence the title of this blog!!


MY FIRST BLOG

I'm visiting my first customer tomorrow, I'm super excited hence being awake at stupid o'clock writing this!! 


The feelings of setting up a new business are indescribable, it's literally a rollercoaster of emotions. From fear, worry, and concern to excitement, happiness and pure adrenaline.


I started my business at the end of September and had obviously done some research prior to starting. But I was overwhelmed by the support of my friends and family who were genuinely encouraging towards my future plans.


I started with the simple businessy stuff, logo, email, domain and moved onto creating a website which I certainly hadn't done before, designing leaflets and business cards, and then checking them about 300 times before sending the order to be printed.


Normally waiting for a delivery is a mundane job but not when it's your leaflets that you've designed (with help from hubby!). It felt like something from a film, taking the box from delivery guy, carrying it to table and ripping the box open for the first glimpse, and then getting the overwhelming sense of being so proud of something that you've created.


The afternoon of publishing my Facebook page I received my first enquiry, I could've have shouted it from the rooftops, but had to settle on running round the house instead.


My first few enquiries came from friends, then I got an enquiry from someone I didn't know. Excitement at this was off the scale, as the realisation came that by people sharing my new venture, someone outside my friendship circle was interested in me and my exciting new business!! My name was out there. I was getting more bookings and I then received two bookings in one evening, oh my goodness I was ecstatic.


So far I've got bookings for dogs, cats, chickens and gerbils. But even had enquiries about mini-pigs.


I feel super proud of what I have achieved in such a short space of time and without the support of my husband, kids, family and friends. I would never have been in a position to write this blog. 


So I would like to thank every single person that shared my posts, liked and followed my page, recommended me to other people and continues to support me.


I am truly overwhelmed by the positivity and support.


Who knows what the future holds but from where I am at the moment it's looking good.