Unleashing potential: How LDBF helped Wild Dogs open the door to growth

Access to the right funding can be a turning point for any business. For Wild dogs a £50,000 business loan through Let’s Do Business Finance unlocked new opportunities, enabling the business to grow, invest and take the next step in its journey

In June 2024, Kristian and his wife Shelly took the first step on a completely new path, as Shelly decided to leave her career as a solicitor behind. Driven by their shared passion for dogs, the pair began exploring opportunities within the pet industry. Through extensive market research, they quickly uncovered a gap close to home. Witham lacked a local supplier of high-quality raw dog food.

With a clear opportunity identified, Wild Dogs launched from a small unit on a local industrial estate, with a strong focus on quality products and customer experience. The business quickly gained traction through word of mouth, building a loyal and growing customer base and establishing itself as a trusted destination for local dog owners.

Unlocking Growth Through Funding

As the business continued to grow, the original unit quickly became a limitation. Restricted space began to impact stock levels and availability, making it increasingly difficult to consistently meet customer demand. When the opportunity arose to move into a larger unit, Kristian began exploring how to make that next step possible.

After building a connection with Robert, Business Manager at Let’s Do Business Finance, through a local Witham Industrial Watch meeting, Kristian reached out for advice. With a clear understanding of the business and its growth potential, Robert was able to guide him through the funding options available opening the door to the next stage of growth.

“Robert came to see the business once we were up and running and said, ‘you could definitely get funding for this.’ At that point, we were already starting to outgrow our first unit, so it came at exactly the right time.”

3 dogs sitting on a road eating dog treats

Building a Better Retail Experience

With a Start Up Loan of £50,000 secured, Wild Dogs was able to bring its next stage of growth to life. Moving into a larger unit not only increased storage capacity but also transformed stock management ensuring products were consistently available and customers could rely on the business. The new space also allowed Kristian and Shelly to refine the in-store experience, creating a more welcoming and well-organised environment for both customers and their dogs.

Following the move, the impact on the business was immediate. Despite relocating during a typically quieter retail period, Wild Dogs saw a 7% increase in turnover compared to the previous quarter equating to an average uplift of around £1,250 per month. This early growth highlighted the value of the investment and the positive effect of having the right space and infrastructure in place.

warehouse space with fridges containing dog food and frozen treats for dogs

A Community led approach

With a strong dedication to both the business and its customers, Kristian and Shelly have created more than just a retail space. Following their expansion, Wild Dogs has grown into an even stronger hub for local dog owners, giving people more space to come together, share advice and build connections.

By listening closely to customer feedback, the business has continued to evolve in line with its community, expanding its range to include specialist Canicross gear and gundog training equipment, alongside extending opening hours and refining the in-store experience. The larger space has allowed them to better respond to customer needs while strengthening those relationships even further.

“We want to be a place people can come to for good advice and quality products. People spend a lot of time and money on their dogs, so it’s nice to be part of that and help them get the most out of it.”

Driven by Passion and Hard Work

Despite the business’s rapid growth, the journey has not been without its challenges.

“The biggest challenge has been switching off, it’s completely all-consuming. There have been nights where I’m here until 2am and back in again early the next morning. It’s full-on, but it’s driven by wanting to make the business work.”

That growth hasn’t happened by chance. In the early days, Kristian and Shelly reinvested every penny back into stock and growth before taking a wage prioritising long-term success and enabling the business to scale quickly in a challenging economic climate.

Looking Ahead

With Wild Dogs new and improved unit up and running, Kristian and Shelly are excited for future plans. From expanding their online store to offer nationwide delivery to hiring new staff to help manage the day to day running of the shop, this next phase will help them to dedicate more time to developing the business behind the scenes.

However growth is being approached carefully. Rather than scaling too quickly, the focus remains on getting each stage of the business right before moving onto the next ensuring long-term sustainability and maintaining the quality experience customers have come to expect.

Reflecting on the Journey so far, Kristian adds:

“Make sure you love what you do, because it does become your life especially in the early days. And don’t be afraid to ask for help, listen to feedback, and keep improving. If you do that, you’ll keep moving in the right direction.”

you can visit the Wild Dogs website here to find out more information: https://wilddogs.co.uk/

Let’s Do Business Finance is an accredited delivery partner for the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loan Scheme, supporting new businesses under three years old across Surrey and the South & East of England. We provide loans of up to £25,000, coupled with mentoring, guidance, and local expertise to help entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality: https://www.letsdobusinessfinance.co.uk/lets-start-up