Largs: Pooch Pod pet shop and groomer to open in town

Lynsey Ewing, 42, is excited about her new shop opening in the former Ivory Mac premises in Brisbane Road, later this month.

The former school office lady, who attempted to open a doggy day care centre in Largs last year, says it is a case of one door closes but another opens, as she is looking forward to the business opportunity.

The Pooch Pod is due to open on August 21.

Lynsey, who is an experienced dog groomer, said: "I was still receiving so many calls looking for my dog grooming services, and thought, why not make it into a business opportunity, 

"I have not managed to find the perfect place for the doggy day care centre, so I thought, why not approach the owners of Ivory Macs, and look to open a dog grooming salon instead.

"It allows me to focus on having a pet shop area for dogs when you walk in, and then there is a door through to the back area where the dog grooming stations will be.

"It is interesting to focus on retail side of things, and it has always been something I have been interested in exploring and now I have the perfect opportunity."

Lynsey says she has not forgotten about her doggy day care plan and still harbours a hope that she can one day open such a facility if she can find the right location - but she says in the meantime, she wants to concentrate on getting her new business up and running.

She said: "I have been dog grooming for many years so when the shop opportunity came along I thought it was an ideal site to grow that side of the business and take it to the next level."

Lynsey is looking to employ three groomers, and the grooming salon will be open five days a week from Monday to Friday along with the shop which will also open on a Saturday.

She continued: "I have hired an assistant called Cara McCabe and I hope to be able to train her up as a dog groomer in future. She is only 17 and full of enthusiasm, and I can't wait to get her started, as I am a great believer in nurturing, and developing young talent in my new shop."

Lynsey is well known to many in the town in her role as education assistant at Largs Primary, and she is also a recognisable face from starring in Largs Amateur Operatic Society's acclaimed production of Calendar Girls in March.

She is married to husband Ross, and has three children Lily, 19, Mitchel, 16, and  Blair, 12 and has two Labradoodles, Clemmy and Gia.

Lynsey's new shop has real family ties, and she thanked her brothers David, who is a local electrician, and Gary Thomson,who is involved in kitchens, bathrooms and extensions, for being 'super creative' with the new look of her premises.