Waggle Centre turns one

Monday 03 June 2024

A number of lessons have been learnt leaving the owners with a paw-sitive outlook for the future, as Guernsey's Waggle Centre celebrated its first anniversary.

Leon Botes, who owns Creature Comforts and the Waggle Centre with his wife Michelle, told Express that they are delighted with how the dog grooming, day care, and retail centre is progressing after 12 months in business.

While Creature Comforts is a long standing local shop having opened in 2011, popular with a variety of pet owners, the Waggle Centre only opened its doors a year ago. Mr Botes said they've learned a lot of lessons during that time. 

Even getting to the opening day - 3 June 2023 - wasn't always easy, with Mr Botes saying they experienced challenges finding premises and then kitting it out ready for their customers.

They faced all of those challenges and celebrated their one year anniversary with customers - of both the four legged and human variety - over the weekend.

"It's the same business but in two locations," explained Mr Botes, describing the differences between Creature Comforts; a retail shop, and the Waggle Centre; a multi service facility. 

"We were always being asked for dog walking, and kennels, and day care and it evolved from that. 

"We couldn't find the right premises for a while, but when we found this place it was perfect.

"We found we could do dog grooming, day care and retail all on one site - it was just perfect."

That site is at Lowlands Industrial Estate, off Braye Road in the Vale. The actual building used to be home to a large sports retailer but it was vacant when the Botes business came looking. 

"We've got masses of parking, and we're easy to get to. We're all on one site and people can get to us easily," said Mr Botes. 

With a large retail floor space and stock rooms, the building itself wasn't just ready for use as a shop - it was ripe for conversion into the multi use business facility it is today. 

Mr Botes said the offering at the Waggle Centre is so unusual, that they don't know of any other business in Europe, or even further afield, that is run in the same way. 

"We've looked and there's no where else in the northern hemisphere doing all three services on the same site so we're unique and that's good - it works."

Those three services - dog grooming, a day care facility, and a shop - all compliment the retail offering at Creature Comforts in the Bouet, along with the Saturday socialisation sessions for dogs, and the dog walking service, both offered through the Waggle Centre too. 

Mr Botes said the weekend's celebration of the Waggle Centre's birthday was also a reflection of the hard work put in by himself, his wife, and their staff - all while dealing with the challenges that face many local businesses. 

"We can't complain at all," he said. "We're learning all the time. We learn what goes right and what we can do next time. We've been here a year now and we're still learning, but it's going so well and we're really pushing ourselves forward now."

One challenge the Botes' family business has had to repeatedly contend with is roadworks.

A problem facing many businesses, and many residents and motorists too, but one which Mr Botes said has really affected their original shop in the Bouet. 

"The road closures are a big problem for us in the Bouet," he said. "We lose 70% of business when the road is closed.

"At least 70% of people just can't get to us, or they go to different places. Some don't come back, but most do - we have some very loyal customers, but some do go elsewhere. The road works really do affect us a lot."

While it may seem like the Bouet is closed more often than not, Mr Botes said he understands that's not the case and the roadworks are essential. They still cause challenges for businesses like his though.

So far, the Waggle Centre hasn't been negatively affected by road closures on Braye Road, but he's already aware of one planned six week road resurfacing project which will see Braye Road closed in stages from early next year.

"It's the quietest time of the year so that's good but it'll be the first time there's been a closure like that while we've been here so we don't know how it will affect us," said Mr Botes. 

"A week here, two days there, you add it all up and you've lost months worth of business. It has to happen. It's not easy though."

As he reflected on the first successful year in business as the Waggle Centre, Mr Botes said overall it has been a positive experience. 

"These early days can be challenging, all of them have been a learning curve - but we're getting there."

There were other challenges they faced - aside from finding a suitable location, and roadworks impacting their Bouet shop - but, looking back, Mr Botes said they took them all on, and have succeeded in marking their first year in business. 

"We did everything ourselves," he remembered.

"We couldn't get tradesmen in or they had long waiting lists so we did everything ourselves. But it's paid off so we've been celebrating this weekend.

"it's been hard work but we're so pleased."

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