Holly & Lil Dog Grooming on TBR

Thats the whole point Gavin, whats is the point in simply stating somewhere is expensive without even trying the service - so is the Ginger Pig, a cocktail in the Shard and so on - the whole thread is somewhat defunct.

Anyway, they get my wholehearted support.

Very glad to see the reply from Holly & Lil. If people can't afford or don't like the prices then don't go to this shop. But choosing to highlight a small independent business like this on social media in this negative manner and then make the spurious link with 'social cleansing' is quite frankly ridiculous.

Jinkazama wrote:

Thats the whole point Gavin, whats is the point in simply stating somewhere is expensive without even trying the service - so is the Ginger Pig, a cocktail in the Shard and so on - the whole thread is somewhat defunct.

Because the price is enough to put some people - myself included - off. I'm sure they provide a good quality service, but whether that warrants in some cases the charge doubling from other establishments providing the same service is questionable.

Some people have more money than sense. Our Lab goes in the bath and is dried off with a towel. Job done. Cost: zilch.

The point is that someone chose to pick on this particular independent local business, which strikes me as rather unfair and not a terribly healthy way to use a forum like this. Was it really necessary? It's not difficult to find out how much they charge. So is it really a productive thing to do for the community?

Full disclosure, we bought a lead and collar from Holly & Lil about 5 years ago. It was bloody expensive but it is beautiful and the service received was exemplary. Never been back as the collar is as good as the day we bought it and will probably last a lifetime. I would recommend the place to anyone if they can muster the cash to indulge their pet pooch.

maurits's point about "[keeping] the shops and services accessible to a wide range of people" is a perfectly reasonable subject to debate, and his original post is very measured - as indeed are many of the replies.

The tone adopted by the person who emailed the shop is another matter, and I don't condone or welcome that.

Gavin's summary at the bottom of the previous page of this thread is spot on in my view.

Thanks Gavin and that is cool - think the email from ''Arsefeck Wibble'' telling me about this conversation being on the forum and enjoying people giving us 'a good kicking on the SE1 website.'' was what made me feel sad.
I apologise if I felt defensive.
I will keep quiet now I promise.

Elaine,

I think its great you are on TBR.....and i haven't even got a dog. Diversity its whats its all about.

good luck.

I will leave you all in peace now - I did feel a bit sad at the email from Arsefeck Wibble, (seriously?) who was the one who enjoyed informing us of the fact we were ''getting a good kicking on the SE1 website.''
I guess I did feel a bit defensive and it was a repeat of the way this forum greeted us 9 or 10 years ago.

But hey ho I will leave you all in peace and thank you for allowing me to say my bit.
Our groomers - like our collars - set themselves high standards, they have trained for years and compete and win all awards. They are the top of their tree because of that - not because they worked in Harrods.
Oh goodness off I go again... sorry...

I don't have dogs any more, sadly, but I absolutely love holly and lil, both for the dottiness of it all and the fact that I can go in there and do a bit a vicarious patting. I'm pleased they're here.

Gavin Smith wrote:

However, from my reading, all that has been pointed out is that yours is a very expensive product. No one has slated your business...

But - depending on what you understand by "slated" - Elaine's business has been, by Maurits, who has opined that a new shop offering expensive goods/services is undesirable for Tower Bridge Road, being a spearhead of "regeneration" and even a step towards social cleansing.
Personally I'm very happy to see a shop space being occupied by a business that's (a) independent and (b) not a payday loan/bookmaker/charity shop. As for being high-end, if it moves the TBR average a little more in that direction and adds to the diversity of the mix, I think that's all good.