Holly & Lil Dog Grooming on TBR

Very interesting thread.

I suppose it's all a matter of choice. And isn't it nice that we have that?

We thought we'd give H&L Groomers a go (with our labradoodle), even tho we have a good groomer already, who charges £38 for a wash n' cut.

H&L did an amazing job (and it came to £63 all in). The groomers really do know how to do a specialist cut, and you can tell the difference between our usual cut and this 'premium' one.

It's a bit like flying. You can have a perfectly acceptable flight in economy, but if you want something a bit special, turn left and enjoy Club!

We're going to mix & match going forward!

Sandgrown Dave wrote:

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.

As I read it - and I will be corrected if I am wrong - all Maurits opined was that it was very expensive and that the price list would preclude certain sections of the community from using the services and that, in his opinion, that was not a good thing. Personally, I tend to agree with him, but that's neither here nor there. However, I stand by my view that Maurits has not "slated" the business. He hasn't come out and said: "Holly and Lil offer an awful product, they're rubbish..." He has stated the fact that they are very expensive. They are.

Gavin Smith wrote:

However, I stand by my view that Maurits has not "slated" the business...

Gavin, as I said it would depend on your definition of "slated". Leaving that semantic issue to one side, the point I was trying to make is that you said to Elaine: "all that has been pointed out is that yours is a very expensive product" - but that is not all. Maurits went further, not just commenting on their pricing but stating that their presence on TBR is a bad thing for the area.

I guess it comes down to one's interpretation, Dave. Personally, I didn't interpret Maurits' post as slating Elaine's business I interpreted him as saying that Elaine's business charges prices which would exclude a large proportion of local residents and that in his view that was not a good thing for a diverse area such as this (TBR), where lots of people are on low and moderate incomes. Elaine is clearly passionate about what she does and I have all respect for that. The fact remains however that her grooming service is expensive in comparison to others and the prices exclude many potential customers from using her services.

There are lots of examples of inclusive businesses on TBR. Machine is a prime example, selling expensive and not so expensive bikes, as well as good coffee at reasonable prices. There is something for everyone.

Just for clarity again I feel I must join in... there are things in the shop local people are enjoying.
We have food and mugs and cards and gifts, etc, in the shop starting at £1.50. More to come as we settle in. We will also be stocking Nutriment as locals have asked us too.

We welcome most people with a happy smile and dog joy, even if they do not have dogs. That is worth something too surely?
We have been in the area 8 years and most of our staff are local people - a few of whom were born and bred in Bermondsey St.
And if our groomers are a bit more expensive - and if you research prices NOT massively. Then it is because we offer highly trained gals.
There is a place on Bermondsey St for traditionalist George the Barber and also for Andrew Browns, funky crew. Both have co-existed and traded happily together for nearly 8 years. But they offer massively different services at very different prices, though they are both called 'hairdressers/barbers'.
Not all are equal and a store in another area may not be paying the rates and rent we are now paying at TB Rd.
All of us in Bermondsey St have created a lovely atmosphere and hope to bring that to Tower Bridge Road. I still believe we do and will and hope to see many of you in there.