The finishing touches are being put to the new Jollyes store in Poole, Dorset, which opens at Unit 1C, Wessex Gate East Retail Park, at 10am on Saturday (August 20).
Excitement is building ahead of the official opening of the 5,000 square feet store which will employ 10 colleagues, led by acting store manager Tom Amos.
Jollyes has prepared a paw-sitively enthralling line-up of events for owners and their pets, including the search for Poole’s best pets which begins today on community station Hot Radio. Lucky winners will each get a £35 Jollyes voucher and will be invited along to the opening event.
The Rev Bryony Morrison, of St James’ Church, close to the Poole store, has graciously agreed to bless pets and their owners before opening at around 9.50am. Accompanied by her two border collies. Revd Morrison is planning a full pet blessing service at St James’ on Sunday, August 28.
And, with crossed fingers, subject to no last minute change of plans, one of Poole’s most famous residents, Barney the dog, has accepted an invitation to attend - along with Barney’s Dorset resident owners Harry and Sandra Redknapp.
Barney will take his lead for the opening from BCP chairperson Cllr Nigel Hedges and Hot Radio’s Karl Davies.
The full line-up of opening day events include:
- Hot Radio live-linking from the opening
- The winners of Hot Radio’s search for the cutest pets collect their prizes
- Rev Bryony Morrison from St James’ Church, Poole, gives the store a blessing at 9.50am
- A planned appearance by Barney the dog alongside owners Harry and Sandra Redknapp
- Special guest, the chairperson of BCP Council, Cllr Nigel Hedges
- A chance to win prizes on Jollyes’ iconic ‘Wheel of Fur-tune’
- Goody bags for the first 100 customers
- sample testing
- balloons for kids.
Jollyes’ regional manager, Matt Godwin, said: “What better way to get the new store started than with a blessing? It’s going to be a very exciting day, with a great line-up of events and some well-known faces.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming owners and their pets from Poole and the surrounding area into our new store and to playing our part in the local community.”
Jollyes has announced more details of the ranges available at the new store, including dog and cat food, toys and accessories, food, treats and accessories for small pets, birds and fish. It will include Jollyes’ exclusive Lifestage dog food range, including dry food, trays and cans and its premium Lifestage Artisan dry food.
In the weeks after opening, the store will also host a Community Pet Clinic, offering regular health checks, vaccinations, flea and worming and microchipping.
As the first Jollyes store in Dorset, the Poole store will complement Jollyes outlets in neighbouring counties of Hampshire, Somerset, Devon and Wiltshire, including Bridgwater, Chippenham, Congresbury, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Waterlooville.
Backed by Kester Capital, Jollyes has more than 80 stores across the UK. In addition to recent openings in Stockton-on-Tees, Southport, Stirling, Wrexham and Cookstown, Jollyes this year acquired Penparc Pet Centres with five stores in the Midlands. New stores are due to open this autumn in Glenrothes and Edinburgh, as Jollyes continues to search for new locations across the UK.
