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6 bd 3 Continued from page 3 "I think anyone who's Thursday, June 24, 2021 | & heart" " said’ B Melanie | Fra- z zer, executive director of & the Halton | Hills Chamber Z of Comm “They rove their busi- ness model, they believe in their product and they're willing to take a risk. If you look at those businesses, aust energy behi plenty small businesses, have opened locally over the past 15 months that lo- cal residents may not have noticed as they don't have storefronts, such as those doing bookkeeping, taxes, marketing and social me- se people may have been laid off or at risk of losing their jobs during the pandemic and decided to fulfill their dre: wning a busi- ness, noted Frazer. One new service that does have high visibility is Pampered Pooch Spaw & Boutique, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary on Mountainview Road South in Georgetown. “Things are going very, ry well — greater than I ever er expected" said owner Deborah Rule. "I can't be- lieve I wake up and have a job to come to at all, let alone my own business.” Since opening, Rule has been so busy that she had to hire two 0 groomers to keep up wit mand that's tn eentted from e influx in people adding puppies to their families Ly pl pies — it's non-stop," oting she and her staff are also striving to ed- ucate new dog owners about grooming, suggested frequency, etc. ‘he local business was impacted by the province- wide closures that hap- pened from December to February, which Rule said was challenging for her groomers as they weren't making an income during that period. But once they reopened, Rule said Pam- pered Pooch's loyal clien- tele returned full force, with their calendar being booked up to mid-July al- ready. "The community's over- whelming support has ex- ceeded my expectations," she said. “It's been a very successful year. In downtown Acton, an- other entrepre! she has also experienced great success since open- ing last July. Concept Leather Com- pany owner Zina Pallister has been busy creating a Local businesses drive our community. Join Desjardins Insurance in proudly supporting Georgetown by choosing local businesses. and cannot be held liable for the quality, use or misuse of such products or services. Pampered Pooch Spaw and Boutique owner Deboral COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES ‘0\ ‘OVERWHELMING Melanie Hennessey/Metroland ih Rule, pictured with French bulldog Bullseye, is so busy since opening last year that she hired two groomers. wide variety of handmade leather products, from horse equipment and jack- ets to motorcycle gear, handbags, wallets, custom pieces and more. Things are going so well npany, underwriter of theifp.ca for the new venture that Pallister just moved across the street to a bigger, more minent location. "It's been quite a ride, I'll tell you that," she said. “First, there was the initial fear, the same as any other business that opens at any time. But the people in this town are incredible. As soon as they found I was here, a lot of them went out of their way to be support- ive." With an increased focus on shopping local, she said her customers are excited ucts as she can source. "It's a sector of the econ- omy that has kind of gone by the wayside, but I think it's becoming more impor- tant to people," she said. indemic restric- r into her new location for hands-on classes. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to local entrepreneurs who chose to open during the pandemic are doing now. Diyrons CUISINE lilythaicuisine.ca yun oryed on main uncorkedonmain.ca O Desjardins Insurance