18. Mount Lawley Pets and Puppies

Founder: Rose Wilson

Revenue: $1.1 million

Year started: 2009

Head Office: Western Australia

Employees: 5

Industry: Retail

Website: https://www.mountlawleypetsandpuppies.com.au

When Rose Wilson began to acquire puppies which she sold on for a profit in her spare time, she had little idea that she would be overseeing a million dollar business. However, her hobby has turned into a burgeoning pet empire.

Wilson specialise in small cross-breed, non-allergenic, non-shedding puppies. Set in the well-to-do Perth Suburb of Mount Lawley, her business has discovered a strong demand from consumers with decreasing living space but increasing instances of animal allergies.

Strongly opposed to the traditional, cramped pet shop method of housing puppies, Wilson initially found it difficult to find suitable premises for the business. Her proposal to have the animals roam free within a residential or business premises was rebuffed by various Perth councils.

Mount Lawley Pets and Puppies finally launched in 2009 after Wilson discovered a run-down pet shop in the nearby suburb of Inglewood. The owners wished to retire and, with the introduction of spacious puppy enclosures, the concept of an ethical pet shop selling speciality puppies was born.

In little over a year since Wilson invested savings and a retirement package to create the business, Mount Lawley has topped $1.1 million in revenue.

“The growth of the business has been a little astonishing,” says Bob Wilson, Rose’s husband. “What was a very run down business is now a very busy and thriving community pet shop. We have shipped puppies to various states and the far reaches of Western Australia. “

“The success of the business is because people see the puppies are very well treated and very healthy. They are assured that the puppies come from trusted and licensed breeders and definitely not from puppy farms. There is a tremendous abhorrence of puppy farming from WA people.”

“We have had many accolades from people from all around Australia and many overseas visitors because no one, to our knowledge, has ever let their puppies run and play in the open air and customers, and others, can come in and pat and hold the puppies.”