Paige Hudson of Tidy Tails mobile dog grooming, with South Wairarapa Mayor Alex Beijen. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
MARCUS ANSELM
A unique Wairarapa business has received a cash boost from the Mayoral Task Force for Jobs [MTFJ].
Local pet groomer Paige Hudson overcame the challenge of starting up a new business during the covid-19 lockdown.
And her determination to succeed was rewarded with a heaving calendar of appointments, and a $3000 cheque from the task force.
Hudson believes her Tidy Tails company is Wairarapa’s only mobile dog groomers.
A trained groomer, she invested her savings in a van and kitted it out and hit the road.
Within days, the covid-19 lockdown was announced, and the business hit an immediate roadblock.
She made contact with the MTFJ.
South Wairarapa District Council [SWDC] was among the rural districts signed up to the taskforce, a partnership between Local Government NZ and the Ministry of Social Development.
SWDC was part of the pilot MTFJ Community Recovery Programme.
It received $100,000 to run a pilot for six weeks to the end of June, to help find jobs for a minimum of 30 people not in education, employment or training, or who lost jobs through covid-19.
Hudson was one of the recipients of that funding, and South Wairarapa Mayor Alex Beijen said he was “delighted” to contribute towards helping to finance the van.
The pilot has now been expanded across 23 more councils, including Carterton.
The extended programme would provide up to $500,000 per rural council to create a minimum of 50 sustainable employment positions.
Tidy Tails’ mobility has proved crucial.
With a clientele largely restricted to home through lockdown, Hudson’s ability to travel was an added bonus for pets in need of a lockdown trim.
She says that anyone could follow in her footsteps, but they had to be up to the challenges presented to new business owners.
“Get an idea of what would be your ideal situation and try to find any reason to get it done.
“There’s always going to be reasons why you can’t.
“But if you find the right resources, and the right people to talk to, keep that idea in mind, because it may very well come true. If I can do it, anyone can.”
Find out more about the MTFJ online at mayorstaskforceforjobs.co.nz.
-NZLDR
