Your dog’s new best fur-end: Pip & Paw

Fresh from three years of working for H&M in Australia, Phillipa Purdy returned to her home of Whitley Bay last year ready to swap her 22 years in retail for a brand new venture – and em-bark-ed on a months-long journey of training and examinations to finally realise her dream of working with dogs as a professional groomer.

Fast-forward a year, and Phillipa now has a her own dedicated premises at Whitley Lodge: Pip & Paw. And she’s ready for business.

Pip & Paw represents a major change in direction for Phillipa, who began a high-flying career in retail 22 years ago as a window dresser. Joining global retailer H&M, Phillipa began working nationally to manage new store openings before her services were required to expand the brand internationally. After working in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore to help provide a seamless expansion of the brand into new markets, Phillipa accepted a role on the west coast of Australia, where she remained for three years.

Phillipa’s globe-trotting career in retail never allowed her to indulge in her love of dogs.  Now that she’s back in her hometown, she has not only been able to welcome her own dog, but she also gets to spend every day meeting new four-legged friends in the comfortable surroundings of her grooming salon. 

‘There has been a huge increase in dog ownership locally following lockdown, as more and more people find that working from home supports their ability to own a puppy. It has been lovely getting to meet so many new customers recently and I can honestly say my new career is everything I hoped it would be!’

To book your pup in for an un-fur-gettable trim at Whitley Bay’s paw-some new groomers, visit Pip & Paw’s Facebook page