Something to Wag About

Elissa Nally began working with the SBDC in 2019 as she started her dog grooming business. Center Director and Business Advisor Shannon Byers was able to help her lay the groundwork for a solid business plan and financial projections, as well as offer a unique perspective as the previous owner of a similar dog grooming business! Byers advised Nally through the CEI Wicked Fast Microloan application process which led to the funding needed to open their doors! 

Less than a year later, things were going well enough to be exploring expansion options when the COVID pandemic hit. Byers was one of the first people Nally reached out to for guidance when the future became uncertain. Together they worked through the safest options for her and her clients, emergency funding options, management issues, and then some. The PPP loan Nally was awarded got them through the worst of 2020, then came a different kind of problem. Due to the lockdowns and the boom in pet adoption, the demand for dog grooming became more than the company could handle! In December 2021, the team expanded into their new location in Ellsworth offering doggy daycare and a grooming center!