What started as a simple solution to a frustrating problem has grown into one of the North West’s most successful dog grooming businesses. Glynis Stewart, from Moreton, set up Trendy Pooches in 2009 after struggling find a suitable groomer for her dog and has since become a leading figure in ethical dog grooming and training.
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Seventeen years after opening its doors in a garage in Hoylake, Trendy Pooches has become the Wirral’s largest dog grooming company, boasting nine thriving salons, a specialist training academy, a best-selling book and an ambitious franchise programme that is helping groomers across the UK launch their own businesses.
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At the heart of the success story is founder Glynis Stewart, whose entrepreneurial journey began in 2009 whilst working as a busy estate agent. Like many dog owners, Glynis struggled to secure regular grooming appointments for her beloved pet. Frustrated by the lack of availability and seeing an opportunity in the market, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
After training as a groomer, she converted her garage into a grooming salon and began taking bookings. Within a year, demand had exploded. “My diary was completely full,” Glynis recalls. “I realised there was a real need for a professional, caring grooming service in a largely unregulated industry and that this could become something much bigger.”
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With appointments flooding in, she made the bold decision to leave her estate agency career behind and focus on Trendy Pooches full-time. It proved to be a life-changing move. Over the following years, the family-run business expanded steadily across the region, building a reputation not just for high-quality grooming but for putting animal welfare at the heart of everything it does.
Glynnis said: “One of my greatest achievements has been seeing my two daughters Nicola and Sarah become successful business owners in their own right. Each owns their own Trendy Pooches salons, as well as playing an important role in the continued growth of the business and helping develop our exciting new range of professional grooming products. Their fresh ideas creativity and passion has been invaluable.”
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Today, Trendy Pooches is recognised as one of the UK’s pioneers of holistic, fear-free dog grooming. Central to that philosophy is the Tellington TTouch method, a specialised training and handling approach that helps animals feel calmer, more confident and more comfortable during grooming and other potentially stressful situations.
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Glynis explains: “The technique combines gentle bodywork, including circular touches, lifts and strokes, with groundwork exercises designed to improve confidence, balance and body awareness. TTouch is used to reduce anxiety during grooming appointments, veterinary visits and unfamiliar experiences. It can help nervous, reactive or fearful dogs feel safer and more relaxed whilst strengthening trust between dogs and handlers.”
Every groomer at Trendy Pooches receives training in the method, ensuring that dogs are cared for with patience, understanding and empathy rather than force. “It perfectly aligns with our holistic ethos,” she continues. “We believe grooming should be a positive experience for every dog. It’s about cooperation, trust and understanding the individual needs of each animal.”
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Glynis has become one of the UK’s leading advocates for fear-free grooming, spending 6 years travelling around the UK doing seminars at grooming events and educating other dog groomers in The Tellington TTouch Method. She has co-authored the acclaimed book Dog Grooming Without Fear Or Force, which has become essential reading for many professional groomers and animal care specialists. Her expertise has resulted in Trendy Pooches becoming a trusted choice amongst dog owners in the North West.
Her passion for education has also led to the creation of the Trendy Pooches Training Academy, which is helping shape the next generation of grooming professionals. The academy offers an intensive 25-day Diploma programme that leads to a fully Ofqual-approved Level 3 qualification. Students not only learn professional grooming techniques but are also trained in the TTouch methodology.
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For those wanting to take the next step, students can also become Trendy Pooches franchise partners. Having spent nearly two decades refining systems, building a trusted brand and creating a loyal customer base, the company is now sharing its expertise with entrepreneurs looking to enter the booming pet care sector.
Franchisees can choose between a traditional salon-based model or a mobile grooming business, offering flexibility depending on lifestyle, investment level and local market opportunities. “We’ve spent years developing a proven business model,” explains Glynis. “Our franchise partners benefit from extensive training, ongoing support and a trusted brand that customers already know and love.”
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The company was also the first in the UK to introduce a self-service dog wash concept, available at its Wirral salons, and it continues to innovate within the industry. Trendy Pooches is preparing to launch its own range of premium shampoos and grooming products. The new collection has been developed to reflect the same holistic, high-quality approach that has become synonymous with the brand.
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For Glynis Stewart, it is the latest milestone in a journey that began with a single grooming table in a garage. From one woman looking for a better solution for her own dog to a business employing teams across multiple locations, training future groomers and helping franchisees achieve their dreams, Trendy Pooches has become much more than a dog grooming company.
It has become a blueprint for how passion, innovation and a genuine commitment to animal welfare can build a thriving business. And with new products, new franchise opportunities and continued expansion on the horizon, the future looks brighter than ever for the Wirral-born success story.
Trendy Pooches / 9 Oakenholt Road, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 8TP / 0151 678 2041
FOR DOG GROOMING, TRAINING ACADEMY OR FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES VISIT THE WEBSITE OR CALL 0151 678 2041
