How Pets Villa overcame cash flow barriers in order to expand

Established in 2021 as a small pet shop on Hurst Street, Birmingham, Pets Villa quickly became a top online pet product retailer, offering over 10,000 items for pets. With its popularity soaring, Pets Villa took a major step in June 2024 by opening a flagship store on Bromsgrove Street in Birmingham city centre.

Pets Villa aimed to create a one-stop shop for pet owners, combining creative, fun pet products with daily essentials like pet food. As demand increased, they saw a need for a dedicated fulfilment centre to manage the sales from their store and online. However, cash flow challenges stood in the way of this necessary expansion.

To address this, Pets Villa joined the Founders’ Collective through the Business Growth West Midlands Investment Readiness programme. This decision connected them to valuable financial guidance and options, providing critical insights into funding choices and helping to shape their growth strategy.

Joining Founders’ Collective gave Pets Villa access to a supportive peer network and introduced them to diverse finance solutions. As a result, they could move forward with confidence and clarity. Over the past year, Pets Villa achieved impressive milestones, including a 103% growth in sales, thanks to new sales channels and creative marketing strategies. They are now preparing to open a larger retail store, further extending their reach.

Alongside their expansion, Pets Villa has created over 10 full-time jobs, contributing to local employment. Their upcoming store will offer an even greater selection of pet products, reinforcing their role as a leading retailer in the pet supplies industry.

With a clearer understanding of funding options and a well-defined growth plan, Pets Villa is set to continue growing and adapting to meet customer needs.

Reflecting on the experience, Frank Bao, founder of Pets Villa, encourages other businesses to explore the Founders’ Collective programme: “No matter what stage your business is at, join the programme. The sessions are incredibly inspiring.”

Vernon Hogg, business finance specialist at Oxford Innovation Advice, praised Frank's achievements, noting, “Frank is an inspiring entrepreneur with a robust business plan. His new, larger retail space in Birmingham city centre will be opening soon, while the online side of Pets Villa continues to grow steadily. The Founders Collective programme has played a pivotal role in supporting his business journey.”

Founders’ Collective has given Pets Villa the financial knowledge and connections needed to continue thriving, making it an ideal programme for other businesses looking to overcome financial barriers and achieve growth.

Find out more

Investment Readiness is delivered in Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country by Oxford Innovation Advice, and by C&W Business Solutions in Coventry. Learn more about BGWM Investment Readiness Programme and the Founder’s Collective. Learn more about Pets Villa.

Talk to us about this programme and other opportunities to access finance.