A pet-product retailer secured £50,000 Business Loan to fund further growth
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Fauna (Fauna & Friends Limited) are a London-based, design-led lifestyle brand specialising in premium products for dogs and their owners. They produce a wide range of pet accessories from toys to collars to dog clothes.
Founder, Laurian Wright, is a lifelong pet owner, growing up in West London surrounded by dogs, cats, chinchillas, hamsters, guinea pigs, and fish — an experience she describes as “the best kind of total chaos”. In 2020, she established Fauna when she identified a gap in the pet accessories market for products that combine style, practicality, and quality craftsmanship.
The business was a success and by 2025 was experiencing rapid growth, and with it the need for further investment. In the autumn of last year, she came to First Enterprise for a £50,000 Business Loan to help expand the business.
A love for animals fuelled an innovative and creative approach to pet products
Laurian adopted Farah, a wildcard rescue dog, and went searching for pet essentials to buy her, such as beds, bowls, leads, crates, and treat bags. Yet, the products she found were typically cheap, flimsy, made of plastic, or overly “cute”. Nothing seemed to fit her lifestyle, home, or dog.
Rather than accept defeat, it inspired her to build a unique pet-focused business for dog-owners that care about design and quality. Fauna was born.
Fauna stocks products made-to-last, designed to fit in with a real home, and chosen with dog’s genuine enjoyment in mind. They celebrate independent brands and are working towards establishing their own unique range of products.
That’s where funding comes in.
A £50,000 Business Loan through the British Business Bank’s Community ENABLE Funding (CEF) programme has allowed Fauna to:
Expand its product range
Strengthen its marketing activity
Purchase additional inventory
Hire new talented staff members to support its ambitious growth plans.
Since its launch, Fauna has attracted a growing base of design-conscious, urban pet owners with above-average disposable income. However, to meet rising demand and compete in a premium market, the business needed to scale quickly.
Vital funding through First Enterprise and the British Business Bank has helped Fauna unlock the next stage of their growth journey.
Funding has enabled a thriving pet business to fulfil its long-term potential
Laurian said of her Business Loan: “The funding has given us the confidence and resources to take Fauna to the next level. It allows us to scale thoughtfully, invest in design innovation, and build a team that shares our vision for redefining pet ownership.”
Her Investment Manager at First Enterprise, Lottie Naylor, shared her enthusiasm, saying: “It’s fantastic to see how the right finance at the right time can empower innovative businesses like Fauna.
“This funding will help them scale, expand their product range, and reach more customers with their unique offering. It was a pleasure to work with Laurian, and I wish her and Fauna the best of luck going forward.”
Danielle Davis, First Enterprise’s Deputy Director, understands the importance of providing much-needed funding to businesses like Fauna, saying: “The UK needs more successful, creative, and growth-driven businesses, especially those with female founders.
“Fauna is an excellent example of a woman with a great idea, establishing a solid business, and using funding proactively to fuel further growth. I hope we see plenty more businesses like Fauna access vital finance and achieve success in the near future.”
With funding secured, Fauna is continuing to make a difference, not just as a retailer for bespoke pet goods, but as a UK company focused on ensuring sustainability, ethical practices, and involvement in the community.
Fauna donates 5% of profits from its flagship products to the Dogs Trust Freedom Project and fosters a loyal community of Faunatics through early access to launches and exclusive benefits.
Funding. Growth. Impact. It’s a process we firmly believe in at First Enterprise and love to see in action.
A Business Loan could help you take your business to the next level — get in touch today!
Laurian saw her business rapidly grow and understood that investment was needed to meet demand. A Business Loan helped her unlock the next stage of her journey.
Accessing finance at the right moment could provide your business with a similar boost.
Our team of Investment Managers are ready and waiting to provide advice, guide your through your application, and ensure that when you make the decision to take on a loan, you do so with confidence.
To discuss options, reach out to our team today by completing our enquiry form below or by calling 03456 027 355.
Laurian’s love of animals brought to life a business that helps make dogs and their owners feel happier and more pampered. Funding could help bring your own ideas to life and see them grow.
