The ditty from which Adam Rodway's York venture takes its name may be dotty, but "...give the dog a bone" gift shop is doing very nicely in knick-knacks, thank you.

In fact the word has so got around about that owner Adam Rodway has doubled his stock orders of everything from pink elephant watering cans to 1950s alarm clocks, broadening his already eclectic range of jewellery and greetings cards.

Now "...give the dog a bone" has been entered in both the New Business and Retailer of the Year categories of the 2004 Evening Press Business Awards. Winning would be the final endorsement of the decision taken by Adam and his Dutch wife, Nicole, to move out of central London, where 12 years of trading ended as rent rates doubled and congestion charges were about to be introduced.

Updated: 11:18 Thursday, September 16, 2004