A new business is braving the gloomy economic climate and hoping to inject some fun into Nelson retail using man's best friends.

Tomorrow, Jane Collins will open Pet Fever in Collingwood St, in the premises where home interiors store Abode used to be.

Pet Fever will be officially opened on September 1.

Ms Collins said she understood that the store would be the only pet retailer with live animals, other than fish, after the closure of Petz'n All in Rutherford St.

Zamskys Ltd, the company that ran Petz'n All, went into liquidation in June, with an estimated deficit of more than $360,000.

The new store will sell a range of animals - rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchilla, chinese quail, turtles, fish, puppies and kittens - with some already in stock and others due to arrive later this month.

Ms Collins, an animal lover, said she wanted to open the business to spread the enjoyment and fun of animals, despite the harsh retail climate which has seen several Nelson retailers close this year. It is the the first retail store she has owned, after relocating from Singapore with husband David Rycroft.

"People still love animals and have pets despite the economic climate," she said.

"The idea behind the shop is for kids to bring in their parents to have fun and play with some of the animals."

Abode has moved in with lighting store Lighthouse Nelson in Collingwood St.

- © Fairfax NZ News