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s s e n i s Bu s e l i f ct no .1
Suspect no.2
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London Special
Suspe
Bundles of Joy
Toyella
PLEK
Suzanne Ellis www.bundlesofjoy-shopping.co.uk
Carl Shaw www.toyella.com
Geeta Chagan www.theplek.com
Having run a successful similar business in London, Suzanne moved to the countryside and whilst discussing with friends the difficulty of trying to find gorgeous gifts for the little people in their lives, she decided to set up Bundles of Joy, which provides a service to those who don’t live near shops or have the time to shop. And all started with a £1,000 loan from her mum!
Four years ago Carl saw an unusual toy in a magazine feature. After embarking on an online search, it revealed retailers did a very poor job of promoting the toy’s benefits. Carl wasn’t filled with confidence when entering credit card details into any of these websites either. He felt the toy market seemed neglected and very limited in its offering and believed he could do a better job.
What makes Bundles of Joy unique? Our exceptionally fast service makes us unique within personalising companies. If an order is placed for a personalised item in the morning, it should be sent out later that day, wherever possible. People often forget that a special occasion is round the corner or a new baby has just been born, and how lovely to receive your personalised gift within 24 hours, customers just love it.
What makes Toyella unique? Unique products, fair price and unrivalled service. We source the very best toys from around the globe. Many are unique to Toyella in the UK so they’re extra special gifts. Good design shouldn’t cost the earth and we make our toys accessible through our pricing. Toyella started from our own consumer experience as parents so service is paramount within our philosophy.
Geeta is a former director of her own art gallery, a show curater and art fair organiser. Geeta found that whilst she was pregnant it was physically tiring organising and hanging exhibitions. She decided to launch PLEK and work from home to be able to care for her son alongside still being able to work in an industry she loves. PLEK was an idea she had envisioned for some time, where she wanted to promote not only paintings but also handmade original products that are attainable and affordable.
How does running a business fit around family life? I have four children, all adorable at times, and I’m very lucky to have excellent staff who take on board my extremely high standards. Alongside this, I have a very understanding husband who doesn’t expect every dinner to be a gourmet effort. At busy times, I return to work at night and am never off duty, even on holidays - thank goodness for my Blackberry and Wi-Fi.
How does running a business fit around family life? A toy business has its pros and cons when it comes to family life. I have three children under 12 - a handy consumer group. It’s vital to see the their reaction to toys we plan to sell. On the other hand it can seem like Christmas every day and it’s hard to prise a sample from a five year old’s grip!
What plans have you got for the future? We’ve just launched our exciting nursery scheme. Nurseries throughout the UK can sign up for FREE luxury toys and books through their wish lists, supported by the parents who purchase their gifts through Bundles of Joy. It’s a win win situation for everyone.
What plans have you got for the future? Three years in we’re steadfast in following our original formula. It’s all about the products and the online experience so, simply, more unique toys offered to more people around the world. We are gradually moving into bedroom and playroom interiors and, when the time is right, we’ll have a showroom no doubt.
What makes PLEK unique? PLEK sells original art and products for the home and for little people. Each designer or artist has been hand picked for the quality and originality of their work. These pieces are also not found on the high street, so people can find something truly unique at PLEK that represents great value. How does running a business fit around family life? I work when my son is sleeping or napping, which is tiring but he will be going to nursery soon so that will help free up more time for PLEK. My husband has also been an amazing support and helps out when I need to make phone calls or makes dinner when I haven’t had time during the day. What plans have you got for the future? I plan to build on PLEK’s product variety and get more artists and designers involved and increasing their profile. Hopefully one day PLEK will be a shop and people can browse products in person and view curated shows in an informal space.
Greycoat Lumleys
Little Delivery
Claire Payne www.fablittleshop.com
Stephanie Rough www.greycoatlumleys.co.uk
Nina Elvin-Jensen www.littledelivery.com
Named after Claire’s three children (Florence, Amelia and Betsy), Fab Little Shop’s main inspiration derived from all three of Claire’s girls. A lot of time had been spent finding something different for them to wear, to brighten up their nurseries or to give as a gift. After admitting that she was envious of many family and friends’ delightful purchases, Claire set up Fab Little Shop to work as a platform selling site dedicated to little people and Fab products.
Greycoat Lumleys started life as Greycoat Placements about 15 years ago. The company decided to incorporate Lumleys into the brand 5 years ago after purchasing Lumleys Cooks. Their childcare and education services have always been a major part of their business and the company’s aim has always been to set the highest standards and provide the best possible service for both clients and nannies.
Following her career in property, Nina was fortunate enough to work with a start-up jewellery company where she learnt some key skills. Nina was left disappointed after searching high and low for christening presents for her nephew and decided she could offer something to fill that void. In 2012, Nina set up littledelivery.com, a website specialising in unique, personalised and beautiful gifts for children.
What makes Greycoat Lumleys unique? We have a friendly, professional team of consultants dedicated to providing live in and live out nannies, plus maternity nurses, housekeepers and private tutors. Our team ensure our clients get highly personal, individual attention, tailored to their needs. Our clients also love that we offer visits to their homes for face to face meetings.
What makes Little Delivery unique? I hope Little Delivery offers a boutique feel, with a treasure trove of beautiful and unique gifts. The site maintains a very personal service and we try to make shopping as quick and hassle free as possible. All our gifts are split into age categories so you can quickly find what you are looking for, and if you need your present gift wrapped and sent direct to the recipient we can do that too!
How does running a business fit around family life? A lot of Greycoat Lumleys staff are now mums but, luckily, we have plenty of cover support staff and very efficient systems, so we can be flexible about condensed working hours. We still manage to open extended office hours most weekdays because we understand our clients are very busy as parents.
How does running a business fit around a busy home life? I don’t have children yet and therefore my time is really my own. I love the sense of freedom in being able to choose my own schedule even though in reality, I know I work far harder than if I was employed by another company.
What makes Fab Little Shop unique? It’s a unique online children’s marketplace. We have the biggest range of products carefully selected for little people, made in Britain. We champion talented artists whether established or emerging, small boutiques and exciting new products. All of our products are produced to a high quality with a twist on the traditional. How does running a business fit around family life? Fab Little Shop started back in 2008, but falling pregnant with twins in 2010 meant all plans were put on the shelf. The twins are two now, so I have more time and independence to work. As a mum of three beautiful little females I have total admiration and support for mums working from home with their children by their side, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Fab Little Shop was launched on the twins’ birthday so I’ll never forget how far I have come. What plans have you got for the future? We have a number of great plans for Fab Little Shop, some are a little bit of a secret but if you ask one of my children, they will probably tell you.
What plans have you got for the future? We want to extend and cement our excellent childcare services beyond London and the home counties. Our international sector and our office in Scotland are doing brilliantly, so there isn’t any reason why we can’t build our nanny services to cover the whole of the UK.
What plans have you got for the future? Lots of plans are in the pipeline, but we are definitely taking things one step at a time. We will be looking to really kick start our wish list part of the site soon so you can share your present ideas with others. We have also recently started our Little Delivery’s Little Blog so will be coming up with lots of fun and advice for parents, including cute craft ideas for the kids.
London Special
Fab Little Shop
Molly & Monty
Lulu and Flo
Ruby and GINGER
Emma Craddock www.mollyandmonty.com
Lucy Williams www.luluandflo.co.uk
Liz Rhodes www.rubyandginger.co.uk
Just before Emma’s second son was born their family decided to relocate closer to her husband’s job. She gave up her job to focus on her family and to do something she’d always dreamt of, running her own business. Inspired by the lack of organic baby clothes at affordable prices, Emma looked into it further and found a gap for good quality, affordable organic clothing.
When Lucy’s daughter, Florence, was little she always bought her charming frocks whilst on holiday in Provence. Lucy admires the way the French dress their children. Florence is now fourteen and Lucy missed opening her wardrobe to a row of sweet floral dresses so decided to design her own collection and share the delights of ‘la robe’ with other parents and their ‘petite filles’.
Ruby and GINGER started from a ‘if only there was a...’ moment when Liz was out with her husband and 9 month old daughter Ruby who needed changing. Liz had shoved nappies and wipes into her handbag but it meant her husband couldn’t do the change without taking her beautiful handbag, Liz and her good friend Brenda decided to come up with a changing set that would fit inside her bag so they created the nappy purse.
What makes Molly & Monty unique? Firstly, it is our beautiful and original prints and the excellent quality of our clothes. Secondly, we have worked hard to keep everything produced locally as there are many advantages including environmental benefits, helping to build and maintain a better relationship with our suppliers and helping support our local economy. I’m very proud that all the processes, from the cotton fabric production through to the baby friendly screen-printing, are all done within 50 miles of our base in Oxfordshire.
What makes Lulu and Flo unique? I’m involved with every tiny detail. I design each piece, carefully choose my fabric and hunt for beautiful vintage buttons to match. The seamstresses at my atelier are really talented, experienced and dedicated to perfection, therefore the quality of our dresses is exceptional. The combination of both allows us to produce dresses to treasure forever.
How does running a business fit around family life? When you decide to run your own company and have children you choose to dedicate nearly all your spare time to work. In the day, I answer emails and speak to suppliers but I set aside the evenings, once the boys are in bed, to dispatch orders. At busy times, it’s tiring but I have fun with my boys!
How does running a business fit around family life? It’s all about balance and self discipline. I have three children and adore the noise and general chaos that family life brings. I often get up early to send any urgent emails. I work mostly when they’re at school and spend the odd evening in my studio at home adding finishing touches. Children grow up too quickly so working from home allows me to enjoy these precious years.
What plans have you got for the future? Hopefully we’ll keep growing and making more families aware of the benefits of organic clothing and that they can be affordable. I’d love to get to the stage in the next year or two where we are able to have our clothes available on the high street.
What plans have you got for the future? I’ll always maintain the style of Lulu and Flo and continue to source beautiful fabric, buttons and trims. I’m planning to introduce hand knitted cardigans and perhaps little coats next winter, overall I want to continue creating beautiful, timeless dresses.
What makes Ruby and GINGER unique? We have designed brand new innovative ideas like the nappy purse and car seat cover from our experiences - but we have also put our design spin on it by creating fabric patterns. We wanted our products to fulfill a need alongside being gorgeous and affordable too. All mums like to feel stylish but we also felt that it was important that our products were within reach of mums financially too. How does running a business fit around family life? The real answer is it just does, we make it work and if that means working in the evening so that we can do the school drop off or be at the assembly that’s what we have to do - fortunately Brenda and I have superstar husbands who have supported us every step of the way both practically and emotionally! What plans have you got for the future? We continue to grow the existing range into new shops and new countries every week. We’re always developing the products and fabrics! We’ve just relaunched in new gorgeous packaging which looks amazing on the shelves and they’re all water and dirt resistant too!
Cosyplay
Gambado Chelsea
Dr Kerstin Castle www.cosyplay.co.uk
Deborah Jones www.gambado.com/clubs/chelsea
By a twist of fate Linda, Nel & Sarah were all made redundant in early 2012. Linda and Nel, both with backgrounds in buying, joined forces with Sarah, a former merchandiser at the same company as Nel. They all shared the same passion to launch their own business.
Kerstin wanted to make the most of her maternity leave and knew that the most important part of bringing up her baby was to spend as much time as possible having fun, playing, chatting and singing together. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find any play mats that were large and comfortable enough for the both of them. From this, Kerstin started experimenting with memory foam, which is extremely comfortable and her adventure with the cosyplay mat began.
What makes Cocobaci unique? From our own experience we knew that finding the perfect baby collection under one roof was near on impossible. So we decided to create our own personal edit of the most beautiful clothing brands and unique gorgeous handmade gifts we could find. In addition, we’ve created a range of fabulous newborn gift bundles. We’ve also collaborated on beautiful exclusive jewellery and furniture collections. We believe we have created a simple but exquisite boutique where shopping is made effortlessly easy and enjoyable. How does running a business fit around family life? We’re certainly kept busy, but the beauty of having your own business is that you can be flexible and work around your children and family life. If anything we’ve all had to discipline ourselves to get a work/life balance as when working from home the work temptation is always there to keep going! We do everything in the business ourselves and thankfully we all have very supportive other halves. What plans have you got for the future? Having just launched, our priority is to ensure we understand our customers’ needs. We’re also in the process of developing our own Cocobaci baby range so watch this space!
What makes Cosyplay unique? The cosyplay mat is the only baby play mat made from memory foam for indoor and outdoor use. Memory foam is great for impact absorption too, preventing any bumps to babies’ heads. Cosyplay mats use antimicrobial, waterproof materials to protect the memory foam from any dribbles and wet ground. It also has a zip removable fleece cover, which can be machinewashed. It’s simple and practical in design, so it gets a huge amount of use, even beyond the baby age.
Over a decade ago, Gambado’s managing director lived abroad with his family, working within the fitness industry. During this time, they visited a small play centre which they really enjoyed, and thought how great it would be to bring a bigger and better concept to the UK, incorporating his passion for keeping kids active. What makes Gambado unique? We pride ourselves on providing a higher standard of product, service, and care of every member who visits us, and we hope this has been reflected in the awards we have won (such as best indoor play provider in the UK). We’re a small, close team who make sure everyone has plenty of fun, and we’re always striving to be the best! We want to make sure all our lovely visitors have a fantastic time, every time, as we understand that family time together is so precious with today’s busy lifestyle.
How does running a business fit around family life? Bringing up four kids and running a business is tough. There is no sugarcoating it. It just involves lots of work. Fortunately, I have a partner who is a constant source of support and encouragement.
How does running a business fit around a busy home life? It can be very difficult, particularly during our busier trading times, and I certainly don’t always get the work/ life balance right! I am often in trouble with my family and friends for being a workaholic, but I love it! Gambado and my team are such a huge part of my life, which I am passionate about helping continue to grow and develop.
What plans have you got for the future? The cosyplay mat has just received European patent grant, so it’s Europe here we come. Apart from that, I am also working on extending the range with more simple and practical solutions for baby playtime.
What plans have you got for the future? Our managing director is constantly looking to expand. We’re very proud to have six centres across the UK. We want to achieve becoming a larger, more national brand over the next few years – so it’s very exciting times ahead.
London Special
Cocobaci Linda, Nel & Sarah www.cocobaci.com
Forever Living Hesione Waugh hesione.waugh@yahoo.co.uk
Bumpalicious Maternity
Shaw Shots Photography
Amanda Rees www.bumpaliciousmaternity.co.uk
Olivia Shaw www.shawshots.com
Hesione is a mother of three teenagers. Although she enjoyed a career as a personal assistant she felt that the bonuses and benefits were not equally shared. She was then introduced to a new way of working by a company that inspired and excited her and now works with Forever which is a successful global company with a $2.6 billion turnover. Hesione is looking to recruit new members to work with her.
Working as a Lawyer through both her pregnancies, Amanda, mother of two, struggled to find maternity dresses. She needed to look smart for the office and then she needed dresses that were glamorous enough to wear to a wedding. It was with this struggle of finding the right dress that Amanda knew that the UK needed a one-stop shopping destination for smart and elegant maternity dresses.
What makes Forever Living unique? The products that Forever offers fit into many market places including skincare, health and nutrition, weight management and animal care. Forever is the only team marketing company to achieve the Gold and Champion award Investors in People, and gives you all the support and training you need to succeed. People who work with Forever come from all backgrounds, have varying skills and are working with Forever for different reasons i.e. extra income, better time management, flexibility, financial security etc.
What makes Bumpalicious unique? Our very personal service, I deal with every order myself. Also, our ability to have maternity evening and bridesmaid dresses made in many sizes, lengths and a selection of colours. This very bespoke service only adds a small amount to the usual retail price. It means that you can order a one-off maternity dress at a reasonable price. I also offer an at-home try service - much more pleasant than battling through the shops!
How does running a business fit around family life? I work from home around my children, in the nooks and crannies of a very hectic family life. I work approximately 10-15 hours per week, yet despite this I have an extremely good income, which increases month on month. What plans have you got for the future? I am now looking for people who want to consider an opportunity which does not compromise their current career, has unlimited potential, does not require investment and is flexible and can be worked from home.
Having graduated with a BA Hons in Photography, Olivia built a successful career as a music photographer (www. oliviashawphotography.com). She was inspired by this work but felt that she was more drawn to working closely with adults and children, in a more personal setting. Olivia focuses on capturing your little ones’ ‘real’ character whilst making people feel at ease with the camera. What makes Shaw Shots Photography unique? My goal at Shaw Shots is to offer a personal touch. Everything is done by me; the shoot, the editing, the accounts. I am my business and I love that. I always endeavour to capture your little ones’ unique character. I will come to your home or a location of your choice, to ensure the children are in familiar surroundings.
How does running a business fit around family life? It can be difficult at times but it just does. I work during school hours and in the evening when my daughters are in bed. Clients often visit at the weekend and my daughters are fast becoming little style advisors! I think it is important to show my girls that motherhood and work can go together.
How does running a business fit around family life? In between looking after my beagle puppy, spending time with my boyfriend, and looking after my lovely flat in Chiswick, life as a photographer is brilliant! I love that every day is different. It can be hectic, but it’s always interesting and I love nothing more than getting home from a shoot, making a cup of tea and downloading my images. That part is so exciting!
What plans have you got for the future? I intend to extend the range of dresses that we provide so that Bumpalicious Maternity becomes a premium brand in the very best maternity dresses. It is wonderful when a lady leaves the house with a huge grin on her face because she has a dress she feels wonderful in!
What plans have you got for the future? I plan to continue to develop as a photographer and allow my work to evolve. I love working on baby shoots and weddings and aim to find new and innovative ways to capture and record these special times of our lives. It’s important to me that my business grows.
Heaven Nutfield
Sally Preston www.kiddylicious.co.uk
Jen Walsh and Emma Loughran www.heaven-nutfield.com
As an experienced food scientist who started her career with 11 years at Marks and Spencer, Sally was well placed to challenge the baby food industry and the quality of the food we feed our babies and young children when she became a mum to Hannah and Jack.
After hauling their toddlers around Surrey, in and out of various classes, then off somewhere else to grab some lunch, Emma and Jen decided to try to create a venue that brought everything together under one roof. Heaven Nutfield offers classes and workshops, a crèche, pamper rooms, a fantastic childfriendly café, a play room and a gift shop, delivered with a real community feel.
What makes Kiddylicious unique? I founded Babylicious in 2002 – frozen baby food that copies what mums do at home; Kiddylicious (the first toddler meal range) followed when mums asked me what they should feed their babies when they were 11-12 months old. The brand has expanded being the first fruitbased UK snacking range for toddlers – we now sell Fruit and Vegetable crisps, Fruit Wriggles and Smoothie Melts to every major supermarket across the UK (sold from the baby aisles) and in the last 12 months has doubled their market share with new ranges being launch this summer. How does running a business fit around family life? Family comes first for the whole team. I’m happy for people to take time off for sports days or school assemblies; everyone makes up the time so the job gets done. I’ve a great work/life balance. I see Hannah and Jack every morning for breakfast, check emails and walk our dog - putting me in good stead for a busy day at the office. In the evening we sit down as a family and have dinner together. What plans have you got for the future? My ambitions are to expand and this is imminent. Kiddylicious snacks are about to be launched in the US and we’re just about to air our first TV ad on Nick jr.
What makes Heaven Nutfield unique? It’s not only the bringing together of all these lovely things under one roof, but also the warmth and friendliness of our staff who ensure guests feel well looked after every time. We’ve created a culture here that says it’s okay to admit that good parenting can be a challenge, and to accept help whenever it’s offered, and to laugh about it! How does running a business fit around family life? It’s the most difficult part – trying not to short-change our own children in the process of supporting others. We’re extremely close and trusting of each other, and have confidently parented one another’s children since they were born. We put “fences” round certain times where we refuse to answer calls so we’re available to the kids. What plans have you got for the future? We’d love to see Heavens rolled out across the UK and beyond. Right from the beginning we saw the potential for franchising this business. We both enjoy the idea of supporting others in the process of setting up their own Heaven. We’re just waiting, really, for the right people to knock on our door, ready for the adventure!
Helen Bartlett Photography Helen Bartlett www.helenbartlett.co.uk
As a child Helen loved spending time in the darkroom printing photographs of family and friends. Whilst her mother ran a nursery in Blackheath, Helen would often take photographs of the children. This sparked a love for capturing natural images of children and after university she knew that this was the career for her. What makes your company unique? I take beautiful images that are works of art in their own right, images that capture the personality of your child but also bring in the surrounding environment. This produces pictures that are totally unique, and not something you will see again and again from numerous photographers across the country. Our imagery is what sets us apart – our photographs make our company unique. Our customer service is also second to none, with a dedicated Studio Manager to ensure that the whole experience is effortless and enjoyable from start to finish. How does running a business fit around family life? Running a successful business can be an all-consuming affair, especially if you work at weekends as I do. Luckily my partner is very understanding! Loving what you do, as I do, makes the long hours worth it in every way. What plans do you have for the future? A long-awaited move to Crouch End is our immediate goal - I can’t wait to explore some of the different locations for photography in North London. We’ll also be in Rock in Cornwall over the August bank holiday – do get in touch if you would like to book a summer beach shoot!
London Special
Kiddylicious
Infinity Images
Bambino Merino
Because Tots Come 1st
Blanka Sadilkova www.infinityimages.co.uk
Rochelle Milligan www.bambinomerino.com
Michelle Foley-Daniel www.becausetotscome1st.com
Blanka’s grandad was a painter and photographer and she grew up in this environment. Blanka had always loved photography ever since she was a little girl. When she began taking portraits, the work started to snowball then one sunny day in 2006, Infinity Images was born!
Rochelle created Bambino Merino following the unexpected premature birth of her son eight years ago. Concerned about the health of her baby and the dangers of overheating, she sought out baby sleepwear made only from natural, breathable fibres to help ensure her son slept safely. With few quality merino garments available, Rochelle set about designing the first range of Bambino Merino baby sleeping bags and sleepwear from her New Zealand homeland.
Because Tots Come 1st’s story began after Michelle and her family arrived at their dream holiday destination only to find some of their luggage was missing. Immediately they panicked and wondered where they’d buy baby essentials late at night. Luckily they had a spare nappy and wipes left in their changing bag to last until they finally found a shop that was open but it didn’t fill them with perfect first memories of their holiday.
What makes Infinity Images unique? I believe this is for others to judge. I recently received a testimonial from Coca-Cola Public Affairs and Communications Director, Maire Campbell, which summarises my work, “Blanka is an exceptional talent, a complete professional and a pleasure to work with. She has a magical ability to relax people, capture mood, personality and perfect ‘moments’. As official photographer on one of our high profile sponsorships, Blanka showed versatility producing a range of photographs from excellent press shots to intimate portraits.” How does running a business fit around family life? My schedule is a constant juggling of work, travel and airports but through it all my family is the most important thing in the world to me. I know that sounds like a cliché but it’s the truth. They know how important my work is to me and they are very understanding of that. What plans have you got for the future? I loved being in Los Angeles when it was Oscar week. Then, from the red carpet, it’s straight to Africa, where I’ll be teaching photography and English at amazing charity, EDEN MOZAMBIQUE. It is a fantastic project which helps to educate children in order to secure them jobs as they grow older.
What makes Bambino Merino unique? Our focus is on practicality, quality and style and we’re often complimented on the practical features and elements of our designs. Hearing from parents that they find our garments easy to use and that they’re helping everyone sleep better is very rewarding. We listen to what our customers tell us they’d like and our past, current and future customers all influence our range. How does running a business fit around family life? I structure my working day around school hours and our showroom is just a short cycle ride from both school and home so it’s an easy circuit between all three. I work with a great team and between us we plan our week to enable the business to run smoothly yet each have plenty of family time too. What plans have you got for the future? A few design tweaks to some old favourites are on the way along with a new merino sleeping bag for babies to use on the move. We’re also expanding our export business and now supply over 30 countries with more in the pipeline.
What makes Because Tots Come 1st unique? Taking very small children on holiday can be stressful enough, even for the most organised parents. I wanted to create a unique service where parents wouldn’t have to worry about using precious baggage allowance or stocking up on baby essentials as soon as they arrived. You can get so many extras in your guestroom when you book a hotel, so why not baby essentials? How does running a business fit around family life? I’ve found that running my own business fits in brilliantly around family life. My children have been a part of Because Tots Come 1st since the start, for example, helping design the logo and deciding what type of bag to use for packaging. They already call it, ‘our business’. I have a very supportive husband and extended family who have been behind me from my ‘light bulb’ moment to where I am now. What plans have you got for the future? I’d like Because Tots Come 1st to become a name that is synonymous with stress-free, child-friendly travel and to expand outside of the UK.
Liz Benjamin Photography
Shubhra Smiles
Bhakti Natha www.loveyush.com
Liz Benjamin www.lizbenjamin.co.uk
Shubhra Lallu www.shubhrasmiles.com
Bhakti found inspiration from her own experience as a mother. Nursing her baby discreetly was a constant struggle with a normal scarf as it would either slip off or be pulled off by her inquisitive baby. The bulky apron type nursing cover was not practical enough to carry around and actually drew more attention while feeding. Unable to find anything practical in the market, she sewed her first Loveyush scarf and received lots of positive comments.
Liz has been taking photographs ever since she was a little girl. With an inherited interest from her dad who was a keen photographer, she would spend hours in the darkroom watching her pictures appear like magic. Liz has always worked in photography too and spent a few years as a commercial product photographer but always loved working in black and white. After having her little girl she decided children’s photography would be her new direction as it was much more fun-filled and unpredictable.
Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Shubhra Lallu felt an ever-increasing demand for aesthetic treatments during her years in practice. After having her baby, it was far more logical to create a practice that provided flexibility for patients and herself with her centrally located rooms and accommodating availability. She focused her practice to cosmetic dental treatment and facial aesthetics. It worked so well that patients then referred their friends and so on, and since then the business has grown organically.
What makes Loveyush unique? The Loveyush scarf is practical and stylish. Its simple yet clever design makes it easy to wear, just slides through, even with one hand, provides full coverage and you can maintain eye contact with the baby. When not nursing, you can use it as a fashion accessory which can be styled in many ways. The trendy design gives an elegant touch to any outfit. It can also be used as a sunshade for a car-seat or a pram. How does running a business fit around family life? Running my own business is very demanding especially with a young toddler yet it does have its rewards. Being able to stay with my child and play with him compensates for all the hard work. A very supportive family helps me through the ups and downs of the business. What plans have you got for the future? With the successful launch of The Loveyush Nursing Scarf online, we aim to take this practical and stylish scarf to the next level and expand distribution channels. With lots of new product ideas in the pipeline Loveyush aims to expand their product range too.
What makes your company unique? My way of seeing light and expression I see as unique, finding a good photograph as it happens whether it’s a big smile or something a little more soulful. I love to work with black and white and I use both digital and film cameras. I still have a darkroom at home and will handprint portraits that I shoot on film. How does running a business fit around family life? I certainly don’t work normal hours but that’s part of working for yourself, it can be really flexible and I’m often editing or printing at midnight. I love that I can do the school run most days, time flies past so quickly and I don’t want to miss a thing. What plans have you got for the future? To keep taking beautiful photographs of children and to keep challenging myself working on personal projects too. I’m also planning to go back to university part-time to complete my degree in photography. I’d also quite like to get over my inability to multitask without causing myself injury!
What makes Shubhra Smiles unique? Currently, I offer anti-wrinkle injections, lip augmentations and tooth whitening. I also have a special interest in minimally invasive smile makeovers. It’s ideal for busy mums who don’t want overly complicated treatments. Minimally invasive treatment plans improve the look of your own teeth and avoid cutting healthy enamel. I’m personally available for each and every patient and am very proud of my treatment results. How does running a business fit around family life? I’ve found a nursery for my little boy two days a week, which he loves. For my late appointments my husband is home to take over parenting duties. It can impact on our time as a family but I think it is important to offer flexible appointment times for patients. I enjoy what I do and with a supportive husband I am lucky enough to be able to combine the two. What plans have you got for the future? I am committed to maintaining the highest standards of care to my patients and with word of mouth the business continues to expand.
London Special
LOVEYUSH LONDON