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Surrey Special
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Deearna Withey | Deearna’s Maternity Agency Rebecca Moore talks to Deearna Withey; a mother, grandmother and an expert in the maternity care industry, about her global 24/7 service: Deearna’s Maternity Agency. Deearna Withey has been in the maternity care industry for over 20 years, becoming a trusted household name, and rightly so. With experience in almost every field, she’s a maternity nurse and trainer, birth coach and baby carer, multiples expert, feed and sleep consultant and more… London’s very own baby whisperer. Deearna first got into childcare almost immediately after her first baby was born, 28 years ago. Battling with the constant crying of her newborn, Deearna was faced with post natal depression. Nonetheless, being admittedly stubborn she refused medication. Instead, Deearna took it upon herself to study post natal depression and fully recovered from the illness. This is a decision she’s still thankful for, “Gaining an understanding of why it happened was a good move, this enabled me to help others,” recalls Deearna. And this experience set the foundation for her career path. Now over quarter of a century later Deearna has two children and four grandchildren: Joshua, Aimee, Aeris and Theia. Her whole family are very supportive of her Maternity Agency, “If we are out and my phone goes they all know I will answer the call and may
then be tied up for a couple of hours. I like people knowing you don’t need to pay for everything, and sometimes just to hear it’s okay is all they need,” says Deearna.
received a card from him recently and the contents said ‘To the angel that mummy sent to look after us, thank you’, to make such a difference is so rewarding.”
“I received a card from him recently and the contents said ‘To the angel that mummy sent to look after us, thank you’, to make such a difference is so rewarding.”
Deearna is so dedicated to her job, and with a demanding schedule she has to be. “I can’t imagine not working with mums and babies; post natal depression is the most misunderstood condition that’s why having a maternity nurse or night nanny to set the foundations really does help.”
Offering guidance can be what so many parents crave, and unfortunately due to the nature of Deearna’s job, she does have to deal with many sensitive situations. Deearna recalls one of her toughest memories; “I was watching the news one day and saw that a lady had committed suicide as the result of psychosis. She had just given birth to twins 10 days earlier.” Deearna knew the area so drove to see if she could find the house. “The police were there and I gave my card and asked them to tell the dad to call me. I hadn’t even got in my car and the dad called. I returned to their home and he handed me the babies and said please help me. I ended up staying for 3 months.” Deearna still keeps in touch with the family. “I
When I asked Deearna about the prospects of her Maternity Agency, she was sure of the future, “Deearna’s Maternity Agency will always be around. I hope that in 10 year’s time I’ve won the lottery and can offer all clients a free start up pack of services, but if anyone needs a chat that will always be free. I’d hate for people to be sat at home struggling, ring us we will always answer and guide you,” says Deearna. It’s certainly reassuring that there’s somebody with a hands on role just at the end of the phone. Because sometimes all we need is a bit of support, and Deearna is more than qualified for that. But don’t just take my word for it; let her five star rating on our online directories do the talking. www.deearnas-maternity-agency.co.uk
Betty Bramble
Gentle Baby Things
Abigail Halpin www.bettybramble.co.uk
Gavin and Charlotte Matier www.gentlebabythings.co.uk
When Abigail was looking for a stylish footmuff for her pushchair she soon realised there were very few available. Seeing this apparent gap in the market she set up Betty Bramble, which creates distinctive luxury footmuffs and pushchair accessories in a range of fabrics from fun and bright designs to more delicate, vintage inspired patterns.
Gavin and Charlotte had always wanted their own business and after daughter Elodie was born, the desire to launch a business grew. When searching for the right clothes and products for Elodie, they saw a prime opportunity to create an online boutique for high quality stylish clothes and gifts for 0-3 year olds, all organic or ethically sourced. This coincided with the opportunity to relaunch the Gentle Baby Things brand which perfectly summed up the couple’s values: gentle to your baby and gentle to the planet.
When Louisa was expecting her first son, she had her heart set on a natural drug-free delivery. After weeks of learning about labour, she was rushed into hospital one evening concerned that something was not quite right. Within moments, Louisa was being prepared for an emergency Caesarean section. The procedure went well and not long after her son was in her arms, but she felt unprepared. As a trained breastfeeding counsellor, Louisa sees hundreds of new mums in the same situation; so she set out to rectify this. What makes Lulubaby unique? We have an amazing team of professionals and the quality of our teaching is unrivalled. No one else has a consultant anaesthetist and consultant obstetrician alongside seven other professionals teaching their classes. We focus enormously on life after your baby has arrived, aiming to equip our mums well for those first few weeks. Because we care so much about our new mums, we are very focussed on providing postnatal support and being available.
What makes Betty Bramble unique? Betty Bramble makes premium footmuffs using the best quality fabrics and lovely cosy, thick wadding. We source high quality fabrics from around the world to create beautiful, exclusive footmuffs at an affordable price - all designed and manufactured in Britain. We are passionate and committed to the future of British manufacturing.
How does running a business fit around family life? It does exactly that - it fits around it! In term time, it is a little easier but during the holidays, it’s certainly a challenge!
How does running a business fit around family life? Betty Bramble was inspired by my family; my father has worked in the textile manufacturing and retail industries for over 40 years, and my children inspired me to launch the business. Challenges and opportunities can arise at any point. I therefore need to be incredibly organised, pedantic about time management and have great childcare. Ultimately, though, it is very satisfying and rewarding being able to do both.
What plans have you got for the future? Lulubaby plans to continue growing along the same trajectories. We have three locations and hope to open more in London. We will also continue to grow our popular postnatal offerings which include paediatric first aid as well as bespoke workshops such as ‘Understanding your toddler’.
What plans have you got for the future? We will continue to find new and exciting fabrics for our luxury footmuffs. We’re currently developing coordinating pushchair hoods and buggy liners for the summer months. We know mums want their buggies to look stylish and will continue to create a range of fabulous products for them!
What makes Gentle Baby Things unique? It’s often hard to find clothes that are stylish but also fairly made and kind to the planet. We believe being gentle to the planet isn’t just being eco-conscious; inspired by Charlotte’s background in International Development, we give 10% of our profit to charities that aim to make the world a gentler place for mothers and children. How does running a business fit around a busy home life? The great thing about starting a business is with the internet you can work any time of day or night... it’s much easier to fit around family life now and although there is a lot of juggling and multitasking we enjoy the variety. We also have amazing family who have helped us out tremendously. What plans have you got for the future? Expanding our collection of popular British brands and exciting new ranges from Europe. Ultimately we hope to reach further afield to support artisan co-operatives in the developing world.
Surrey Special
Lulubaby Louisa van den Bergh www.lulubaby.co.uk
Fingerprint Art
Little Champ
NLM Photography
Jacque Bunton www.fingerprintart.me.uk
Nick Farnsworth www.littlechamp.co.uk
Natalie Martinez www.nataliemartinezphotography.com
For over 20 years Jacque Bunton worked in the design business. After being made redundant she realised how constrained her creativity had been in the commercial industry. Having trained in graphic design, Jacque has always enjoyed working on her personal art projects and was soon encouraged by friends who had seen her fingerprint artwork to market her brand of design.
In 2011 Nick’s daughter was born, and after searching for sports themed toys he soon found it was a limited market. Everything he stumbled across seemed to be gender bias. This inspired him to develop his own collection of gender generic sports themed sensory toys, and after a year of development, research, testing and being spurred on by the London Olympics, Little Champ was launched in autumn 2012.
Having completed an internship in the Art department at Vogue, Natalie Martinez was inspired by the work of great fashion photographers in the industry and soon realised what a great creative outlet photography can be. Natalie had always enjoyed taking pictures of babies and children; exploring their sense of presence and personality. Pining for a creative career, Natalie made her photography business a reality,
What makes Fingerprint Art unique? Fingerprint Art takes an image of the unquestionably unique fingerprint, and from this creates a truly individual piece of art, using a wide palette of designs and colours that suit your décor and taste. Produced on a quality medium the artwork will look good on your wall, mantelpiece or simply provide a truly personal gift for a loved one. How does running a business fit around family life? I have found running a business very organic, my family have often been my inspiration. After all, my art starts as representation of a loved one and therefore I couldn’t have created the pieces without them. The business has grown with the family; there is a healthy crossover between both areas of my life. What plans have you got for the future? I hope to broaden the range of mediums for Fingerprint Art and thus offer a greater diversity of the use of this image. There is the potential to produce something to appeal to every individual. After all, every patron provides an opportunity to create a new unique piece. Fingerprint Art is as varied as the fingerprints from which they stem, the possibilities are endless.
What makes Little Champ unique? There’s currently nothing else like this on the market. The colours stimulate children and each toy has its own character with a smiling face; they’re a great way to introduce your little ones to sport. Mum and dad can enjoy interactive play or let their babies have fun by themselves; squeaking, squidging and rattling. What better way to learn hand-eye coordination than a tennis racket or golf club? The football and rugby ball both contain chime balls, making it easier to catch. It’s the same principle as the special football used by Para-Olympians at London 2012, but adapted for babies. How does running a business fit around family life? It’s difficult working around family life with a 2 year old and newborn, however it’s great working on something I love doing and, of course, having my very own in-house product testers! What plans have you got for the future? We’re currently looking at expanding the Little Champ range. We have a great team, brilliant ideas and we have some really cute baby products lined up for 2014. Watch this space.
What makes NLM Photography unique? I like to think my desire and enthusiasm to get the best results from my work is what makes me unique. I truly enjoy what I do and I see each little person as a brand new challenge. It doesn’t always come easy for little ones to have their photo taken, I always take time to put them at ease, which always gets the very best results. I am very proud of my work and my business, and this will always show in my photography. How does running a business fit around family life? Photography work is very flexible, there are no set working days, so I can often fit my bookings around my availability which is a big plus. What plans have you got for the future? I have just started to branch out into the wonderful world of wedding photography. It has proved to be incredibly challenging but I love the results and the beautiful images that can be captured. I would love to continue with my baby and child photography alongside, photography is a very fulfilling career!
Kiddylicious
Claire Payne www.fablittleshop.com
Sally Preston www.kiddylicious.co.uk
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.
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.
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 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.
Faye & Lou Faye Norton and Lucinda de Watteville www.fayeandlou.co.uk
Inspiration struck whilst Faye and Lou were working at an orphanage in India. They were constantly coming up with solutions to problems they faced in the orphanage, testing their combined 40 years of childcare knowledge. Putting their valuable experience to use they created their own products. What makes Faye & Lou unique? Being nannies that have set up a business is quite unique. Our own children have helped with the design and development of the products. Years of working with different families gave us a unique insight in to what parents need. Being perfectionists, we wanted to make our products to the highest, long-lasting standard - simple but stylish and needed by mothers! How does running a business fit around a busy home life? We both have to fit work around caring for our children and this can be very challenging. We’re constantly messaging each other. Faye was even emailing from her hospital bed after giving birth. We couldn’t live without our phones! Our team’s invaluable and all work incredibly hard which has been a huge help to us both. What plans have you got for the future? We’re very excited about new products planned to launch over the next year. Including some new fabric designs to our Breastfeeding Butterfly range and introducing more beautiful coloured muslin products. We’re keen to develop social media coverage. We love our Facebook page as we can talk and advise our customers on a personal level.
Surrey Special
Fab Little Shop
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.
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.
Surrey Special
Cocobaci Linda, Nel & Sarah www.cocobaci.com