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London 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.
London Special
Lulubaby Louisa van den Bergh www.lulubaby.co.uk
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
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