mumpreneur June 2015
Gifts for a Prince Mumpreneur 100 A selection of this years nominees
Fathers Day Gifts
Mumpreneur Award Nominees
pg 29
Contents
Mumpreneur Award Nominee Feature 4 Pink Collar Boxing 4 Martina Mercer 5 Best At 5 Bridal Eyewear 5 Iridescence 6 Original Baby Bath Bombs 6 Ally Pally Poems
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Business Focus 7 Pixies & Fairies 8 Zack & Molly Designs 9 Cheeky Chompers 10 The Business of Mums 11 Live Yourself Happy 17 Global Security 20 Mi-Move 21 Sophorella 22 diddidance 23 Kiddleydivey 26 Charlotte Davies 27 From The Craftbox 28 Life’s A Beach 29 Little White Dragon
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pg 22 pg 13
Contents
Shopping Features 18 24
Gifts Fit For A Prince The Father’s Day Conundrum
pg 18
pg 18
Mumpreneur 100 Nominee Feature 12 Bumps, Babies and Beyond 13 Bebestyle 14 Shoe Sizers 15 Classlist 16 Mess Around
pg 8
pg 7
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Mumpreneur Award Nominees Every year, thousands of Mumpreneurs enter their business into the biggest, best known and longest established business awards dedicated to our sector - The Mumpreneur Awards. Since our beginning in 2009, we have helped hundreds of award winners and thousands of nominees to generate press and recognition for their ventures - it has been amazing to watch each of these businesses grow and flourish in the years that have followed. 2015 will be no different, our awards are open for nomination and on Saturday 10th October 14 lucky business owners will be given the title of Mumpreneur Award Winners!
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e are so excited here at Pink Collar Boxing for our Mumpreneur Award Nomination. I started up Pink Collar Boxing in 2012 to use a platform for ladies to get fit, lose weight, tone up, learn how to box and raise money for a charity of their choice. They train for 8 weeks and learn all the basic boxing techniques to be able to box for 3 rounds of 2 minutes on show day. Their family and friends buy tickets to cheer them on. We started with our home city of Derby and we have rapidly expanded to 32 cities across the country. We have taught over 2,000 ladies how to box and our ladies taking part have raised over ÂŁ150K for their charities.
Be sure to nominate yourself or someone yout hink deserves the recognition! All information can be found at www.mumpreneuruk.com
I am a young busy mum who runs several businesses and I understand the importance of mum`s having a good work / life balance. I employee lots of ladies as city coordinators to support each city. These ladies have taken part in previous shows and love what we do and the difference we are making. They do an amazing job of supporting the ladies taking part in each city. Visit our website www.pinkcollarboxing.co.uk to sign up and take part in our events or if you are interested in joining our expanding team email us at info@ pinkcollarboxing.co.uk
www.pinkcollarboxing.co.uk
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artina Mercer won the Working Mum of the Year Award in 2014 for her determination to succeed when the odds were stacked against her. As a single mum exiting an abusive marriage, Martina cleaned caravans during school hours while studying for her journalism degree while the children slept. Her step into the world of writing and magazines was not easy, as Martina coped on very little income to pursue her dream. Living in hiding, under a different name, as she became noticed for her business acumen and copywriting skills, Martina had to make a choice whether to pursue the career she always wanted or to give it up and remain safe. At the same time her ex-husband was charged with rape and imprisoned for ABH and GBH, for breaking his spouse’s limbs. Safely behind bars Martina took the decision to pursue her dream writing career and has never looked back. Now, she is the editor of Sunday Woman magazine, while being the founder of The Consumer Voice. She offers digital marketing consultancy to medium to large businesses in the UK. She still lives in the middle of nowhere!
www.martinamercer.com
Mumpreneur Award Nominees
A Best at …Support Solutions I’ve always worked with children/ young people, especially those who needed a little extra support to fulfil their dreams. As my career progressed from Primary Teaching to University Lecturing, I felt there were missing educational elements. One day my wonderful husband Joe asked me why I had never developed my own programmes to ‘bridge the gap’. So I did.
We are an innovative, forward thinking company offering unique, affordable, specialist training opportunities to those who work with children and young people. We support individuals (parents and professionals) wanting to ensure that every child they support has the best opportunity to attain and achieve their full potential. Offering accredited (NOCN) and bespoke packages, combined with creative resources and sessions that are demonstrated by our in-house specialists to support diverse and complex learning needs: we believe we offer an exclusive service unlike any of our competitors, holistically meeting everyone’s needs.
www. bestat.org.uk
s a mum of 4 and a qualified Dispensing Optician the idea of Bridal Eyewear by Karen Louise came about through having an eye infection (Uveitis). I wasn’t able to wear my contact lenses to a black tie event at the Dorchester. I have about 20 pairs of spectacles all colours shapes and sizes to match my work and everyday outfits but nothing looked right with my dress. My sister got married a few months later and this got me thinking - if I was struggling to find the right pair of spectacles to go with a special outfit. What do brides do?
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ridescence was born out of a personal passion for beautiful,slightly quirky and affordable jewellery and accessories to make your outfit exciting! Specially handpicked to make our customers feel more confident and fabulous.We are Midlands based and we want to share our pieces with the rest of the U.K.
Not everyone can wear contact lenses or wants to wear contacts. We can match your eyewear to your outfit for Race Days, business awards or any special occasion. It’s not just for the ladies we have grooms coming in to surprise the brides and have a pair of glasses to match the colour theme of the day as well as wanting a professional look for other occasions. Bridal Eyewear by Karen Louise was set up 3 years ago. We are part of Yorkshire Eyewear with practices in Goole, Snaith, Howden and Knaresborough
www.bridaleyewear.co.uk
Join our team of growing happy party planners to have fun selling our sparkly products at parties, events and online. Once you have paid our low cost joining fee you do not pay for stock again - see results faster with our mentoring and guidance too and our determination to help everyone feel great.Perfect for stay at home mums, as a second business or maybe to save towards your retirement.The founder has started and grown the business as a non driving, single mum so the opportunity is very achievable to everyone! Contact us and let’s talk!
www.iridescence.co.uk
Mumpreneur Award Nominees
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t started with a poem I wrote for a friend when she had her second baby last year. I’ve always loved writing and was a full-time copywriter until I had my daughter in 2013. The idea for a poem about a family of three becoming four just popped into my head. And it was so much fun to write! I had it printed on posh card and framed it with some family photos. It looked amazing. I’ve made ‘thoughtful’ presents before – sadly, not with professional results! From brownies to paintings, they’ve often got a ‘Well, it’s the thought that counts’ sort of response. And I totally agree – so why not put those thoughts on paper (or posh card) so they last forever? I think words really can make the best gifts (not just because I can’t bake or paint!) and I love helping people find exactly the right ones.
babybathbombs actively supports MIAFW India which is establishing Ally Pally Poems also has ‘ready5 Safe Villages to free and protect written’ poems for occasions from thousands of children from the Christenings to Father’s Day, and I’m cosmetic mica mines in India. adding more all the time. Ruthie is thrilled that through her hard work she has been nominated for a Mumpreneur Award and is very proud that babybathbombs can affect change through MIAFW.
www.babybathbombs.com
www.allypallypoems.co.uk
WWW.MUMPRENEURUK.COM
n 2012 mum of two Ruthie started on her quest to provide baby safe products to encourage children to enjoy bathing and also learn whilst in the tub. babybathbombs was born; the only brand of allergy free bath bombs in the world certified safe for babies! Featured in Juno, The Green Parent, Loved by Parents, MadeforMums & in a number of parenting blogs babybathbombs offers a range of fun and educational shapes, colours and scents! With a zero range for children with problem skin and the introduction of new products babybathbombs provides wonderful bath time fun for children of all ages!
ENTER NOW
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i all, My name is Jodi. I’m Mum to a lovely, lively bundle of joy called Honey-Bea, but also the owner of Pixies & Fairies. Before having Honey my background was in house building and project management, mixed with part time personal development. I had thought for some time while pregnant (I actually filled my time writing children’s books!) that I would love to do something that would involve my new life of all things ‘children’. On the 1st of December our daughter was born. That night in hospital while she fed, I told her stories about the pixies and fairies. As you can imagine I was completely overcome with love and the feeling was just incredible! I was blessed to have had a magical childhood, so pulled my inspiration from stories I had been told as a child. So, there I was, precious new baby but also a new business idea and name. A few months passed and I started to get the knack of being a first time Mummy! I looked for things to do that would involve working around our daughter, but found nothing that appealed to me, or wasn’t already
www.pixiesandfairies.com
saturated in our area. This was the point that I decided I wanted to offer a flexible, fabulous work opportunity to other parents. Something that is relevant to other parents and their children too. Pixies and Fairies @ Home is currently in the early stages, but we are very excited about the future and building our team of fellow magic makers! Pixies & Fairies offer a range of magical clothing and gifts for children, all inspired by little folk and nature. From our fabulous, fairy homes (handmade on our farm in Wales) to our magical northern lights machine. Our aim is to nurture and inspire children’s imaginations, adding wonder and magic to their every day lives. I must say though that some of our biggest fans are the parents and grandparents!! Things have been such a whirlwind in the short time we have been trading (i’m certainly not complaining!) We have our work from home opportunity, wholesale and our first shop on the horizon. I am 100% passionate and committed to spreading the magic and making memories! With love and gratitude,
Jodi x
Get in touch to discuss our Pixies & Fairies at home opportunity!
jodi@pixiesandfairies.com
Contents Mumpreneur Time Management Like all working Mums I find it a struggle to juggle my time. There are three key things, without which everything can (and does) fall apart;
Being Organised - Decide how
Time Management is key to being a Mumpreneur working from home!
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y name is Carly Richards. I’m a textile designer and I run my business, Zack and Molly, from my studio at home in Northumberland. The business is named after my loveable rascals, Zack now four and Molly now three and I live with them, my husband Dan and our little dog Freddie up in Northumberland. I have been self-employed now for around 9 months and couldn’t be happier. I design and create accessories, stationery and home ware in our trademark fun embroidered designs.
Before starting the business I was a Health Improvement Specialist for the NHS. Prior to that I worked in mental health and was also a Life Coach and NLP Practitioner. Helping people to achieve their goals and feel good about themselves is still very important to me. With busy Mum’s in mind, these feel-good practical aspects runs through the core of the business and inspires all that I do, making our products the perfect gift for Mum’s.
Our happy lifestyle brand is fairly new but already immediately identifiable by its soft colour palette of grey and pastel shades, appliqué designs and positive inspirational phrases. Our style is quirky feminine fun and the unique designs feature across a whole range of products. Our business uses local suppliers and we have carefully sourced environmentally-friendly, high quality materials to provide our customers with the best products we can.
many hours are realistic for you to dedicate to your business. Work within the parameters of family life and other work commitments but leave some down time for yourself. Decide when your “work time” will be - you may need to organise childcare. Prepare anything and everything you can to make sure that all you need to do during work time is work. Prep meals, school bags, outfits, chores etc beforehand. Our notebooks come in handy here.
Being Strict - with myself and with
others. First of all, get it into your head that work time is precious and solely for work. If, like most new starters you’re working from home try not to get distracted by unwashed dishes or a phonecall from a friend. Equally be clear with family and friends that on Tuesday’s, for example, you work. This can be harder than you might think but as long as you respect your work time from the beginning it shouldn’t take long before everyone is on the same page.
Appropriate Workspace - This could mean anything from a room, office, desk or simply dining room table. If you have a room, office or desk to call your own lucky you. Check out my blog on Organising a Workspace. If you have the family dining table or worse no space at all, consider investing in a foldaway table and a transportable box or filing system to store your current work in that is easy to take out and put away.
www.zackandmolly.co.uk
Whatever you do, value your work time and make the most of it when it appears. That makes family time all the more worthwhile. You can find our products and top-tip blogs on our website
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umpreneurs Julie Wilson and Amy Livingstone, met at antenatal class and developed their first product when their babies were teething and they saw a gap in the market for a teether that is attached to the baby. In February 2013 the Neckerchew, the World’s first chewy dribble bib was launched. Thanks to the innovative attached chewy teether, the days of unhygienic dropped teethers will be banished forever. Inspired by being parents themselves Cheeky Chompers products are all designed to help make parents lives easier. Available in fifteen different colourful designs, the Neckerchew adds a stylish touch to any outfit. Fully reversible, made from supersoft jersey cotton that is delicate on young skin but highly absorbent and suitable for all day wear. A special absorbent middle layer locks dribble and moisture away from small chests. The textured triangle-shaped teether at the base of the Neckerchew, gives great ‘bite’, using an innovative, dimpled design to massage tender gums and encourage new teeth. The teether contains no phthalates, will never flake or peel is 100% safe for babies to chew on. Secured with a double popper fastener, the Neckerchew is fully adjustable and suitable for babies and toddlers. Amy and Julie’s second product , the Comfortchew, a luxurious attachable teething Comforter launched successfully in September 2104 with
a unique combination of four of baby’s essentials in one (a comforter, a teether, tags, and the feel of their favourite teddy) . In their first 2 years Cheeky Chompers have sold over 250,000 products in 30 countries and are in many high street stores including John Lewis, Jo Jo Maman Bebe Mothercare, Boots and launching in Marks and Spencers in July and created 20 jobs, as all products are manufactured in the UK. They have won a range of awards internationally including two gold Moms choice awards in the USA. They also have a successful collaboration with British lifestyle brand Joules with two stylish additions. The company have recently also adapted their products for the special needs market after a huge demand from parents and carers of children and adults with oral sensory feedback and the initial feedback has been very positive. Julie comments: “when Amy and I founded Cheeky Chompers our aim was to provide quality and practical product solutions for parents just like us. We have been thrilled with the success of the Neckerchew and Comfortchew in terms of sales and feedback and it’s great to hear that they are helping make parents lives just that little bit easier!’
www.cheekychompers.com
The Business of Mums where start-ups start
An exciting new website for start-up mums Have you dreamed of running your own business but really don’t know where to start? The Business Of Mums is an exciting new website that offers everything you need to get your business off the ground. We have •
trawled through the important information out there for start-ups (so that you don’t have to)
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talked to experts in everything Marketing, Social Media, Web Development and Networking.
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interviewed inspirational and successful business owners to get tips, lessons learnt and advice.
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put together clear, concise, practical steps to help YOU get started straight away and turn your idea into a reality.
We know that starting a business can be a lonely, and sometimes even scary journey, so our website offers support and inspiration every step of the way.
Coming Soon . . . Register for updates
Access clear, concise and practical information, a step by step plan to follow, tips, resources, tools & templates to help turn your idea into a business, or to help your business grow. Connect and bounce ideas off other businessminded mums through our forum,noticeboard and skills swap sections. Help, support & inspiration as you set your business goals and track your progress. Please forward our website details to anyone you know that is considering starting their own business or let us know if you have a business that would benefit a Start-up Mum. Enter your email address at www.thebusinessofmums.com or contact susan@thebusinessofmums.com
We ensure that no-one has to feel that they are on their own in business.
MUMPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT: JO DAVIDSON, THE GET A LIFE COACH Hi. I’m Jo Davidson, the North East based “Get a Life” coach, at Live yourself happy, helping women, just like you, to create incredible careers, businesses and lives, based around those things that matter most to them. A successful entrepreneur, personal development specialist, and single mother of two, I decided to ditch the corporate ladder, in favour of helping women to get what they really want, after finding myself seriously disillusioned and questioning what I was doing with my own life. Stuck in the cycle of achieving what I’d always wanted, yet not really wanting what I got, I realised I needed to change my life before I went into meltdown. Working 60-70 hours each week, in order to compete in the male-dominated manufacturing companies I managed within, I found myself missing out on much of my actual life, and my children’s, while voraciously pursuing a career, in a discipline I didn’t care about. I was guilt-ridden, desolate, and directionless. So, taking the favourite part of my career - the coaching, mentoring and developing of staff – I requalified as a Life Coach and NLP practitioner, and turned my attention to helping other women to break free from their conditioning, get to the heart of what they truly want, overcome their fear of failure and what others think of them, and find the courage, and self-belief, to go out and get it! I’ve discovered that the main reason that women don’t get the results they want, is that they talk themselves out of doing the things they need to do, due to inhibitions and low self-esteem; but it is in doing those things that you gain unstoppable confidence, so I created my business to lead you to success, by helping you identify and take the actions that you need to take, even when you don’t feel like it! I provide personal coaching by Skype and telephone, ranging from beginner sessions to premium coaching and mentorship, as well as intensive
and group coaching. I also offer online
self-study
programmes, am a featured writer for Healthista and Natural Health magazines, and am publishing my first self-help book for women, Remarkable Me: The Woman’s Guide to Becoming Fearless and Getting Whatever You Want!, which will be available on Amazon later this month. To make sure you don’t miss out, sign up to my mailing list and pick up your free copy of my Quick Guide to Life Coaching!
Mumpreneur 100 Nominees
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’m Michelle, and I am Mum to Georgina (7), Alistair (4) and Isabella (1), and I own Bumps, Babies and Beyond Events. Bumps, Babies and Beyond Events organise baby and toddler shows around the UK. In just six short months we have built an enviable reputation for producing exceptional events. I decided to set up Bumps, Babies and Beyond Events in September 2014 after my youngest daughter Isabella (who is now 1) was born with an extremely rare genetic condition called Goldenhars Syndrome. I knew that Izzy would need a lot of support, particularly over the first few years while she was having her first surgeries, and I felt that I couldn’t return to my previous very demanding job, so when the opportunity for voluntary redundancy came up I decided to leave so I could give Izzy the support she needed. While I love being at home with my children, I had worked in a fast-paced commercial environment for the past 20 years and I have to admit the transition was challenging for me. Bumps, Babies and Beyond Events was a way to keep my toe in the business water.
With so many amazing women entering our Mumpreneur 100 initiative, we felt it only right to highlight their hard word, dedication and tremendous business! The deadline for entries into the 2015 Mumpreneur 100 is 26th June and you can entere here http://www.mumpreneuruk. com/awards/mumpreneur-100/
We’re organising 10 events this year, and will be organising 20 in 2016. We have footfalls in excess of 1,000 visitors at each show and have between 70-150 exhibitors at each event. We are now privileged to work with over 500 companies dedicated to the pregnancy to preschool sector. You can find out more about Bumps, Babies and Beyond Events at www. y o u r l o c a l b a b y s h o w. co.uk
Here are just a handful of these inspirational mums....
www.yourlocalbabyshow.co.uk
Mumpreneur 100 Nominees
Bebstyle.com - Europe’s first Asian maternity and nursing wear brand
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orty one year-old mum-oftwo Ranjeet Khare created bebstyle.com out of her own frustration and challenges as a British Asian born modern mum. During the five years that I was either heavily pregnant or breastfeeding we had three weddings in the family; and as you may be aware Indian weddings are big fashion catwalks! But whilst the Asian fashion industry is worth millions there isn’t a single item that caters to the needs of new mums. I was sick of sitting in a smelly toilet at a function with my chest on full show whilst I fed my babies, and I didn’t see why I should wear a maxi dress when everyone else looked like the next big Bollywood thing! So one night (1am to be precise..) I decided that no other Asian mum-to-be should feel forgotten about and bebstyle.com was borne. But it wasn’t that easy, for the first few months I had door after door of every manufacturer I contacted in
India close on me because they felt it was ‘distasteful’ to market a product like this; obviously they were all men and this just spurred me on more. Then after sheer persistence I found a handful of partners, some that produce small ranges already and some that were willing to create new ranges with me to suit the western market. Bebstyle.com took me 15 months working up to 15 hours day and night to plan and create whilst juggling two under five children and a carer driven husband. I’m still working 15 hours a day sneaking hours in around quality time with the family. But it’s my passion and I want to empower Asian women to go out there in style, comfort and practical Asian clothes. The website launched in March 2015 and the response has been phenomenal. We had to increase the bandwidth after two weeks as we were getting so many hits from as far afield as Canada and Sweden! The 40+ designs we stock are thoughtfully selected. We try not to display designs that are heavily embellished in the neck area as they
are likely to irritate a newborn’s gentle skin. We have over four different feeding styles, some with patent pending nursing layers and discreet access holes for women that are really conscious about feeding. We’ve also introduced lycra into Asian clothes to help increase the shelf life of outfits as the bump grows. We’ve got a readymade selection and a bespoke customised service called Style Me. The range goes from £19.99 all the way to £129.99. The brand sends a strong message to the Asian diaspora bringing women into the 21st century. www.bebstyle.com ranjeet@bebstyle.com
Mumpreneur 100 Contents Nominees
Sizing Things Up!
It’s been a busy couple of years for accountant Lavina Bonar since she found herself juggling the demands of a new job in the financial services, launching start-up business Sizers and becoming pregnant with her first baby. While in Ireland for the summer, Lavina was delighted to secure a last minute interview for a fantastic role in London but with no access to her work clothes or shoes and less than 24 hours to prepare, panic set in. Shopping is no fun when you’re on a deadline and Lavina was left frustrated when she couldn’t find a pair of shoes that fit her standard size five feet. Out of sheer desperation, she bought two pairs, wearing the smaller ones to the interview but, afterwards, her heels were left badly cut and bleeding from where the shoes had rubbed. The good news is that Lavina got the job and promptly returned to London to start work but she couldn’t stop thinking about her shoe problem. Surely she wasn’t the only one who had ever encountered ill-fitting shoes? After some research and many discussions with her inventor brother Declan, she realised that there was actually no suitable solution on the market. This started her thinking and, after discovering she was pregnant, Lavina decided to take early maternity leave to work on her designs and get the product ready for market. The product Lavina created was Sizers. An innovative shoe insert cushion designed to sit inside an ill-fitting shoe and make it fit perfectly in an instant.
Available in three sizes, Sizers is the only product of its kind on the market.
the city I would never see her awake during the week.”
Sizers was launched in November 2013. On the day the website went live, a heavily pregnant Lavina watched with pride and amazement as the first sale came in, followed by five more, then ten more and quickly took off from there.
Sizers – made and packaged in the UK – has made a big splash in the industry and Lavina is now selling the product through retailers across Europe, Asia, South Africa and the USA. Fashion bloggers have described Sizers as ‘a little foam miracle’, ‘indispensible’ and ‘genius’. There are already plans for a men’s range and other related products in the pipeline.
Two short months after the product was launched, Lavina gave birth to baby Ava and chose to divide her efforts between motherhood and Sizers rather than returning to her job in the city. Lavina says: “I’m constantly torn between the baby and the business. It’s like the business is another child – I had to go through the birthing process for it too and I can’t let either of them slide. It’s all about maintaining the right balance and I’m so pleased that I get to spend so much time with my daughter. If I was still working in
For more information visit
www.shoesizers.com @shoesizers
Mumpreneur 100 Nominees
Fed up with the School run? Try Classlist.com - the new LinkedIn for parents!
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lasslist’s founders are two parents, whose kids have moved from school to school both in the UK and abroad. Getting to know other school parents, arranging pick-ups and play dates, and understanding the school calendar has always been a very hit and miss affair. Sometimes there would be a super-organised class rep with an excel or word document where we could add our details. Sometimes there wasn’t, or the list was wrong or out of date, or we lost it. And then next year, the same again... for three children each.
They already participate in class and year group discussions and attend social events such as coffee mornings that have been arranged on our platform. Offering liftsharing or more importantly ‘schoolrun’ sharing to parents within this trusted community makes sense and it something the school can’t facilitate because of CRB requirements” explains Classlist’s Cofounder Susan Burton, who is based in Oxford, UK.
“Schools are conscious about the impact they make on local congestion and the concerns of local residents. Classlist provides the foundation for parents to feel comfortable about making arrangements to liftsharing – or even better organising bike buddies, bus buddies and walking trains” says Classlist, Co-founder Clare Wright.
There must be a better way to connect with other parents, without the whole world getting your personal details. Classlist was set up to help parents register, share and update whatever details they feel comfortable with. Parents can even transfer their profile to other classes as their kids move on. Classlist is an Oxford based service, enabling parents within a school to contact each other using the latest up to date list, create interest-based communities, and organize events. Parents, class reps and PTA reps have fully authenticated access to a private site with a set of self-service tools all aimed at making the job of parenting easier. The site has been fully operational for over a year in schools in the UK and Australia. Parents and schools are now signing up to Classlist’s schoolrun share service available for the school year September 2015. The schoolrun share service is an extension of the classlist and social network service to parents and schools. “Parents using classlist.com have been verified and vetted to join their school community which is exclusive to parents at their school.
www.schoolclasslist.com
Mumpreneur 100 Nominees
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i my name is Kristine Monaghan and I am the proud Owner and Director of Mess Around Ltd. As a mother of two beautiful girls, I know the challenges of being a mum and also running a business. I first took my eldest daughter to a Mess Around session in 2011 in Stratford Upon Avon. Having attended many babies and toddlers sessions, I was pleasantly surprised at how much effort was made at this one to make us feel so welcome. What I really loved about Mess Around was that children aged 6 months to 5 years old, could come along together and play in a relaxed and social environment with no pressure to do anything other than what made them happy. I instantly fell in love with the Mess Around concept and when the opportunity arose in October 2012 to own a franchise in Stratford Upon Avon I jumped at the chance. It was also at this time that I found out I was expecting our second child. Mess Around was such a great opportunity and I didn’t want to miss out so I decided to go for it! A week after giving birth our family then relocated to the Isle of Skye. I transferred my franchise to a new area and launched in September 2013 with over 100 children joining us for some messy fun from across the Island. The events were a huge hit! Not long after I became the owner of Mess Around Ltd which was a huge privilege. The last year has been a roller coaster ride with events taking place across the UK! This in addition to franchises coming on board in Inverness, Aberdeenshire, Glasgow, Oxfordshire, Gloucester, Newport, Darlington, Stratford Upon Avon, and Cleveland. You could say it’s been a successful year! To mark our 3rd Birthday we are launching a celebratory offer to join our franchise team for half price which is a fantastic opportunity, so if you’re looking for a flexible job that fits around your family life then visit www. messarounduk.com for more details.
www.messarounduk.com
Reach business goals with Global Security
W
hen it comes to having a business, all owners set goals, and in order for said business to be successful, it must meet these goals. However, with so many areas to cover, and only so many pairs of hands, reaching them may not be as easy as initially anticipated.
strategies that propel them towards becoming industry experts, whilst maintaining a personal approach that is encouraging and strong. Directed by Candice Gabriels, a leader in her field, Global Security benefits from her many areas of expertise, as well as 17 years of experience.
Global Security is a company that steps in where businesses leave off in order to improve efficiency, and by undertaking a detailed analysis of a business and putting forward an effective and competent plan, they strive to help businesses achieve in every area.
Candice said: “Global Security is a diverse company that covers many different factors of running a business well – our intention is always to see the problem, and fix it with confidence.
Experienced staff work one on one with clients, whether they be a small start-up company with teething problems and concerns, or an established business that needs external advice and analysis in order to move forward after a hitting a brick wall, organisations working with Global Security will gravitate towards their objectives quickly and go on to thrive. Covering things such as business planning to security system design, ISO certification to coaching and mentoring, all of which are put into a clear and proficient plan that is bespoke to the client, Global Security works with the mantra that sometimes you can’t see for looking, and a fresh set of eyes will help to identify issues, before resolving them competently. The aim of the game is always to help businesses develop sustainable growth
“We want our businesses to trust us and by working with businesses of all shapes and sizes, we have learnt how to reach big goals, small goals and anything in-between.” Candice has managed to carve herself a niche as being one of the most proficient consultants in the business, with an innovative approach to her work that consists of strategic thinking, as well as an understanding that no two businesses are the same; whether they are looking for HR assistance, legal advice or even project management, Candice treats each client individually and never goes with a one size fits all blueprint. Candice added: “Many businesses come to us with a problem that they have tried to solve for quite some time, but haven’t managed to get to the root of it. We step in, analyse and take the pressure off, leaving the owner and staff to get on with everything else.
“However, that is not all that we do and our diversity as a company keeps us fresh – we can address legal issues, help with accounting, ensure that businesses comply with British standards and offer a security consulting service. “All of those niggly bits that can become a head scratcher needn’t be an issue anymore, and we can get you on the path to not only reach your goals, but surpass them – and it really is our pleasure.”
Gifts Fit For A Prince
Gifts Fit For A Prince
sa oy Keep B l u f i t u Bea
ke Tin
A beautifully designed keepsake tin for a beautiful baby boy, with high gloss finish and removable lid. £14.99
With the birthday of the gorgeous little Prince George almost upon us, we thought it would be a fitting tribute to scout the internet looking for gifts that would be suitable for a mini royal!
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Personalised Olaf Cushion Cover Add the name of your little Frozen fan in any colour! £12.50 www.oh-flora.com
Superhero Print Well… being a brother is pretty much the job of a superhero, right? This fun design for boys can include the standard text, or adapt it to suit you and your own wording. You can personalise this design however you wish, or subtly add a name to the cloud as in our example. £15.00 www.sobetty.com
Gifts Fit For A Prince
Army HQ Playhouse £29.95 www.dotcomgiftshop.com
The Great Gift Company £90.00
Looking for a kids birthday keepsake? Look no further. Introducing our adorable Elephant birthday design. With details about the day they were born, and a lovely birthday message, this personalised gift is suitable for any little persons birthday. (And even though it’s called the Birthday Elephant design, we can always switch the elephant to something else if it suits). £16.00 www.sobetty.com
Vintage Wooden Paddle Boat £4.95 www.dotcomgiftshop.com
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y name is Catherine Gray and three years ago, following a redundancy and pregnant with my youngest child, I founded Mi-Move Limited. I had never been that stereotypical Estate Agent known for doing a bad job, offering an ineffective and expensive service, but I didn’t want to work for someone else and decided it was time to set an example. My vision was to offer a cost effective and efficient service, and deliver customer satisfaction. For the first 2 years the company was run from my dining room, but due to expansion of both the company and our children, I found a small local unit, and our market share has been increasing ever since. We now combine the best features of the traditional and online models of Estate Agency, and class ourselves as a ‘modern’ alternative. We sourced staff who live, work and shop locally because I felt that national online companies were falling short
when it came to local knowledge. Our children attend local schools, and over half of our staff are parents, with wide ranging experience. We’ve grown the company with a real focus on local connections, and market ourselves primarily to families and first time sellers. Mi-Move has a modest office, albeit with an eye catching spiral staircase, but without a beer fridge and the usual trappings, we have much lower overheads than many of our competitors, and we pass these savings on. We could charge higher fees, but this would be unfair, and we don’t want to prevent people moving due to prohibitively high costs. MiMove wants to facilitate moving, and our 0.5% sales fee makes moving affordable: based on a £300,000 house, you would pay just £1,500+VAT. The
higher the overhead, the higher the company have to charge to cover their costs, so by previously paying upwards of 1.5% to a traditional agency, based on a £300,000 house, you would have paid a much higher fee of £4,500+VAT. This inflated fee does not deliver a superior service, you are paying their overheads. Mi-Move can literally save you thousands of pounds, and most of us know that when you are moving home, everything adds up! I have learnt a lot over the past 3 years, but with the support of my amazing family, a great child minder and an experienced team behind me, the goals that I have for the future get a little nearer every day.
www.mi-move.com
Are you a mum and a bride to be? What about all the baby things you will need at your wedding? Will someone else be looking after your children at the evening reception? Where will you keep your phone?
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hese are the questions I asked myself when I was planning my wedding three years ago. When I got married my daughter was 16 months old. The fact that my mother would be looking after her upstairs in her hotel room while I was downstairs at the reception prompted me to make a bag out of my wedding dress material to ensure my phone was with me all the time. The day itself was the hottest day of the year so I was also glad to have some perfume and tissues in my bag as well. It was great to have a bag that was the exact size for all my needs and matched my wedding dress perfectly. My daughter got a bit overheated with the hot weather and I was glad I’d thought to pop a sachet of travel calpol in my bag. She was soon back to being herself and enjoying the attention from our family and friends. She also has a little brother now too! As a qualified designer and with over ten years experience designing and making handbags I realised that other people might like a bag to match their wedding dress. So I launched Sophorella, a bespoke service for bridal bags. I offer three levels of design and personalisation so there is an option for every budget:
‘Classic’ – a streamlined bag to match your dress or your theme. ‘Personalised’ - you can have your names and the date embroidered, or a photo transferred. I can incorporate trinkets or buttons, among other ideas. ‘Magical’ – this is where your imagination can run wild, I can design your fabric, using heat bonding and sequins, feathers or confetti for example. You can also have it embroidered or beaded. It will be hand finished and very special.
You can find out more at Sophorella.com or ring 07557407915 for a free consultation. Join my mailing list and get a free Brides Guide to choosing a Bag.
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t diddi dance we enhance children’s endless energy and enthusiasm through funky, full of fun 45-minute dance sessions that build confidence, co-ordination and creativity. Our classes engage and inspire children as young at 18 months up to 4 years using action songs, dancing games, fun exercises, hoops and dance ribbons to our own original, funky pop songs. diddi dance classes change themes every half term exploring 15 different dance styles including salsa, country, hip hop and tap catering to all tastes. We also have special holiday themes for those classes running during term breaks and holidays. Classes follow a structured plan yet are taught in a relaxed atmosphere where children can learn at their own pace as their confidence builds. Parents and carers are encouraged to join in and share the enjoyment with their diddi dancer. Week after week you will soon see their confidence blossom. Bookings are then taken in half term blocks instead of having to book for a whole term, but to see if your toddlers will enjoy it contact your local diddi dance to book a FREE trial. As well as classes, diddi dance also offer hugely successful private party packages and take bookings from nurseries & schools. We also have a range of merchandise and products such as our 3 CDs with all our original music to help promote our dance themes and classes at home. diddi dance is a franchised company, so anyone interested in running their own dance business is encouraged to get in touch. The diddi dance Franchise Package offers a rewarding work/ life balance that fits around your life & family. Whether you’re a parent/ex-dancer/ex-business employee, the franchise can suit anyone. The success of the themes & lesson plans offer great reward and the financial returns are high for low set up costs. The business has grown significantly over the years with now over 35 franchisees with more than 200 class locations across the UK. So, if you want to run your own business, have fun while doing it, and still be done in time for the school pick-up then why not try diddi dance today and join our mission to get children moving!
Visit www.diddidance.com for more information. Could franchising be an option for expanding your business? Why not joining diddi dance at an EWIF (Encouraging Women into Franchising) meeting to learn more about the opportunities that lie ahead for you! Visit www.ewif.org for more information.
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iddleydivey have built a fantastic reputation as a very successful company delivering structured, fun packed, music based activity sessions to the elderly, and to young children since 1996. Due to this incredible success in Bucks, Berks and Herts, Kiddleydivey has now decided to franchise this enormously varied, fun, rewarding business! Kiddleydivey makes a real, tangible and positive difference to the lives of young children, the elderly and others. No two days are the same!
The Kiddleydivey Franchise package will give you: •Credibility and use of the Kiddleydivey brand and proven business formula •High income potential •Proven sales and marketing •Large exclusive territory •Flexibility - either full or part time •No previous experience required – full training given in all aspects of the business •Complete start up package including over £700 worth of equipment plus training, sales and marketing deliverables. •Assistance with raising finance •Low startup costs. What’s more, you can work as little or as much as you like, decide when you have a holiday, work with a friend or family member, and have so much fun whilst earning money, it doesn’t feel like work at all!! We are offering this franchise to work with the elderly or with the children at very low startup cost. This complete package could be yours for only £3,500 plus ongoing fees of 10% of future turnover. If you would like to combine both the children and the elderly packages it will cost £4,999. We also offer a pay as you earn scheme, if the initial fee is not achievable. We are looking for people who are: •Lively, friendly and energetic. •Organized, well-presented and ambitious. •Can sing in tune and of course love working with children and the elderly. •No previous experience of working with children, or the elderly is necessary although you must be comfortable working in these environments.
the and g in I am runn and ntastic. p u a head m w I a s been f y years a o N a “… an nse h to m respo forward .” g y lookin dleydive iott id K nn Ell A with e hise Franc
“Setting u incredib p the Kiddleyd ly easy iv and now ey franchise w how the as I am so business thri up the is runnin current g! In fac lled with co t, to fully paid se nversion rate o if I keep ssions, I r free tri able to als won m membe eet demand w ’t physically b e r of staff ithout ta !” king on a Franchis ee Eve Whitmo re.
Why don’t you join us! Give us a call on 07740679054
www.kiddleydivey.co.uk
Father’s Day
The Father’s Day Conundrum
Dad’s are notoriously difficult to buy for so we thought we would help by gathering some of the loveliest gifts on the net!
r You thing fo y n A o D lised ‘I’d or y Book Persona St ’ Daddy
s all describe k o o b d show onalise uld do to ing pers o m w r a ld h i c h eir c This y! eir Dadd things th h y t z e a r v c lo e y th ch the how mu £9.99
uk ifted.co. g n r o b . www
Dadism Mug You know all of those funny things your dad says? We’ve put them all on a mug! Choose your own dadism’s if you’d like to – or change the colours to suit your old man. A perfect gift for Father’s Day. £10.95 www.sobetty.com
Father’s Day e to Fram o h P d e sonalis
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A Quality Wood Photograph Frame “All Dads are special.” Personalise with wording of your choice
Rugby Ball T-Bar Cufflinks £110.00 Links of London
Price £19.50 including free UK delivery
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.co.uk
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Cufflink Tray And Watch Stand £35.00 A contemporary and beautifully handmade solid oak Cufflink Tray and Watch Stand that can be personalised to make a truly unique and timeless gift www.notonthehighstreet.com
Barbecuing Bad Breaking Bad inspired apron £12.99 www.oh-flora.com
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launched my business in 2013 after working for digital agencies in London, Bath and Liverpool since 2000. As mum to a young child I wanted the freedom and flexibility of working around him, as well as a new challenge in the sense of running my own business. Becoming a parent also made me reflect on my own career in the sense of wanting to set a positive example.
accessories to designer clothing to legal and accountancy firms.
Recently, I re-took my Google Adwords certification exam and, combined with managing a certain volume of campaigns on behalf of clients using best practice, Google has now awarded me with Google Partner Status. This means I am a trusted provider of Adwords campaign management. I am now studying for I help small and medium-sized Digital Analytics accreditation as well. businesses to grow their traffic and sales through Search Engine I have also been fortunate enough to Optimisation (SEO) and Paid Search work as a specialist advisor for the (Google Adwords etc). This involves local business growth hub, assisting anything from a general strategic people who are either about to start review, to helping them to set up and up a business or need some help with optimise their first website and social their online marketing to push the media, to ongoing implementation business forward. Through this work and consultancy. It all depends on the I have realized the need for startups individual business and their needs. to access support as there is so much conflicting information out there My background has largely been in about online marketing and much of e-tourism i.e. tourist boards, hotels, the implementation is quite technical holiday cottage businesses and and not always straightforward. attractions, which suits my love of travel having visited or lived in over 42 So in addition to my consultancy work, countries and counting (slowly, since I am also looking to start up an online becoming a parent!). But I have also membership group for entrepreneurs worked with ecommerce and service to provide ongoing support. businesses, anything from cycling
If you think you might be interested please read more on my website www.charlottedavies.com/small-business-seo-group/
Arts, Craft & Gift Markets across Hampshire
Hi Everyone, I am Michelle and I setup From the Craftbox this year after I became a single mummy prior to my daughter, Sophia being born in 2013. Last year I helped out in the Tearooms of a local Art, Craft & Gift Market, my Lemon Drizzle cake is something of a hit and again went down really well and I got a bit of a bug, so I set about looking into becoming the regular Tearoom lady from 2015 as Sophia is getting bigger. Then the Market Organiser after I had been putting my business plan together informed me that she didn't wish to continue with the Markets from 2015 due to her ill heath. I was so disappointed, after so much work, then she throw me a lifeline, saying why don't I look at becoming the organiser and run my Tearooms. So as Sophia slept and napped over the coming days and weeks, I looked into how I could go about setting up my own business. I investigated areas I knew, venues which had Kitchens etc and started to research, learn and create a calendar and Fromthe Pantry became Fromthe Craftbox & Pantry. I really hope that I can bring my passion to life, creating family friendly and community spirited events between Winchester and Hayling Island in different Village Halls, Community Centres and Town/Guildhall's. and allow fellow talented stallholders the opportunity to have a stall and bring their hard work to the general public.
Forthcoming Dates for your Diary June 6th = Chandlers Ford The Age Concern Centre SO53 2EB June 13th = Soton Bursledon Village Hall SO31 8BZ June 27th = Purbrook Deverell Hall PO7 5LU th
July 4 = Soton Highfield Church Centre SO17 1RL July 11th = Bishops Waltham Jubilee Hall SO32 1ED July 18th = Nurlsing & Rownhams Village Hall SO16 0XH July 19th= Otterbourne Village Hall SO21 2ET (SUN) July 25th = Fareham Wallington Village Hall PO16 8ST Aug 1st = Portchester Community Centre PO16 9AD 10am-2pm Aug 8th = Alverstoke, Gosport The Parish Centre PO12 2ET
Aug 22nd = Stubbington Crofton Community Centre PO14 2PP Aug 29th = Wickham The Wickham Centre PO17 5AL Sept 5th = Chandlers Ford The Age Concern Centre SO53 2EB Sept 12th = Portsmouth Guildhall PO1 2AB Oct 17th = Colden Common Community Centre SO21 1UU Oct 24th = Fareham Wallington Village Hall PO16 8ST Oct 31st = Portchester Community Centre PO16 9AD 10am-2pm The 12 Markets of Christmas commence 7th November and run for the six weeks of Saturdays and Sundays. For further details and venues, please check out our website
www.fromthecraftbox.net
Life’s a beach
Renowned face tightening technology honed to treat the body
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ost of us start to limber up two months in advance to prepare our bodies to bare all in the warmer months. One of the painless new methods is the FDA-approved PelleFirm system which provides a non-invasive treatment for the tightening the skin on the body, resulting in a firmer, more toned appearance and a reduction in the appearance of cellulite. PelleFirm is ideal for treating skin around the abdomen which has become lax as a result of ageing or childbirth, and also tackles problem areas including flabby, wrinkled and loose skin on the upper arms, neck, buttocks and thighs. It works on any skin type and well as tightening the skin, PelleFirm works to reduce the dimpled appearance of cellulite because of its unique massage function. Claire Lynch, a blogger from Beautyscoop had a course of PelleFirm treatments after losing 6 stone. “I was so frustrated that my body still did not look good after such a weight loss so PelleFirm was exactly what I needed to tone my abdomen. The treatment was pleasant, it is a nice warm sensation around the treated area, and what’s more it is easy and painless. I am absolutely thrilled with the results”. Treatment time depends on the body part being treated, but generally a full abdomen can take 25-40 minutes, similar to the treatment time required for the face – so in an hour both face and body could be treated. Because the PelleFirm hand piece is small and lightweight it is also a very versatile treatment which can be used across any area of the body, and is able to access all its contours.
Meanwhile health and beauty expert and founder of the Safety in Beauty Campaign Antonia Mariconda is a PelleFirm advocate…” I am of the view that PelleFirm is an impressive new weapon in the practitioner’s armory of skin tightening treatments – and one which is shown to have tangible aesthetic benefits”. PelleFirm can only be carried out in clinic, and doctors recommend a short course of treatments for the best results; reporting that after 4-6 treatments every two weeks patients show significant improvement in problem areas. The painless treatment can be likened to the sensation of a warm massage and requires no downtime, so daily activities can be resumed immediately. For more information please visit www.pelleve.co.uk
For a thoughtful and unique gift, give a personalised candle by LittleWhiteDragon.
LittleWhiteDragon candles are the perfect way to give an affordable yet thoughtful gift that can be personalised to any special occasion or life event, such as birthdays, Christenings, weddings, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and the like. What’s more, customers can choose the lid to suit the recipient too. So go on… Lid it. Label it. Love it! LittleWhiteDragon’s delicious fragrances have been specially chosen to suit the tastes of UK consumers with delightfully mouth-watering scents of White Pear & Vanilla, Strawberry & Rhubarb, Black Raspberry & Peppercorn and Salted Caramel & Pistachio to name but a few. Each gorgeously fragrant, eco-friendly candle is handmade in Wales using 100% natural soy wax, which is non-toxic and burns up to 50% longer than cheaper paraffin wax alternatives. Soy wax also produces a beautiful creamy white candle that burns cooler, for a faster release of fragrance and a better scent throw. To browse LittleWhiteDragon’s full range of scented, novelty and personalised candles visit www.littlewhitedragon.com
braver Making Businesses
Braver with your brand Is your brand doing you justice, are you being confident enough about your business? We can help develop a compelling brand and marketing strategy for success.
Working closely with our clients we offer a range of services to meet the needs of growing and successful businesses. Whether its about making those tough decisions to expand; re-evaluating what you currently do; streamlining your business; asking the ‘how’ and ‘why’ as well as the ‘what do we do’; monitoring staff performance; having those tough conversations or dealing with issues.... we will help you make the right and brave decision
Braver with your organisation Evaluating your business and making sure it is working effectively can be tough. We can help evaluate, plan and develop your organisational strategy. Braver with your people People are one of a businesses greatest assets, but they can also be one of the greatest challenges. We can help coach, train and develop your people.
01837 83111
07866 387756
www.herne.org.uk
enquiries@herne.org.uk
• Naming
www.bighugsfrom.co.uk Personalised Gifts for Children & Adults... • Special Occasions • Birth • Adoption • Baptism • Naming
www.bighugsfrom.co.uk
• Adoption • Special Occasions • Baptism • Birth FOLLOW US ON: @bighugsfrom • Naming • Adoption • Baptism • Naming
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e believe in exciting children, parents and carers by creating beautifully crafted furniture that will fit in any room and stay in families for generations to come. Not only will these chairs promote good seat posture – which is very important for young children, they will also give them that all important feeling of independence. With a more contemporary take on the classic English wingback chair and a choice of colourful fabrics these chairs are elegant yet comfortable. And because we only want the best for our children, the materials we use make these chairs robust and durable, so it will definitely survive the little knocks from everyday life.
www.bighugsfrom.co.uk FOLLOW US ON: @bighugsfrom www.bighugsfrom.co.uk
ghugsfrom.co.uk
US ON:
Personalised Gifts for Children & Adults... Personalised Gifts • Special Occasions for Children & Adults... • Birth
FOLLOW US ON:
@bighugsfrom
@bighugsfrom
www.treasurechairs.co.uk
www.petporia.com