We’ve seen our baby group grow into a real family affair
MOTHER-and-daughter team Jayne Bull and Vicky Cooper have been working together for several years as franchisees with Toddler Sense, offering multi-sensory activities for under-fives.
The other string to their bow is a sister franchise, Baby Sensory, offering development and activity sessions for babies.
Jayne, a former registered childminder, says: ‘While Vicky was on maternity leave from her job as a nursery nurse we went to Baby Sensory classes and liked it. When we discovered the franchise, we decided to start a Baby Sensory business. Now we are franchisees with Toddler Sense, too and have grown to five business areas.’
‘We are on the same wavelength, so we find it easy to make business decisions,’ adds Jayne, 52. ‘Now Vicky has three sons, and all have been brought along to our classes so this is a business run by a family around a family.
‘It’s great being in business together, though we try not to talk business at family gatherings.’
Ian Sharland, franchisor at WOW World Group, says: ‘Our Toddler Sense franchise offers a rewarding and flexible opportunity for ambitious parents looking to build a career around family.’
The Toddler Sense start-up investment is £8,500.
Children’s sleep-over franchise Muddy Boots was set up by CJ Hadlow with the help of her mum. ‘It involves installing themed tents and decorations where children can have sleepovers at homes.
‘Mum and I designed the prototype tents in her dining room, and the carpenter’s little boy, four, was the first tester,’ says CJ. Franchisees get a starter pack of six tents, decorations, mattresses and bedding, and install the tents in clients’ houses ready for the sleepover.
‘It suits parents with an existing social network, and can be easily operated round a family,’ says CJ. Investment is from £3,000.