A Day In The Life: teddy bear manufacturer Sarah Holmes
Next time: Sara Jackson, Emergency Vet.
Sarah Holmes is at the helm of a family business that has been running for 90 years.
Ironbridge factory.
The legacy that my great-grandfather started in 1930 is something I’m committed to continuing.
Juggling a business and a baby means that every day is non-stop.
I normally get up at
6.30 a.m. to straighten the house, put a load of washing on and get together everything Rollo, my baby, needs.
He usually wakes at sevenish, so I dress him and give him his breakfast first, then nip for a quick shower while he plays for a few minutes. It’s then a dash to Rollo’s childminder for 8 a.m.
I get to Merrythought for 9 a.m., then I’m usually in back-to-back meetings or conference calls with clients, suppliers and the team throughout the day.
Rollo sometimes comes with me to the office, where there are always plenty of willing volunteers to help keep him entertained while I have meetings.
I work outside usual office hours in order to keep on top of everything.
I fit in around Rollo, too, o often jumping on my laptop while he’s having a nap, or after he’s gone to bed.
We also work with clients a across the globe, so I’m quite used to working late at night when liaising with Japan, for example.
No two days are ever the same as the reality of running a small family business means that when there’s a job to be done, you roll your sleeves up.
My sister and I took it upon ourselves to go on to the roof of the factory to try to fix a leak – it was just before Christmas and we couldn’t find a contractor to come out.
We were due to have a meeting with our insurance broker that same day – he arrived early and nearly had a heart attack when he saw us both manhandling the roof tiles above him.
However, we have great opportunities to work with a variety of people.
I attended the premier of “Goodbye Christopher Robin” and the bear in the film was a Merrythought one – a perfect replica of Edward Bear, the inspiration behind A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories. We created several giant six-feet Edward bears that appeared on the red carpet, too.
I love what we do. The teddy bear is still popular today as it has a very broad appeal. Boys, girls, adults – everyone likes a bear. It’s totally timeless.
We like to think of ours as a companion that can be passed down to the next generation.
Among my own favourites are the London Gold, made from soft golden mohair with pure woollen felt paws.
I also have a soft spot for the Traditional Cheeky Bear, who was the first Merrythought I was given when I was born.
It’s difficult to pick one highlight over all, but being awarded the contract to produce the official range of London 2012 Olympic Games teddy bears has to be up there.
To unwind, I like to relax by going for a family walk or a ride on my horse.
Merrythought is definitely a labour of love. It’s been a trusted business for 90 years and I aim to build on that success.
And we have marked the magical milestone with our 90th Anniversary Commemorative Teddy Bear, of course!
advice would you give your twentyyear-old self?
Don’t be afraid to say no to things. Saying yes to everything and taking on too much can sometimes result in losing focus of what’s most important. Don’t lose focus on the core.