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Cosy Toes and Family Time

In 1998, business partners Jo Ellis and Sarah Wickins discovered that the only drawback with their fabulous new 3-wheel buggies (very new to the market then) was that they came with no “cosy-toes”.

The Buggysnuggle Company launched its flagship product The Buggysnuggle, a cosy toes made from funky fleece fabrics, seven years ago. At that time the business HQ was a back room at Jo’s tiny cottage. Since then they have built a highly successful and innovative business that is now a household brand. A whole range of accessories has followed including blankets, rugs and hats. The company now sells through over 200 retail outlets as well as via their own website and mail order catalogue, yet they have also created their company around the ‘work to live’ rather than ‘live to work’ ethos.

Says Sarah; “I designed theoriginal Buggysnuggle in 1995 for my first baby, Cameron. Then I made them for various friends, Jo included. I had been working very hard ona kids clothing business called Fish Kidswear which I started in 1995, after leaving Monsoon where I was UK production manager.”

“Jo had Ruby in 1998 and later that year shesuggested that we should market the Buggysnuggle. I was up to my ears in work with Fish and flat broke,but Jo said she would pay for the first advert and, they took off immediately. We quickly had to get a manufacturer as there were only so many 3am sewing jobs I was prepared to do!”

“After that we didn't look back. In 2002 I made the decision to close Fish - Buggysnuggle needed more and more time and something had to give!”

Jo and Sarah recognised early on that their children and family lives would have to come first, and so any business developments had to take that into account. Sarah adds: “In 2003 I moved to near Padstow on the North Cornwall coast, and Jo and I had discussed how the business would work. Jo deals with sales and accounts and I deal with design and manufacture, so it splits very well.”

“We get together once or twice a month, though speak daily and when Jo is busy, I am relatively quiet and vice versa. During school holidays, we work very much reduced hours and our customers have got to know that we work to live, not live to work!”

“We are really lucky to have a business that gives us that flexibility. We both havelots of friends who have been at home fora few years, having given up excellent jobs to have kidsand be at home with them, only to discover that it's actually really difficult to get back on the job ladder when the time comes.”

“We seem to manage most of the time to have found a balance, but it is hard work and you do have to make sacrifices. Despite what we are all led to believe, it is actually very difficult for women to have it all and do it all. We're lucky that the way we've developed the business is to enable us to earn a decent living, whilst being there for the kids. But that is unusual.”

To find out more about The Buggysnuggle Company call 01869 340694 or visit their website at www.buggysnuggle.com

Buggysnuggles are available at Kiddicare and Amazon.co.uk.

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