The Buggysnuggle Blog

The end of an era

2018-04-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Buggysnuggle Logo

After 20 years, Buggysnuggle is looking for a new owner!

If you are an entrepreneurial person looking for a well-established brand to take on & make your own, then Buggysnuggle could be just what you're looking for!

Our very first sales image in 1998

What is for sale?

The Buggysnuggle Brand; ownership of the Buggysnuggle registered Trade Mark & Community Design; the buggysnuggle website (including all images, rights etc); the customer database; patterns & samples; all social media accounts (Facebook 8500+ followers), Instagram (200+ followers), Twitter (900+ followers); plus possibly a certain amount of start up stock which would be negotiable separately.

What you will need:

Plenty of commitment, enthusiasm & time to spend building the Buggysnuggle business back up to the success levels it saw in the past, plus a certain amount of cash to invest in new stock & designs.

Price?

I am open to reasonable offers for what is a ready-made brand.

At a trade show in 2010

I am happy to have free & frank discussions with genuinely interested potential buyers, but in the first instance please email sarah@buggysnuggle.com with your details.

#Snugglefact7

2018-02-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

Of all the feedback I've had over the years, this really made me laugh!
It's true, because Buggysnuggles are so generously sized, they can disguise an old pushchair & give it a new lease of life!

#MeettheMaker

2018-02-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

#MeettheMaker1 - Brand Image - the Buggysnuggle logo

#MeettheMaker2 - Me with my 2 youngest children -

The Boss, designer & general-dogs-body at Buggysnuggle HQ!

#MeettheMaker3 - Workspace (on a tidy day!)

#MeettheMaker4 - Tools - mostly a PC, moleskin notesbooks, sharpie pens...

#MeettheMaker5 - Thing I can't live without (apart from my lovely family of course!) is exercise!

I'm a much nicer person after I've had a good bike ride!

#MeettheMaker6 - Raw Material - the softest, cuddliest fabrics are

the most important ingredient in a Buggysnuggle

#MeettheMaker7 - How & Why? I wanted to make the world a more snuggly place!

#Snugglefact 6

2018-02-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Buggysnuggles are available in lots of fabrics & colourways. We design in house, so our prints are exclusive & manufactured only for The Buggysnuggle Company, so if you're looking for something a bit special, look no further...

#Snugglefact 5

2018-02-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

The best way to discover all about the unique Buggysnuggle design is to watch the video "How to fit your Buggysnuggle", explained by 8 year old Sam!

#Snugglefact 4

2018-02-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

It seems like a small thing, a little pocket on the front, the "teddy pocket" or the "stash pocket", whatever you like to call it, but these little things make the Buggysnuggle better than the rest.
I love this photo from one happy customer who used it for a box of eggs! Could have been a little messy!

Mostly the pocket is used for a teddy or a snack, and it's handy to know it's there keeping things nice & secure. Read about all the special Buggysnuggle details here.

#Snugglefact 3

2018-01-29T11:16:00.000-08:00

I designed the first Buggysnuggle back in 1997 & the business launched in 1998. So this year we are celebrating 20 years of snugglyness!! Thousands of families have used Buggysnuggles for several children & then passed them on, they last so well. So buying a Buggysnuggle is an investment you won't regret! Read more about how the business started & has developed over the last 20 years here.

#Snugglefact 2

2016-11-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

The Buggysnuggle is 100cm long and 46cm wide, one of the largest footmuffs on the market. It will fit until at least age 3 years of age. My 4 children have all used theirs until they outgrew their pushchair (almost 4 years old) and my 6 year old still likes squeezing in her old Buggysnuggle!

The BigBug Buggysnuggle is longer & wider, designed for older children (6-8 years or up to 130cm tall) & larger special needs pushchairs.

#Snugglefact 1

2016-10-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Most of our fabrics start life with me sketching an idea in felt tips!

I then email them to the fabric manufacturer, who send me a CAD version of what I've sketched. We then play around with colour options, before deciding which colour ways to sample. I will then get around 50 metres made to make samples & an initial run, before committing to a bulk order for production!
So with the vast majority of our fabrics, you can be assured you are getting something unique & exclusive! To see all of our designs visit www.buggysnuggle.com

Looking for inspiration?

2016-03-01T10:29:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I think we have way too many different Buggysnuggle designs & it gets too tricky for customers to choose their favourite! So I’ve been updating our Pinterest boards & thought they could be quite helpful if you’re a bit stuck!

Happy Buggysnuggle Customers shows you all sorts of Buggysnuggle designs, both old & new, in lots of different types of pushchair, so this one could be particularly helpful, as could the Buggysnuggles board.

There are boards for Babysnuggles, Dinkysnuggles, Hats (which, incidently, are all half price at the moment!) which will give you a great overview of these products.

I’ve just added a board showing off our fabulous Massive Picnic Rugs (300cm x 145cm), as the daffodils are convinced spring is here!

If you send any of your lovely Buggysnuggling photos in, I will add them to our boards – I love to see them, it makes me very happy! Have fun browsing the boards.

Trust me, it’s a Buggysnuggle

2016-02-21T05:56:00.001-08:00

There are a lot of footmuffs or cosytoes to choose from out there. There are a lot of cheap footmuffs too. And yes, a Buggysnuggle footmuff is not cheap. But what I hope lots of Buggysnuggle customers will agree is that they are value for money.

One of the problems with internet shopping is that it’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference in quality, when you’re looking at a flat, cut out photo (& I’m the first to admit, new photography needs to be at the top of my to-do list this year!) For example our Sapphire Stars Fur is so thick & luxurious, but it’s hard to see that from this photo!

So, in an effort to sell the benefits of a Buggysnuggle footmuff to you & convince you that the “cost-per-wear” (as I always tell my other half when I’ve bought something new!) will be unbelievably low, consider this:

It really will be one of the most used nursery items you buy. So if you use your top-of-the-range Fur Buggysnuggle 5 days a week for 3 years, the cost-per-use is as little as 8p and that’s only for 1 child – we know many customers have used theirs for baby no. 2 or 3 too, and then sold them on Ebay! (not great for me I know!)

Lots of happy Buggysnuggle customers

Remember, the bottom half can be used as a liner in warmer weather, so it really is useful 365 days per year.

Also, bear in mind that a Buggysnuggle footmuff makes the scruffiest buggy look like new!

An old favourite

2016-02-10T04:03:00.001-08:00

I started The Buggysnuggle Company in 1998 (OMG nearly 18 years ago, that truly makes me feel ancient!) because I’d purchased a Baby Jogger pushchair, which were brand new to the UK market then, & had no footmuff to go in it. In fact, whichever pushchair you bought, the only cosytoes or footmuffs available were horrible. Usually black or grey & made from stiff, harsh fabric.

The very first Buggysnuggle footmuff

So I designed the Buggysnuggle footmuff – a wanted something soft and snugly; roomy so it would last a long time; with the feel of a blanket rather than a stiff “cage”. It’s been copied often (& badly) & there are many more footmuffs & cosytoes around today to choose from, but I’m still inspired to keep designing beautiful fabrics to introduce new Buggysnuggles each year, secure in the knowledge that lots of happy children & parents remember their Buggysnuggle fondly!

One of the very first Buggysnuggle fabric designs, way back in 1999, was our Green Sheep Buggysnuggle. This proved an instant hit & we soon manufactured it in Navy & Red too.

We still make the Red Sheep Buggysnuggle because customers still love it! In fact, many of our designs keep going for years & years because they prove so popular – the Cow Fur is another one. If they stay in our top 10, then I’ll keep ordering them!

The Red Sheep Buggysnuggle, in lovely, thick sherpa fleece lined with soft polar fleece

Really, I’d be baaa-rmy to stop! (apologies for terrible joke!!)

10 reasons why a Buggysnuggle footmuff will make your life easier! Honest!

2016-02-04T09:32:00.003-08:00

Your baby will be happy, warm & secure in their pushchair
You can remove the top half of the Buggysnuggle completely and use the bottom half as a soft seat liner in the summer months (useful 365 days of the year!)
Keep teddy or snacks (or even eggs!) handy in the “teddy pocket”
The Buggysnuggle will protect your baby from a light shower, so it won’t be the end of the world if you forget the rain cover (but if you’re looking for fully waterproof, then we have our Explorer range)
The Buggysnuggle can stay in your pushchair even when folded making travelling easier
You can use the top half of your Buggysnuggle as an impromptu blanket
No need to dress your baby up in a thick snowsuit, just a fleece or jacket on top will be fine unless it’s arctic outside
The Buggysnuggle is easy to remove so if you want to lift a sleeping baby & move indoors you can do so without disturbing your baby
Buggysnuggles are very quick & easy to fit & can easily be moved to a different buggy
Buggysnuggles wash & dry quickly & will last for years & multiple children!

Click here for more about why Buggysnuggles are better, here to see our full collection, and to see lots of happy Buggysnugglers check out our Pinterest page.

Christmas Gift to you!

2015-12-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

Just a bit of fun for Christmas! Lizzie (6) & I have put together a Spotify playlist for you, compiled of all our favourite Kitchen Disco tunes!! Have fun! Buggysnuggle Kitchen Disco
Hope you have a great Christmas & wishing everyone a peaceful 2016!

Win 2 tickets to The Baby Show

2015-10-08T04:38:00.001-07:00

We're going to be at The Baby Show between the 23rd and 25^th October at Olympia, London (Stand C101) and we would love to see you there.

The Baby Show is the UK's leading pregnancy and parenting show, providing everything needed for baby, bump and you. The Baby Show is a fun family-friendly day out, packed with entertainment to ensure your little ones are kept amused and stimulated, as well as offering visitors a chance to hear from some of the country's leading baby and childcare experts. Events throughout the day include activity classes, play areas and photography competitions, not to mention the latest trends showcased in the daily fashion shows for mums!

We have 4 pairs of tickets to The Baby Show (worth £20 each) to giveaway. For your chance to win two tickets to The Baby Show, all you have to do is follow us on Twitter and RT our competition tweet or Like and Share our competition post on Facebook!

The giveaway closes at noon on Friday 16th October 2015.

Winners will be chosen on Monday 19th October at random, and the winners will be notified on Facebook or directly on Twitter within 4 days of the closing date.

Terms and Conditions

Employees of The Buggysnuggle Company or their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the competition or helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter the competition.

UK entrants only

Entrants must be over 16 years of age

There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.

Only entries that have either followed @BuggysnuggleHQ on Twitter and retweeted the competition tweet, or 'liked' and shared the Facebook post will be counted.

Closing date for entry will be midday on Friday 16th October 2015. After this date no further entries to the competition will be permitted.

The Buggysnuggle Company reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice. The Buggysnuggle Company will notify any changes to the competition to entrants as soon as possible.

No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.

Winners will be chosen on Monday 19^th October 2015 at random.

The winner will be notified by Facebook or directly on Twitter within 4 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 24 hours of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.

The Buggysnuggle Company decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.

Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Twitter or Facebook.

Family Festival Fun!

2015-06-11T04:31:00.001-07:00

Having kids doesn’t mean the festival fun has to stop, it just has to change a bit! A pushchair with a big basket underneath for all your kit is very useful (actually even if you’re not taking the kids!), and of course it must have a Buggysnuggle for your little one to snuggle up in when they zonk out after a day of running around in the fresh air!

What with this being the UK, chances are it’ll be blooming freezing and 99% of heat is lost through the head apparently (well that’s what my mum always told me!), so a hat is a must – a little sun dress, jumper & funky hat is a great festival look for kids anyway!! Buggysnuggle hats tick all the boxes!

A Buggysnuggle Picnic Rug is a must – honestly, you will love them! Sit on it in the sun, or use it as a shelter when it’s raining – I’ve used them in both ways several times! In fact it’s big enough that you can sit on it & have half of it folded back over your head! It folds up small & can be easily carried…

Finally, to snuggle up in the tent or campervan much later on, a Sofasnuggle is the ultimate festival luxury for kids! There are loads of festivals aimed at families nowadays:

Womad 24th-26th July

Check out the family dance tent & the World of Kids! At Charlton Park, Malmesbury www.womad.co.uk

Port Eliot Festival 30th July-2nd August

This is the ultimate boho & literary festival. So much for kids to do: dance with trolls, have tea with a giant, while mum & dad go for a wild swim! At Port Eliot, St Germans, Cornwall www.porteliotfestival.com

Camp Bestival 30th July-2nd August

This was one of the first family festivals & has a stunning setting near Lulworth Cove in Dorset www.campbestival.net

The Big Festival 29-31st August

Ex-Blur’s Alex James & Jamie Oliver got together to put this family foodie festival on in The Cotswolds www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfestival

I’ll be found at Rock Oyster Festival on 10-11th July http://www.rockoysterfestival.co.uk/ which is a fantastic small music & food festival. I’ll be the one sheltering under a Buggysnuggle Picnic Rug!

This is just a tiny selection, but there are literally 100’s. Check out http://www.festivalmag.com/festivals/family-friendly/ to find one near you!

Easter holidays! Don’t panic!

2015-03-25T06:52:00.001-07:00

As a working mum I usually spend the holidays in a permanent state of guilt. I know I should be doing things with the kids, but my “I’m just popping up to check my emails” often turns into 3 hours being sucked into whatever has appeared in my in box. Well, not this holiday! I am going to make a list of things we’re going to do & each day I’m going to get up extra early & do a couple of hours in the office, then we’re going to do FUN STUFF! Hmmm, that’s the plan, we’ll see what happens!
If you’re stuck for ideas, here are a few which will hopefully inspire you to do fun stuff too!

1. Visit your nearest major tourist attraction

It’s a well known fact that people often fail to visit amazing places which are right on their door step. I lived in Thame, near Oxford for 34 years & never visited any of Oxford’s beautiful universities! Inspector Morse on telly was the closest I got to looking around one! So I’m going to visit Tintagel & King Arthurs Castle, which is just up the road here in Cornwall & which I haven’t been to for years & I know the kids will love it. This is a great website for finding your closest castle: http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/yorkshire.html and you cannot fail to be inspired here: http://www.visitbritain.com/en/EN/

2. Plan a picnic

If you see a window of opportunity, just go for it! Even if you just pop into the closest shop & grab a few snacks, or spend a few hours making a delicious picnic, you won’t regret it. Drive to a lovely wood or beach, or, if you haven’t got a car just wander to the nearest green space. Check out our huge Buggysnuggle Picnic Rugs too – they are a massive 3m x 1.45m & will fit the whole family!

3. Go for a long walk

Whatever the weather, long walks are a joy! If it’s grotty, just dress up in all the gear, wellies, waterproofs & hats. The fresh air will make you feel great. Whilst you’re on the walk get the kids to collect things: if you’re on the beach collect shells, if you’re in the woods collect leaves & stones & flowers etc. Just use your imagination! Hippychick have some great waterproofs available.

4. Visit a National Trust property

They are always interesting & you’ll be supporting a very important charity too! http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ They are also running an Easter egg hunt in 300 locations over the holidays: https://www.eastereggtrail.com/ I also love their “50 Things to do before you’re 11 3/4” – great ideas for entertaining little people.

5. Plant something

Great for a rainy day. Buy some seeds & plant whatever takes your fancy. You can also get the kids to paint the pots first. Just mix 2 parts acrylic paint with 1 part PVA glue & you’ll have pretty pots to plant in! This website has loads of ideas of what to plant right now: http://kidsinthegarden.co.uk/ If you get them planting at the start of the holidays, there’ll probably be seedlings showing by the end!

6. Make a den

Forget about tiding up your sitting room, just give them a huge pile of blankets & pillows, a few boxes & whatever you think will help them & let their imaginations run wild. I used to love doing this when I was a kid! Check out this Pinterest page for 100’s of ideas & inspiration!

7. Movie Day

If it’s simply too awful to go outside, have a movie day. Get the popcorn out & all those DVD’s you never get around to watching & just veg out! Alternatively, support your local cinema by seeing the latest movie releases. If you haven’t seen Paddington yet, I massively recommend it – hilarious!

8. Fly a kite

If you haven’t got a pocket kite lying around then why not make one?! I know, I know, making stuff is really effortful, but check this out – it’s really, really simple & you’ll have a lot of fun! Honest! http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Kite-Out-of-a-Plastic-Bag

9. Have a cream tea

Scones are the easiest thing in the world to make & warm from the oven, there is nothing more delicious! Get the kids to lay the table while the scones are cooking, then have a proper afternoon tea! Here is a very simple recipe: http://www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/baking/devonshire-scones Then you just have to decide whether to put the jam on before the cream (the proper Cornish way!) or cream then jam (like they do in Devon!)

10. Learn something new

If they can’t yet ride their bike, teach them.

If they can’t swim, get down the pool & help them learn.

Improve throwing & catching, or learn to juggle.

Whatever it is, persevere – remember as our parents said “there’s no such thing as can’t!”

So your pre-Easter holidays check list / shopping list is:

PLANT POTS

PVA GLUE

ACRYLIC PAINTS

PAINT BRUSH

SUNFLOWER / COSMOS / POT MARIGOLD SEEDS (or whatever you fancy)

CARROT / TOMATO / COURGETTE SEEDS (or whatever you fancy)

COMPOST / SOIL

POPCORN

STICKS FOR THE KITE

SELOTAPE

LIGHTWEIGHT STRING

SELF RAISING FLOWER 450G

BAKING POWDER

BUTTER 75G

SUGAR 50G

2 EGGS

MILK 225ML

JAM

CLOTTED CREAM

JUGGLING BALLS

Have a great Easter holidays, & whatever you do I hope you have lots of fun!

The Big Heart Bike Ride update

2015-02-02T06:20:00.001-08:00

Last year I wrote a post about how, in a mad moment, I’d signed up for a charity bike ride in India & was about to start training. The Big Heart Bike Ride will see the participants (hopefully) cycling 500km in 5 days from the Taj Mahal to the pink city of Jaipur, in Rajasthan. Now here I am 10 months later, after cycling over 1300 miles and climbing over one and a half times the height of Everest through the North Cornish lanes, training for this event! I leave on Friday & am currently feeling incredibly excited but also slightly terrified!

I’m raising money for 2 charities, the British Heart Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I wanted to raise money for JDRF as well as the BHF because my eldest son has been a type 1 diabetic for the last 7 years.

Prior to January 2008 my only experience of type 1 diabetes was a vague memory of a girl I went to school with who always got to eat a Mars Bar during P.E. - I really had no other clue about it.

Seven years ago, almost to the day, Cameron (12 at the time) was with me on a trip to the Boat Show. All day he drove me crazy with his constant thirst. On the train back to Cornwall he drank over 2 litres of water & was still thirsty! I look back at these 2 photos & wonder how I could not have noticed his dramatic weight loss. They were taken less than a week apart & yet by the second photo he is sallow skinned & hollow cheeked. I thought he was just having a growth spurt.

A few days later Cam collapsed during a football match. He felt sick & weak & we assumed he had a bug. We took him home & then he came out shopping in our local town with me. A concerned friend who fortunately had more knowledge of diabetes than me, who had heard about Cam’s funny turn & had witnessed his thirst a few days earlier, called & asked me if his breath smelt of pear drops. It did indeed & she said I needed to get him straight to hospital.

By the time I got him to Treliske he had been sick & we’d had to stop at a garage so he could drink another 3 litres of fluid. His blood sugar level was 75, which none of the doctors or nurses had ever seen. We were told that most people would be in a coma with sugar levels over 40. They thought the huge amount he’d been drinking had possibly kept him conscious. We were incredibly lucky. If he’d gone to bed that night with what we thought was a bug, he may not have woken up.

The next few days were a massive learning curve with so much information to take in. Discovering that Cam’s life was now dependent on insulin which would need to be injected 4 times a day & he would need to prick his finger & test his sugar levels numerous times a day was a terrible shock. He was such a big, strong healthy & sporty boy – how could it be possible?

Over the last seven years he has had his ups & downs. Suffering from type 1 diabetes is bad enough at any time, but through your teens is especially tough. He’s recently come back from 3 months travelling & had an amazing time. But preparing for the trip had many complications caused by all the meds he had to take. Did he have enough? Where would he keep them (they need to be kept in a fridge)? Did he have the right insurance cover? So many extra things to consider as a diabetic. He really is amazing though & takes it all in his stride, rarely complaining & just getting on with life.

Cam on his travels, getting on with life as a diabetic!

Since he was diagnosed there have been many improvements in the diabetes drugs & equipment & there is often talk of a cure in the press. We will see, but the more money that can be raised for organisations like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the better.

This is why I am raising money for JDRF as well as the British Heart Foundation - I leave in 4 days!

I am well aware you are asked for money for charity all the time nowadays & so I’m not asking for you to donate large amounts, just a couple of quid will make a huge difference if lots of people donate. I’ve almost reach the 2K target that I set myself, but I’d like to raise more, because they are such great charities. If you think you would like to help please be so kind as to visit my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SarahWickins

Thanks so much in advance Sarah x

P.S. The normal exemplary service at Buggysnuggle HQ may be disrupted next week in my absense. Orders will be despatched as dodgy wi-fi allows! (please bear with me!)

Christmas shopping

2014-12-08T05:31:00.000-08:00

If like me, you are very behind on your Christmas shopping, you might like to check out the following fabulous small Cornish businesses, who sell unique, one-off or simply lovely, unusual gifts. The high street is generally so boring nowadays & the same in every city, so why not have a browse through these websites:

Rocke and Nutter: Homewares, gifts & accessories sourced from Cornwall and further afield. Beautifully designed and unique pieces you often won’t find anywhere else. Their aim is to promote the finest Cornish artists and makers – such as Tom Raffield and Charlotte Jones.

I really love these Nadia Dafri bracelets and these beautiful limited edition illustrations by graphic artist Lisa Claire Stewart.

Lancaster & Cornish: An online lifestyle, homewares, fabric and haberdashery store based in Cornwall. Inspired by the flora and fauna of the Cornish coastline, their products have a contemporary edge and a strong ethical background. Everything they sell has organic certification where possible, from fabrics, to trims, to the inks used to print their designs.

These tea towels are gorgeous and the French Knickers sewing kit makes a really unusual gift!

Atlantic Blankets: A stunning website selling a gorgeous collection of beautiful blankets, fantastic throws and delicious accessories. Inspired by their Cornish surroundings and the amazing coastline of the British Isles, they have searched the countries of the Atlantic seaboard and beyond to create a mix of fabulous woven treats. Blending contemporary design and colour with traditional weaving methods and natural fabrics, their blankets and throws are the perfect complement to any decorative scheme and make ideal gifts for all ages. This Arran style is one of my favourites (I have a couple!) and I really love this Multi spot merino too.

Ace Illustrations: A unique collection of lively limited edition prints. Each print is numbered and signed by the artist Angus Crook. They can be personalised too (for free).

Wren’s Hearts: Beautifully handcrafted love hearts packed full of hand-picked local Cornish shells. Unique colourful hearts offset against gorgeous grey blue slate. Perfect for any home or garden.

Syrup & Salt: Unique, personalised silver bracelets on ribbon – you can have pretty much any message added – I ordered “Love, Life, Wine”! They arrive beautifully packaged too.

The Buggysnuggle Company: Of course I have to give us a plug! Our hats, blankets & Sofasnuggles make lovely gifts & if you spend over £25 & use code: BLOG15 you can get 15% off between now & 21st December! I hope you enjoy browsing through these websites & find a little inspiration for your Christmas shopping!

Technorati Tags: Rocke and Nutter,Nadia Dafri,Lisa Claire Stewart,Lancaster and Cornish,Syrup and Salt,Wren's Hearts,Ace Illustration,Atlantic Blankets,Buggysnuggle,The Buggysnuggle Company

Introducing… Diva’s & Dudes Children’s Boutique in Wick

2014-10-14T06:34:00.001-07:00

I’ve only just looked on a map to see where Wick is (geography was never my strong point!), and was surprised to discover it’s way up almost at the top of Scotland! It’s certainly one of our most northerly stockists in the UK! So, I’m guessing shops selling nursery & children’s items are probably quite hard to come by all the way up there, so if you live in the North of Scotland, please pay them a visit & check out their fab window displays! Please read on to find out a little more about Alana and Diva’s & Dudes Children’s Boutique…

What made you decide to open your shop?

I have 4 boys and have always struggled to find nice clothing for them especially in the North Of Scotland so decided to take the plunge and fill a gap in the market by opening my own boutique.

What do you like to do if you ever get a chance to relax? Go to the cinema - Favourite Film – Titanic (Me too! A rare treat though!)

If money was no object, what would be the one thing you would do? Travel the world

Now, about your shop:

Name of store: Divas & Dudes Children’s Boutique

Established? 2009

Shop address: 45 High Street, Wick, Caithness, Scotland, KW1 4BP

Telephone: 01955 603355

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

What brands do you stock?

Mayoral, iDO, Tutto Piccolo, Hatley, Satila, Gymp, Le Chic, Boboli, UBS2, Babystyle Prams & Nursery Furniture, Sophie le Giraffe, Hippychick, Bam Bam, Buggysnuggle.

Describe what makes your shop special?

We are known for our Fabulous Window Displays

Do you have a particular ethos?

Great Customer Service & Free Gift Wrapping Service

Pop over & “Like” them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Divas-Dudes-Childrens-Boutique/305511042794591

Introducing… McCullough’s of Bangor, Northern Ireland

2014-10-09T06:18:00.001-07:00

We have been supplying McCullough’s for years & years and what lovely people they are! Definitely worth making a detour if you are anywhere near Bangor. Bangor itself was voted the most desirable place to live in Northern Ireland and is just 14 miles east of Belfast & close to George Best Belfast airport. So read on to find out a bit more about this lovely store:

What made you decide to open your shop?

We are a family owned and run store for two generations. (The store was opened by John McCullough in 1961 & is now managed by Jenny & David McCullough).

What do you like to do if you ever get a chance to relax?

As I live in the countryside I love to get out to enjoy a cycle ride in the evening, then come home and relax with my family.

Favourite dad joke?

Me: Please may I leave the table? Dad: And where are you going to leave it? (Ha ha! Groan!)

If money was no object, what would be the one thing you would do?

A round the world cruise.

Brands stocked:

Bugaboo, iCandy, Emmaljunga, Joolz, Uppababy, Baby Jogger, Out’n’About, Mutsy, Orbit, Oyster and Silvercross (plus many more, including Buggysnuggle!)

What makes your shop special?

We are a family run business offering a personal service. We also stock more “up-market” products.

Do you have a particular ethos?

We have a super after sales service. We service all our prams free of charge after 3 months.

Anything else you’d like to tell people?

We see all of our customers as individuals and pride ourselves on our high level of service.

Shop address: McCullough’s of Bangor, 17-23 Bridge Street, Bangor, Northern Ireland BT20 5AW

Telephone: 028 91 270443

Opening hours: 9.30-5pm

Website: http://mcculloughsbabygoods.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcculloughsbangor

So make sure you go in & say hello if you’re anywhere near Bangor!

Introducing… Baby Bears in Perth

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We’ve been supplying Baby Bears since shortly after they opened 4 years ago, so if you’re near Perth please pop in & say hello, or visit their website!

What made you decide to open your shop?

We opened our shop when Lorna was on maternity leave with our son Finlay. We noticed that there was a gap in the market in Perth for a baby shop where you could buy things that were a little bit different from the norm. Initially we did not do prams/nursery furniture because there was already a shop in the town doing that but when they shut down last year we started doing some prams (unfortunately our shop is quite small!) and nursery furniture. The shop has now been open for 4 years and is going from strength to strength. When Finlay was 3 Lorna went back to work as Head Textile buyer at The House of Bruar which allowed Gordon to use his experience as Operations Manager (at the same company) to build and grow the Baby Bears website. He has also just started a new business with his best friend which is taking up a lot of time at the moment.

What do you like to do if you ever get a chance to relax?

With a five year old son, 2 businesses to run and a full time job we rarely get any free time but when we do we both enjoy golf. Gordon is also an Aberdeen football fan and is looking forward to taking Finlay to his first match soon. We enjoy nothing better than a night away with a lovely meal – but I think that has only probably happened about 3 times in the last 6 years!

Favourite dad joke?

Tim Vine’s one liners are brilliant and one of our favourites is ‘had to throw the hoover out today – it was just gathering dust!’ – I LOVE this joke!

If money was no object, what would be the one thing you would do?

Apart from the obvious – dream house and luxury holidays – we would love to grow the Baby Bears business. We want to open more shops, expand the website and do a mail order catalogue.

Picture by Graeme Hart.
Copyright Perthshire Picture Agency
Tel: 01738 623350 Mobile: 07990 594431" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Baby Bears shop
Picture by Graeme Hart.
Copyright Perthshire Picture Agency
Tel: 01738 623350 Mobile: 07990 594431" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-79njeKtcquM/VCl-8X7WTHI/AAAAAAAAAss/fEoAFnpB7Lg/BabyBearsShop-34_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" align="right" height="183">Brands stocked:

icandy, Oyster, Uppababy, Clair de Lune, Buggysnuggle, Sophie La Girafe, Pink Lining, Bob and Blossom ,Olive and Moss, Piccalilly, Skibz, Jellycat, Big Jigs, Beatrix Potter (to name but a few…)

What makes your shop special?

We try to make sure we stock things that are different to those which can be found in other high street stores. We are always on the lookout for new and exciting products. We take great pride in our presentation – and wrap all purchases nicely so it feels that little bit more special.

Do you have a particular ethos?

Customer service is of the upmost importance to us and we will do whatever we can to help customers. Although we can’t always compete with the big names on price we offer customers the very best value for money we can and we certainly make up for it with our service.

Anything else you’d like to tell people?

We would just like to tell people how important it is to support their local independent stores. Everyone wants to have lovely shops in their town but if people don’t use them they will not be there for long and we really don’t want every high street in Britain to look the same. – Absolutely! Couldn’t agree more!

Shop address: Baby Bears, 260 High Street, PERTH PH1 5QJ

Telephone: 01738 621 913

Opening hours: 10am-5pm Monday-Friday and 10am-5.30pm Saturday (Open Sundays in December)

Website: www.babybears.org.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baby-Bears/171555036202853?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/babybearsshop

So make sure you visit Baby Bears if you are in the area & I’m sure they will sort you out with whatever you need for your little ones!

Introducing… Baby Direct in Horsforth, Leeds

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We supply lots of lovely independent baby & nursery stores around the UK & in a new series of blog posts I want to introduce you to some of them.

Baby Direct is based on the A65 in Horsforth, Leeds and prides itself in being “Yorkshire’s Premier Baby Store”. Now in their 26th year, they are specialists in every baby product from pushchairs to car seats, from nappies to nursery furniture.

They are well known for their amazing customer service, specialist product knowledge and superb after sales. They have built their business on ensuring customers buy the right products to suit their lifestyle, and have 2 floors stocking everything you could possibly need for your baby from pushchairs to car seats, washable nappies to bibs.

They stock 100’s of popular brands including Stokke, Bugaboo, Out n About, Silvercross, Joolz and Uppababy, and they also stock lots of natural & eco baby products.

The team at Baby Direct look forward to welcoming you to their store very soon!

Address: 96-98 New Road Side, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4QB

Tel: 0113 225 0505

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Sun 11am-4pm

Website: www.baby-direct.com

FB: www.facebook.com/babydirectleeds

Photoshoot

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What a way to start the week! 9am this morning 7 babies, 8 buggies, and a huge pile of Buggysnuggles made it down to Tregirls, one of the beautiful local beaches on the Camel Estuary.

It started with a bit of light mizzle, then the sun came out (too bright & hot) & then July 14th did a perfect impression of autumn! The wind got up, the sun went in & the temperature was ideal for making the babies want to snuggle up in their Buggysnuggles!

2 and a half hours later, just after we’d called it a wrap, we got caught in a heavy downpour & by the time we were back at the cars everyone was soaked - the rain then stopped as suddenly as it had started!

Thanks to all the fab models (Lowen, Soloman, Connie, Audreah, Stanley, Sophia & Trista) & their lovely mums!

That time of year!

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This is the time of year for weddings, christenings & parties it seems, & if you’re stuck for an unusual gift idea then look no further!

Cornwall is full of small businesses brimming with ideas & quirky stuff & so here are a few of my favourites and I urge you to read about them – there are some great stories behind the businesses!

Syrup and Salt make fabulous silver bracelets which you can have stamped with any words you like. They make a perfect gift for a christening or birthday and come beautifully packaged.

Search for “Wren’s Hearts” on Facebook to find the home of these gorgeous handmade shell hearts on slate.

I came across Seasparkle on twitter & love how they use sea glass as an alternative to real stones and they look just as good!

Fay Page makes stunning jewellery inspired by the beautiful Isles of Scilly. I especially LOVE her shell charms which are cast from genuine finds from the sea shore!

Hopefully this has helped with any present dilemmas and might even inspire you too!