Mum-of-one Kate Harding, from Sandown, has stepped into the world of business by launching her very own retail outlet specialising in products invented by mums and dads who have created something to help make parenting easier, more environmentally friendly or just more fun.
Kate lives alone with her daughter on the Isle of Wight so does not have a full-time bricks and mortar store. Instead, with the help of family taking care of the little one, Kate takes her stock and pop-up stand equipment up and down the length of the country to raise awareness of the entrepreneurial brands she stocks and to raise awareness of the web shop she runs from home – www.retailmama.co.uk.
Talking about how she stumbled on launching the webshop and pop-up store, Kate has said:
“I’ve been in the baby industry for 6 months now. It’s a vibrant industry to work in, full of passionate people. I keep meeting mums, dads and also grandparents who’ve created products to help make parenting easier. It blows my mind there is not one retailer that stocks them all (yet) so as I only work 2 days a week at the moment freelancing, I decided to launch a little shop to do just that.”
To launch the shop, Kate has so far ‘popped-up’ at The Baby & Toddler Show in Manchester and last weekend at The Baby Show London Olympia – a 24,000+ visitor event over 3 days.
Kate will debut her collection of products for Isle of Wight parents and grandparents as a ‘pop-up’ at the following local Baby and Toddler related table top events:
• 2nd November – Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Childrens Market, Ryde
• 9th November – Mum2Mum Market, Newport
Despite the recent disappearance of Mothercare from the Island, Kate still sees an opportunity to support small business:
“I see empty shop shells saying TO LET in the town centre in Newport for example and I just daydream of creating a pop-up store inside one of them to help sell these amazing entrepreneurial brands before they make it big in major retail. I’m not aware of any initiatives where premises are let out short term for fledgling businesses like mine to try. I’m open to opportunities if there are any that exist on the island. Until then I will continue with my pop-up at high footfall baby shows model.”
Find brands such as Milkymeter invited by Dad Henrik, BIBaDO invented by Mum Rachel, Easy Tots invented by Mum Helen, Nana’s Manners invented by Teacher Kathryn. Support small business xx
Good luck Kate! Great products you are representing