A London mum with no previous business experience has won a National business award less than 2 years after starting her business.
Wimbledon mum of two, Cath Harrop began mum2mum market- a themed baby and children’s nearly new sale that allows mums to recycle their outgrown baby and children’s goods in September 2011 while on maternity leave from her job as a doctor. Throughout 2012 the business expanded rapidly- taking on 16 franchisees across the UK. Cath now has a network of local mums running mum2mum market nearly new sales in 50 locations as far afield as Merseyside and Devon. She still holds her own successful sales in Wimbledon and Wandsworth which attract 300 attendees at each event.
Cath won the prestigious Encouraging Women into Franchising award (EWIF) for Best New Franchisor at the awards sponsored by Nat West. She said ‘2012 was an amazing year. I knew I had a great idea backed up by a solid business model but I didn’t expect the business to grow quite so big, so quickly. Winning the Merton Business Award for Best New Business gave me the confidence to expand my franchise network more quickly than originally planned and being recognised from within the franchise industry is a huge boost. The franchises allow mums to return to the workplace, working flexible hours around their children in a rewarding and ethically sound business. ’
Cath won the Merton Business Award for Best New Business in 2012 and is a finalist in 2 categories in the South London Business Awards 2013.
EWIF is a not-for-profit organisation that aims offers help and support to women thinking of becoming a franchisee or franchising their businesses and to help franchisors redress any gender imbalance in their organisation
The EWIF Awards, now in their fourth year, recognise and celebrate the achievements of women in franchising. EWIF co-chair, Louise Harris said;
“Reading through the entries I was totally inspired by the professionalism and achievements of these women; they’re all tremendous role models, not only for women in the UK franchising industry but also for the wider business community and they should be proud of themselves for having made the finals of the EWIF 2013 awards against some pretty stiff competition from their peers. The aim of EWIF is to encourage more women into franchising and with examples such as these I’m sure we’ll see many more women choosing franchising as a career in the future.”
The winners were revealed at the Awards Ceremony held at RBS House in London on 16 May 2013.
About mum2mum market
Mum2mum market run award winning baby and children’s nearly new sales where mums sell to mums. Parents can buy top quality baby and children’s toys. clothes, books and equipment at a fraction of the high street price- all great brands in fantastic condition. Parents with outgrown baby and children’s goods can sell on their outgrown kids stuff and keep 100% of the proceeds. Find out more about the mum2mum market franchise opportunity
About EWIF
EWIF is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to encourage women to buy a franchise business, to franchise their existing business or to help existing franchise operations to attract more female franchisees
EWIF runs regular meetings across the UK with website www.ewif.org providing up-to-date information to members and the general public
To find out more about EWIF visit www.ewif.org, email [email protected]
Photo credit: Sian Zalick, Photography for Little People
