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Winter Issue 2016 (2)

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from pushchairs to toys were on<br />

sale. Local, small baby and child<br />

related businesses could also get<br />

involved, bringing them face to<br />

face with local families.<br />

The pitch secured £35,000 for<br />

25% of the business from serial<br />

entrepreneur and Dragon investor<br />

Deborah Meaden. And Ange<br />

was equally impressed with the<br />

concept. “I immediately thought<br />

it was a great idea,” said Ange,<br />

who is 42. “I Googled them and<br />

found contact details and after a<br />

telephone conversation, I decided<br />

to invest.<br />

“I only invest in something if it’s a<br />

win win situation for all involved<br />

and it works for me. The buyers<br />

save a lot of money and the<br />

sellers get to clear out a lot of<br />

space, and take some extra cash<br />

home with them. Plus it brings<br />

people together.<br />

“My first sale was<br />

in May and even<br />

after the franchise<br />

cost outlay and<br />

considerable<br />

investment in set-up and<br />

marketing, I am now in profit,<br />

and that’s after only four sales.<br />

There are many revenue streams<br />

including stall sales, door fees,<br />

business marketing and potential<br />

sponsorship opportunities too.<br />

There are lots of options.<br />

“I’m amazed by how popular<br />

the markets have been. I<br />

would strongly recommend<br />

it to others as a business<br />

investment. There is a lady who<br />

operates Mum2Mum Markets in<br />

Sleaford and Grantham but for<br />

Lincolnshire that’s it. I can’t cover<br />

the entire county.”<br />

For their initial investment<br />

(for more details email<br />

info@mum2mummarket.co.uk)<br />

franchisees get everything they<br />

need to host a sale, as well as<br />

access to national marketing<br />

support and a network of other<br />

franchisees. As well as making<br />

a living, Ange said there is a<br />

huge benefit to being able to<br />

“I bought a franchise and I<br />

now run my own business<br />

hosting Mum2Mum Market<br />

sales across Lincoln.”<br />

pick and<br />

choose<br />

her hours<br />

around the<br />

demands of<br />

family life.<br />

“I was in the RAF for 17 years,<br />

working as Mission Crew on the<br />

AWACs. It was a full-on job and<br />

then motherhood came along<br />

and changed my life completely.<br />

“I went on to leave the RAF in<br />

2012, when Amelia was five. I<br />

worked for a while as consultant<br />

engineer, left that to set up<br />

my own fitness business and<br />

to also work as an unqualified<br />

teacher for three days a week.<br />

“The beauty of mum2mum<br />

is that it works around the<br />

family. I won’t lie, it was full<br />

on at first but over time it is<br />

becoming more manageable<br />

and profitable.”<br />

As Ange’s business builds<br />

momentum, she has another<br />

exciting development on the<br />

horizon too.<br />

After months of waiting, the<br />

family is finally preparing to<br />

welcome home a new arrival.<br />

“We are finally getting our new<br />

addition. We are adopting a little<br />

girl very soon. We are further<br />

down the road this time and<br />

things are much more certain,<br />

we cannot wait for her to arrive!<br />

“It’s the perfect start to the next<br />

chapter of our story.”<br />

Next year will see eight<br />

mum2mum market<br />

sales take place in<br />

Lincoln. They run on<br />

Saturdays between<br />

10am and noon.<br />

They will be held at Bishop Grosseteste University in Longdales Road<br />

on January 21, April 22, July 1, September 16, November 18.<br />

They will also take place at the Priory City of Lincoln Academy in<br />

Skellingthorpe Road on March 11, May 20 and October 14.<br />

To book a stall visit www.mum2mummarket.co.uk<br />

or for more information E: ange@mum2mummarket.co.uk<br />

www.mollysguide.co.uk<br />

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