The Women Behind the WOW

What happens when you leave a career in education to spend more time with your grandchildren, only to end up starting a business with your wife?

In this episode of Women Behind the WOW, I'm chatting with Lisa and Dawn, the married couple behind Toddler Sense Cardiff East. And honestly, these two had me laughing throughout!

After 20 years working in education, they were ready for a change. With grandchildren arriving, they wanted more family time but weren't quite ready to give up working with young children.

An opportunity with Baby Sensory didn't work out, but it led them to discover Toddler Sense. One visit to a class in Swansea and they knew they'd found something special.

Almost a year later, they've built their business from zero customers to six weekly classes, while keeping three days a week for their grandchildren.

We chat about running a business with your wife, particularly when one of you used to be the other's line manager! They share the challenges of starting from scratch, learning social media, the never-ending marketing and why having the right support makes such a difference.

And there are some brilliant stories. From Lisa getting her hair stuck in a fan during their very first class to buying themselves congratulations balloons because nobody else had!

But what really comes across is how much they love what they do. They talk about seeing toddlers grow in confidence, helping families feel welcome and finding a working life that fits around what matters.

They're the first to admit running a business isn't easy. There's plenty to learn and things don't always go to plan. But ask if they have any regrets, and they simply wish they'd discovered it sooner.

And one final thing. Lisa and Dawn are celebrating their very first year in business on 7 November!

During our chat, they admitted that when they launched, they bought themselves congratulations balloons and pretended somebody else had sent them!

So, if you're heading along to Toddler Sense Cardiff East for their anniversary, PLEASE, somebody take these two some balloons! They've worked their socks off this past year, and I really don't think they should have to buy their own again!

Could running your own Baby Sensory, Toddler Sense, Mini Professors or Reading Fairy business be your next chapter?

You don't need to have run a business before. As Lisa and Dawn discovered, enthusiasm, a love of working with children and the right support can make all the difference.

Whether you're considering a career change, looking for something that fits around family life or wondering if you could build something of your own, why not explore the possibilities?

Explore new and established WOW business opportunities:

https://wow-opportunities.leewhitwell.co.uk/wownewandresaleopportunities

Looking for Toddler Sense classes in Cardiff East?

Lisa and Dawn deliver adventurous classes where toddlers explore, build confidence, learn new skills and burn off some of that endless energy!

https://www.toddlersense.com/cardiffeast/

About Women Behind the WOW

Women Behind the WOW shares the real stories of the women behind Baby Sensory, Toddler Sense, Mini Professors and Reading Fairy.

We talk about how they got started, the challenges they've faced, the lives they've built and what running a children's activity business is really like.

Real women, real businesses and the stories behind the WOW.

#WomenBehindTheWOW #ToddlerSense #WomenInBusiness #FranchiseOpportunity #FamilyBusiness

What happens when you take your baby along to a Baby Sensory class and end up running the business for the next 15 years?

In this episode of Women Behind the WOW, I'm chatting with Helen Barrett, my very first franchisee back in 2011. This one is particularly special to me because we've been on quite a journey together!

Helen was working as an accountant in the motor industry when becoming a mum made her rethink what she wanted from her career. After attending Baby Sensory with her daughter Orla, she discovered an opportunity that would completely change her working life.

We chat about how she built her business, the flexibility it gave her family, the friendships she's made and some of the challenges she's faced along the way. Including the moment COVID hit and her customer numbers dropped from 220 to just 20 almost overnight.

We also talk about what running a Baby Sensory business really involves. Because, as Helen explains, there's a lot more happening behind the scenes than singing songs and blowing bubbles!

Now, after 15 years, Helen is ready for her next chapter and is looking for someone new to take over Baby Sensory North Reading.

We talk about what she's most proud of, what she'll miss and the advice she'd give to someone wondering whether they could run their own business.

There's plenty of laughter, some lovely memories and a rather emotional ending. It really was wonderful to look back on those 15 years together.

Could you be the next owner of Baby Sensory North Reading?

Helen's established business is looking for someone with enthusiasm, energy and a genuine love of working with babies and their families.

You can explore Baby Sensory North Reading and other available WOW business opportunities here:

https://wow-opportunities.leewhitwell.co.uk/wownewandresaleopportunities

About Women Behind the WOW

Women Behind the WOW is a podcast sharing the real stories of the women behind Baby Sensory, Toddler Sense, Mini Professors and Reading Fairy.

We talk about how they got started, the challenges they've faced, the lives they've built and what running a children's activity business is really like.

#WomenBehindTheWOW #BabySensory #WomenInBusiness #FranchiseOpportunity #BusinessOwner

This episode of Women Behind the WOW is a little different. Instead of Lee interviewing a guest, Professor Lee and Professor Georgia, two Mini Professors business owners working in completely different areas, sit down for an honest conversation about the programme they both love.

They talk about what really happens in a Mini Professors class, why science is already hidden inside everything children do and how play, songs, stories and hands on experiments help young children become confident enough to ask questions, make predictions and try again when something does not work.

Both Lee and Georgia admit that they once believed they were not science people. Lee initially thought she would need to employ a scientist to deliver the programme. Georgia had attended Mini Professors with her own child and loved it, but could not imagine teaching it herself. Neither had a science degree, and Georgia did not have a teaching qualification. What they did have was experience with children, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

The conversation also explores how much young children are capable of understanding. From a two year old recognising a recycling symbol weeks after a class to nursery children talking about polymers, the stories show that children can handle much bigger words and ideas than adults sometimes expect.

Lee and Georgia also talk honestly about the business behind the classes. Mini Professors can grow through parent and child classes, nurseries, schools, assemblies, holiday clubs and parties. They discuss building confidence, developing different parts of the business, recruiting the right practitioners and creating a role that can grow and change around family life.

You will hear why a failed experiment can still be valuable, why parents do not need to know every answer, how quieter or nervous children are supported at holiday clubs and what really matters when choosing a practitioner or franchisee.

Whether you are a parent raising a curious child, a teacher who still loves teaching, someone considering a children’s activity business or simply somebody who has always believed science is not for them, this conversation is a reminder that science is not about having all the answers. It is about being curious enough to ask the next question.

What if the scariest business decision you ever made turned out to be exactly the change you needed?

Hayley Garrett shares how she went from attending Baby Sensory with her own daughter to taking over Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense on the Isle of Man, despite never having run a business before.

With a background in nurseries, psychology, teacher training and child development, Hayley was drawn to the research and science behind the programmes. But becoming a parent herself showed her something else entirely.

During a difficult period of postnatal depression and anxiety, Baby Sensory gave Hayley dedicated time with her daughter, a reason to get out of the house and, importantly, connection with other mums going through the same stage of life.

When the business first came up for sale, Hayley dismissed the idea. She had no business background and could not imagine herself running something of her own. It was only when she thought somebody else had bought it that she realised just how disappointed she was to have missed the opportunity.

When the sale fell through and the business became available again, she decided to take the leap.

In this episode we talk about the fear of making that decision, discovering just how capable you actually are, and what running a Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense business really looks like behind the scenes.

Hayley shares how she works with her class leader team, manages the business around family life and has found a level of flexibility she never expected. She also talks about how business ownership has grown her confidence and made her far more willing to put herself out there and try new things.

We also talk about mum guilt, loneliness in early parenthood, the importance of community and why the person behind a children’s activity business matters just as much as the programme itself.

And for anyone considering running a business like this, Hayley explains why having an established, research led programme, accreditation, training and a support network behind you gave her the confidence to take that first step.

If you have ever looked at your Baby Sensory class leader and quietly thought, “I wonder if I could do that?”, this conversation is for you.

Find out more about running your own WOW World business and book a call with me here:

https://wow-opportunities.leewhitwell.co.uk/wownewopportunites

What does it really take to take over a Baby Sensory business and grow it into something thriving?

In this episode, I’m chatting with Elisha Martin, who runs Baby Sensory Aberdeen South.

Elisha’s journey started during COVID. She had been made redundant while pregnant and, after attending Baby Sensory with her own baby, began wondering whether this could be something she could do herself.

Within just a couple of months, she had taken the leap and bought the business.

And she certainly didn’t choose the easiest time to do it.

Elisha took over during COVID restrictions, running 10 classes with just 10 babies in each. Since then, she has grown Baby Sensory Aberdeen South to 12 classes and around 240 babies every week.

We talk about how she built that growth, but also why the numbers are only part of the story.

For Elisha, success is about knowing the families who walk through the door. It is remembering names, spotting the mum who is feeling nervous, helping a baby settle and creating somewhere parents genuinely want to return to each week.

We also talk openly about early parenthood. Elisha shares how her own experiences of reflux, sleeplessness and anxiety have shaped the way she supports the parents in her classes.

And we get into the realities of running your own business.

The confidence it takes to start, the admin nobody gets excited about, tax and spreadsheets, dealing with criticism, learning that you cannot be everybody’s cup of tea and finding boundaries so the business doesn’t take over family life.

One thing really comes through in this conversation.

The Baby Sensory programme may be incredible, but the person standing at the front of the room matters enormously.

Elisha has built her business by creating a community where parents feel welcomed, noticed and supported. From 120 babies a week during COVID restrictions to around 240 babies every week today, it is a brilliant example of what can be built when you genuinely care about the families you work with.

• From redundancy during COVID to discovering Baby Sensory

• Buying a business with no previous business ownership experience

• Growing from 12 classes and 120 babies to 20 classes and around 240 babies every week

• Taking over an established Baby Sensory business

• Building a loyal community of parents

• Supporting new parents through difficult stages

• The emotional side of running a people focused business

• Balancing business ownership with family life

• The support available through a franchise network

• Elisha’s advice to anyone wondering whether they could do it too

If Elisha’s story has got you wondering what running your own Baby Sensory business could look like, find out more here:

https://wow-opportunities.leewhitwell.co.uk/wownewopportunites

You can explore the opportunity and, if it gets you thinking, book a call with me.

There is no pressure and no expectation. It is simply a chance to ask your questions, talk honestly about what running one of these businesses involves and find out whether it could be right for you.

As Elisha says, sometimes you just have to go for it.

Today I am chatting with Kayleigh about Reading Fairy, the storytelling and imagination programme that helps children build the foundations they need to become confident readers who genuinely love books.

Kayleigh shares what Reading Fairy classes actually look like, from sensory storytelling, nursery rhymes and letter sounds, through to comprehension, phonics foundations and getting children ready for school. She also talks about the joy of seeing children grow through the programme, often from the age of one right through to starting school.

But this episode is not only about the classes. We also talk honestly about what it takes to run a Reading Fairy business, who it might suit, how Kayleigh built hers around family life and why you do not need to be a qualified teacher to make it work.

Kayleigh is refreshingly honest about the fact that this is a real business, not a hobby. There is admin, marketing, learning and plenty of juggling behind the scenes, but there is also flexibility, support, personal growth and the chance to build something that can change as your family does.

WOW World is home to Baby Sensory, Toddler Sense, Mini Professors and Reading Fairy, children’s activity franchises run by women across the country.

Kayleigh runs Reading Fairy classes across Twickenham, Isleworth and Weybridge.

Weybridge classes:
https://www.readingfairy.com/weybridge/

Isleworth and Twickenham classes:
https://www.readingfairy.com/isleworth/

Reading Fairy Weybridge on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RFWeybridge/

Reading Fairy Twickenham and Isleworth on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ReadingFairyTW/

Interested in exploring a Reading Fairy franchise opportunity in Kayleigh’s area?

Contact Kayleigh at:
[email protected]

If this episode has made you wonder whether running a WOW World business could be right for you, come and find out more.

Visit:

https://wow-opportunities.leewhitwell.co.uk/wowfranchiseopportunities

No pressure, just a conversation.

You can watch more episodes of The Women Behind the WOW on YouTube, or follow along on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/WoWThamesValleyWest

In this episode, I’m chatting with Jayne, who runs Baby Sensory and has also created her own WOW Centre.

Jayne’s story is such a lovely one because it is not just about running beautiful baby classes, although of course Baby Sensory is full of those magical moments. It is also about building a business that fits around family life, creating something of your own, supporting parents during one of the biggest stages of their lives, and growing without losing the heart of what makes the programme so special.

We talk about what Jayne did before WOW, why Baby Sensory stood out to her, what it has meant for her family, and what it is really like to run a business that is built around babies, parents and community.

This conversation is perfect if you have ever wondered whether you could run your own Baby Sensory business, but you are nervous about taking that next step, worried about fitting it around family life, or wondering whether you have what it takes.

Jayne shares the real, honest side of it all, the flexibility, the learning curve, the confidence that grows over time, and the joy of creating something that makes such a difference to families every week.

Find Jayne here:

Baby Sensory West Dorset

www.babysensory.co/westdorset

Email:
[email protected]

Interested in running your own WOW World business?

You can get in touch with Lee Whitwell, WOW World Regional Franchisor, for an informal chat about opportunities in this area. https://wow-opportunities.leewhitwell.co.uk/wownewandresaleopportunities

Find out more about WOW World opportunities countrywide

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Baby Sensory and WoW Centre
• 05:36 Transition to Starting a Business
• 15:36 Transition to Flexibility and Work-Life Balance
• 28:35 Transition to WoW Centre
• 39:41 Transition to Starting a Business

In this episode of Women Behind the WOW, I’m chatting with the brilliant Georgia, who runs Toddler Sense in Chichester and Havant.

Georgia’s journey into WOW World started after having her little boy and realising that, although she still loved working with children, she wanted something different. She began as a class leader, built her confidence, discovered that Toddler Sense felt completely “her”, and eventually took the leap into running her own franchise.

We talk about what Toddler Sense is really like, the fear of starting a business, building something from scratch, finding venues, juggling family life, opening a WOW Centre, and what Georgia has learned about herself along the way.

This is a lovely, honest conversation about confidence, resilience, family, flexibility and creating a business that grows with you.

Find Georgia here:

Toddler Sense Chichester & Havant:
https://www.toddlersense.com/chichester/

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

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/wowcentrechichester

Email:
[email protected]

Interested in running your own WOW World business?

You can get in touch with Lee Whitwell, WOW World Regional Franchisor, for an informal chat about opportunities in your area. https://wow-opportunities.leewhitwell.co.uk/wownewandresaleopportunities

Hosted by Lee Whitwell, WOW World Regional Franchisor.

The podcast explores the desire to start a business, the purpose of the podcast, starting small and growing, and empowering women in business. It emphasizes the importance of taking the first step and the value of women's stories in the business world.

Takeaways

• Starting a business often begins with a small thought or desire
• Empowering women in business through shared stories

Chapters

• 00:00 The Desire to Start a Business