From start-up to £20M, without equity finance

The North London Chamber of Commerce is delighted to bring some inspiring success stories to north London businesses at our upcoming Secret to Success: Celebrating Women in Business Networking Lunch, taking place at beautiful De Vere Theobalds Park on the 3rd February 2010, 10.30am – 2.30pm. The lunch will be precluded by morning coffee and presentations. Headlining the event is the truly inspirational Laura Tenison MBE:

As the founder and managing director of JoJo Maman Bébé, Laura has grown the company organically from start-up in 1993 to £19.5M gross turnover for the last financial year, without the need for VC or private equity. Now the UK’s foremost niche market specialist in the pregnancy and baby market, JoJo offers fashionable maternity wear, a Breton inspired children's collection and original nursery products, gifts and toys. With real time sales via all channels; the website, 200 page catalogue and the 24 stores (opened over the last 4 years) and two new stores with shop fitters; JoJo offers a truly multi-channel service.

The business ethos is based on a strong code of ethical business practice. The company prides itself on high levels of staff retention with the majority of the founding members still part of the team. Emphasis is placed on the quality of life of the employees and third party workers, the service offered to customers and the value for money in the product and not just the bottom line profit.

Laura Tenison is also a trustee of the company’s designated charity, Nema; chosen to ensure that donations make a real difference to the lives of less fortunate children around the world. ‘Nema’ (registered charity number 1113131) which translates as “happiness after hardship” is currently receiving assistance from JoJo in the form of UK administration, bookkeeping, website, ongoing in-house donations and fundraising. This year JoJo will build and support a school in rural Mozambique and provide around 70 children with secondary school scholarships as well as funding several other projects.

In June this year Laura cycled from the JoJo Design Studio in London to the head office in Wales, 200 miles over three days, in order to raise awareness and funds for the charity. Laura also organized the first Buggy Fun Run in Battersea Park in September 2009 to raise additional funds for Nema.

Her success has not gone unrecognised; she was the Welsh Entrepreneur of the Year 2003, Harpers & Queen Entrepreneur of the year 2005, Winner of the Fast Growth Business Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2008, received and MBE for services to business in the Queen’s 2004 New Year's Honours List and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the University of Wales in 2008.

• JoJo Maman Bébé has won numerous awards over the years including the following in the last couple of years:
• Winner, Drapers Children’s Wear Retailer of the Year 2009
• Winner, Prima Baby Fashion Awards, Best Catalogue/Mail-order Service 2008
• Member of Courvoisier Future 500 of Fashion & Retail 2007
• Winner, Pregnancy & Birth Best for Underwear Bloom Award 2007
• Winner, Prima Baby Pregnancy Reader Awards Best Buy, Mail Order 2007
• Winner, Fast Growth Business Awards, Retail/Leisure Female Entrepreneur 2007
• Winner, Fast Growth Business Awards, Retail Business of the Year 2007
• Winner, Practical Parenting Baby & Toddler Fashion Award 2007
• Winner, Practical Parenting Maternity Fashion Award 2007
• Nominated a Superbrand in 2005

To find out how she did it all and her best tips for business success visit www.nlcc.co.uk and book your places now. Karen Mercer of My Coffee Stop and winner at this year’s Enterprise Awards will also provide useful tips for business and more experts are tbc! There will also be treats, goodie bags, business advice stands and cocktail making!

For further information please contact Margarita Ktoris at mktoris@nlcc.co.uk or 020 8443 4464