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Business Parent of the Year: Wendy's a supermum and a super businesswoman too
SUPERMUM Wendy Shand has won Business Parent of the Year in Practical Parenting magazine's Amazing People Awards, she has also been highly commended in The Remote Worker Awards for The BT Home Business Award, given birth to baby number three and passed the £1 million mark in sales of her Tots to Travel business – all during this month.
SUPERMUM Wendy Shand has won Business Parent of the Year in Practical Parenting magazine's Amazing People Awards, she has also been highly commended in The Remote Worker Awards for The BT Home Business Award, given birth to baby number three and passed the 1 million mark in sales of her Tots to Travel business – all during this month.On receiving her awards, Wendy was quick to pay tribute to her team when she said: "Our business is about giving parents and children a safe, happy and hassle-free holiday. It's thanks to the whole Tots to Travel team that we're able to achieve this, so this award goes to them, and my family for their unending support."
It was after Wendy's son fell into an unenclosed pool while on holiday in France in 2005 that she realised traditional self-catering properties did not cater for the very specific needs of parents with young children.
So, in April 2006, Tots to Travel was born as a holiday lettings agency based in Nassington, near Peterborough, providing child-friendly "homes from homes," initially in France, and all personally visited and vetted by parents for parents.
"There are more than 20, essentially British, mums who live overseas. They come to Nassington for two days' training prior to carrying out the house inspections," said Wendy.
"We work closely with the house owners and maintain an ongoing relationship with them."
The company's attention to detail caught the eye of awards judges, who said: "It takes a parent to spot potential dangers. A holiday with a baby and, or, young kids can turn out to be harder work than just being at home, so for someone to make sure properties are safe and suitable would be a real weight off any parent's mind when booking."
The business concept has proved enormously successful, with the company now offering more than 100 French properties. Building on this success, the formula was replicated in Italy, where there are 20 properties, with the launch of Tots to Italy in January 2008, and a sprinkling of properties in the UK, Spain and Portugal.
Plans are in the pipeline to move into Asia and, according to Wendy, "there is no global barrier to expansion."
Tots to Travel (www.totstotravel.co.uk) is the parent company of Tots to France, Tots to Italy and Tots to the UK. The company specialises in providing accommodation to meet the very specific needs of families with babies and young children. All properties are fully equipped with a range of child-related equipment and safety features.
The company also provides English-speaking babysitters and home-cooked meals. All properties are personally visited and vetted to ensure that they suit the very specific needs of families with small children and babies.
Wendy is increasingly seen as a role model and mentor for women in business and has a growing media presence as an expert on family travel, small business development and as a pioneer in using the internet to achieve a better work/life balance. She was on the panel of judges for last year's Enterprise Nation Homeworker of the Year Award and is due to be a keynote speaker at the first Mumpreneur's Conference next month.
Wendy is a keen advocate for mumpreneurs and Work At Home Mums (WAHMs).
For more information on any of the properties, or to view Tots to Travel's full portfolio, visit www.totstotravel.co.uk or call 0845 269 4126.
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