Kids Emporium is going from strength to strength, and is now launching its first flagship store in the UK. Emma Dawson talks to the company’s owner and founder, Lauren De Swardt, about how she’s become a thriving business woman and a Super-Mom, without dropping any of the balls she constantly juggles.
South African owner and founder of the Kids Emporium franchise stores in South Africa, Lauren de Swardt, opened her first flagship store in Cape Town at the tender age of 22. Kids Emporium has since entrenched itself in the marketplace with a brand that offers the whole shopping experience – a cohesive world of expert parenting knowledge aimed at educating new parents, backed by good old-fashioned service and quality South African products that showcase local creativity and talent.
Over the last 13 years, Lauren has developed the brand and, through her franchise, has opened 28 stores in South Africa, with the 29th just launched in the UK.
In the beginning…
The Kids Emporium story begins when, following a two-year stint working in the UK and travelling the globe, Lauren came back to South Africa. Shortly after her return, her best friend fell pregnant and Lauren remembers being appalled by the lack of product choice available for babies. Her frustration was soon compounded when, not long after, Lauren also got pregnant. ‘I realised that my baby’s nursery would look almost identical to my friends’ nurseries because the choices of furniture, room decoration and other baby paraphernalia was so limited,’ Lauren recalls.
Bu hikaye Baby's and Beyond dergisinin July - Sept 2016 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Baby's and Beyond dergisinin July - Sept 2016 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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