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As the founder and Managing Director of JoJo Maman Bébé, Laura has grown the company organically from its start-up in 1993 to become the UK’s foremost niche multi-channel specialist in the pregnancy and baby market. With start-up capital of just £50K and only two part time members of staff, Laura has grown the company to a forecast gross turnover of £43M in the current financial year and employs over 500 people. The company, now with 80 stores nationwide, continues to expand both organically in the UK and via trade sales to over 60 countries across the world. The business ethos is based on a strong code of ethical business practice, where people and the planet are ranked higher on the agenda than bottom line profit. The company prides itself on its long-standing employees, with the majority of the founding members still part of the team. Emphasis is placed upon the service offered to customers and the value for money in the product. Having met rigorous standards of social and environmental performance through the years, JoJo was granted B Corp status in 2017. Laura is also a trustee of the company charity, Nema, based in Mozambique. Laura has been fortunate in receiving many honours and awards over the years, including: · Women in Public Life Awards, Business Woman of the Year, 2011 · Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, 2010 · Honourary Doctorate of Business, University of East London, 2010 · Leading Wales Awards, Business Woman of the Year, 2009 · Fast Growth Business, Female Entrepreneur of the Year, 2008 · MBE for services to business in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, 2004 Laura has two sons (Toby and Ben) and divides her time between London (where the JoJo design studio and marketing office is based), the company’s headquarters in Newport, South Wales (where her family are from) and her cottage in Brittany, France where the idea for JoJo was first conceived.
