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Stay at home mum “Shimmys” her way to success with ITV documentary
A business woman from Fleet is to be featured in a documentary for ITV which will be looking at successful internet businesses including Shimmy Shoes and Twinkle Toes.
Mother of two Helen Chapman, from Fleet, was struggling to find good quality reasonably priced shoes for her children back in 2005. It was then that she had the idea to design and make her own shoes to her own specifications, to be sold over the web.
“The scariest part was coming up with my own design, and then taking myself to China, sourcing my own materials and supplier, and placing my first big order.” says Helen, 36. “The quality and design was really important, whilst keeping them at the right price.”
“I needn’t have worried, the shoes were hugely popular, and word soon spread so that all of my time was spent picking and packing orders for new customers. This was a challenge when having to combine the company with caring for my two young children and my husband!”
4 years later, and Shimmy Shoes has grown from strength to strength, with a new line of shoes being launched this year; My Twinkle Toes Shoes.
“The Twinkle Toes range has been doing really well, and I’m now looking at taking the company to the next stage, and looking for distributers for all of my shoes.”
ITV approached Helen to take part in the Tonight Programme, which takes a looks at the highs and lows of people starting their own internet based companies, after a friend sent the producers her details. An ITV spokesperson said “Helen had the drive and the intelligence to get the whole thing off the ground – we chose to feature her in the documentary because she’s an inspiration to others who are finding it difficult to make ends meet and have a dream of running their own business.”
“They were really interested in me and my companies, especially since I run it from home in between caring for my children. I was really flattered, and saw it as an opportunity not only to increase my profile, but to hopefully inspire other people to follow their dreams.”
The producers were so pleased with Helen during filming that they asked her to join them when they visited the internet giant Google for another part of the programme.
“The whole experience has been exciting and nerve wracking in equal measure!” adds Helen. “ It’s great to have my hard work recognised, and very flattering. My friends and I will all be watching it together on Friday!
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