As a Mum trying my hardest to make a successful business online, I know just how hard it can be to get yourself out there, to share your blog or your online shop, ever more so with the very changing algorithms across social media. I have huge respect for those parents who juggle a young family with chasing their dreams and, knowing how difficult it was for me when I first started out with my new website, I will always endeavour to help other parents doing the same, and support them whole heartedly.
When the children were small and we spent our days at playgroup, I met the most gorgeous and kind lady, Debbie, who as a Mum of young girls knew exactly how hard it was to juggle family life with her own business.
In 2015 Debbie sadly suffered an ectopic pregnancy and, after having two straight forward pregnancies and already suffering with post-natal depression, she describes walking around with a cloud of doom above her head, struggling to find a way to be happy. One day, whilst watching The Great British Sewing Bee on the tv, she had the sudden urge to buy herself a sewing machine to try something new to get herself out of a rut. And so she did. And, with a second hand sewing machine from eBay, she set about teaching herself how to sew. As she sewed, and people began to comment and ask where her children’s clothes were from, the dark cloud was soon replaced with happiness and pride, and Lola-pops was created!
Having started a facebook page, named after her two little inspirations, Lola-pops started to take off. And with the subsequent birth of her rainbow Grace, she accepted voluntary redundancy from her previous job as a teacher, and decided to set up Lola-pops as a business and put her everything into it.
I have huge admiration for Debbie for launching a business with an 8 week old baby and two pre-schoolers, and huge respect for her husband who she describes as “her rock”, supporting her financially and emotionally as she worked tirelessly to make a success of Lola-pops.
This Summer Debbie achieved her dream of launching her own website, selling a whole range of beautiful children’s clothes from birth to 12 years alongside an exclusive “Grace range” to incorporate all three of her daughters into her business.
In her own words, Debbie describes Lola-pops:
“I create gorgeous and unique clothing and accessories for your little ones. Everything you see here is handmade at home in my favourite room in the house, my sewing room. I focus on fun, bright and quirky prints to make your little ones stand out from the crowd. Using the highest quality of fabric, which is incredibly soft and stretchy, just perfect for little ones to crawl, run, jump, play.
I offer a large variety of products…. Harems, rompers, dresses to name a few. All my items can be made from any of my current fabric selection. The beauty about Lola-Pops is that you become the designer! You choose the item, you choose the fabric and I make it for you! Starting as small as preemie size, I can make up to age 6 (but can go to age 12 in some items on a custom request too!)
​Having recently invested in an embroidery machine, I can add the personal touch to any item.
​All my items are handmade to order. My turnaround time can vary but I always aim to have your order made and in the post to you within 2-3 weeks where possible.
​I add to my range all the time and I’m always open to new challenges so if you have a custom request please do get in touch.”
And genuinely, having had the pleasure of dressing my own children in exclusive Lola-pops designs, I can’t recommend them enough. The fabrics are soft enough for little ones, but durable enough to survive the most boisterous of adventures.
They are versatile, individual, colourful and charismatic, and, best of all, they wash like a dream!!
Given Harry’s constant battle with his eczema, I find it so difficult at times to find clothes which are kind to his skin. At four, most boys ranges stop at jeans and jogging pants, so to have soft, wearable fabrics that he is desperate to wear is a real win in my eyes.
And for the girls, who are unicorn crazy, I love that they can get stuck in at the park with no restrictions, knowing that they are cosy and warm, bright enough to spot at a distance, and most of all happy and comfortable.
As the children have been wearing their outfits over the Summer, we have received countless compliments from passing strangers, from other parents who are desperate to know where we bought them, and even other children whispering to their parents that they too want similar outfits.
And although as a parent I can’t recommend Lola-pops enough, I think it speaks volumes that the children love them equally. Given the choice they would wear them every single day, and who can blame them? They are funky, fashionable, and utterly fabulous and, I know I’m biased but, they have never looked quite as adorable as they do in their Lola-pops outfits!
Debbie has kindly offered the chance for one lucky winner to win a Lola-pops personalised hoodie and harem pants set simply by entering via the link below. The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email at close of competition on 14th October. Good luck!!
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It’s such a crazy and painful thing to go through. And to come out on the other end still living life to the fullest is awesome. And that’s great she has started her own business and her husband is so supportive of everything.
My granddaughter would love the Unicorn because she believes there real and apparently her grandad use to be one and now he’s just a human cos he was naughty hmmmm…. lol
Lovely photos in this post. Great story about the company too. I love sewing. I don’t have any kids so I make kids clothes to donate to charity, to go to Romania.
I like the unicorn fabric.
Brilliant designs, I would love to dress my new grandson in these fabulous clothes. He’s only four weeks old but I know he will love the dinosaur trousers and his initial on a hoodie too when he’s big enough to run around. His Mum would be ‘over the moon’ too!
I love the dinosaurs and so does our 8 year old son! We holidayed on the Jurassic Coast this year and finding fossils just blew his mind so these would be very fitting for my dinosaur loving boy.
The Navy Unicorn design has instant appeal to both adults and children. It’s lovely.
This is such an inspirational story – what an amazing woman! I like the unicorn pini-dress as I think my niece would choose that… it’s very cute
It’s such a crazy and painful thing to go through. And to come out on the other end still living life to the fullest is awesome. And that’s great she has started her own business and her husband is so supportive of everything.
I like all the unicorns and horses designs – my daughter is a big fan of them too.
What an inspirational story. I love the designs and how this wonderfully strong lady has turned her experiences into something good.
Wow these are super cool hoodies and pants. Love the unicorns. What a fab giveaway x
I like the unicorn design because they are beautiful and magical.
Love the unicorn design leggings and pink hoodie
I love all the design’s my daughter loves your son’s Dino trousers tho as she is Dino mad ATM ??
all the unicorns and horses designs
What a lovely and inspirational story of how this lovely business was born. I especially love the cute unicorn designs as looks so unique and cute.
i love the dino trousers having two sons lol x
Loving the Unicorn leggings to go with the Hoodie ideal for any age they look cool
My granddaughter would love the Unicorn because she believes there real and apparently her grandad use to be one and now he’s just a human cos he was naughty hmmmm…. lol
I like the rainbows with a blue background. Uber colourful and cheerful.
Lovely photos in this post. Great story about the company too. I love sewing. I don’t have any kids so I make kids clothes to donate to charity, to go to Romania.
I like the unicorn fabric.
Love the unicorn – beautiful style for my neice
I’m loving teal/mint rabbit design – my youngest loves rabbits
The Unicorns with the pink tops look so trendy
i love the navy unicorn, my little girl is unicorn obsessed!
I love the Grace pink rainbow and Lilac Unicorn designs!
Love the unicorns x
i like the personalised onesies
The Unicorns are lovely
Love the dinosaur design.
I like the dinosaurs for my 6 year old granddaughter
I like the pink with rainbows fabric
Adore the dinosaur design because my son is obsessed with dinosaurs!
the blue rainbows is just lovely.
The Dino trousers would never be off my little boy 😉
the dark dinos! they’re so cute.
unicorns and horses, because my daughter loves them
like the dinosaurs best
My granddaughter loves unicorns.
the dinosaur design is cute
Aww your little ones are super cute!! Great pictures and I love the clothing, especially the hoodies with the initial printed on them.
i love the dino trousers my little boy would love them x
Love! Initial Hoodie and Harems Set for my Niece, very cute and quirky
I like the navy unicorn leggings my granddaughter loves anything unicorn related.
My daughter would love an initials hoodie!
I love the Navy Crocodile – it is very cool!
The initial hoodies are gorgeous, I think all three of my children would happily wear them!
The dinosaur trousers, my sons are dino mad.
I love the boys initial hoody! My son would love it too
Bunny rabbits because rabbits are one of my favourite animals
This is lovely
I like the Unicorn design, my 6 year old granddaughter really loves unicorns
Brilliant designs, I would love to dress my new grandson in these fabulous clothes. He’s only four weeks old but I know he will love the dinosaur trousers and his initial on a hoodie too when he’s big enough to run around. His Mum would be ‘over the moon’ too!
The dinosaur trousers for my niece. Her big brothers love dinosaurs and so does she.
The Christmas block dress in Red / Blue. Perfect for my little girl, colours suit her perfectly and will be perfect for this Christmas!
The hoodies look great, my daughter would love the dinosaur trousers
I love the unicorn trousers
I love the unicorn design know my daughter would love that design
The dinosaur for youngest grandson, he would love these
I love all the one’s with unicorns on because Daisy is mad about unicorns
My daughter is unicorn crazy so the unicorn design would absolutely be her favourite 😀
I love the green hoody with the dinosaur harems, i know my little one would like these!
The Unicorn, my eldest grand-daughter is slightly obsessed!
I love the unicorn design
I love the dinosaurs because my son is obsessed with dinosaurs at the moment
I love the dinosaur print trousers!
I love the blue dino pini dress love th pattern and my niece would look so cute in it
unicorn leggings are lovely 🙂
I like the hoodies with the letter on. A lovely range.
love the unicorns
The dark blue with dinosaurs
I love the dinos.
I really like the unicorn (navy) design. It is so bright and eye catching!
I love the rainbow design as I’m a Mummy to a rainbow baby
Definitely the unicorn design as my daughter loves them!
I love the Unicorn design the most. Thanks for the competition.
i love any of the unicorn ones and im sure my grand daughter would as well fab give away thanks for the chance.
The unicorn design is so bright and on trend.
Love the unicorn pants and pink hoody!
I love the dinosaurs and so does our 8 year old son! We holidayed on the Jurassic Coast this year and finding fossils just blew his mind so these would be very fitting for my dinosaur loving boy.
The Navy Unicorn design, my granddaughter would love them
The pink hoodie and navy unicorn leggings x
I love the white unicorns on the pale blue background
I absolutely love the Navy Floral Print, it really is simply striking!
love the unicorns for my daughter x
Love the unicorns for my niece x
I love the unicorn design my granddaughter would love it she is unicorn mad
Such an inspirational story? I love the unicorn ones.
I really love the unicorn designs as they are my girls favourite animal at the moment.
So inspirational! I really love the pink and rainbow design!
I love the onesies, would definitely like a surprise colour choice with my son’s name on the back!
Awesome photos and your campany. Thanks for sharing this great article.