When students Daniel Price and Jonny Sitton decided to launch their own personalised baby gifts company the pair never dreamt they would be presenting Sir Elton John with tiny booties a year later.
But the success of their online store My1stYears.com has proven the public can’t get enough of personalised gifts – and you don’t need to be a rock star to afford them.
Daniel and Jonny were just 21 when they had the idea while studying at Leeds Business School. Although both had yet the experience to joys of parenthood they spotted a gap in the market for personalised gifts for newborns.
After finding an embroiderer prepared to work on shoes so tiny, the pair had the website designed and nine months after coming up with the initial idea, launched the business.
They quickly found an investor and during the first year of trading were able to increase the gifts from just shoes to include blankets, clothing and teddy bears, as well as upgrading the website.
After a successful first year the company entered a period of rapid growth with sales increasing 12 fold last year and expected to reach the £1m mark next year.
Daniel said: “We knew we had a good idea as soon as we came up with it. Everyone loves buying gifts for new babies and having something personalised makes that gift more special.
“Initially we did hit a few brick walls. A lot of companies were unwilling to embroider on baby shoes as they’re so tiny. Fortunately we met someone who was able to do it and thanks to him, we were able to get things up and running quickly.
“We started off with the sheepskin boots and trainers and then began to add the other ranges. The footwear is now our best-selling range, closely followed by the blankets and clothing.”
My1stYears.com already has some famous fans – none more so than Sir Elton and partner David Furnish who were presented with a personalised gift pack following the arrival of son Zachary.
Sir Elton said: “They are beautiful, Zachary is going to get a lot of use out of them.”Click here to see Sir Elton open his gift pack.
Other celebs who have received gifts from My1stYears.com include Dannii Minogue, Heart FM DJ Harriet Smith and most recently Beyonce and husband Jay-Z.
“The feedback we’ve had from our celebrity fans and mums and dads is terrific. They all love the personalised gifts. Dannii showed off the blanket we sent Ethan on X-Factor and Sir Elton and David were delighted with the gifts we personalised for Zachary.
The pair have high hopes for the business over the coming months. They plan to expand the gifts available to include a new fashionable line of baby clothing and footwear, as well as introducing a new range for mums.
Daniel concluded: “The business has grown at an incredible rate over the last twelve months and we now want to maintain that momentum by continuing to expand the gifts we personalise and have available.
“Our aim is to hit £1million turnover in the next financial year and to become the first place people visit when they’re looking for a gift for a baby, a christening gift or something for a new mum.”
Visit the website www.my1styears.com
