Mum opens Ashington sleepsuit factory

Posted by The Journal on Sep 7, 09 10:30 AM in News

Kate Dawson from Ellington with Go Wansbeck Enterprise Coach Team Manager Jan Grieveson A mum who launched a business because she couldn't find the type of sleepsuits she wanted for her children has opened her own factory to cope with demand coming from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Mum-of-two Kate Dawson's The All-In-One Company makes bespoke sleepsuits for children and adults, which can be customised with hoods, ears and mittens.

The business, based in Ellington, has just moved into a factory at the North Seaton Industrial Estate and proudly states on its website: "We are proud to manufacture our products in Northumberland, England."

Miss Dawson said: "We have literally just opened our own factory and I never thought that would happen in our first year of business.

"I've just taken on a fourth person and I expect to take on more in the run-up to Christmas as the orders start to come in.

"It is a niche in the market; there are no other companies where you can pick your fabric colours and choose your own add-ons. The feedback has been wonderful."

Miss Dawson, whose father came from Ashington, was brought up in Oxfordshire but spent childhood holidays in Northumberland. She decided to move permanently to the area almost two years ago.

A qualified nursery nurse, she started her own nanny agency from home in Oxfordshire when her children were small and sold it when she moved to Northumberland - to a woman who was moving down from Alnwick.

Miss Dawson said she opened the business because she was disappointed in the lack of choice she found when she was looking for sleep garments for her children Lilly and Henry.

She designed the original products herself and brought in her family as her guinea pigs to test how practical they were.

"The children tried on all the prototypes. They have been a huge help," said Miss Dawson. "I'm proud that I've developed a quality product that people can design themselves and feel comfortable in.

"It's such a happy, lovely business and I'm very pleased to be able to put a lot of fun into my work."

Although originally targeting children, the business started to receive requests from adults who wanted the suits to lounge around in at home, at music festivals and on camping trips. The team is now also producing matching hot water bottle covers and blankets.

Miss Dawson received advice from Go Wansbeck Enterprise coach team manager Jan Grieveson . He said: "Kate is a remarkable example of how a simple idea can be turned into a thriving business. She really has an entrepreneurial spirit."

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