Case Study - Sharon Burbridge

I was first introduced to Jo Jingles in September 1999 while living in Windsor, Berkshire where I took our 2-year-old son Harry to a class for 1-2 year-old toddlers. It was something we both thoroughly enjoyed; in fact it became a high point of our week and something that Harry obviously loved.

At the time I was a full-time Mum but had a considerable background in sales and marketing having gained a Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma while working for Nestle UK Ltd for 11 years. I also enjoyed music/dance and drama and had a lot of experience working on local musical productions.

As time passed and I attended more Jo Jingles classes I was smitten. I loved the idea and could see the benefits to the children and felt I had the right type of background to run a franchise. So, when we returned home to Northern Ireland in April 2000 I bought a Jo Jingles franchise and set up my business.

By the end of my first year I was running 16 classes per week with the help of a class teacher who I employed in February 2001and by January 2002 we were running 23 classes. Since then I've again expanded my area. Jo Jingles is working very well for me enabling me to run a business doing something I really love and still finding time to spend with my own two young children.

In July 2001 I won "Jo Jingles – New Franchisee of the Year, 2001" award and I'm very excited for the future with plans in place to increase my weekly classes again.

Aside from the satisfaction and freedom of running my own business I believe I'm doing something really worthwhile. Watching lots of little smiling faces each day and seeing the development and improvement that takes place in the children attending classes is more rewarding than anything I've ever done in my career before.

I'm delighted I took the plunge and brought Jo Jingles to Northern Ireland and look forward to great years ahead.