Case Study - Zoe Patmore

My first contact with Tatty Bumpkin was made after reading the tag inside one of their garments of clothing. My little boy loved the clothes and when trying to understand why they were so comfy, I discovered that Tatty Bumpkin classes for children existed. Brilliant I thought, yoga classes were just what I wanted for my children and so I contacted Tatty Bumpkin head office. My delight was soon squashed when I realised that sadly no classes were running in my area. The conversation quickly turned into one which changed my path in life on so many levels. The business was just starting to sell franchise opportunities and from that moment in I was hooked.

I made the enquiry in September 2008 and soon found myself at a Discovery day. I made an immediate decision that I wanted to purchase the regional franchise for Oxford. In truth I had not been looking to return to work at this particular point in my young families life (my children were aged 2 & 3), however, it just felt right and I knew it could work for both myself and Tatty Bumpkin. 

The business built quite quickly after an initial marketing push with a general mix of private, nursery and school classes. Time was the definitely the greatest overhead. I was constantly trying to push the name out into the parent network and encourage people that Tatty Bumpkin was a credible alternative to the numerous other children’s classes which were available.

Getting a teacher on board was the next crucial step to start expanding the franchise. The business opportunities were there to be realised and had to serviced by reliable professional teachers. Organic growth shifted my focus from private classes to nurseries and schools. It soon became apparent to me that they offered a regular dependable business structure which formed the core of my particular regional franchise.

Tatty Bumpkin is absolutely on trend with the mind set and goals of our national network of children’s centres. Our Baby Bumpkin and Tatty Bumpkin classes are a very easy overlay to their existing program which seeks to support positive and nurturing parenting. I soon found myself with young mums, challenged families and special needs groups constantly reinforcing the “fit” which Tatty Bumpkin has with people from all walks of life.

Today, 3 years in, I find my franchise well established, financially delivering and supportive of my young family’s lifestyle. Business is out there to be won and the demand for our unique product continues in spite of the constant cries of recession. Hard work, enthusiasm and a genuine interest in working with children has supported the growth of my franchise along with the unquestionable support from Tatty Bumpkin Head Office. A wealth of knowledge, training provision and business acumen continues to drive the brand forward and support the growing franchise network. Tatty Bumpkin’s ability to adapt  and evolve makes it an exciting franchise to run and I would heartedly recommend it to anyone who wants to become part of an ethical, inspirational business with integrity at its core.