When you are desperate to get away but just can’t quite commit to the cost and effort of packing the family off to the airport, generally on a dawn flight with a long transfer on a sick-making coach at the other end, why not consider Brittany? Loading everyone and everything you may need into...
It’s just a year like any other but reaching 20 years in business is quite a milestone. People often ask if I ever dreamed that we could get so big. But when you start a fashion company from your kitchen table your ambitions are pretty realistic; design, sell, deliver, balance the books. It was...
Awards ceremonies appear to continue to be all the rage; in fact there was a time when we could have spent a day a week entering competitions. Since we are now a ‘mature’ company – this being our 20th year – we don’t really think that we need the publicity generated by winning an...
International Women’s Day was created more than 100 years ago at a time when sexual inequality was rife and the dissatisfaction of ‘the fairer sex’ started to gather momentum alongside the birth of some (for the age) radical ideologies. The social networks of the time slowly mounted campaigns to bring to an end this...
I’d like you to meet my brilliant uncle … There’s nothing like having a famous uncle. As a small child, growing up in the relatively sheltered city of Brussels (where my father was working) and then near Abergavenny in the Welsh countryside, my imagination would run wild with the stories of my explorer uncle....
I love Christmas and the frenzy of excitement during build-up, but the reality is that between September and December we are frantic at JoJo, plus there’s always a lot more parties and school events to fit in. I have to be clever to make sure the additional work load does not get out of...
A new baby is always a joy. As parents we will cut back on ourselves in hard times but still do our very best for the children. The past few years have been hard to trade through but good nursery retailers continue to flourish as long as they offer excellent service, great design and competitive...
Of course I can’t condone using children as labour in any way and abhor the idea that any child misses out growing up in the security of a loving environment where they can learn through play and creativity. But what about getting them to help out at home? Is it immoral to make our...
Well if you did and if you, like I, tried to be efficient and contact the Child Benefit Charge call centre to register the fact that you no longer qualified, you may just be a tiny bit irritated? Or maybe, as in my case, you may even be angry … or possibly you may...
We all know that it is so tricky to be perfect. Actually, we all know it is impossible to be perfect – I just do my best and quite often I don’t think it is good enough so I keep trying harder (or drink a large glass of wine). However, I recently did an...
I can’t tell you how often I have told my children to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and on the whole they are brilliant at remembering their P’s and Q’s. In fact, I think most children are pretty good at this these days. I’m sure yours are too? So why is it that as...
From the start of the academic school year until we collapse on Boxing day I’m stressed. There is no point denying the fact that I probably go a bit mad and I may even admit, begrudgingly, that I’m a tinsy-winsy bit difficult to live with? It all starts with the back-to-school rush; new shoes...
I used to refuse to leave the UK in the summer holidays. I could not see the point. The weather was good here and the roads generally clear, making trips to Wales or staying in London a real pleasure. Why head for the sun when it’s sunny at home … well that’s what I...
Its a strange thing but I think I am amongst many mothers who never minded being woken up in the night by their newborn babies. That total exhaustion when you have just had an hour or two in bed and are woken for another 30 mins breastfeeding whilst sitting up and fighting sleep never...
Of course with teenage children I’m a little on the old side to have friends having babies, but whilst there is not the rush I knew 10 years ago, there are still a few brave souls pregnant in their 40’s and of course a few second time round marriages with men my age and...
Last week the news was full of the new list from The National Trust; 50 things to do before you are 11 3/4 years old. The media responded with plenty of “Signs of the Times” doom and gloom about how the Security Services are not allowed to do most of the list due to Health...
My son played for AFC Wimbledon today. Is that not every Dad’s and some Mum’s dream? Your child is conceived and within days, in my case at least, your partner is predicting great sporting achievements. Daughters will win Wimbledon a la Chrissie Evett or maybe in other families the bump is destined to be...
Of course I know that I am not damaging my boys, but in the days leading up to a business trip I get more and more stressed. It has always been the case. It starts about two weeks before I am due to leave and I faff and make arrangements for them while I...
It’s sort of ironic that we, a company whose success is dependent on pro-creation, is now based in a former Catholic convent. I’d like to think that the nuns would have enjoyed our designs and approved of our work ethic and company ethos. May be we should get the building blessed or may be...
It’s done. We are in. Yes, we have finally moved our design and buying office. For the past 12 years we have spent most of our working days (often stretching late into the night) in a lovely space on Bennerley Road in Battersea. This is where JoJo grew up and we are sad to...
Yes it’s completely true. I am in heaven and so are my boys – or at least I think they are but since I have not seen them for two hours I can’t be totally sure. I love my children, I’m passionate about my job and all in all I have no complaints about...
For the past few years I have been a trustee of Nema, our great little charity based in Mozambique. Founded by Amy who runs the lovely Guludo Eco Beach Lodge, we at JoJo help out how we can doing the book keeping supporting health projects, building schools, etc. It’s a huge benefit that we...
Sometimes, when life goes wrong it is easy to slip into deep depression. Today was one of those days. Everything went wrong. Toby forgot his homework when he got on the school bus, I noticed it sitting on the kitchen table having just closed the door behind him. It’s great the bus comes straight...
A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to sneak into the premiere of Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus. Not only did he direct the film, his debut as a director I think, but he plays the lead. I’m not much of a movie luvie but my brother was invited with my wonderful sister-in-law, Susannah...
The Bush Theatre on Uxbridge Road, London W12 8LJ re-opened in its new premises last week, the former Shepherd’s Bush Library. I went along to the launch party organized by my friend Susannah Herbert, a talented journalist and previously editor of the Sunday Times Review section, before deciding to take a sabbatical and spend...
Hello, It’s great that you are reading the very first post from our new blog. For the past few years we have shied away from the idea of too much editorial on our website. We felt that you had too much to read already; pamphlets from the hospital, pregnancy and new baby books, news...
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| Laura Tenison | JoJo Guest | ||
| Founder & MD | |||
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| Trewin | JoJo Team | ||
| Eco Dad | |||
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| Mark Jeynes | |||
| Head of International Wholesale |
