Daughter’s christening led to the birth of Gledhill company

But Gledhill & Co, the Huddersfield-based company which sells upholstered children’s chairs, was established after entrepreneur Kate Gledhill had a flash of inspiration on a momentous day in her daughter’s life.

Ms Gledhill said: “Gledhill was born the same day our beautiful little girl Phoebe was christened. Our friends gave us a chair they had crafted in their British upholstery workshop as a gift.

“The chair quickly became Phoebe’s favourite possession. The chair received so much attention and I was shocked to discover that no-one was able to offer the same type of chair for children.”

So she decided to establish a business selling chairs for the children’s market. The chairs are made in Elland, West Yorkshire, by a sub-contractor and aim to “give a little child a piece of an adult’s world”, according to Ms Gledhill, who has a background in marketing.

“I have been working on this business idea alongside my day job at a branding and design consultancy,’’ she added.

“We wanted to bring them to market as cleanly and simply as possible. I see children and parents taking so much joy from these pieces.”

The first ranges of chairs, the Phoebe, the Nina and the Harry footstool, are now on the market.

The company has two directors and hopes to expand soon.

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