Simon Checkley and wife Gill in the Queens Saure, Crawley, shop, with their three children
Simon Checkley knew his new
business selling all things baby
related would have teething trouble.
But even in his worst nightmares he
couldn't have imagined the cruel blow he
and his family have endured.
Just three days after opening the country's
first Prémaman store in Crawley, a
leaky tap upstairs flooded the entire floor,
causing £60,000 damage.
"I'm starting to wish I had not given up
my job," said the former sales rep who
decided to open the store with his wife Gill
after living in Europe, where Prémaman is
a hugely successful brand.
Simon added: "We opened on Good
Friday and had a really good couple of
days trading.
"We were closed on Easter Sunday and
came in the next morning to find disaster."
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"The shop will have to be closed for a
week. Although my insurance will cover
it, this could not have happened at a worst
time."
Despite the flooding, Simon and Gill
believe they have made a good career
move in bringing Prémaman to Britain.
The couple lived and travelled around
Europe for many years and often visited
the store to buy clothes and equipment for
their children Joe, three, Sam, two and
baby Ella.
Friends from back home would be full
of praise for Prémaman products so when
Simon read that the company planned to
enter the British market, he jumped at the
chance.
He said: "I knew Gill and all her friends
were huge fans of Prémaman and was confident
that people in the UK would love
what the shops have to offer too, so we
approached the company about taking on
the franchise for Sussex.
"I was tired of the fast pace of corporate
life but knew with three children to look
after that I could only step away from it if
the right opportunity came along.
"I really think we found it in Prémaman
- the quality, style and price of the product
range is sure to be a phenomenal success."
Gill, a former teacher at Ringmer Community
College, added: "Mums want to
look good without blowing the budget and
also need to have confidence in the products.
"At Prémaman the collections are
exclusive and constantly updated.
"And the innovative products are
creatively devised using the best manufacturers
available."
The couple's store is located at The
Pavilion, Queens Square.
Despite their rocky start to business,
Simon is not only confident the Crawley
store will be a success but he aims to
expand in the near future.
He said: "The upside is that we had an
amazing start to trading.
"We will be back open soon and I hope
we will shortly be able to open a store in
Brighton."
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