Talltape: Camilla Warren

Name: Camilla Warren
Age: 54
Company: Talltape
Staff numbers: 1

Tell us what your business does:
Talltape designs and manufactures (in the UK) children’s height charts. We sell them directly to consumers online and to physical and online retailers.

Where did the idea for your business come from?
Talltape was inspired by two friends moving house, both were really sad to be leaving behind memories they’d made on the walls, marking their children’s heights. One actually just took the door frame with her! I’d always felt the same, with three children of my own I wanted to redecorate but I also wanted to preserve childhood memories.

How did you know there was a market for it?
When I took an earlier sample version to Spirit of Christmas in 2012 and sold nearly 200 in three days.

What were you doing before starting up?
I am formerly a Reuters journalist but most recently I’ve been a housewife, raising my three children.

Have you always wanted to run your own business?
Yes, I’ve always wanted to have my own venture and was inspired observing my father who was a successful entrepreneur.

How did you raise the money?
I’ve so far used bank debt.

What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
Because Talltape is 2m long, the biggest challenge was finding a printer who had the capability and machinery to be able to manufacture for me.

Describe your business model and how you make money:
Talltape’s revenues come from a number of places: 1. Direct-to-consumer sales from our own website 2. Direct-to-consumer sales via all inclusive services (e.g. Amazon, children’s and gift online retailers) 3. B2B sales to physical retailers

What was your first big breakthrough?
My biggest breakthrough was when I discovered there was nothing on the market to measure babies right through their growing years.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
My main advice would just be to persevere, always be persistent if you want to make something happen.

Where do you want to be in five years’ time?
I want to see Talltape become a part of every child’s memory of growing up – here and overseas.