A LOCAL woman has celebrated 20 years of service at Hippychick, a family-run toy and nursery business based in Bridgwater.

In that time, Rose Slocombe estimates that she has wrapped and despatched 5,000 Wheelybugs, 9,000 Christmas toys, and 20,000 Hipseat Baby Carriers.

To celebrate her efforts and length of service, owners Julia and Jeremy Minchin presented Rose with a Wheelybug cake, a potted rose for her garden, and a magnum of champagne on Friday, September 30.

Rose joined Hippychick after the business was founded by Julie, a Somerset mum, in 1999.

Bridgwater Mercury: Rose's cake, which was designed to look like a Hippychick Wheelybug. Picture: HippychickRose's cake, which was designed to look like a Hippychick Wheelybug. Picture: Hippychick (Image: Hippychick)

Julia said: “At the beginning, it was just me and my husband managing everything, including despatching our founding product, the Hippychick Hipseat. 

“Hipseats were piled up all over our sitting room floor, up the stairs, in the garage, literally in every available space. 

“That’s when Rose joined us and, thankfully, she’s been with Hippychick ever since. 

“She was affectionately referred to as ‘Downstairs Rose’ by our children, as we had another Rose working part-time upstairs in the office.”

As Hippychick has evolved and moved into its Bridgwater premises, where it has been for the last 19 years, Rose has remained a constant presence.

Her efficiency and wrapping skills has helped ensure the business has met its high demand for orders.

Rose said: “Looking back over 20 years, so much has changed.

“From working in the family home with four of us picking stock from the children's playroom, garages, summerhouse and packing in the lounge, frantically sometimes as the courier would be waiting.

“Everything improved when we moved into the warehouse, as there was space to store things in designated places.  

“The business grew with more staff, each bringing their own knowledge and personalities. I've seen lots of colleagues come and go and have kept friends with most.

“From not being at all technical over the years I've learnt a lot, expanding my skills and knowledge with the help from my colleagues, from driving the forklift and helping unload containers to gift wrapping.

“I am one small cog in a well-oiled machine. Each member of staff brings their own strengths.

“I feel privileged to have spent the past 20 years working in this family-run business with all colleagues and friends past and present.”

Bridgwater Mercury: The cake next to two Hippychick Wheely Bugs. Picture: HippychickThe cake next to two Hippychick Wheely Bugs. Picture: Hippychick (Image: Hippychick)

She added: “With sustainability issues at the forefront of everyone’s minds, the priority is minimising the packaging when getting every day nursery essentials out.

“But at Christmas, many customers want us to gift wrap, and that’s where the skills I’ve learned over the years come into play.”

Rose has appeared in the media several times to offer video demonstrations and advice on wrapping Christmas gifts.

She said: “It’s surprising how many people don’t want the responsibility of wrapping themselves. 

“I just love doing it and when you’ve been doing it for as long as I have, you get a feel for the size of paper required and the style of wrapping that will work best which are the most common issues that face amateurs.”

Her favourite Hippychick product to wrap is the Classic World educational wooden toy range, which are festive bestsellers.

“They come in a cardboard box, so they always look the business in Hippychick’s lovely recyclable wrapping paper,” she said.