In October 1999, at a kitchen table in Spaxton, Somerset, Hippychick was born.

It was Julia Minchin’s table and the back-saving Hipseat was the first product to be inaugurated into the portfolio, and one which would become the very back-bone of the Hippychick business.

Julia wanted to create a product that would help ease the strain on the mother's back when carrying her baby, as she couldn't find anything on the market which helped.

She came up with a simple belt with a perch designed to mimic a hip, stepped up to the plate.

More products designed to solve problems followed, and within a few years, Hippychick had offices, an expanding warehouse and a team of staff in Bridgwater.

Twenty years on and Hippychick is now a £3m turnover business with a portfolio that has increased from one product in 1999 to 1,200 in 2019.

Mrs Minchin said: "Staff loyalty is paramount. When people join Hippychick they stay and give everything they’ve got.

"Some of our staff have been with us almost since the day we started.

"My husband Jeremy was a detective with the Met Police before he joined us, which means no stone is ever left unturned and the business is financially solid.

"When we started the business, it was all about bricks and mortar – seeing, feeling and touching products - whereas now it’s about selling on-line and ensuring that Hippychick products come top in search engine results."