A FATHER-OF-THREE has opened a baby equipment shop after seeing first-hand the costs of bringing up a child.

Michael Bates has opened Tiny Tots in Willington, County Durham, which supplies products including prams, pushchairs and cots, and offers innovative services including part exchange on old prams and provides a pushchair hire service for those going on holiday in need of smaller, more accessible alternatives.

The 27-year-old was supported by Be Enterprising, and Tiny Tots is one of 11 businesses that have opened in Willington’s high street through support from the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative.

Mr Bates said: “I had been working in a transport cafe for a number of years when my hours took a big cut. I had to travel 30 minutes each way to get to work, so it almost wasn’t even worth it in the end.

“I noticed that friends, and my wife especially, had been spending a lot of money on prams every three or four months at a time.

“I had always wanted to own my own business so when I spotted a gap in the local market I decided it was time to seek advice.”

Tiny Tots was given business support from Be Enterprising, and a grant which helped towards renting premises, new flooring, shop signs and the purchase of stock.

Michael Smith, Mr Bates’ Be Enterprising coach, said: “When Michael initially came to me I could see his business idea would really bring something fresh to the Willington area and offer a service to the high street that hadn’t been available before.

“What was interesting is Michael wanted to offer a unique service that baby product retailers did not.

“His ideas on part exchange and pushchair hire offer customers a more personal and reliable service which saves them money and makes buying a new pram a lot easier on the pocket.”