A YOUNG mum who opened a babywear shop in Whitehaven last year has expanded her business empire to Carlisle – and now has Manchester in her sights.

Sarah Marsh 31, of Frizington, opened the Little People’s Boutique in Roper Street, Whitehaven, in November, just six months after the birth of her daughter Mia.

There is also a website – www.thelittlepeopleboutique.co. uk – with online sales.

Now she has opened a second shop, trading as the Baby Boutique, in Fisher Street, Carlisle.

She said: “I used to work as a mortgage adviser at Santander. But when I was pregnant with Mia I found it really hard to get baby stuff. There was no choice whatsoever.

“So when I finished maternity leave I decided to give it a go and open my own shop. I rented a shop in Roper Street and started with £500 for stock, and it’s gone from there.”

She soon realised there was an opportunity to do something similar in Carlisle, particularly after the closure of the city’s Mothercare branch at the end of 2014.

Mrs Marsh said: “We started doing a pop-up shop in The Lanes Shopping Centre every other Saturday and got a massive response. People were saying ‘please open a shop in Carlisle’. When the unit in Fisher Street became available, I decided to go for it.”

The shop sells clothing for children up to two, prams, nursery furniture, Moses cots and bedding.

Mrs Marsh added: “We opened on bank holiday Monday and it’s gone really well. We were so busy on the Tuesday that people were struggling to get in the shop.”

She is assisted by her husband Connor, 22, who has business experience working as a pub manager, including stints at The Commercial in Cleator Moor and the Black Bull in Egremont.

And her next venture could be a joint venture with her mother, Brenda McLean, formerly of Sandwith, but now living in Leigh, Greater Manchester.

Mrs Marsh said: “There is nothing around there for new mums so I might open something in partnership with my mum. We’ll see.”