Each week Exmouth Nub News will be featuring a different business in the town on our site to help support our wonderful community.

This week, we speak to Mrs Snuggles aka Lisa Hamer, of Mrs Snuggles Workshop The Ultimate Children's Experience, based in Exmouth High Street.

Mrs Snuggles offers the the ultimate party experiences for children, parties can include the chocolate factory, the slime lab, make-a-friend experience, Mrs Snuggles bath bomb, bath salts and body scrub and crafty kids sand art and pottery painting.

Tell us about yourself?

I'm Mrs Snuggles!

I started the business just over three years ago at Exmouth Indoor Market, I started with a 'make-a-friend' concept, a bit like build-a-bear - "Pick a friend, fill with fluff, make a wish and close them up".

I was doing that six days a week and on the seventh day I was going out and doing parties and the business just grew from there. It was great because I just tapped into a niche.

After less than a year, I took on my first shop premises on Exeter Road and that is when Mrs Snuggles Workshop The Ultimate Children's Experience was born.

I spent 10 months there and it was just not big enough so moved to 1 High Street.

I moved to a bigger premises and now have two sensory rooms, so I do a lot of work with children with special educational needs (SEN), so no child feels excluded.

We do SEN workshops and welcome so many different children, some are visually impaired, are on the autism spectrum, are deaf or have Down's syndrome.

I also sell a lot of sensory equipment and toys.

Why children's entertainment and parties?

I had previous experience in management and entertainment. My skills just fitted in nicely.

I just wanted to be different and unique and with Mrs Snuggles I was able to do that.

What achievement are you most proud of?

I won New Business of the Year last year, for the 2019 Exmouth Business Awards through the town's chamber of commerce. I was also runner up for the Customer Service Award voted for by the general public.

This year the general public voted for me and I given the Local Hero award in the chamber's Virtual Business Awards 2020 - I was completely overwhelmed and I didn't expect to win anything.

It was from my work throughout lockdown, I did lots of random acts of kindness.

I was dropping off sensory toys, chocolates, just bits and bobs on the doorsteps of anyone who I saw had a rainbow in their window.

I also took bath bombs to care workers in care homes and raised £400 for Mill Water School during lockdown.

How has lockdown affected you?

Lockdown has had a huge impact, we can't do a lot of the things we used to do like baby yoga or baby massage.

I also started a SEN cafe for parents to come meet other parents with children with special educational needs - so parents and children could socialise with each other. We did a few before lockdown but that has now stopped.

What are your hopes for the future?

We got trademarks last year so further expansion, franchise if we can, and continue to support the community because they support me and without them there is no Mrs Snuggles.

I want people to know we are still here and operating, with strict measures in place to protect our customers against Covid.

But all Exmouth businesses need the community to shop locally and support us.

We will only stay afloat if people use us. It is a use it or loose it situation. I know so many people that have spent years building their business in the town, working their hearts out but are now closing down.

So please keep booking in and arranging parties of up to six with us.

Visit Mr Snuggles' website HERE.

If you would like to feature in our next 'Close Up' feature email [email protected].