A Cheshire tech start-up is behind a new online gifting service to nurture relationships and end ‘Valentine’s Day disasters’.
Don’t Let Her Down is a free service that lets members view customised gift recommendations based on personalised profiles and data insight.
It was launched by entrepreneurs and friends Laura Stockton and Amy Pandazis, who have made it their mission to make sure that women are never again disappointed by a gift from their other half.
A number of big name retailers, including John Lewis, Nike, Hotel Chocolat and Aspinal of London, have already signed up to the service, as well as hundreds of users.
The business partners believe the website has the potential to save relationships from possible failure.
“We believe that dontletherdown.com will nurture relationships – the process of finding the perfect gift will be much less stressful and women will be much happier receiving presents they really want,” they said.
“We know from personal experience how disappointing it is to open a gift you would never have chosen. It raises the question of ‘do they really know me?”
Stockton and Pandazis met while working in event production but after having children they decided to take the plunge and launch the business to allow then to spend more time with their families.
They said: “It is hard juggling a career with a family and we were both determined to find a balance that worked. One of our long-term goals is to employ other parents who have amazing talent but are struggling to juggle work and family life.”
The entrepreneurs are being supported by UKFast’s Tech Manchester scheme. The initiative connects start-ups with established business leaders in a mentoring programme
Tech Manchester project lead Patricia Keating said: “It’s incredibly exciting to see the momentum that the mentoring programme is generating. We are working with some incredible entrepreneurs who are being supported through the development, launch and growth phases of their businesses to give them the best chance of success.”
Once the service is established, the two entrepreneurs plan to launch ‘Don’t Let Them Down’ and ‘Don’t Let Him Down’, focusing on gifts for children, family members, boyfriends and husbands.