The woman behind the Whizzer™
I came up with the idea for the Whizzer™ when my son, Mayson, was a toddler and always seemed to need the loo—especially when we were on the go! We spent a lot of time driving, and I found myself using an empty takeaway cup from my morning coffee as a makeshift solution for his bathroom needs. It allowed me to cover his private area, preventing any spray from getting on us or our surroundings. Plus, it stopped us from creating an unfortunate "wee river" trickling in public places.
I remember one day at the zoo, Mayson had to go, and the only portable option was a bulky potty—not exactly ideal or dignified. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a simple product to solve this common, awkward problem!
From Problem to Solution (for adults, not just potty training!)
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In 2014, I designed the first Whizzer™
At the same time, I was caring for my terminally ill father, who was bed bound. I’d spent years managing the challenges of limited disabled loos, often in situations that no-one wants to be in with their parent or loved one. I quickly realised my invention could help more than just toilet-training toddlers.
I never gave up on finding a solution to this everyday problem
However, as a single mum juggling countless responsibilities, I didn’t have the time, money, or support to bring the Whizzer™ to life right away. It was tough to set the idea aside, but I promised myself I’d come back to it when the time was right.
A Determined Mum’s Whizzer™ Dream
Fast forward to 2020—a stressful year for everyone, especially parents juggling homeschooling! After recovering from life-changing spinal surgery in 2019, I was determined to make 2020 memorable for the right reasons. By October, I held my first Whizzer™ sample, and by Christmas, I was managing every part of the project myself—from packaging design to legal protection and marketing. I worked tirelessly round the clock from the living room of my 1-bed council flat in London with nothing but a stack of credit cards and a 2nd hand laptop.
The Whizzer™ website officially launched on 17th February 2021, in honour of the passing of my incredible Dad, whose entrepreneurial spirit and unstoppable determination I carry with me.
It Takes a Village…
Behind this launch is no big team or corporate funding. It’s just me, a single mum with a dream, supported by an amazing community I built on social media. The incredible mums who championed the Whizzer™ helped me through setbacks and kept me going. The kindness I’ve experienced online shows the true power of social media, and I’ll be forever grateful for it.
Launching a product as an unknown inventor from my living room was only the first step. Raising funds for manufacturing and finding customers were huge challenges, but with determination and the support of my community, I pressed on.
The Quick Path to Success
Despite the business’s rapid growth, it took 85-hour weeks and countless rejections before opportunities came my way. There were incredible moments, from meeting my local mayor to being invited by Google to discuss entrepreneurship with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but the real highlight was showcasing my invention in a Boots pop-up store. Although I hadn’t secured a permanent spot in Boots, I had launched in 87 JoJo Maman Bébé stores within a year of launching my product, which felt like a major achievement.
Securing Dragons’ Den Investment
That was the start of my journey! The next chapter? Pitching to five formidable Dragons on BBC’s Dragons' Den, which you can read about HERE.
No matter where I am on my journey when you’re reading this, I’ll guarantee still be working day and night to make this little idea a big success. You can follow along on Instagram, where I share the rollercoaster ride with those cheering me on!
So, if you have a dream, take this as your push to go for it!
Hugs and high fives,
