One year on from launching Basking Babies in Scotland, franchisee Lisa Selman has built a growing business in a market where few people had heard of the brand – proving that determination, local relationships and community-building can create opportunities even in completely new regions.
Lisa, who covers East Renfrewshire and south of Glasgow, became Basking Babies’ first Scottish franchisee in June 2025. Since then, she has grown her business, secured partnerships with premium local venues and built a loyal customer base through word of mouth.
Before joining Basking Babies, Lisa worked in finance for many years, then making a career change to support children and families. She has held a variety of roles, including positions in children’s residential care, nursery education and assisting children with additional support needs (ASN). Lisa is also a qualified Early Years Practitioner, bringing a strong foundation of knowledge and experience in nurturing children’s learning and development. Looking for a career that would offer greater flexibility around family life while allowing her to continue to work with children, she discovered Basking Babies and saw a natural fit with her career background and passion for supporting families.
As the first franchisee to establish Basking Babies in Scotland, Lisa has played an important role in introducing the brand to a fresh market. Working closely with the head office team, she has focused on building local relationships, raising awareness of the brand and helping more families discover Basking Babies, while laying the foundations for future growth in Scotland.
For Lisa, much of that growth has been driven by the communities that have formed around her classes. “The first year has definitely been a learning curve,” she said. “Sometimes you doubt yourself, but I’ve learned so much about running a business. Looking back, I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked, the connections I’ve built within my local community and the relationships that have grown through the classes.”
Lisa has some advice for people who are considering joining a franchise brand where they may not have neighbouring franchise territories: “My nearest franchisee is over 100 miles away and I have three tips for anyone in my position.
“1. Don’t be afraid to lean on the support team – just because the brand name isn’t well known in your area, following the business model will help you build your reputation.
2. You won’t be able to meet up on a regular basis with your fellow franchisees so make use of group and 1-to-1 text chats and calls to stay connected and share advice.
3. Face-to-face meetings are a great opportunity to build stronger connections with fellow franchisees, share best practice and gain insights that can help you develop and grow your business.”
Looking ahead, Lisa plans to continue expanding her offering through Mum-to-Be Nurture Circles, her growing Mum & Bump Hub sessions and other new groups designed to bring more parents together.
“Lisa has shown tremendous determination during her first year in business,” said Carla Davison, founder of Basking Babies. “Launching a brand in a completely new area takes confidence and resilience. She’s embraced that challenge wholeheartedly. Lisa represents exactly the kind of franchisee we love to welcome into the network and we’re excited to see how she continues to grow the brand in Scotland.”
For further information about Basking Babies, visit www.baskingbabies.co.uk/franchise
