Mum's baby blackout blind could win award

Feb 22 2010 By Vicki Eltis

Cara Sayer and daughter Holly.

A WALTON mum and businesswoman has been shortlisted in a national award for a product she designed to help babies get to sleep.

Cara Sayer, 38, who lives off Hersham Road, has been shortlisted for the National Women on Their Way Awards 2010 in the outstanding new product category. The awards event is in its second year and aims to connect women through the UK, to inspire and to increase their self belief.

Mrs Sayer, launched her product, the UK's first blackout blind for prams and pushchairs, in October 2009 at the Baby Products Association Show. She said: "It's a great honour to be shortlisted at such an early stage of my business’s development.”

Mrs Sayer, who used her life-savings to set herself up after she struggled to protect daughter Holly, now two, when she was a baby, invented the product to replace the sight of parents draping items over prams and pushchairs.

The product sells for £19.99 on website www.snoozeshade.com.

Jo Cameron, the former Apprentice candidate, who is heading women's organisation, Women on Their Way, said: "We are delighted that Cara has been shortlisted. There are so many amazing women in the UK who don’t always recognise the impact they have made and it is my absolute privilege to be inspired by so many incredible women.

"We are very much looking forward to announcing the winners in a few weeks time.”

There are twelve awards including Start Up and High Growth Businesses, Online Business, Woman in Finance, Woman in The Community, Public office, Young Woman in Business, Outstanding New Product and Woman’s Advocate.

There are four short-listed candidates for each award and the winner will be announced on Friday March 19 at the Women on Their Way Annual Awards Lunch taking place at Aston Villa Football Club, in Birmingham.

This year the judges include Gill Fielding and Caroline Marsh of TV’s Secret Millionaire. The prize for the overall 'Woman on her Way' is a weekend away for two included flights and accommodation to Milan.