TWO mums have turned their friendship into a thriving business venture.

Sarah Ingram and Jacqui Seymour, who met 17 years ago through their local toddler group, run online store mumswarehouse.com, which markets products made by local mums.

Mother-of-four Ms Ingram, who lives in Peppard Common, near Henley, said: “We met when our first-borns were babies and have since chalked-up seven children between us.”

Ms Ingrams, whose children are 9, 13, 15 and 17, worked in the food industry including running cupcake venture Molly Moments.

Ms Seymour, who lives at Cane End and has three children aged 13, 15 and 17, previously worked as a finance director.

Both are home-based so they can fit work around their children.

Ms Ingram said: “When I used to make cupcakes to sell on the craft-fair circuit, I was in awe of other mums’ talents.

“It made me realise there is so much skill out there among women taking time out from work to have kids but who still want to use their talents.

“A lot of them are small start-up businesses juggling their passion to make original products with raising a young family.

“Many don’t have their own website and so Mums Warehouse is the perfect way for them to fulfil their dreams and get their products to a much bigger audience.”

So far, the pair have signed 30 mothers and offer more than 300 products.

Ms Ingram added: “Our main criteria is that we have to really like it and we won’t put anything on the site that doesn’t look good.

“People love handmade stuff but it has to be of high enough quality that you can imagine it on sale in John Lewis.”

The women, who help with photography, writing the description and advising on marketing, charge sellers 20 per cent commission.

Future plans include upgrading the website and introducing an online forum for mums to give each other support and business tips.

Ms Ingram added: “We have a real chance to create a community of mums who are all helping each other.”

But the pair do not market their own creations through Mums Warehouse.

Ms Ingram added: “At the beginning we thought we would put our products on there but we haven’t got time to make them now, because running the business is a full-time job.”