About Us
Founded in 1999, Child Friendly Solutions was conceived after many frustrating hours trying to shop with small children. There didn't seem to be anything available to retailers to help them look after customers with small children safely, and keep them in the store.
So we came up with these safe, hygienic, inexpensive Play Panels, specifically designed for retail and commercial environments.
Since its inception, Child Friendly Solutions has grown substantially and now exports to countries including NZ, UK and USA. Clients include Westpac, Toyota, Esprit and Westfield just to name a few.
The Child Friendly Solutions product offering has been expanded to include customised and fully branded play solutions for retail stores. The team also offers a Play Area Consultancy service to assist retailers, shop fitters and architects with in-store play solutions, particularly for smaller or more challenging retail fit-outs.
Michelle Barraclough - Director
As co-founder of the company, Michelle joined the child friendly revolution by bringing her marketing, strategic planning and financial skills to the venture. (A stint as a London nanny was enough to convince her of the need!) She now has three step-children and a pre-schooler of her own.
Michelle spent 12 years consulting to businesses in tourism, hospitality, services and retail before starting Child Friendly Solutions. Michelle has led the company to successfully entering the global market, with distributors in the USA, UK and Europe.
Michelle is responsible for sales, exports and marketing.
John Barraclough – Chairman
John specialises in planning and managing start-up companies through the early growth stages of their development. John has more than 20 years experience in building successful start-up organisations, across industries as diverse as IT, corporate advisory services and manufacturing.
For Child Friendly Solutions, John provides the financial planning and organisational discipline to support the global growth of the company.
Anne Doyle - Consultant
With a strong entrepreneurial history, Anne has an extensive background in sales and is passionate about making the commercial world a more child friendly place!
After co-founding Child Friendly Solutions in 1999, Anne has gone on to fulfill other business ambitions but still consults to the thriving company she helped develop.
