We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrick Collinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrick, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
Pressure makes diamonds. – George Patton.

I believe that hard work and challenges are what build strong businesses. It takes time and effort to achieve great things, and overcoming obstacles makes you stronger and more creative.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I own Gigil.com which is an award-winning brand in the baby industry. We specialize in diaper backpacks and baby changing accessories. We create products that make new parents feel fashionable yet still maintaining the functionality that you need when exploring the world with a baby or toddler. We do not wholesale our products and are solely online, this was a decision made based on us wanting full control of our brand and product. Becoming one of the most reputable baby bag brands in the UK was not easy and has taken years of hard work and consistency. Our mission is to save the planet for the next generation one baby bag at a time, this is why all of our bags are made using sustainable vegan leather and we are close to releasing our new range of bags which are made from recycled plastic bottles (we are very excited about this!).

We are a small family run business and we want new parents to feel confident in themselves and the products they use when bringing up a baby in this ever changing world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As I was brought up just 10 minutes outside of Manchester City Centre, I would take them into Manchester (specifically the Northern Quarter) for food and drinks. I would then take them to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United as I am a keen season ticket holder.

A lot of my childhood was spent in the Lake District which is an hours drive from Manchester so I would definitely take a trip their to spend time in the country side.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout is to my wife who has seen the ups and downs of me running a business. She has been there for me through the real lows and highs of making gigil.com what it is today. From sticking pieces of paper on my window trying to figure out a name for the company/brand to attending award ceremonies for the baby industry and collecting the gold awards multiple times. Core family values are extremely important to me and I will pass these down to my two girls.

Website: https://www.gigil.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gigilgram/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gigilbabyco/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.