Our Story
The Little Beach Hut Company was founded in 2012. Friends Jayne Eyers and Jane Ashmore created the business, first hiring out their personal beach huts Bertie and Betty. They bought and sold several huts over the following eight years, ending up with the original Bertie hut, and also Kitty and Peggy huts. In 2020, just as the country was emerging from the first pandemic lockdown, Jayne and Jane made the decision to sell the business. At this time Louise was considering buying a beach hut for personal use, having inherited a sum of money following the sad passing of her mum, (also called Jayne), to cancer. By chance she spotted the advert for the business, so made some enquiries. Realising it wasn’t possible to go it alone (and thank goodness as it’s far more fun with a friend!), Louise discussed the opportunity with Karina. Louise and Karina had become friends through a mutual friend three years previously and had a close little friendship group with a couple of other mums. Karina sadly lost her mum Jenny a year after Louise, also to cancer.
Buying the beach huts seemed like the perfect way to put their precious inheritances to the best possible use and to continue their mum’s legacies. And they felt there were several ‘signs’ pointing for them to go for it. They both knew it would have made their mums so proud, and happy knowing that the business would provide a means of working flexibly around their young families.
Buying a business in the middle of a global pandemic was a big risk with neither Karina or Louise having any prior experience in the industry, but it paid off and nine months later they bought a fourth hut, which they named Lottie. Owning the business has brought the pair much closer as friends too, channelling their energies into something so positive from something so devastating.
‘We absolutely love playing a part in the creation of happy memories and our customers are at the heart of what we do. We would be nowhere without them! We aim to be a one stop shop for a perfect beach day, providing everything needed within the hut and by collaborating with other local businesses for those extra touches. A highlight of our job is reading the wonderful feedback we regularly receive, knowing we’ve helped someone have a really special day’.
Karina Duke
Karina has two children, Riley and Amelia and a fur baby, Cavapoo Daisy. She is married to Russ and prior to owning the business worked at the University of Essex in their accounts department. In 2022 Karina launched a second business as a dog walker and boarder.
Louise Foot
Louise has two girls, Imogen and Jasmine and a tiny Pomeranian called Ziggy. She is married to James and began her career in the NHS, working as a midwife and Health Visitor. After starting her family she worked as a private nanny, which she managed alongside the huts until recently.
Our Logo
You may have noticed the sunflower and feather in our logo – the sunflower is a symbol for Louise’s mum Jayne and the feather signifies Karina’s mum Jenny. There are little touches for their mums inside the huts too. Kitty proudly shows off her sunflower at the tip of her roof, and Peggy has a picture of a single feather inside the hut.
You can read a bit more about our story on the links below:
https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/18886972.friends-take-little-beach-hut-company/