We need another name..! June 04 2013, 56 Comments

We have a new style coming out in July, it is a smaller take on the Grace bag.

This bag has an adjustable shoulder strap and a zipped back pocket. As with all the other Mia Tui bags you can zip the bag closed and it has our unique interior.

In this bag you get a small clutch bag, phone/pen holder and key clip.

It is big enough to take a full sized iPad and the feedback from the lucky few who have got to road test this bag is, it is a great everyday bag.

So now we need a name.. please add your choice of name below, or on the Facebook page www.facebook.com.miatui

Lines close 10pm on the 23rd June and the winner will win one of the new bags Aubergine.

The unique Interior of a Mia Tui Bag May 21 2013, 0 Comments

How did the Mia Tui interior come about..? well it was really about making my life easier when travelling, I would travel long-haul alone with young children, and I wanted to be able to stand at check-in drop one of the shoulder straps and find everything I needed. (without panicking that I had lost the passports) 

The interior was based around the insert bags that come with a Mia Tui bag. The clutch bag would be for all your personal bits (purse, diary etc), the PVC is airline compliant for travel liquids, make-up or cables, use the larger PVC bag (comes with the Amelie bag) for tolietries, or a great use is for colouring pens to keep the little ones entertained.

These internal bags needed to fit in the bag so you could find them quickly, so that is where the pockets came into it, they are placed around the inside of the bag, so you can easily find your essential items and still have space in the middle to dump things.!

The bright fabric is even a considered choice, have you ever tried to find anything in a black lined bag..? So that is why we use a bright pink interior, you can always see into your bag, the colour may change one day as I know not everyone loves pink. :-)

The clips for your keys was an important feature (how many times are have you lost your keys in your bag!) as was the insulated -bottle holder.

So that is how the Amelie bag came about, it was the 1st bag in the Mia Tui range, we found everyone loved how organised they felt when travelling, so we knew we were on to a winner.!

We then took the same concept and translated it into different sized bags and Mia Tui grew in styles and  colours, and has become loved by so many people.

The Amelie bag is allowed on all budget airlines as hand-luggage, and this is the must have bag for families, as it has so many uses...

• Travelling
• Swimming
• Beach bag
• Gym Bag
• Big days out.

To get 15% off the Amelie range use the code Amelie13 on the website www.miatui.com

Here are a few of our bags, and those oh so practical interiors.

C x

The Mia Tui Range - Which One Is For You..??? April 11 2013, 3 Comments

I want to take a look at the different sizes of bags in the Mia Tui collection and the different occasions you can use them.

Amelie 

Amelie - This is our largest bag and designed as the ulimate travel bag.

Amelie is airline compliant, so you can take on-board any airline, even Ryan Air won't charge you any extra.! It will fit under the seat in front of you don't have to keep getting up and down from your seat to get things. The clear PVC bags are also airline compLiant for your carry-on liquids.

Other occasions to use an Amelie incude, gym and swimming, use the clear PVC bags for your toiletries and you can easily fit 3 towels in the bag.

Amelie is a big bag and best suited to someone who is taller, so at least 5ft 6"

Minnie Amelie 

Minnie Amelie - This is is a smaller version of the Amelie and our award winning bag. Minnie Amelie is a fantastic baby changing bag, work bag or smaller travel bag.

There are two bottle holders in this bag, so great if you have a couple of kids, or you can use for an umbrella, sunglasses, or as someone from Ireland suggested your plastic bags to use when shopping (Ireland have a plastic bag tax now)

Minnie Amelie will fit up to a 17" inch lap top and all your work files, then you have all your personal stuff in the clutch bag, great if you need to just grab and go.

Ella

Ella - Is our new style and slightly smaller than the Minnie Amelie, this is because it tappers towards the top. The interior is the same as Minnie Amelie with two insulated bottle holders.

Ella is a great larger handbag, work bag or a very stylish baby changing bag.

The clutch now has a long detachable strap which allows you to wear it across your body, this is great if you are out for a night and want to sling the bag across you.

The Mia Tui key clip is in all our bags, and stops you fishing for your keys all the time.

Sofia

Sofia - This is a medium sized handbag, which can be worn under your arm as shown or across your body like a messenger bag.

The Sofia still has the clutch bag and small travel sized PVC bag, and a water-bottle holder. This bag makes a great everyday bag or smaller work bag, you can still fit an iPad or Kindle in the pocket, or a small lap-top in the centre of the bag.

 Grace

Grace - This is one of our most popular styles of bag, you can see that it can be worn under your arm or across your body. This is a very spacious bag, you have a bottle holder, small clutch bag, and small pvc bag that fit into the pockets.

Use this bag everyday, or it makes a great city-break bag as you can easily fit your water, camera, guide books etc into the bag.

The Mini iPad and Kindle fit into the pockets or a full sized iPad in the middle of the bag.

Ascot

Ascot - Not wanting to leave the men out, we have brought out the Ascot, this is a messenger bag that can be used for work or a changing bag for the man who doesn't do "Cup Cakes".

There is a water bottle holder, clips for keys, large front pocket and a smaller one on the back. The Ascot comes with a medium PVC bag that fits into one of the two internal pockets.

So that is the range - all except for Lottie

Lottie has been a massive hit, this bag is worn across your body, and has enough space for your essentials, purse, keys, phone, pen and some make-up.

Lottie has the signature Mia Tui key clip, so you will always find your keys.

You can find all of the Mia Tui bags at www.maitui.com Use the code MT2012 to get 10% off the range.

Search for a Star - Sunday Times Article by India Knight - She is talking Mia Tui Language April 01 2013, 0 Comments

I started Mia Tui because I couldn't find the perfect bag to travel with, I didn't know where it would take me, and some days (most days) I question what the hell I am doing working 18 hour days, being a mum and wife.

Then someone will either drop me an email or comment on Facebook about how they love their new Mia Tui bag and I realise why I am doing it.

I want to bring bags that really work to people, our lives are so busy we need a bag that can really work for us, at a price that is affordable. I know not everyone will love the styles, or colours, but as we grow we bring new styles that hopefully appeal to more and more people. There will be a leather collection next.

What I have are stylish bags that are functional, you can fit up your ipad, Kindle in the pockets, find your keys, take a bottle of water with you, keep it cool and you don't risk it up-ending in your bag.

I kind of want the world to know about these bags, I am so passionate about them, but know it takes time to build a business. We gain more and more converts each day. Our customer are all ages, currently we are in Yours magazine which is for 55+ so I have ladies calling the office who don't use the Internet to buy a bag!

This is a excerpt from an article in The Sunday Times Style Magazine, by India Knight, now tell me if I'm wrong, but is she looking for a Mia Tui bag or what..!

"God, the saga of bags. Why are they so hard to get right? Why don’t the people who make bags think of the customer’s needs? I don’t mind coughing up. In fact, I want to cough up, because I want a Bag for Life — the bag that’s going to make me feel sorry for all the other bags that exist; the bag that’s going to make me feel smug because I have found perfection; the bag equivalent of Acne Pistol boots or the Nars lip pencil in Dragon Girl. But no. The closest I’ve got is a Maxi Zip Satchel by Anya Hindmarch. This, despite being black, has something of the conker about its leather.

Here are the things that are currently in my bag, the things I carry about every day. A wallet (fat, inelegant, with receipts spilling out); a make-up bag (also fat and bulgy); a Kindle, which has replaced the giant hardbacks I used to lug around and which made the Bag Quest even more impossible; an iPhone and a charger; sunglasses in a case; a pot of Carmex; a pair of headphones (foldable); a small notebook; a pen; cigarettes; a lighter.

That’s the bare minimum. If I’m out with the children, the bag needs to be roomy enough to accommodate whatever my daughter chooses to bring with her — a paperback, maybe a Kindle Fire, a Barbie, some wipes, a selection of hair clips. If the weather’s inclement, we can add a pair of gloves, a hat and a scarf. If we’re on holiday, the bag needs to be big enough to shove in small purchases or findings.

Bags that can accommodate my needs exist, of course — there’s no shortage of big bags around, some of them comically so (though 2013 is supposedly the year of the teeny-tiny bag. Which is cool if you have a teeny-tiny life, I guess, or are 5ft 1in). But why do they all consist of leather on the outside, with a giant empty space in the middle? I pack my carrier bags more carefully than high-end bag-makers would have me pack my precious possessions.

Why am I supposed to throw everything into a giant hole and be happy to have it all rattling about, getting bashed and dented?

Why am I not allowed to have sections or — excepting Hindmarch — sodding pockets, and I don’t mean one lone zippy thing for my phone? You know? I’m handing over hundreds of pounds, and you’re giving me nice leather and the black hole of Calcutta. It’s not okay. It enrages me, actually. Also, cheap linings that rip? Really? At a grand a pop? I don’t think so."

So, I do have it right, the Mia Tui concept is what people are wanting and looking for, one day the big retailers will come knocking on my door saying "show us the way in the handbag revolution" then we can bring many different styles and fabrics to the deserving women of the world.

What does a Mia Tui bag look like on the inside

We have pockets, we have clips for your keys, we have insulated bottle holders for your drinks, we have bags for your make-up or cables, we have a clutch bag for your purse.

Mia Tui - Handbag Reveloution March 30 2013, 0 Comments

Last week had to be the busiest of all weeks, the container finally arrived after many problems it got to me 4 weeks late, better late than never!

So there I was unpacking a 20ft container with my Mum & Dad - a true family business (my husband just so happened to be away on a business trip - timing is everything!)

I then had to load the van for my 6 days away, I have never been away from the girls for that long and was a bit apprehensive, but I had to go and do two shows.

The 1st show was the International Fitness Show at the Winter gardens in Blackpool, this is where International presenters come and take over the Winter gardens and gym instructors or fitness lovers come for the weekend to learn new things and do up to 5 classes a day!

I was there to sell the Amelie range as the perfect Gym bag, we had already been last year, so knew the fitness professional loved the bag, this time we all but sold out of the bags.

I had to leave after a day and a half as I needed to get to Harrogate to the UK biggest Nursery Fair for Trade, and as we had won 3 awards for Minnie Amelie as a changing bag, I thought it was important that we showed the Trade just how great Mia Tui bags are.

It was a successful 6 days, the trade seemed to really love the bags, so hopefully we will win another major account soon. John Lewis are taking Ella in Aubergine and Minnie Amelie in Black, it is funny how people and other trade customers take note when they know John Lewis are going to stock you, it's like the royal seal of approval.

Jo-Jo Maman Bebe another fantastic nursery retailer are taking Grace and Ella, so the latter part of 2013 looks to be a good one.

So how did it all go, well the girls managed, I think a present a day help a bit, I did have a lot of tears from Mia, and then she got sick, but we all got through, and I made it home.

I actually liked getting off the Mummy treadmill for a few days, I didn't have to repeat myself 10 times to clean teeth, get dressed, close mouth when eating, do homework, finish your dinner, and no you can't have ice-cream for breakfast. Or have to think about what to cook for dinner..

We have a competition on Facebook for Easter - you have got to find the hidden bunny on the website. www.facebook.com/miatui

Win a Sofia Bag in Black February 12 2013, 44 Comments

 Win a Sofia Bag in Black

Sofia is a hobo handbag that bridges the gap between functionality and fashion, and delivers a unique solution that will simplify your life.

You'll find our unique interior with multiple pockets, zips, clips and extra bags means you never have to dig for a missing key or lipstick again. And you'll fit everything you need in one bag to stay looking stylish.

Plus, each bag comes with a removable PVC bag ideal for make-up or toilertries as well as a co-ordinating clutch bag for essentials such as purse and keys

All you need to do is tell us what the "Tui" in Mia Tui means - post your answer in the comments below or on the Mia Tui Facebook page. Then hit the Facebook Like Button below  www.facebook.com/miatui

Competition ends Sunday 17th February, all correct entries will be put in to a hat and randomly drawn.

www.miatui.com

Men Look Out - A Mia Tui Bag is Coming Your Way - But We Need a Name January 17 2013, 11 Comments

We have been asked so many times for a man's bag. Men seem to really get the Mia Tui bags (thank goodness for that, it means we can justify having a few of them!)

So here we have it, the latest bag in our ever growing collection.. but yet again I don't have a name, so over to you to find me one.

This bag is a messenger style bag (without the flap) and comes in 3 different colours, a Dark Grey Canvas, Chocolate Brown and one for the ladies as I really like this bag, Sand with a Brown strap.

It has a large zip pocket on the front and one on the back, zips completely closed on the top, and the strap is fully adjustable.

I see this being used for many different occasions, work, babies, travel or even a school/college bag.

It has our normal Mia Tui interior, bottle holders, clips for keys, phone & pen pockets, it can fit a laptop, and your iPad, Kindle or tablet will fit into one of the pockets.

We need a name, get your thinking hats on, leave a comment below, and we will pick a name by 28th January.

My Next Baby Needs A Name December 30 2012, 35 Comments

 We have been busy over Christmas making new Mia Tui bags to bring joy to you all..!

However this new baby needs a name.

Please either post your name in Facebook or here in the comments.

Winner will win the new bag before anyone else can get their hands on one.

Closing date 6th January 2013

Mother & Baby Awards - Gold December 05 2012, 0 Comments

Most of you will probably already know that we won Gold for the “Best Travel Product” at the Mother & Baby Awards last week.

It is the biggest highlight in the short life of Mia Tui, as a new comer into the market place you are competing against established companies who are well known, and to be recognised as the best in this category is a major achievement.

The day of the awards was a busy one in the Mia Tui office, so there was not the luxury of taking my time to get ready, I laddered my tights just before leaving, so had to make a mercy dash to M&S to get another pair before picking up my Dad late!

My husband Philippe was away on business so couldn’t come with me, which was a shame as this is as much his baby as mine, but my good old dad stepped in to take his place.

It was lovely to have my dad with me, we took our time driving down to London and we got time to chat, when we got to the Hilton Park Lane and made our way into the champagne reception, and felt a little out of place, as we didn’t know anyone.

Our table was full of really lovely people, Kool Trade, Jo-Jo Maman, Baba + Boo (the lovely Eve) . We were amongst seasoned winners Kool Trade had won for 7 years on the run..!

There were quite a lot of categories to get through, Kool Trade won again and Baba + Boo won Bronze for reusable nappies.

Then came our category, Momymoo Bronze, JJ Cole Silver, as they announced the Gold winner they read out what the testers thought of the product, and as they said “Our testers loved how roomy the bag was and how much space it provided” I knew we had WON..!, I think my dad just said “F**k” over and over.

There was no decorum; I jumped up and down screaming “IT’S ME, I WON, I WON” not so cool..! Dad came up with me to collect the award, the rest was a blur, there was a spotlight on us as we made our way from the back of the room to the front, I couldn’t see a thing and nearly went flying arse over tit..!!

So there you have it, Mia Tui won Gold at the Mother & Baby awards which are acknowledged by retailers and consumers as the definitive, independent benchmark for parenting products that offer exceptional quality, user-friendliness and value for money. They have been described as ‘the Oscars’ of the parenting industry and the ultimate recognition of excellence’.

I shall keep my award in the toilet in true Oscar fashion..!

HSBC and the Fraud.. What Happened Next November 13 2012, 3 Comments

HSBC - Where is my money..? November 05 2012, 16 Comments

HSBC - Where is My Money..?

This happened 3 weeks ago, and due to the fact that HSBC or Standard Charter Bank still can’t tell me where my money is, I am resorting to Blogging, and to my contacts via Twitter and Facebook to try and spark a response from HSBC or Standard Charter bank.

I own Mia Tui which is a start-up business designing and producing functional bags and handbags.

I was unfortunately subjected to an email scam, my fabric supplier had their emails hacked, and I was sent duplicate emails and pro-forma invoices from what looked like the same email account.

The email I received with the pro-forma invoice attached said that the directors had asked me to pay into their sub account with Standard Charter Bank Hong Kong.  I did email back asking why this had changed but “they” were following the email trail and responded back to me, then deleted the actual email so my supplier never saw the email.

On Monday October 12^th I paid the pro-forma invoice just before taking my children to school, I always speak to my supplier via Skype, so told her I was making the payment, I scanned the confirmation over to her,  then just as I was leaving to take the girls to school  she asked "why did you pay this account"?

I forwarded her the email which asked me to pay into the sub-account; I thought “what is she talking about”.

As I returned from school, I had and email from her saying she never sent this email and to stop the payment. I thought it was some sort if joke..!

The scammers were following this conversation as they sent me a copy of the email requesting me to stop the payment, but added “please pay this account instead”!

I phoned HSBC and stopped the payment; this was not even 40 minutes after sending the payment. I was told there should be no problem and have my money back within 2 days.

For the next two days I still got emails from the scam people requesting payment, they told me not to contact anyone else and even set up a Hotmail account in my name and emailed my supplier telling her to only email “me” at this address.

I only found this out when my supplier said I have sent you the pro-forma invoice to your Hotmail account! I don't have a hot mail account. They were trying to stop me communicating directly with my supplier.

My fabric supplier reported this to the police in China, and I called HSBC daily for an update.

I have been sent from one call centre to another, I even found out that they had heard of Mia Tui bags in Malaysia!  HSBC can’t tell me anything, not even if the money has reached the fraudsters account.

I have complained to customer services and I have “M” calling me every-day to tell me they have no up-date, I think she is getting embarrassed now. Between the two banks HSBC and Standard Charter they can’t tell me where my money is, even if it has reached the fraud account.!

I am a small business and can't afford to lose this money, maybe if I was a big customer I would would treat me differently

Banks are trying to stamp out fraud, I called 40 minutes after sending the money via the Internet, to tell them that I have been subjected to fraud, you can’t tell me that they couldn't stop the payment.

I've nearly stopped the business over this, I am working 18 hour days and cash flow is tight, I can't afford for this to happen.

The government is relying on Small business to drive growth in the UK economy, but the banks are not helping us grow and develop.

I just want to know where the money is, and when I am likely to get it back..! I have to find extra money now to purchase the fabric, if the fabric is not purchased now, I will not be able to produce for in time for 2013.

I am hoping by blogging about this I may help other small business not make the same mistake as me, and also see if by gaining some momentum highlighting what has happened with HSBC and Standard Charter I may get a response!

Please share on any social media sites..

What's it like being a Mia Tui at Home Agent..? September 27 2012, 0 Comments

I thought it would be nice for Elyssa to write a post about being a Mia Tui at Home agent.

Elyssa first saw me when I was selling the bags in a local shopping centre, this bundle of energy came up to me and said, "I could sell these bags at a party for you". It was something that I had planned for Mia Tui, so I thought, why not let's give this a go.

Fast forward 8 months and Elyssa has been running about selling the bags, so I will hand you over to Elyssa...

My name is Elyssa and I started off Mia Tui at Home, it fits so easily around my family and me.  I am my own boss, with my own schedule and my own targets.  Charlotte is an absolute delightful person to deal with and it’s hard not to get passionate about her bags.  So when she offered me the opportunity of working for myself, I couldn’t wait to get started. 

I am married and have 3 young children and as you can imagine I have a lot to carry around.  When I saw Mia Tui handbags, I knew they would be perfect for me. I spoke to Charlotte and said I know lots of ladies who would love the Mia Tui bags and that I could have a party.

Charlotte suggested we did it one evening and that’s exactly what happened.  I invited friends and family to a party at my house to view the lovely Mia Tui Handbags, what a success!  My front-room was full and the women couldn’t wait to own their very own Mia Tui handbag.

I have the Mia Tui Ava bag, I took this to the Parents and Tots group I attend and the mums there loved my new bag and wanted one for themselves, so I started sell the bags there.

I can do this job as it fits around me and my family.  I have displays at the Parents and Tots group almost monthly and at the Nursery, whilst I do this my youngest just plays as normal, this job really does fit around me and my life.

When someone books an At Home Party, I go to their home and show them the bags, and now the school is allowing me to display the bags in the staff-room, so all the teachers can have a look.  Mia Tui is truly a bag for all reasons.  I have also attend Charity NCT Pamper Evening

I have no deadlines, I only have my schedule and no pressure, but because I am passionate about the bags, it’s easy!

Love Elyssa x

Where did Mia Tui bags go this summer..? September 23 2012, 0 Comments

The summer is finally over.. well it didn't really get started did it..!

But we made up for the lack of sunshine with putting on the greatest Olympics and Paralympics the world has ever seen. I made it to the closing ceremony of the Paralympics and it was an amazing experience.

So where did you take your Mia Tui bags to this summer, mine went to Spain, and for plenty of days out, I even found out that the Amelie bag fits under the seat in front of you in the plane..!

You can see in this picture the bag under a plane seat and an Amelie bag packed ready for a flight with kids.

Grace went to the Harry Potter studios, you can see her outside 4 Privet Drive & in the Hogwarts Great Hall

The Olympics and Paralympics played a big part of the summer for the bags...

Then the bags headed abroad to some exotic places.. from Croatia, Greece, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Egypt, Paris, New York City & Florida.

Glamping in the UK

The bags headed to London and saw the sights..

And of course the Mia Tui bags make fantastic travel bags.

And on the beach..

Mia Tui bags were seen on 3 continents. Europe, America, and Asia and we are going from strength to strength..

So now it brings me to the hardest point to name the 3 winners..

Karen Bethall - she took her bags all over, Amsterdam, Harry Potter and to Wimbledon
Tracey Smyth - took her Amelie to Egypt
Ria Eldur - who took her Ava to London to see the sights

Thank you to everyone who took part, it was amazing to see where you took your Mia Tui bags, but most of all thank you for your continued support.

Keep posting pictures of your bags.

Charlotte x

Mia Tui at Home Parties August 16 2012, 5 Comments

We have been trailing Mia Tui at Home parties in Milton Keynes for 6 months now; and the time has now come where we want to start rolling this out across the country.

Mia Tui is the perfect fit for selling at parties or within your local community, you need to show people why Mia Tui bags are unique and how you can use them for so many different occasions. You then find the bags start to sell themselves.

Summer Fun with your Mia Tui Bag and Win £50 voucher July 25 2012, 0 Comments

Summer has finally arrived (well it has as I write) school is out and we are juggling kids with work and trying to stay calm.. I find a big glass of wine at 5pm helps..!

I think most of you know by now that I designed the Amelie bag for travelling, for me this is the perfect travel bag when you are going on holiday as you can fit everything you need to take on holiday or a weekend away, but then your essential items like your purse, tickets/boarding passes, phone, make-up and laptop or iPad are easily found.

You can even use your bag as a beach bag as it is water-proof inside and out.

I want to see where you are taking your Mia Tui bags this summer.. post your pictures on Facebook www.facebook.com/miatui if you are not on facebook then email me at info@miatui and I will post for you.

The best 3 pictures will win a £50 voucher to use on the Mia Tui website.

Here are a few pictures of my Mia Tui bags on my holidays- one on a beach in Thailand and the other from Ankor Wat.

Have a great summer.

Charlotte x 

Name my next baby..! July 13 2012, 126 Comments

 So the time has come to name my next baby (bag)

This is such a great bag, it comes with the unique Mia Tui interior, waterbottle holder, clip for you keys, clutch bag, clear PVC bag, phone & pen pockets and a detachable strap.

The new fabric we are using for the Autumn Winter 2012/13 range is a faux leather, waterproof inside and out and is so soft to the touch, you will love it, and think that it is leather. The new collection will be in 7 colours, Red, Green, Blue, Stone, Black, Plum & Magenta.

The size of the bag is in between the Grace and Ava, you can easily wear this bag across your body.

Please post your names in the comments box.

The competition will run until 31st July, and the winner will win the new bag before anyone else can get their hands on it. 

www.miatui.com

Win a Mia Tui Amelie Bag Stuffed Full of Oriflame Summer Products June 19 2012, 34 Comments

I know it may not feel like it.. but summer is here..!

Hopefully you all  have a summer holiday booked and you're looking forward to a week or two in the sunshine. It will be a time for taking things easy, reading a book or two, enjoying a few glasses of wine, eating some good food and not thinking of the school runs, washing, ironing, cleaning or work..!

I have teamed up with Oriflame to bring you an amazing competition to win an Amelie Travel bag full of Oriflame products which will help get your feet ready for the summer and protect you and your family whilst playing in the sun.

So what do we have on offer..

The Mia Tui Amelie bag is the essential travel item for the summer and you can win one full of Oriflame products.

The Amelie bag is hefty enough to accommodate a laptop, e-reader, iPad or work files, the Amelie Travel Bag - features a multi-pocketed waterproof interior so that travel documents, pens, mobile phone, keys, water bottle and other essentials can be stowed in separate compartments and are easily accessible. The bag also doubles up as a great beach-bag when you're on holiday as it is completely waterproof.

Two clear, removable zipped bags are also included which are ideal for carrying liquids, toiletries and make-up through airport security thanks to their airline compliant size.

In addition, the Amelie Travel Bag comes with a co-ordinating clutch bag so you can easily swap to a small bag when you only need to take essentials such as purse and keys with you.

You can get 10% off the entire range at www.miatui.com use the code MT2012

Orfliame is a Swedish cosmetics company and they have given me the following gorgeous products to include in the Amelie bag.

To get your Feet Ready for the Beach

Feet Up Exfoliating Foot Scrub
Feet Up Cracked Heel Repair
Feet Up foot Mask
4-in-1 Foot File

Now for the Legs

Feet Up Leg Mouse
Swedish Spa Anti Cellulite Cream

You're now ready to hit the beach

Oriflame Beach Towel
Sol Family Spray Sun Lotion
Sol Kids Coloured Sun Spray
Sol Family After Sun

Time to head out for dinner

Aqua Rhythm Day cream

To WIN  this competition which is worth over £140, all you have to do is pop over and have a look at the Oriflame Facebook Page  and the Mia Tui Facebook Page  If you LIKE the pages it's a great way to keep up to date with the latest offers and promotions.

Tweet:  I want to win an Amelie Bag full of Goodies with @miatuibags  and @oriflameUKltd  http://wp.me/p1jyRo-8D

Then comment below on why you love the summer.

Oriflame is a Swedish cosmetics company and have been operating in the UK for over 4o years, they are a direct selling company, operated through a net-work of agents who distribute catalogues within their local community. This is a great way of earning extra money each month and there is no financial outlay to start. Full support and training is given to help you on your way.

If you are looking to earn some extra money click here to see if becoming a Oriflame consultant is for you.

Entires close at 9pm on 1st July. Winner announced on Monday 2nd July.

I was kindly given the products free of charge from Oriflame, my opinions are honest and unbiased.

A Stylish Gym Bag April 19 2012, 2 Comments

Following on from my post "Back at the Gym" and reading an article in The Daily Mail   which was titled "Is a designer gym kit the new 'It' bag? How trend-led sportswear is changing the way we dress to work out.

I thought I would keep to the fitness theme and show you how you can use the Amelie bag is a stylish gym or swimming bag.

In the few times I have actually made it to the gym this year, the one thing I have noticed is what bags people bring to the gym, this ranges from small wheelie suitcases (I kid you not) to carrying  2 bags or a large sports bag.

This got me thinking about the Amelie bag and how to use it as a gym or swimming bag.

It's large enough to accommodate a pair of trainers, towel and workout clothes, features a multi-pocketed waterproof interior so that workout gear, mobile phone, snacks, water bottle, keys and other essentials can be stowed safely in separate compartments and are easily accessible.

Two clear, removable zipped bags which can be used for toiletries, make-up, transporting those damp gym clothes home in or storing jewellery.

In addition, the Amelie comes with a co-ordinating clutch bag which you can swap essentials such as purse and mobile into if you want to nip out and grab a wine  I mean coffee after your work out.

To watch a Video of the Amelie bag click the picture or on this link Amelie Gym Bag

To get yourself 10% off the range quote FitPro12 at www.miatui.com

Back at the Gym April 18 2012, 2 Comments

So I made it to the Gym...

I made it to the gym this morning, I got my husband to drop the kids off at school and I was on the exercise bike by 8.15am and home at my desk by 9.20am, OK I have not showered, but as I work on my own I'm not offending anyone and just as long as I manage to get washed by pick up all is good..!

I joined the gym in December and I have probably been 8 times since, so it is proving quite expensive per visit at the moment., but I am looking to change that.

Exercise has been part of my life since I was about 13, I started running the day after a local marathon,  I was not the slimmest or fasted girl at school but some how I took to running, I would run about 3 miles every day. After about 6 months Dad took me to the local athletics club and I never looked back.

I ran at County and Southern England level at both Track and Cross- Country and travelled most weekends to compete, I loved it, being part of a club and training with your coach every day made you feel part of something.

I also trained to become an aerobics instructor when I was 18, this has probably been my single best qualification, I have only ever taught part-time, but when moving around the UK for my job I would always teach and this allowed me to make new friends.

Then when I started living abroad I set up classes where I lived or taught in clubs, most of my closest friends both in the UK, Hong Kong and Vietnam have been made through teaching and exercising.

So how come for the past 9 months have I only exercised maybe 10 times..?

Time is probably the main factor, starting a new business, looking after a 5 & 6-year-old, cleaning, washing, cooking, home work, (note I didn't put ironing, that's because I don't iron, if you get the clothes out from the tumble dryer as it finishes and shake it's not too bad!) oh how the list goes on.

The effect on me and not exercising is quite dramatic.. I haven't really put on weight which is good, but the effect on my mental well-being is huge.

Both my kids are horrible sleepers, but exercise I am sure helped me cope with this lack of sleep, still at 5 & 6 they don't sleep, I thought I had it crack but we are back to square one.

I now find I am short with the kids, my moods go from high to low- and this is something I have never experienced before.  I truly believe this has to do with exercise, so I am going to make the time, even if I have to get up early.

Do you manage to fit in any exercise.?

Guest Post on the Amelie Bag March 12 2012, 0 Comments

Charlotte from @CandyBows road tested the Amelie bag, she has 3 children under the age of 6 and also works.. so this is what she thought of the Amelie bag.. .

Review of Bag

As a mum of 3 children 6 years and under I have over the years gone through numerous bags to try and find the right one that covers all the bases : it must be big enough to hold all the kids gear, it must have compartments so that my stuff is easy to find, it should have places to store makeup, keys, phone etc, it should be waterproof…oh yes and please can it be stylish and not resembling a large rucksack!  After many years we have gone through a lot of bags…. I have had handbags for me and baby bags for them (too much to carry) I have tried waterproof bags for all of us (not stylish) and I have used my lovely handbags to carry it all and have cried when Ribena has leaked all over the inside.  So I was delighted to try the new Amelie bag and give it a good test.

First of all I was so impressed with the colour ways – what a fabulous choice and something to suit everyone! I went with the pewter mainly because I thought this would suit all occasions – going out in the day, going to an exercise class but also I could use it for work too.  The fabric is great as is the waterproof, bright pink lining and the interior pockets are ideal for water bottles, keys phones etc.. no more rummaging around for lost items!  The handles are strong and sturdy which reassured me I could seriously load it up and they weren’t going to give way on me.

What have I used it for – well, it gets used everyday!  Today it has been mine and my twin girls swimming bag – plenty of space for 3 towels and clothes and the 2 clear bags have been great for shampoo etc in one and wet arm bands and goggles and swimming costumes in the other.  The clutch was perfect for my brush and make up and we looked stylish too!  I have used it for travelling with the kids – so easy to have just one bag with the Nintendos in and colouring books plus all my bits I want to get my hands on easily and I’ve used it for work – visiting clients with my lap top, brochures and samples.

It really has been a bag for all seasons! I have had wonderful feedback on it with lots of admiring glances and great comments and I can’t wait to use it all over the summer when we are out for the day and for the beach! It is perfect – well done!

Buy from www.miatui.com 20% off until 31st March use code MT102

The Perfect Travel Bag March 09 2012, 2 Comments

When I designed the 1st Mia Tui bag it was for travel, having two kids and doing a lot of long haul flights I needed a bag that could fit everything, allow me to find everything quickly and easily, whilst negotiating a then 3 & 4 year old, zip up and fit under the seat in front.

So the Amelie bag was born.

I thought with the summer holidays not too far away (really they are not that far away) I would tell you why I think this is the perfect travel bag and give you a little discount code if you wanted to purchase one. Code Travel13 in the discount box will give you 20% off the Amelie range.

For some reason as soon as you step foot in an airport you kind of lose your mind, you always panic if you have your passports, where have you put your keys, have you got your foreign currency, then you have to contend with security and getting everything out of your bag - I think you get my picture.

So what I wanted with the Amelie bag is, that if used properly you will know exactly where everything is and you can breeze through check-in, security and board the plane looking cool and stylish.!

The bags that you get with the Amelie bag should be used as follows..

• The Clutch - Your purse, passports, boarding passes (then when you are at your destination use as your evening bag)

• The Carry-on Liquid PVC Bag - Well as the name suggests use this for your carry on-liquids or make-up. When you are at your destination this is great for your small electrical items around the pool as it is water-resistant.

• The Large PVC Bag - This can be used if travelling with small kids for a change of clothes, nappies & wipes, or if you have older kids for their colouring pens and bits to keep them quiet and let them easily see what is in the bag, or for your camera/video & leads. When you have got to your destination use for your sun creams.

You have clips for your keys so you will never lose them, together with phone and pen holders, so if you have to fill in a immigration form you will know where your pen is, oh and your passport and boarding passes for your flight number because they are in your clutch bag. :-)

The water bottle holder is great when you have  passed through security and need to grab a bottle of water, and you won't have any accidents with spilt water in your bag.

The beauty of this bag is that it is water-proof inside and out so you can use it as your beach bag if you have gone somewhere hot.

The large pocket is big enough for a 13" laptop and I am told the clutch bag can actually fit a Kindle..!

When you have everything you need to hand around the inside of the bag in the right bags, then there is a big space in the middle to dump the non-essential items.

I hope this give you a better understanding on how best to use the Amelie bag as a Travel Bag.

www.miatui.com use code TRAVEL13

We Won a Gold Medal..! February 19 2012, 4 Comments

I got the news today that we won a Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Bizzie babys review.. Click the picture to read the Amelie review in which we won GOLD..!! Grace won Silver and Ava Bronze..

It is funny how awards make us feel good, it is recognition for all the hard work you have put in and also for me it makes me realise that we are on the right track and our bags are amazing..! well I think they are amazing ;-) but what it does do is help other people stop and look at our bags as they have a seal of approval.

I am so so please that the Amelie bag won Gold, this for me is the best bag you can have, use it for travelling, big days out or as a gym bag, you can fit so much in it, but the important thing is you know where everything is.

This bag can be miss-understood as people's 1st impression is that it is too big, but once you actually use the bag you realise it is not and you only have to take one bag out with you. Now if you are under 5ft 2" the bag may look a bit big on you ;-)

It has been a long time since I last wrote on the blog, we have been so busy, January we were flat-out planning for 2012 and then sending out all the bags people were ordering on the website, as we had a fab promotion on.

February saw us showing the bags at the Spring Fair which is a massive Trade Show at the NEC. We had lots of interest and retailers really liked our bags.  We have to stop people to tell them about the Mia Tui bags, as from the outside they look like any other normal handbag.. So by the end of the 5 days I was exhausted, and just a little horse..!

A TV shopping channel looks like they are very interested, so fingers crossed when we speak to them this week we can thrash out a deal, and start explaining on TV why our bags are so different.

We did a photo shoot last week, I am focussing on the 4 main occasions you should use your Mia Tui bags, Work, Travel, Gym and Mums, so we took to the streets to get some great photos of the bags being used on these occasions. I couldn't have chosen a colder day, but I think we got some great shots.

Next week sees us at The Baby Show in Excel London for 3 days.. I didn't design the bags to be a baby changing bags, but they actually make great changing bags, so we do very well at Baby Shows, we give away a changing mat to match the inside colour of the bag and hey presto A Changing Bag..!

March takes us into the world of fitness.. where we will be selling the bags at two aerobic conventions, so I am looking forward to attacking a whole new market for Mia Tui.

I have nearly made it through my 1st winter in 7 years..!! I am really looking forward to spring, today was a glorious day, we went for a walk around the lake and the kids had a play in the play ground, Mia has bright rosy cheeks now. !

Take care

C x

Mia Tui - What next.? January 01 2012, 5 Comments

Wow I can't believe that we are at the end of 2011 and that I am now back in the UK, if you would have asked me to predict the past 8 months I would have been so far off of the mark.

It makes me believe that you should enjoy the moment, because you have no clue what is around the corner, and trust that things do happen for a reason.

I am glad that we are back home, the girls now get to see my parents all the time and they really enjoy seeing them and spending time with them, for me also it is nice knowing that they are up the road, and not 2 plane rides away.

I also love that I am seeing my cousin and Auntie again, you know that family member that just makes you laugh so hard, that is my cousin Claire.

I will make the time to stop a bit in 2012 and spend a bit more time with my Mum, having a coffee and a chat, it seems that I have not stopped since we landed in July.

Mia Tui ...

Well probably not the best times to start a business.. in a recession, but at least I have not seen the "good days" and things can only get better..! :-)

I have to keep reminding myself that we have only really been going since October when we did out 1st show in Solihull where I meet @MagentaSkyUK, who brought a bag (Purple Ava) and instantly tweeted about it..!

I have met some fantastic people along the way, and  who knew that blogging and tweeting can really generate interest and sales in the bags..  My Blog roll call of 2011 is the following, these people have gone above the call of duty for me and been some of my biggest supporters

www.mummyvswork.co.uk

www.TheBoyAndMe.co.uk

www.feistytapas.com

www.mummymanda.com

www.curlyandcandid.co.uk

www.iamtypecast.com

www.mummylion.co.uk

http://paper.li/ncooperabbs

So what is next for Mia Tui, well it is to build on what we have been doing in the past few months, spreading the word about the bags and how fab they are, and that they can be used for so many reasons.

The Amelie bag is the best travel bag or a stylish gym bag, but that is a whole other blog post..!

I ran my 1st Mia Tui at Home party just before christmas, this wonderful, vivacious girl stopped me at a shopping center where I was selling the bags and asked if it was something we did, as she was new to the area and thought it was a good way of inviting her new friends over for a party.

So thanks to the lovely Elyssa the 1st Mia Tui at Home party was a huge success, and has made me get off my backside and get the business model written up, it was always in the business plan, but you know how other things take over.

Elyssa will be the 1st agent for Mia Tui in the Milton Keynes area and she will be running a few parties in the new year, then networking amongst mums at school and nursery.

So one of the 1st things I will be doing in 2012 is launching Mia Tui at Home, I will be looking for agents who would like to have a business that fits in with family life and allows them to earn an extra income.  Mia Tui really works when you show people the bags, then you have them, hooked, it's not a hard sell.. So if know anyone who would be interested send them my way.

The next thing is to get the bags in to shops, so we are attending a big Trade Fair in February at the NEC, hopefully the buyers will love the bags..

I will also been developing a leather range and adding a new style to the range., so watch this space.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me on my way this year,and a special mention to Vikki & Kate two great friends who have been such fantastic supporters. Vikki was the 1st person to buy from the website.

I also want to say a big thank you to two great girls who are behind the scenes, Rachel working on the website & anything technical and is there for any of my "HELP ME" messages and Helen who is working so hard promoting Mia Tui to all the magazines editors.

I am really looking forward to 2012, I can see the momentum growing and people seem to really love Mia Tui bags. I will strive for excellence in Customer Service, and if you have any feedback please pass it my way.

Wishing everyone a fantastic 2012.

Charlotte x

A Bag is for LIFE not just for Christmas - Win a bag or 50% off voucher December 11 2011, 7 Comments

I first came up with the concept of Mia Tui just over a year ago, I would travel to and from Vietnam with the kids and use a big bag that was the perfect size, but I couldn't find anything in it as

1. It was Black inside, - couldn't bloody see.!

2. It had no pockets, everything would fall to the bottom.

So the Mia Tui concept was born, a bag that was Airline compliant size, and allowed you to know where everything was easily and quickly, but also allows you to carry all but the kitchen sink.

So what is different about Mia Tui bags, I have tried to keep things simple, pockets around the side of the bag, that come with their own bags, so you know where everything is, you have clips for your keys, mobile and pen pockets, and a bottle holder, or for your umbrella.

I use water-proof material inside and out, so you don't have to be precious about your bag, but it is made with the best thread and hardware, equivalent to a designer bag.

The Amelie is our big bag, and for me the BEST bag for travelling , a weekend away or for the gym. You can travel and feel superior, there is no panic about where you have put your passports or boarding passes, keys are easily found on the clip and when you need to fill out a form you can get to your pen quickly. It zips close so no fear of anything falling out.!

You chose how you use your bag, whether it's for Travelling, as a Gym bag or as a Baby Bag.

Ava is our Medium sized bag, great for Work, Travelling and it makes a fantastically stylish Baby Bag.

Then let's not forget Grace, a handbag that can be worn across your body or under your arm, this is the perfect everyday bag for me, I can fit everything I need. This make a great travel bag when visiting cities, it zips close for security, and you can fit everything you would need for a day out or use as a stylish baby bag ,as your baby becomes a toddler you no longer need to take so much with you.

This Christmas  I am giving away 20 50% off vouchers and to one lucky winner a gorgeous Grace Bag

All I want you to do is follow Mia Tui on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/miatuibags and RT I want to win a Mia Tui bag or 50% off voucher http://wp.me/p1jyRo-7e .  To keep up-to-date with all Mia Tui offers have a look at our Facebook page www.facebook.com/miatui

Closes on Thursday 15th at 9PM - open to UK residents only.