A HIT business duo are celebrating an exceptional win after being selected by former Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis and his team to attend the biggest retail sellers event of the year, the Autumn Fair 2019

Erin Rodgers and Fiona Neate are the owners of Our Little Globe — a children's travel-themed activity box company.

The company started on their kitchen table and now the pair have seen it through to achieving a spot at one of the most sought after business fairs in the world after being chosen by business titan Theo Paphitis.

The Autumn Fair sees retail owners and buyers attend the event from all over the world to buy in new and unique products for their shops.

Ms Rodgers and Ms Neate beat nearly a hundred applicants to be awarded a free stand at the event thanks to a sponsorship scheme. The fair attracts more than 22,000 visitors over the course of four days and would typically cost £10,000 to exhibit at.

Ms Rodgers from Altrincham said: "Fiona and I have been working really hard for the last eighteen months since we opened Our Little Globe. It costs around £10,000 to exhibit at the fair and to be offered a free place based on Theo Paphitis's belief in our product is overwhelming."

The business team opened Our Little Globe in December 2017 with the help of a loan from the Prince's Trust Enterprise programme.

The kits contain fact-filled letters, themed crafts, authentic recipes as well as colouring activities to inspire children to explore and celebrate the unique culture, tastes and traditions found around the world.

The company operates as a subscription service by sending out a new country-themed activity boxes each month and the duo also sell some of their "country" boxes as stand-alone products for family-holidaymakers to purchase before they depart.

Ms Neate, from Sale said: "This is a great opportunity to meet with so many different retailers across the UK and Europe.

"To go from a "kitchen-table" business to exhibiting at the UK's largest retail show was a big goal, but with Theo's help we will achieve it. We are incredibly excited and thankful to Theo and his team at the Small Business Sunday initiative as well as the ITE Group who are the main organisers of the Autumn Fair."