A mother who spotted a gap in the market when her daughter was born and when looking for baby presents for friends and family has launched a new business.

Alexis Goldfinch quit her career as a London lawyer to concentrate on The Essential Bag Company.

It provides a new-born baby luxury-brand items for all the family in a swish changing bags.

The 30-year-old, from Parsons Green, who became a mum for the second time at the start of April, said she first got the idea when daughter Arabella was born four years ago. She said: “The business idea was born out of the experience of receiving gifts when my daughter was born.

“I am very grateful for the presents I received but was given something like 12 bunches of flowers and I have three vases and my home was like a botanical garden.”

Mrs Goldfinch also noticed when she shopped to buy new-baby gifts that many sets were unbranded, which raised questions over its quality.

She said: “All I could find were hampers or gift boxes that contained unbranded products whose quality was questionable or which contained lots of items which I knew, as a new mother, would never be used.”

That is when she decided to put together necessary items luxury items. There are bags available for pre-baby, mums-to-be, new mothers, babies, dads and big brother and sisters.

She said: “I wanted to make sure other members of the family aren’t forgotten, it is a special event for everyone in the family.”

Items such as Rachel Riley clothing and accessories, Aspinal of London leather gifts, Charbonnel et Walker chocolates, Crabtree & Evelyn for skin care and Galt toys can be found in stylish changing bags from brands such as PacaPod, Storksak and Babymel.

Mrs Goldfinch said: “I chose the products carefully based on my experience as a mother.

“These are items which will be appreciated, they are luxury brands that customers know are the high-end of baby products.”

Customers can buy pre-packed bags, but a popular option is to create your own, allowing the buyer to decide how much they are going to spend on a bag and what they are going to include in it.

The prices start at £50, and £19 for the Big Brother/Big Sister Bags.

The Essential Bag Company’s collection of bags can be viewed at www.essentialbagcompany.co.uk.