When you walk into My First Steps on Lee‑on‑the‑Solent High Street, you’re greeted not just by soft organic cottons and beautifully crafted wooden toys, but by the warmth of owner Jan Coupe, whose entire life has been shaped by one thing: people.
“I’ve always been a front‑of‑house person,” Jan says with a smile. “I love chatting, I love socialising. I couldn’t live without that interaction.”
At 67, living in the historic Old Haslar Hospital, Jan has built a business that blends her lifelong love of hospitality with a deep commitment to sustainability.
Before My First Steps, Jan spent 21 years running Wisteria House, a much‑loved bed and breakfast in Stubbington.
She and her husband Alan opened it in 2003 after she realised that although she loved teaching, she didn’t love the bureaucracy.
“I’d trained in catering, worked in hotels across the New Forest, and after having children I went back to university and became a maths teacher. After a while, I realised that the bureaucracy of teaching disengaged me from the students, which made me take stock. I said to Alan, ‘I need to be front of house with people again.’ So we changed the house around and opened a B&B.”
It was a full‑time, year‑round operation.
“We had people from all over the world come and stay. It was a lovely existence, everything on the doorstep, and every day you’d meet someone new.”
But when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, everything stopped.
“As soon as Covid arrived, we couldn’t trade. We were only allowed to host essential workers, and they were few and far between. And with me also suffering with MS, I also had to be careful. of infection. I’ve always needed to stay busy and to have an identity outside of MS, so suddenly having all that time was difficult.”
“I was reading about eczema for my grandkids… and that’s where the idea came from.”
During lockdown, Jan found herself researching eczema because two of her grandchildren suffer from it.
“I kept reading that the best fabrics for eczema‑prone children are organic, and the more I read the more I saw the need for retailers stocking eco-friendly clothes. One thing led to another and eventually I came up with the idea of opening an online store that specialises in sustainable, eco-friendly clothes for babies.’”
My First Steps launched online in 2021.
“I managed the online business alongside the B&B for about three years, but the trade of our beloved B&B never returned to pre-Covid days. People’s routines had changed, with many now working from home and travel habits differing too. And honestly, making beds every day at my age wasn’t easy, so the shop felt like the right direction.”
Jan opened her first physical shop in Port Solent in early 2022.
“It was tiny, but I was thrilled. I thought, ‘Right, let’s see if there’s a need for this.’ And the feedback was brilliant.”
The footfall, however, wasn’t.
“Port Solent is all restaurants and a cinema, so everyone comes in the evening. So when my one‑year contract ended, I looked for somewhere with a proper high street and footfall.”
She found it in Lee‑on‑the‑Solent.
“I moved the shop to the high street of Lee-on-the-Solent. It was a lovely store, but it was too small. Then the boutique next door was closing, so the owner and I came to an agreement. I moved in, did a big reveal – even Caroline Dinenage, Gosport’s MP, came to cut the ribbon. The community came out in force too, it was wonderful.”
And three years later, My First Steps is thriving.
“Not everything can be sustainable — but we can show people what is.”
Jan’s mission is clear.
“We only stock eco‑friendly toys, so wooden, high‑quality, sustainable materials and organic baby wear. It starts right at the field: farmers paid properly, fair trade, right through to the finished product.”
She’s realistic about the challenges.
“Yes, organic wear comes at a price. I understand the economic pressures families face. But a good product costs more to make. We donate end‑of‑season stock to charities, baby bundles, even a community in Africa. We try to help where we can.”
And customers are changing.
“There’s a whole group of people who only buy organic now. And then there are people who don’t want to shop online anymore. After Covid, everyone had to learn to shop online, and now I am seeing that people are getting fed up of that, with the high postage costs and time-consuming returns. They want to see things, to feel them and have human interaction. It’s encouraging for retail.”
Jan’s days start early.
“I’m up by 7am and I’m usually in the shop by 8.30am, even though we technically don’t open until 10am. I like being prepared and sometimes I will get an early morning customer.”
Her favourite part?
“Being my own boss. Making decisions. Knowing my brands and where everything comes from. And the social side, I couldn’t live without that. I have built up some fantastic friendships with customers. I’ve had customers come in pregnant, and I have seen their children grow over the years, which is a real privilege.”
Outside work, Jan’s a keen photographer.
“I love taking photos of boats, nature, flowers, anything outdoors really. I once wrote a photography book with a photo journal. Many moons ago. It’s just a hobby now, but I love it.”
Jan speaks warmly about Gosport and Lee‑on‑the‑Solent.
“We have such lovely customers, they’re really loyal. Lee is incredibly friendly. And Haslar… well, the community there is second to none. We only moved in six months ago, and they embraced us straight away. Home life and shop life, we feel part of something.”
For more information please visit: Home – My First Steps