Are there any babies already in the family?

No, Olivia's baby is the first grandchild in the Scacchetti family and we are all really looking forward to the August arrival.

How do you feel about the impending birth?

I am thrilled to bits about being a Grandma, as you can imagine. This is such a special time for our family and our company. There are many members of staff that have met, got married and had children and all of them are Mamas & Papas babies but this time is very special to us and there is such excitement in the air. Olivia is having the baby in Yorkshire, which is our family home but we do intend to travel back to Italy next year when the baby is old enough to introduce our new family member to the extended family.

What can you remember about the birth of your first child?

It was the greatest feeling in the world, it's a miracle and I am sure every parent feels the same way about their children. Babies bring families together and what is more important than that?!

You've built an empire on babies, it must be wonderful to feel that excitement yourself that your customers feel?

This is what Mamas & Papas is all about; family values and the precious moment of welcoming children into the world. Our lives have now come full circle and everything we have created at Mamas & Papas over 27 years is now going to mean even more. The fact that many of our original customers are now introducing their daughters to the brand is a testament to the enduring qualities we try to put into everything we do.

What advice will you give to your daughter about motherhood?

To spend every moment you can creating that bond with your baby. They change so fast that even a day apart can mean you miss something special. Being able to understand their needs and respond to that is so fulfilling. Being there for them as babies until they are adults is a gift. I am lucky that I work with my daughters. We are blessed and are thankful for so much time together.

What role do you see a grandmother playing? Are you intending on being hands-on?

I am actually, for the first time in many years, going to be spending time out of the business every week to support Olivia just as our parents did for us when we started Mamas & Papas. Being a working mother is an incredibly hard role to fulfill but I was lucky to have the love and support from our family and this is what I will be doing for Olivia. The Italian Grand Ma is very hands on and in that way you could say that I am quite traditional.

What special gifts will you be choosing for this baby?

I have already built a nursery at my home so that my husband and I can look after the baby when Olivia needs us to. It has been decorated with our Ocean range of furniture with the Aiken cot and the décor is the Famiglia range, which is a collection created by my daughter Amanda and I as a modern take on the traditional nursery interior. When we created Famiglia is was a way to share a part of our history with our customers and now it seems it has become another chapter in our history.

I will also be passing on family heirlooms and I saved all of Olivia's toys from her childhood and we will be giving those to the new baby.

Are there any traditional names that you expect your daughter will adopt for her child?  Has a name been chosen?

Nobody knows the gender of the baby, not even Olivia and her husband Paul. It's all a delicious surprise, which just adds to the excitement.

Do you think your daughter will want to come back to work after becoming a mother? Would you advise her to or not?

Ha, ha, ha....she has no choice, she is so vital in business how could we work with out her! Both our daughters are at the forefront of the next generation of products, services, the brand experience, everything. They have brought their own vision to the company and their influence has been astonishing. Amanda has revolutionised our wheeled goods business and all her hard work is just starting to be seen by the public as we launch all our new products for Autumn Winter 08. Olivia is responsible for the look and feel of the brand so she manages the creation of the catalogues, is the creative director of the photography and all the little things, such as the tickets on the products and how they are boxed and wrapped. Both daughters are absolutely pivotal to the success of the company, which obviously delights my husband and I as they have always been our inspiration for over 20 years.

I couldn't stay away from Mamas & Papas when I was a mother and I think Olivia will want to come back and put all her new knowledge as a parent into practice.

How will you be celebrating this new arrival?

Im sure there will be a family party, which will turn into a big celebration, as all our family events do. There will be four generations of the Scacchetti family and it will be a very special time for us all.

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