STORY:
Millennium Babysitter Business Folds

Woman sinks life savings into capitalizing on high price of babysitting New Year's Eve

A British babysitting entrepreneur who reportedly recruited a staff of 500 and sank her life savings into a New Year's Eve babysitting service faces financial ruin because not a single customer has bothered to call in five months.

According to a story by London's The Guardian, Diane Hawtin of Shipston England saw this New Year's Eve as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a fortune from couples who would rather party away the end of the century than stay at home with the kids.

The 50-year-old mother of two and a registered nanny recruited 500 qualified babysitters and launched an advertising campaign in March, but so far there have been no takers. After sinking her savings into the business she tells The Guardian that it's been a disaster and she hasn't received one phone call.

One reason could be a two recent surveys, one by Visa and the other by Selfridges Department Store indicate more Britains are planning to stay home on New Year's Eve. Another study that says one out of five of Britain's 60,000 pubs plans to close on the night well know for a large of amount of imbibing.

DATE: 8/31/99

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