Marketplace: Featured Mom Business

Featured Mom Business: Serene

My name is Carol Leon, mother of 3 very active little girls. I developed a new product out of my own necessity. I strongly believe that there is an incredible need for this type of product in the market, and it caters towards a real issue that so many women face.

My product is called Serene: Individual Bed Sheet Protectors that are made for all of us women who, during our menstrual cycle experience heavy, irregular or unexpected periods and often worry about staining and damaging our bed sheets during the night.

Serene Protectors are ultra thin sheets that are very soft and absorbent made to protect your individual space.

They have a built-in waterproof barrier that can stop any type of leak.
They have adhesive strips that keeps them in place, giving you an added protection.
They are disposable, compact and discrete, so you can take them anywhere you go.
They are convenient and easy to use. Simply place one sheet on top of your linens and remove the adhesive strip cover and you will be all set.

By using Serene Protectors, you will prolong the life of their bed sheets and mattress by keeping them stain free. You will not have to waste money on expensive and harmful chemicals trying to remove those embarrassing stains. And because Serene Protectors are disposable, they give you the highest level of hygiene, preventing the chance of mold growth underneath the surface of any mattress.

For more information, check out www.sereneprotection.com

Featured Mom Business: Headpets

Headpets are a fun and exciting Canadian made line of handmade children's animal hats which are taking the market by storm, and bringing smiles to children's faces in the process.

My vision was to create a fun and exciting line of handmade children’s animal hats, like no other hats available on the market. I wanted children to adore wearing my hats, like kids adore the 'stuffed animals' they carry around.

That meant that each of my hats had to have character and a personality of its own. All of these ideas formed the basis for the brand I created, called Headpets, and what a brand it is!! Just like us, none of the Headpets are perfect.

From bad medical conditions, to allergies and fears, all the hats have a unique personality of their own. They are also striving to achieve their dreams when they grow up.

For more information or to order your own headpets, check out www.headpets.com.

Featured Mom Business: Spa "Jama" Parties

Our story began in the summer of 2006.  A mother and 2 daughters had a dream to open a Day Spa.  Spa by day, and a spa-labration by night, where groups could come and celebrate different occasions with friends and family while being pampered with spa services.

We began our year of training to obtain our certified status as estheticians and began the search for the perfect property and business plan.  About three quarters through the training process both daughters announced their pregnancies!

I was shocked!  They were sick – with morning sickness.  The bubble had burst, all the dreams slowly dissolved as we tried planning a daily routine and a spa that might include day care.

We set the plan aside, finished our training, and both babies were born by the middle of 2007. 
As we planned baby showers and wedding showers and bachelorette parties that summer we discovered how wonderful spa parties and these events went together in the comfort of our homes.  A new vision was being birthed.

The plan was to incorporate an old time pajama party kind of atmosphere, inspired by celebrations and slumber parties of years gone by. We wanted to recreate a place where women could get together and receive professional spaaaaah services.

As we gave more thought to it, we decided we could do home spa parties – NO!!! Spa “Jama” Parties!
This gave us the opportunity to keep up our skills and give us a few nights out.

The phones started ringing and requests for larger parties were coming in steadily.  We decided to hire extra girls and are happy to say that we are still on the go!

Being moms ourselves we know the benefits of being pampered and having time out; we want to offer that to all women.

Spa “Jama” Mamas

Lori Maguire
Jenn Ralph
Lindsay Agard

Spa "Jama" Parties currently operate in Calgary. For more information contact the Spa "Jama" Mamas:

Phone: 403-703-6323         
Email:  spajamaparties@hotmail.com
Web

Z'Fina Slings Giveaway!

Last week's Featured Mom Business, Z'Fina Slings has offered a free sling as a prize to one lucky urbanmoms.ca member!

The lucky winner will receive a beautiful Z'Fina sling from the Everyday Chic Collection, in the style Snapdragon and the colour currant red.

If you'd like to win this amazing prize, simply send us an email at marketplace@urbanmoms.ca with "Sling Contest" in the tile line. In the body of the email, please ensure you include your full name. Winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries.

Featured Mom Business: Z'fina Slings

With the combined help of baby experts and fashion designers, Z’fina’s pouch-style baby slings have been created for fashion and function, perfect for today’s professional parent.

Only recently, parents have been revisiting baby slings as an alternative to bulky child carriers. Nicola Wolters of Z’fina who is also a Doula says that, “The sling style baby carrier is the healthiest, encouraging baby wearing and allowing babies to be held in a variety of natural positions”. What separates Z’fina from other slings is in the quality and design.

Z’fina comes in many styles that appeal to any parent. From the classy and sophisticated Everyday Chic Collection, to the delicious and luxurious Lush Collection, to the organic and natural Eco Chic Collection, to the modern and sporty 365 Collection (also known as the man sling™), Z’fina has mass appeal.

Z’fina baby slings are manufactured in Canada. Z’fina baby slings are available online at www.zfina.com and at baby boutiques across Canada. Z’fina is the fastest growing sling company in Canada.

Check out Z'fina at www.zfina.com

Featured Mom Business: Nayla Natural Care

Here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace, we pride ourselves on bringing you the stories of moms making their way in the world as entrepreneurs. This week, we bring you Gwen's story:

I am the owner of a brand new online store called Nayla Natural Care. The name Nayla comes from my 2 daughters, Naomi and Jayla, who were my inspirations for the store. I am located in Ottawa, but ship to all of Canada and the US.

In a nutshell, my husband and I feel strongly about using organic and all natural products on ourselves and our children. We found that the easy to find products weren't so natural or organic after researching product ingredients. So we found that to get the good stuff, we were ordering some things online, driving out to a health store 30 minutes away from home to get other things, going to another store to get other stuff...it just became a hassle getting the  products we needed each week, especially with 2 young children. So I decided that if we feel this way, there must be other parents in the same boat, so I decided to make my own "One Stop Shop" with everything you need for your family. I have started out with only products for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum mom as well as for baby and children, but I do have plans to carry products for men and then everyday products for women. I have already decided on most of the future lines, and am very anxious to introduce them in the near future.

Something unique about our store is that I have assembled a group of mom and children testers (I call them my Nayla Testing Team!) and we tried out all the products that I was interested in carrying in the store. I'd say about 95% made it in, just a few didn't for various reasons. Everything is tested and approved before I make the decision to carry it.

One of my favourite lines lines is definitely TruKid. TruKid is an all-natural children's line from the US. It was founded by a fellow mom. They have a fabulous line of products that are non-toxic, paraben and phthalate free, and all of our testers who tried this line loved it. Including me of course! TruKid is quite popular in the US and is just starting to show up in Canada. We are one of the first retailers to carry this line (in Canada). They have a great sunscreen lotion and sun stick for the face that are both really popular. I am carrying their entire lineup of products

Another line is The Green Beaver Company. I am carrying some wonderful Flouride free toothpastes both for children and adults as well as a great massage butter for babies and a soothing nursing balm for breastfeeding moms. This company has so many other products I want to carry and will in the future.

I also carry BPA free baby and water bottles, bibs, placemats as well as quite a few other great products.

www.naylanaturalcare.com

Featured Mom Business: Momcessories

Momcessories was created by sisters Kate and Emily Scarlett who, over coffee one morning, were discussing the need for fashion-forward practical mom/tot friendly accessories - voila Momcessories! Kate, bank manager, mom of 2 and MBA student, was tired of trying to juggle toys, wipes, sunscreen, etc. every time she left the house. Consequently she also was quite tired of keeping track of toys in the car, at restaurants, at friend’s houses, and really could not carry around a Tupperware box everywhere she went. She needed something that could easily transition from baby to toddler to kid. Emily, recent graduate in fashion from Parsons the New School for Design was eager to throw her design experience in the ring and help Kate come up with the perfect bag– something fashionable yet functional that could take any mom, the little ones and all their accoutrements wherever they needed to go. Kate and Emily created Momcessories knowing that other Moms would also love a stylish way to organize and accessorize!

The Momcessories Go Anywhere Bag is a unique bag designed for fashionable on the go Moms and tots. It is stylish and practical bag that can accommodate toys, kid accessories, change of clothes, or just about anything your kid desires to have with them.

What makes the Momcessories Go Anywhere Bag so unique, and unlike traditional totes, is that it’s designed specifically to hold all your child’s treasures and travel easily with you wherever you go. With an adjustable Velcro strap, the Go Anywhere Bag can easily attach to car seat, stroller, high chair, or can even be adjusted as a wearable tote for mom or tot. And with an easily accessible wipes pouch it really is the go anywhere, hold anything, fashion forward kid carryall that mom’s everywhere have been desperate for!

For even more convenience try the Go Anywhere Bag and Play mat. This Anywhere Bag is lined with 100% environmentally friendly organic bamboo, which is antimicrobial and completely kid friendly. The extra feature of this bag is the fold out play mat which allows you total peace of mind when you need to have a place for baby to sit/play while out and about. You can easily store all the needed toys, unfold the mat and let baby have a ball and when they are done, this bag still comes equipped with a wipes pocket to easily clean off the mat and toys before re-storing them in the convenient Go Anywhere Bag.

All bags are completely customizable with various patterns and prints to choose from and with every purchase a donation will be made to a women's shelter in your community

For more information on Momcessories or to place an order:
E-mail: Momcessories@gmail.com
Visit: http://momcessories.blogspot.com

mom·ces·so·ry
plural mom·ces·so·ries
"an essential object creating convenience for, or adding to the beauty and effectiveness of mom."

Featured Mom Business: Clippopotamus

Clippopotamus was started in late 2007 by Alexandria Durrell, a mom who had happily left her job as a Conference Developer to stay home with her daughter. Encouraged by her husband, and inspired by her daughter’s abundance of hair, Alexandria started making hair accessories. First for her own family, then friends, and then within a few short months, Clippo was introduced into the retail market. Their products are now in more than 40 stores across Canada, including Melonhead & Beaners Fun Cuts for Kids with more joining the list every week.

Clippo not only has the best hair accessories on the market, they also offer the most adorable:

- fully adjustable hairbands
- soother clips/snack cup holders
- mitten clips
- bib clips
- toddler belts

Any urbanmom readers quoting discount code UM08 will be given a 10% discount at checkout!

Clippopotamus: Cute Clips. Fierce bite.
www.clippo.ca

Featured Mom Business: Dallas & James Adventure Wear for Kids

Durable, Breathable and Made-in-Canada of Premium materials, Cyndi has employed the power of motherhood to develop her “All Weather” Play Suit / Rain Suits made from waterproof-breathable fabric...  The Dallas-James “All Weather” Jackets & Pants are produced in her own ethical "sweatshop-free" sewing factory Direct Current Manufacturing Inc.

The process began in 2006 when it came time to send her boy to daycare.  Cyndi was troubled by what little options she had for outfitting her Son with a suitable all purpose rain suit which the schools require to participate in outdoor play.  Determined to style her son in a fashion style she could live with and something better than plastic, this career apparel producer changed the direction of her entire company. 

Established in 1999 as a small batch producer of better quality fashion basics, Cyndi has turned her unique 20 years of clothing retail and manufacturing ability towards outfitting children 18months and up with the best protective clothing she could muster.  She knew that “breathability” was important to making comfortable recreational clothing and so, the nylon shell is laminated with a breathable membrane just like adult skiwear. 

Dallas-James Adventure Suits feature well-fitted mesh-lined pants and jackets with contoured hoods, 3M reflective safety trim for high visibility, two side front pockets and an articulated elasticized leg cuff for increased mobility that keeps the leg covered. In addition to being extremely tough, the garments are ideal for play, and designed for several seasons of use by way of the design and by providing protection from wind, rain and even snow.

Emerging at better retailers the collection features companions to the rain suit sets such as mittens and Dry-X mitten shells, a fleece layering system that works with the outer shell for warmth and in an ongoing expansion of the theme… the line now includes UV Protective Sun suits and other accessories for Kids on the Go. 

Visit www.dallas-james.com.

Featured Mom Business: Room to Grow

Becoming a mom is a very rewarding and incredibly life changing event. It can also become a very isolating time, and that is just what Room to Grow founder’s Alisha Brignall and Shannon Kozak found after having their children in 2005. Shannon had just moved to Calgary from her home town of Abbotsford B.C and Alisha had moved to Bragg Creek while waiting for her house to be completed. When they met at a playground in McKenzie Towne in mid 2006 they commented on how isolating being a new mom was, and how hard it was to find quality children’s programming. After realizing that they had many of the same ideas about what a centre could be, Room to Grow was born.

Room to Grow, located just off of 14th St and 17th Ave SW in Calgary, specializes in quality children’s programming for 0-4year olds. Playgroups, Parented and Unparented Preschool, Art, Dance, Music, Yoga, and a French Playgroup are just some of the programming that is offered. Monthly Mom’s Night Out’s, parenting classes and events, and prenatal classes help to connect moms that would otherwise not have a place to make friends and de stress about the daily grind of being a parent.

Room to Grow also supports other mommy businesses by renting the space out to mom’s who want to run classes on nutrition, babywearing, literacy and topics pertaining to the new mom and baby.
Special events such as the Christmas Shopping Day in October let mom’s browse and buy from the variety of retail catalogues that Room to Grow has. This allows the parents to make all their purchases in convenient location while their children partake in arts and crafts provided by Room to Grow staff.

http://www.room-to-grow.ca

Featured Mom Business: Little Bodhi

This week, the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace is thrilled to bring you Paola's story:

Shortly after the birth of my daughter, the realization that I was now a "parent" and responsible for a new, pure & innocent being deeply changed my life in more ways than one. As if learning the ropes to parenthood through breastfeeding, changing diapers and becoming sleep deprived weren't enough, I also became motivated to started my own business!

LITTLE BODHI (from the verbal root bud-hi, to awaken, to understand, enlightenment) came to life as I began to define my parenting strategy formed around a "Pure, Simple & Fun" approach.

PURE: I'd try to offer Sofia the best by way of organic, fair-trade, and sustainable options, because it's never too early to practice socially aware and environmentally conscious habits.

I'd keep things SIMPLE by trying to get back to smart, thoughtful basics.

I also couldn't forget to add FUN into the equation, because children are the embodiment of levity & happiness. I really think babies come into this world from an enlightened place & I'd like to think that my store caters to these wonderfully smart, cool, worldly beings!

Please take a look at www.littlebodhi.com We offer a large selection of organic baby clothing, fair trade accessories, non toxic wooden toys, cool baby music and more...

Featured Mom Business: Mini Me's

This week we bring you Sheri's story:

While on maternity leave with my mini me, I started Mini Me's, the company. (Note: I started the company AFTER my daughter's colic subsided! haha). 

Mini Me's, publishes a personalized children's book that lets you combine your favourite family photos into the story.  It's also the 1st book to let you choose the degree of personalization, such as:

1) Text only (e.g. names, child's date of birth)
2) Add Child's photo
3) Add Child's photo and 1-2 Adult photos

Two things inspired the business idea:
1) creating a photo book for my baby seemed like a lot of time and effort (which new moms don't have!)
2) my parenting classes and books emphasized the importance of early reading to your baby, to develop their language skills

While discussing these two topics with my husband, we thought: "Why not develop an easy way to combine our pics into a family-friendly story book?" Presto! Mini Me's was conceived.  Nearly 6 months later, and after a long and arduous labour, we finally 'birthed' our company!

 

Mini Me's books are made online; each book is unique to the child.  We publish in Ontario and print on environmentally and socially-friendly paper as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. 

Although having a mom-based business is hard work, truthfully, being a 1st time mom has been much harder!  However, my daughter is been my inspiration. I don't think I had the courage to do this before; being a mother makes you fearless.  I look forward to watching both of my babies grow!

See more at: www.MiniMeBooks.com

Featured Mom Business: LIVFIT

This week, the folks at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace are pleased to bring you the story of Dianne, mom of a busy two year-old and founder of LIVFIT.

Personal Online Training that is finally personalized!

Personalized training just took a leap forward and this jump is utilizing technology that most of us use with ease already.  Online personal training has existed in many forms but many programs were just missing key things clients needed.  Words sometimes can’t deliver all the keys to a great workout.  Ever heard that a picture says 1000 words? How about a video clip to show you how to perform an exercise?  Clients need to see how to do it rather than just reading about it.  Studies show most people are visual learners.  How are you to know how to properly perform a dumbbell shoulder press exercise by words alone?  The answer is, difficult at best.  How about where and when you want to do your workouts? What if you don’t have access to exercise equipment and just want to do it at home on your own time?  Online training can give you those options of doing what and when you want. 

The big advantage “Liv Fit” Online Personal training has is that workouts are portable and go with you wherever you are.  Instructional video clips are downloadable to an IPod or mp3 player.   You don’t need to scribble down the workout from your computer and then do it later with only your piece of paper to guide you.  These video clips are with you every step of the way.   

But don’t count on doing endless sets of traditional push-ups and sit-ups.  With some of the body weight exercises provided by these trainers you may be wishing you were back pressing a barbell or contorting oneself on a machine!  “Liv Fit” Online Personal Training is an innovative training tool that provides one-on-one training wherever, whenever, and whatever you wish.  Clients are given a secure login and password access to their own personalized training forum.  The forum is complete with flexible and progressive weekly workouts, video clips detailing how each exercise is to be performed, personalized training blogs, a chat room with your trainer, as well as a multitude of other nutritional and fitness hints to satisfy anyone’s thirst for fitness and health knowledge.

Still unconvinced?  Try a free trial and see for yourself at www.livfit.com.

Featured Mom Business: My Beading Art

This week, the folks here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace are pleased to bring you Hedy's story.

I make all one-of-a-kind, hand-beaded jewelry for adults and kids at My Beading Art. One of my latest and hottest products at the moment are Sterling Silver Mommy Bracelets:

Moms and grandmothers everywhere are loving these wonderful custom bracelets in sterling silver, silver plated or rhodium. Spell out "mom" or "gramma", the names of your kids or grandkids, or their initials, and add some adorable symbol beads.

Or why not order jewelry created specially for you - to match exisitng jewelry or clothes, lengthen, shorten or re-create existing pieces:

They're young, cute, and have excellent taste. Kids love jewerly too! Check out our online selection of hairclips, bracelets and necklaces in our Kids & Teens section.

Featured Mom Business: Blue Melon Baby

Here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace, it's our mission to bring you stories of great Canadian mom-based businesses. This week, we're thrilled to bring you Erin & Michelle's story:

Blue Melon Baby is a Canadian Mom Based Business, founded by Erin Palleschi & Michelle Bowler.  Our urban style company based out of the GTA caters to both the baby and toddler markets.  We began our business with our signature non-slip hair barrettes and adjustable hair ties and have expanded our product line to include funky retro-printed chenille blankets, soother holders and our newest product the "Sippy Saver"! 

Frustrated with our kids constantly launching their baby bottles and sippy cups onto the floor, we came up with a super-stylish solution.  The "Sippy Saver" is a fully adjustable strap that can accommodate any make of bottle, sippy cup or favourite toy!  It can be safely attached to high chairs, car seats, strollers and just about anything else imaginable.  The “Sippy Saver” is made from 100% combed cotton and is fully machine washable.  The “Sippy Saver” is currently available in 6 different funky prints designed specifically for kids!  Check out the Blue Melon Baby website at bluemelonbaby.com

Featured Mom Business: Holly Sisson Photography

Here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace, it's our mission to bring you stories of great Canadian mom-based businesses. This week, we're thrilled to bring you Holly's story:

As a mother of two (a son and a daughter) I know how fleeting those special childhood moments can be, and how important it is to capture them so that they can be treasured for years to come.

As a natural light on-location photographer (serving the Toronto area), I come to the client, whether it be their home, the local park or another location of their choosing. I want people to feel comfortable and be themselves. I want to capture their children as they really are at that point in their lives.

I LOVE what I do, and I believe it comes through in my photography. As a mother of two children, having my own business allows me the flexibility to be there for my children. I book a limited number of sessions a month, as my family is important to me just as yours is to you. I do a follow-up in-person proofing session where I bring samples of wall portraits, canvas gallery wraps, coffee table books, storyboards, etc., so the client can really get an idea as to the products I provide and what would look best in their home. The client's images are presented on a laptop computer, and hooked up to the client's television, for enhanced viewing, when possible.

For more information, visit hollysissonphotography.com or email holly@hollysissonphotography.com.

Featured Mom Business: Gingerbread Lane

Come for a Stroll Down Gingerbread Lane.

My name is Tracey Ibrahim and I am the founder of Gingerbread Lane – a family spot in south Mississauga, Ontario. When my daughter was born, I often found myself looking for a venue that provided parenting friendship and connection. We would often visit places that were ideal for her needs but I found myself quietly wondering “who is thinking of me”. If I organized a coffee date with a friend at a local café, I was scrunching my daughter (stroller, diaper bag, etc) under a teensy café table and feeling that we were in the way. I always wished there was a place that I could enjoy my own visit as much as my daughter might enjoy hers. At Gingerbread Lane, we aim to offer ease-of-use – come for a play and a gourmet coffee and much, much more.

Gingerbread Lane includes an indoor playground, café & nut-free bakery, quiet room, activities for our children (age 0-17) and workshops and events for the adult. For new parents – we offer free visits and a complimentary coffee (children under age 1) and for veteran parents there is daily drop-in play and activities galore. Don’t forget to take care of yourself! The Crumbs on-site Café & Bakery provides outstanding coffee, light meal options and – soon to arrive – a Taking Care of You™ meal delivery option.  With programs like Kindermusik, Great Big Play, Toddler Crafts and Summer Mini Camps, you’ll always find something fun to do with the kids. Now let us pay attention to you! With every play admission, you receive a complimentary gourmet coffee. Why not sign up for the Sleep Solutions workshop or the Dream Big – Live Your Best Life seminar – perhaps the Gingerbread Book Club or the Gingerbread Women Entrepreneur Network. Sign up for Ginger Mail today to receive the monthly calendar – email info@gingerbreadlane.ca or call 905-271-2900

I remind myself from time to time that we encourage a “stroll down Gingerbread Lane” not a sprint.  With endless possibilities for providing family-focused activity and service, I find myself excitedly speeding from one new idea to another. We hope our enthusiasm is shared with our community.  Please come by for a visit – there’s a coffee waiting for you!

Photo credit Andrea Rees Photography

Featured Mom Business: Organic By Nature

Here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace, it's our mission to bring you stories of great Canadian mom-based businesses. This week, we're thrilled to bring you Natalia's story:

My name is Natallia and I own a small online shop focusing on organic and natural products for babies and parents. We are constantly looking for unique organic and natural items, something that is not sold in every other shop. Here are some examples of our wonderful toy collection. These are handcrafted in Sri Lanka by local artisans who are paid fair wages for their work. The toys are really beautiful (I have trouble keeping my own kids away from my shop storage room!). They are made with hand-woven cotton fabric, dyed in brilliant colors with ecological dyes and filled with natural kapok fiber. Being completely safe for babies and small children (my little teething son loves to chew on his giraffe) they are very popular among new moms!

A little bit about us:
The whole idea of creating an online store focusing on organic and natural products developed with the birth of our son Maximus. Endless research trying to find the best, most natural and organic things for our sensitive and allergic baby made us realize that there were not nearly enough resources out there.  After trying various products from food to clothing we got hooked on organics and joined the ever growing family of environmentally concerned people in Canada and around the globe who care to make a difference.

You are also welcome to visit our shop at : www.organicbynature.ca.

Featured Mom Business: Generation Baby

Here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace, it's our mission to bring you stories of great Canadian mom-based businesses. This week, we're thrilled to bring you Ronna's story:

Our inspiration comes from two wonderful and happy children that bless our lives on a daily basis.  Launched shortly after the birth of our daughter, our products are designed to make the lives of mom and dad a little easier.  We know firsthand how difficult it is to find stylish products that make sense and it is our goal to fill this gap.

At Generation Baby, we are proud of our products and choose only top quality Canadian-made textiles. As a testament to our commitment, the Handy Sack is the winner of the prestigious iParenting Media award for Hot New Baby Accessory of 2007.

The Handy Sack and all other Generation Baby products consider the needs of both parent and child. Style and function combine to create fresh baby accessories that give parents a break from the outdated pink and blue fare. Here you'll find everything from rich damask prints and bright polka dot patterns to organic cotton and bamboo.

We are working hard right now to design our own line of stylish fabrics to be printed in Montreal.  Our 2008 line of products will be fresh and innovative - we can't wait to show you!  In the meantime, be sure to check out our fabulous 2007 line of Canadian made products at www.generationbaby.ca.

Do you own or run a Canadian mom-based business? Do you know someone who does? We're always looking for great new stories to share in the Marketplace. If you have a story to share, please send a short (200-300) word submission along with jpeg images of your product, yourself or your logo to marketplace@urbanmoms.ca.

Featured Mom Business: Snug-A-Bug Blankets

Here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace, it's our mission to bring you stories of great Canadian mom-based businesses. This week, we're thrilled to bring you Tracy's story:

Tracy has enjoyed sewing ever since she was a young girl when a close family friend, Pierette, showed her how by making a blue gown for her Barbie®. Later in life, she rekindled her love of sewing when she bought a used Kenmore machine while in university. Over the years she has made window coverings, slipcovers and clothing for her pugs but never anything that she felt passionate about.

A Passion for Fabrics

Tracy had always wanted a reason to buy all the interesting, printed and embroidered fabrics she looked at over the internet and in fabric shops. When her daughter Georgia was born, her reason finally arrived.

Indulgence Becomes an Heirloom

Since she began making baby blankets, the journey into designing and making baby blanket offers her the chance to indulge herself and create wonderful, memorable designs for other families to cherish.

Her Family

Tracy is a working mother of her daughter, Georgia and happily shares her life and parenting duties with Jay, her husband of more than 11 years, and their two pugs, Charlie and Oscar in the small, riverside 
town of Bridgewater on Nova Scotia's picturesque South Shore.

Inspiration

In 2005, Tracy Sannes began by sewing blankets for her baby daughter Georgia. Anyone who saw the blankets asked if they could have one made for them. She made a couple for friends and family until one day when she happened upon Etsy.com and decided that might be a place that she could sell a few while on maternity leave.

The Same Love

Made with the same love as those first blankets she made for her daughter Georgia, each blanket features the highest quality minky fabric and backed with a wonderful print, embroidered medium-weight cotton or cotton blend or matching minky.

Care from Start to Finish

All fabric is pre-washed using phosphate-free, fragrance-free and dye-free detergent and tumbled dry to ensure that any shrinking occurs prior to assembly on her Grandmother's restored, 1950's Pfaff 6 
sewing machine.

Find out more at snugabugblankets.com

Do you own or run a Canadian mom-based business? Do you know someone who does? We're always looking for great new stories to share in the Marketplace. If you have a story to share, please send a short (200-300) word submission along with jpeg images of your product, yourself or your logo to marketplace@urbanmoms.ca.

Featured Mom Business: KEM Baby Designs

Here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace we love sharing stories of other mom-based businesses! This week, we're pleased to bring you the story of KEM Baby Designs.

KEM Baby Designs recently launched their new collection of onesies and tees that celebrate the world and all that it has to offer. Some of their popular designs say, “plant a tree for me”, “I am going green” and “Mommy Powered”.

KEM Baby Designs was founded by three mom entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference for their children. All three friends used to work together and later became moms one month after another. During their numerous play dates, the idea of designing baby apparel was born.

Their current collection was inspired by the Live Earth concert held on July 7, 2007. “After watching the concert, I was motivated by the call to action to help preserve the planet,” said Liza Sheppard, KEM Baby partner. “We wanted to do our part so we designed our current collection to encourage all of us to love and care for our beautiful planet, such as planting trees for our children's future.”

For more information on their upcoming shows and products, go to www.kembaby.com.

KEM Baby Designs is a Canadian company. Their designs are printed on American Apparel blanks, which are manufactured in the USA in a sweatshop-free environment.

The garments are 100% cotton. All designs are printed and embroidered in Canada.

Featured Mom Business: Munchkin Legs

Here at the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace, it's our mission to share stories of successful mom-based businesses. This week, we bring you Amanda's story:

I am a stay at home mom to my 2 beautiful girls Kalia and Olivia, 4 and 2yrs.  Kalia was born in 2003. I am a passionate baby wearer and I was always fighting with keeping her pants covering her ankles.  My husband would put on his socks to cover her up in the winter...I hated it. I told him it looked tacky...I wanted something that would look cute, yet functional.  Well as I was a new mom I didn't think anything more about it, I was just to busy...so I continued to use those tacky old socks.

Fast forward to my daughter Olivia being born. I still was having the issue with cold ankles. 

By this time another brand of baby leg covers were starting to gain popularity since their birth in 2004 (darn it all, why didn't I market my idea)  So I though...hmm, I know how to use a sewing machine...I could probably whip a pair of those up...so I did.  I posted a picture of Olivia wearing them on a mommy chat board and the response was unbelievable. I had complete strangers asking me if I would make and sell them. And Munchkin Legs was born. I called them Munchkin Legs after my daughter Kalia aka Munchkin.

Munchkin Legs....

The Fun and Functional Fashion Accessory.

www.munchkinlegs.ca

Featured Mom Business: Animal Crackers Announcements

We love sharing stories of other mom-based businesses here on urbanmoms.ca - that's why we created the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace! This week, we bring you Stacey's story:

When it comes time to welcome your new baby to the world, Animal Crackers Announcements is proud to help you share the news. Animal Crackers offers a delicious assortment of photo birth announcements, thank you cards, invitations and holiday cards. We offer a wide variety of products to choose from, all fully customizable to ensure the end result is exactly what you are hoping for. No cookie cutter announcements here!

Animal Crackers was “born” in 2005 when I returned to the workforce after the arrival of my first son. I missed spending time with my baby and watching his amazing growth and development! Melding my computer addiction with my creative side has allowed me to enjoy the best of both worlds. I receive tremendous enjoyment creating announcements that capture and celebrate those special moments which disappear so quickly as our babies grow.

Over the past several years we have had the opportunity to work with many customers to create beautiful keepsakes to cherish always. We look forward to not only meeting new customers, but gaining new friends.

 

We welcome you to visit us online at www.animalcrackersonline.com!

Do you have a mom-based business you'd like to share in the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace? If so, please send a short (100-200 word) description of your business and your story, as well as a few images to marketplace@urbanmoms.ca.

Featured Mom Business: She Shoots, She Scores….She Plays Hockey

“You only wish you could play like a girl.”

This message of athletic empowerment is a central theme in She Plays Hockey, the company that we created that provides high quality hockey wear designed specifically for girls and women.  We are Cindy Nickerson and Lori Nickerson, sisters-in-law who share a passion for the game as players, as hockey moms and as entrepreneurs.

Female players are proud to show their hockey spirit, but don’t want to look like they’ve raided their brother’s closet. Girl’s and women’s hockey has exploded over the past decade or so, with leagues and teams popping up in growing numbers, and She Plays Hockey serves these players.

She Plays Hockey was appropriately conceived at the hockey rink. We saw a void in the sportswear market for female hockey apparel and accessories. As passionate players ourselves, we realized that male hockey attire wasn’t meeting the needs of female hockey players. So we launched their own line of hockey wear designed specifically for the female hockey player physique and attitude.

We focused on the two priorities we knew were important: an unyielding focus on high quality products, and a sense of fun. We only carry products that are comfortable both on and off the ice, and that are designed to last a long time. Plus, with our slogans and designs, there’s no mistaking this is hockey gear for girls and women.

The She Plays Hockey product line has everything from t-shirts, sweatshirts and pants, equipment undergarments, hats, hoodies and more, all with women and girls in mind. We started by selling our gear at hockey tournaments and the response was both immediate and overwhelming. We couldn’t believe how quickly we sold out. Girls, women and parents all responded very strongly and positively to our products. The instant demand we experienced validated our belief that the female hockey market was under-served, and that our product line was on target.

Despite the rapid growth of our company, we have managed to keep our priorities in order: we're still active hockey players and moms. On the ice we pay attention to the red line, blue line and goal line. Off ice, we can focus on the bottom line of She Plays Hockey.

Featured Mom Business: Kai Kids

Our mission here at The urbanmoms.ca Marketplace is to help mom-based businesses to succeed by sharing their stories with our members. By doing so, we also help to bring you, our members, to businesses that offer products and services you want and need. This week, we're pleased to bring you Nancy's Story:

In November, my husband and I launched an online boutique, Kai Kids, selling eco-friendly clothing and accessories for babies, toddlers, new moms and moms-to-be.  From stainless steel sippy cups to soy onesies, bamboo baby blankets to breast pads, crib sheets to natural diaper creams, we’ve got everything parents need to raise baby green, and a few treats for mamas too! We carry sexy maternity and nursingwear made from non-toxic soy fibre and lyocell – healthy and funky designs you won’t find anywhere else in Canada. All of our lines are either certified Fair Trade or ethically manufactured, and we aim to carry as many made-in-Canada products as we can find. We named our store after our first son Kai, now almost 3, who inspired us to get into business to provide cute, affordable, non-toxic clothing and baby products to Canadian families. We aim to help you dress your children in cute, comfortable clothes made from toxin-free fabrics using low-impact dyes and the softest natural fibres including organic cotton, soy and bamboo. As parents, we’ve tried our lines on our own children and believe the natural non-toxic products that we sell are better for the health of your children and the health of the planet in which they will grow. Some of our products are not carried anywhere else in Canada.

Some of our innovative products are:

• soft, super-absorbent bamboo nursing pads
• organic cotton baby clothing with a roomier cut designed to accommodate bulkier cloth diapers
• sexy lyocell (wood pulp) maternitywear
• cute, hip organic slogan T-shirts and onesies (ie. My Dad Recycles More Than Your Dad)

Kai Kids: Gentle on your family, gentle on the earth
www.kaikids.com

Featured Mom Business: Bright Bumms

Do you know of a great Canadian mom-based business that should be featured on the urbanmoms.ca Marketplace? If so, send an email with a 100-200 word description of the business, along with a few photos, to kath@urbanmoms.ca. We're always looking for great stories to feature!

A Bright Bumms Change Pad is a waterproof, machine washable and dryable diaper change pad.  These Canadian hand made change pads have two unique sides.  The quilted side is created from a variety of fun cotton fabrics and the water proof side is made from ProCare fabric.  ProCare is a durable, waterproof, washable fabric, which is an environmentally friendly choice.

Here's the Bright Bumms story in founder Jordi's own words:
I created Bright Bumms out of the need for a change pad that was a more environmentally friendly product to the disposable paper change pads and a cleaner option to the wipe off only poly-vinyl ones. I was frustrated with the non-washable change pads because they looked dirty and I wanted the option to wash or wipe. So I began a search for a washable material that was also waterproof and I found ProCare fabric. I then looked for some colourful fabrics that I could quilt to make fun and colourful pads.

As your child gets older you can use the change pads as seat pads(keep the mess contained). Use them on a cold or wet bench and on wet or damp grass. Keep everyones bumms warm and dry!

For more info, see the Bright Bumms website:
www.brightbumms.com

Featured Mom Business: Sweet Dreams - Nursery Wall Art & Decor

The urbanmoms.ca Marketplace features a different mom-based business each week. This week, we're pleased to bring you Julie's story:

Sweet Dreams personalized wall art and decor is currently an online store. Sweet Dreams sells personalized canvas art, canvas board letters and fun whimsical wall art. The newest addition to my store is hand painted drawer knobs. What makes my site different is that my work is all original OOAK hand painted with no reproductions. Most of my clients have asked for custom work to match the décor of their room of choice. I work from my home in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

I started my business when my daughter was just over 5 months old. She is now 9 1/2 months. I have always been very creative and I used to paint and sell abstract, landscape and contemporary pieces online and in retail stores. When I was pregnant with Mckenna I guess you could say my creative flair turned a new leaf. I started painting animals on Mckenna’s wall to match her bedding and décor.

After I was done and the furniture was all in place, I still felt that something was missing other than my daughter of course. Ha ha. This is when I came up with Sweet Dreams personalized wall art. It’s very difficult to find original personalized paintings to match your nursery or child’s room décor. Now my clients tell me the exact colors, theme and design they want and I custom create an OOAK piece for their room of choice.

I hope you enjoy taking a look at my creative pieces and remember if you can't find exactly what you are looking for just ask and I will custom create a piece specifically for your little one.

For further info and details please contact Julie at sweetdreams.decor@yahoo.com and visit her website at http://www.freewebs.com/judeelynn/

Featured Mom Business: Magnique - and a Contest!

We're thrilled this week to bring you another great Mom Business profile, and an excellent contest offer! Read Tova's story, and if you send us pictures of your clutter, you could win an 18" X 24" Magnique board (valued at $275). See details in Contests & Promotions.

Magnique

Recognizing a void in the market for elegant ways to utilize vertical space, we have created leather and suede magnetic boards and accessories for your home and office. Our framed magnetic boards are completely customizable and provide an original look for the style-conscious person who wants to organize their space.

To meet our clients’ needs, we have an interactive online store, as well as, personal consultations. In our online store you can customize your framed magnetic board by choosing from a large selection of leathers and suedes and from an assortment of solid wood frames in predetermined sizes, such as 18” x 24”. It is important to note, that while we offer predetermined sizes online, we can fully customize the size of the leather and suede boards to meet your size requirements. For example, we can make framed leather magnetic boards as small as 1” x 1” and as large as a kitchen wall! We also carry a large selection of frame styles in an assortment of wood stains that are available for purchase but are not currently featured in our online store. We therefore offer personal consultations services where a talented designer will speak with you and/or meet with you to help you create a stylish and functional magnetic board that is right for you and your space. To complement our chic magnetic boards we also sell exclusive designer glass magnets in a range of sizes, shapes, and colours.

Our framed leather and suede magnetic boards are chic functional art that are designed to be hung individually or grouped together to create a stunning focal point.

And with almost an infinite range of styles to choose from, you can create a unique magnetic board for any room in your home and office…so come on over and purchase unique leather or suede magnetic boards at www.magnique.com or contact Tova at tova@magnique.com.

Featured Mom Business: Dinner By You

About three years ago my best friend of 30 years and I decided to make a leap of faith and open a business to help busy moms like ourselves provide tasty and nutritious meals to our families.  We were finding it harder and harder find the time to plan, shop, prepare and cook a home cooked meal every night.  It was easy to fall into the rut of over processed frozen lasagnas and take out.  We had heard rumblings of a type of business in the United States where families are able to prepare fresh meals to take home and cook at a later date.  This idea seemed like a godsend to me with three young children and my partner Wendy with four.  We researched the businesses; both independently-owned and franchises.  We realized that we were going to have to create our own company if we wanted to provide the quality and variety of dinners that we felt were important.  We did not want to be limited to “French toast and pizza”.  For three years we developed and perfected recipes, planned and designed our space, and in February 2007 we opened! There are now some franchises in the area but we were the first to open in the Kitchener Waterloo region! We strive to offer only locally raised meat and poultry and local (in season) produce. Our clients truly appreciate this unique feature we offer and travel from as far as Barrie and Toronto. 

Our specialty menus have also been very well received. We offer Gluten-free menu choices every month and we accommodate other food allergies and sensitivities. Recently we were asked to attend an Autism conference. We received tremendous praise for offering Gluten-free alternative dinners that the whole family could enjoy.

Dinner By You makes eating well an easy and affordable choice by providing you with tasty, nutritious recipes and prepared ingredients to assemble your own meals in the DBY kitchen – no stress, no clean up, no waste.  And it’s fun!

Find out more at www.dinnerbyyou.ca.

Featured Mom Business: Baby Boomba

This week, urbanmoms.ca brings you Marina's story:

Baby Boomba, a Canadian owned company, retails fashionable Baby Slings, Pouches, Wraps and Mei Tai's for today's Modern Parent. As with every Mom running her business, I was inspired by my son.

It all started with a quick little trip to the local grocery store. I know this may sound ridiculous, but this was my actual first time out with my then 6 month old baby. He wasn't the easiest going baby so I was lucky enough to always have someone with me on outings. I wasn't in the mood to wrestle with the stroller because I was only grabbing a "few" items. BIG MISTAKE! At his age, he couldn't sit in the carts yet (not to mention the millions of germs on those things, no I'm not a germaphobic), so I ended up balancing him in my arms, with a loaf of bread, carton of milk, a bottle of shampoo and a pack of paper towels. By the time I got to my car, I was a sweating mess.

We have a baby carrier at home, complete with the million straps and buckles. I love the look of it, but didn't find it easy getting into without the aid of 2 bodies (you must think we are really dumb). But in all seriousness, there wasn't enough back support, so it had a shelf life of 10 minutes before I decide to rip it off, with screaming baby in tow. Mr. Hubby also noticed that it blocked off circulation in Braedon's legs. My mission began.

I remembered visiting a booth for baby slings at a Baby Show and seeing some ads posted at my midwife's office. At that time, I wasn't a fan of the look, but I realized I needed a no-nonsense baby carrier. I searched online and found some beautiful, fashionable baby slings and pouches fit for the modern parent. So I ordered one and fell in love with it! It is completely no fuss, comfortable and baby Braedon fell asleep in it the first time I wore it. I don't leave the house without it.

If I had known back then that these exist, I would have purchased one immediately! Braedon was very colicky in his early life and this would have helped quite a bit!

I, being a newbie, was so impressed with my baby pouch that I decided to open an online store to promote and sell these wonderful products and let everyone know that Baby Slings can be hip and cool! Even for Dads! (Now I just have to convince hubby on that one)

Even better, I didn't have to let my profession go. As a Graphic Designer by trade, I still get to enjoy what I was trained to do and spend my time at home!

Baby Boomba has just launched it's own brand of Nursing Aprons called Hideouts. Made for Moms who wanna Hideout (not Hangout) in public! Made from a variety of contemporary Cotton and Organic Fabrics and ensures your privacy should your little squirt like to rip off blankets! Added Bonus: When you are no longer nursing, our Hideouts make a great Man-Bib for hubby on Thanksgiving.

Do you own or run a business? If so, we'd love to hear from you! Just send a 100-200 word summary of your story along with a picture or two to kath@urbanmoms.ca and we'll take care of the rest.