Archive for the ‘Parentpreneurs’ Category

Maggie Chilton, Maxwell Designs

Location: British Columbia, Canada
Website: http://maxwelldesigns.ca
Twitter: maxwelldesigns
Facebook (Business): http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#group.php?gid=131891778493

The Entrepreneur Behind The Biz:
I am a stay at home mum of 2 wonderful energetic boys aged 1 & 2.5 years old. Formerly a Pastry Chef and Restaurant General Manager in Vancouver, B.C we moved to Terrace as a promotion for my partner Steve.
Whilst pregnant with my first son Maxwell I went on the look out for a diaper bag that wasn’t made of plastic or vinyl yet one that I could put in the wash and one that suit my personality – needless to say I couldn’t
find anything!! I set about making my own bag that I could use well after my need for a diaper bag had gone. I wanted a bag that didn’t scream “baby on board” so I played around with lots of fabrics and combinations. After making my first bag I was hooked and started making bags for craft fairs and farmers markets. Maxwell Designs was born!
The Biz:
Maxwell Designs is located in Terrace, B.C and now retails in stores across Canada including Huckleberry Baby Shop in Nanaimo to the Green Collection in Ontario to Go Green Baby in Maryland, U.S.A. We have even sold as far as Ireland and South Korea.
Why we shone a spotlight on it:
Maxwell Designs creates eye catching and eco-friendly diaper bags that are totally unique to you! you choose your fabric (Over 65 fabric choices!!) and how you want you bag and they make it for you. All of their bags are hand made here in Canada using only the best quality hemp and with such an eye for detail you will be blown away!
Their designs are awesome and because of that Maxwell Designs has been specially selected to be a part of this year’s Oscar Swag Bag!

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Know an Entrepreneur who deserves a Spotlight? (Maybe you??) Let us know!

I know you’ve heard the same stuff that I’m about to repeat; You’ve  gotta network.. You’ve gotta network.. Honestly, it does get boring and then you stop listening and the message is lost.. Am I right?

A few of my main beefs about networking:

• It’s expensive
• It’s like a cell plan – you get locked into a contract term
• It’s always at 7 in the morning (I’m not even dressed at that point, you want me to be on my biz game?! HA!)
• Many of them are quite boring…

I have got to be very taken by the host of the meeting and be really engaged to consider the “contract” option.. I have recently been to one of those very networking meetings and would most definitely commit to such an organisation if the travel distance wasn’t so prohibitive for me.

I attended the Toronto Enterprising Mom’s Network meeting hosted by Tereza Kumric (The Chapter Director) – and had a great time!! There were plenty of great business women in attendance (The Yummy Mummy Club, Grace Announcements, Mabel’s Labels, Melissa Collesano Photography and so many more!!) We laughed, we ate, we shared stories and we were engaged! Erica Ehm of The Yummy Mummy Club spoke of how she became an Entrepreneur and regaled us with her trials and tribulations of being in business for yourself.

I also, a day later had the pleasure of attending another type of networking meeting – a dinner. This time, it was an invite only dinner (invitees were winners of a Yummy Mummy Club contest) I was extremely lucky that week (more about that streak of luck at a later time ) and snagged one of those invites.

We were treated to a Windows 7 party and were treated like royalty while we conversed with each other (about 20 women) in a wonderful restaurant, eating delicious food, drinking wonderful wine and just being, the club says, Yummy Mummys.

Again, we learned things – from the presenters and from each other (Wondermoms, WeeWelcome, SweetMama & More!). We laughed, we shared stories and we experienced a bit of each other’s lives – but the main point, we were engaged.

Very few “average” networking meetings can live up to these events and its because they’re stuck in the norm, maintaining the “usual” routine. It’s no longer about making business contacts, rather making personal contacts.. making friends.. relating to each other on a level that is much more than just “what service can I provide you”.

With that, I would like to introduce Foundation Studio’s very first networking event.

February 2nd, from 7 – 9pm, a bunch of great business women and men will be at The Lina Lounge in Schomberg to listen to Hilary McDonald give tips, tricks and advice on preparing for the upcoming tax season (Blegh!)

Our networking meetings are different because you never have to pay a membership fee, you are not obligated to come to all of our meetings, only the ones that interest you (we hope they all do!) and only the ones that fit with your schedule.

Our networking meetings have a start and an end, one topic, food, drink and plenty of Q&A, casual conversation and loads of networking!

Please consider joining us on February 2nd to participate in our meeting – I’d love to meet you and introduce you  to the team!

February’s Meeting – $10

Tax Preparation with Hilary McDonald, Accountant

Sponsored in part by:

Date: February 2nd, 2009 from 7pm-9pm

Location: Lina Lounge & Playroom, Highway 9 & Highway 27, Crossroads Plaza, Schomberg Ontario (Map Below)

Register Today so you don’t miss out!

$10/person

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A Very Special Thanks to Friends at The WomenPreneur and The Yummy Mummy Club for helping us spread the word!!

Candi Wingate, Nannies4Hire & Care4Hire

Location: All over North America
Website: http://www.care4hire.com
Twitter: Nannies4Hire

The Entrepreneur Behind The Biz: I have been a nanny, owned a nanny agency, started 3 online nanny databases, wrote a book “100 Tips for Nannies & Families” plus am a wife and mother of 2. My name is Candi Wingate and founder of Nannies4hire.com, Babysitters4hire.com, Care4hire.com and a Nanny Agency. My nanny experience actually goes way back. I was a nanny for a family with 5 children, which included newborn twins. After becoming a nanny and working in a nanny agency for several years, I purchased the successful Nation-Wide Nanny Placement Agency. After finding that we needed to expand, Nannies4hire.com, Babysitters4hire.com and Care4hire.com were born.

The Biz:
Care4hire.com is an online database for families and caregivers to search babysitters, housekeepers, tutors, elder/companion care, pet sitters and other miscellaneous service. A free preview of available caregivers is available to families. Whether you need a caregiver for a few hours to a few days, you will find it at Care4hire.com. Once you are a registered member, you will be given immediate access to caregiver through email and phone.

Why we shone a spotlight on it:
This is such a great idea!! Care4hire.com is offering a way to find fantastic services to help mom with a cleaning lady or a trustworthy babysitter. I have had gnarly luck finding a babysitter when I really needed one. In general, I have spoken with other parents who have found a the local teenager who is willing to watch the kids, but then she/he realizes that there’s more to teenage life and suddenly finds a group of friends/boyfriend/girlfriend and the babysitter has gone MIA!! Another reason Care4hire.com is in the spotlight is because of the great resources found on the site! Questions to ask a prospective caregiver during an interview, tips and info on taxes and so much more! You even get a free search, so it is a win/win for you no matter how you slice it!!

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Know an Entrepreneur who deserves a Spotlight? (Maybe you??) Let us know!

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Toronto One of A Kind show; this show featured tons of great treasures and goodies for all ages.

I was pleasantly surprised to turn the corner of one aisle and find myself surrounded by loads of adorable and soft ponchos made by Popo’s Ponchos.

Popo’s Ponchos are made with high quality anti pilling micro fleece and 100% cotton trim. Popo’s Ponchos knows that dressing babies and kids in the morning is sometimes difficult. That’s why easy to put on, no fuss ponchos, will make your life easier and your kids will love you for it!

I honestly wish I had’ve found these cute accessories when my girl was smaller – she loved wearing ponchos – we had ONE – so you know how worn it must’ve been by the time she grew out of it!!

Po Po’s are available in 3 sizes and fit toddlers aged 0-6yrs. Three types of Poncho’s are available; Traditional micro fleece, the reversible micro fleece poncho & a new nylon resistant  poncho all of which are paired with fabulous 100% cotton trim fabric to create cute styles that everyone will love. All are handmade by Karen Stark and come in a variety of awesome color choices!

Popo’s Ponchos is the final Feature in our Holiday Treasure Trove series – A FAB group of Parent owned companies that have great holiday gift ideas for you to check out! Stop by the Holiday Treasure Trove to see what Popo’s Ponchos and our other Parentpreneurs have in store for you!

Six year old Colin has a Thought Spots Fairy…“I get a new message from the fairy on my mirror every morning!” he said with a giggle to Founder and Chief Thought Maker, Lynn at a recent Holiday Show.  His mom chimed in “He loves them!”.  And what’s not to love when something so simple, inexpensive and easy can create reactions and smiles like that! New and innovative, Thought Spots are “peel and stick” messages that make sharing thoughts easy.  What makes them so unique is that they stick with static cling – to mirrors, windows, fridges, whiteboards, aluminum water bottles and other clean, shiny surfaces – so they can show up in unexpected places and leave no mess!  Oh, and the other bonus – they’re totally removable, repositionable and can be re-used again and again.

With messages like “Brush your teeth” in the Little Reminders Thought Pack and “Choose your mood” in the Confidence Grows Thought Pack, parents are using them to teach and inspire their kids.   “You are beautiful” in the Girl Talk Thought Pack and the  “I can. I will!” Big Thought are motivating women and girls to best their very best …and THINK their very best!  And, if simply creating smiles is the goal then the Create a Smile Thought Pack and Relationship Thought Pack do just that.

Entrepreneur and full time mom, Lynn Petruskavich loves the way something so simple can have such a big impact. “The reality is that people aren’t expecting to see something on their mirror…but when it’s there, you can’t help but see it, read it, think it… live it!” she says.  And, with 12 Thought Pack themes to choose from and 15 Big Thoughts, there really is a thought experience for everyone.

Visit www.thoughtspots.ca to choose your thoughts today!

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Thought Spots is the sixth Feature in our Holiday Treasure Trove series – A FAB group of Parent owned companies that have great holiday gift ideas for you to check out! Stop by the Holiday Treasure Trove to see what Thought Spots and our other Parentpreneurs have in store for you!

Bandella Headbands is an online world of fashionable and affordable children’s hair accessories. We have a large selection of hair clips, headbands, stretch bands, baby hats, big girl/toddler hats. Our line includes flower headbands, butterfly headbands, uniform headbands, bow headbands,  bow clips, “kiddie” clips, flower clips and much more. Your sure to find a hairpiece that will suit your needs!Enjoy browsing, happy shopping!

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Don’t forget to check out our other Holiday Treasure Trove goodies – Great gift ideas from fabulous Canadian Parentpreneur Companies!!!

Kazo Shoes is an on-line boutique that offers new fashionable styles of footwear for kids. Kazo Shoes is a private label shoe company that was inspired by the owner’s daughters.

Kazo Shoes is everything you could wish for your children; High quality, known for their integrity, down to earth, a little funky and comfortable in their own skin. These are the same qualities that go into every pair of Kazo Shoes. They want kids to be kids so they have created footwear that lets kids have a little fun while being functional in their foot wear at the same time!

The beautiful girls winter boots are fully lined, rubber soled and water proof! They come in several different colours and two styles. Kazo Shoes offers a line of fall boots and they have not forgotten the boys either! www.kazoshoes.ca

Worried about buying shoes and boots on line without trying them on first? Well worry no longer! Kazo Shoes has created their own Easy Fit charts that are measured to all their own styles. There is no such thing as a universal size in shoes so simply print the chart off and measure your child’s foot for an exact fit. It is that easy! You can always email or call Kazo Shoes as well if you have any questions regarding sizing.

Treat your kids this Christmas to some fun and funky styles of boots and shoes. Please visit the website at www.kazoshoes.ca

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Kazo Shoes is the fifth Feature in our Holiday Treasure Trove series – A FAB group of Parent owned companies that have great holiday gift ideas for you to check out! Stop by the Holiday Treasure Trove to see what Kazo Shoes and our other Parentpreneurs have in store for you!

Our third Holiday Treasure Trove Thrifty Thursday!! An awesome special offer only for Holiday Treasure Trove Readers!!

15% OFF from Nifty Knees

Nifty Tees! You choose the print, print colour, garment size and garment colour. Choose from a long or short sleeve onesie or Toddler T, several print and garment colours available. Please refer to size chart to ensure best fit. Our onesies and Toddler T’s are a boutique quality 6.4 oz 100% cotton interlock knit. Long and short sleeve onesies have overlap shoulders, and three seat snaps for easy diaper changes.

Nifty Knees! Our leggings are made for both girls and boys. Wear them under skirts, dresses with a onesie or diaper, or even under pants for cooler days. Leggings help protect knees from rug burn, rashes and cuts. Helps make potty training and diaper changing easier. Keeps legs warm!

Fleece hats available in 3 styles and 6 colours. Free shipping on orders of 4 or more items!

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Stop by the website to grab 15% off your holiday order – But hurry, offer expires December 15, 2009

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Don’t forget to check out our other Holiday Treasure Trove goodies – Great gift ideas from fabulous Canadian Parentpreneur Companies!!!

Christmas is a great time to start thinking about more eco-friendly gift giving. Every Little Bit is a Canadian online store that features a wide variety of “greener” gifts and products for everyday eco-living. Visit www.everylittlebitgreen.com for 24/7 ordering.

• Litterless Lunch Ideas – Stainless Steel Bottles & Storage Containers, Snack Taxis, Wrap-n-Mats, Lunch Bags & more.
• Teacher gifts – Envirosax (fashionable, foldable & reusable bags), Buddha Bowls, Ecojot journals brag books and more.
• Toys – Wooden puzzles and toys, memory games, board games & fair trade “stuffies”
• Books – Environmentally-entertaining stories for a variety of ages & interests
• Ornaments & jewellery – hand-made, one-of-a-kind pieces by a local artisan
• Accessories – scarves, toques, passport holders, wallets & more.

We also carry products for everyday needs – environmentally friendly cleaning products, biodegradable & compostable trash bags and plates for the events leading up to Xmas, baby items, clothing & personal care products. Get 10% off your order now through Christmas. Use coupon code ELB10.

Please visit www.everylittlebitgreen.com to explore all of the possibilities that await you this holiday season!

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Every Little Bit is the fourth Feature in our Holiday Treasure Trove series – A FAB group of Parent owned companies that have great holiday gift ideas for you to check out! Stop by the Holiday Treasure Trove to see what Every Little Bit and our other Parentpreneurs have in store for you!

Welcome to the world of Tiny Giggles – Hopefully their products will make you giggle as much as I do.

Everyone wants the best for their children, and that is what spurred the creation of Tiny Giggles Gear. With the birth of two boys, Kwyn has become really conscious about the quality of products that she had access to and wanted to find more healthy, and environmentally conscious alternatives, to what was readily available. She realized that there were many “eco” alternatives to the plastics and disposable products found on most store shelves. As she was exposed more and more to the diversity of choices available to families looking for healthier options, Kwyn has grown the business to include products for newborns, infants, children and even parents.

Tiny Giggles specializes in products that are organic, or made from recycled materials and are ‘low carbon footprint items’. All of their toys are purchased with their own children in mind. They are easy to play with, attractive to children and are ‘earth friend’ to help preserve the earth for them. Buying these toys makes everyone feel good. If slowly we all start taking baby steps towards protecting the earth, maybe we can help make it a little better for our kids.

As a teacher, Kwyn researches every item that is added to Tiny Giggles, to ensure high quality and low environmental impact.  She understands that you want to know what is safe and that as busy parents; it is hard to find the information on what is best. Let Tiny Giggles do the research for you (they like to do it!) They’ll make sure that the toys, clothing, creams and water bottles are ethically made, safe for your children and environmentally friendly.

Tiny Giggles also has a gift registry for birthdays and baby showers, so that your family and friends can buy environmentally conscious items too – head over to the website to add your child’s name.

Tiny Giggles items are available at www.tinygiggles.ca where right now you can enjoy free shipping on all order over $100.  Make sure you join the news list to enjoy coupons, be the first to know about new products and receive valuable information to help your family be eco- conscious!.

Please visit www.tinygiggles.ca to explore all of the possibilities that await you this holiday season!

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Tiny Giggles is the third Feature in our Holiday Treasure Trove series – A FAB group of Parent owned companies that have great holiday gift ideas for you to check out! Stop by the Holiday Treasure Trove to see what Tiny Giggles and our other Parentpreneurs have in store for you!