What were you doing before you started Beba Bean?
I was doing various design contract work around Vancouver. I would do pattern making, production samples, costume design and fashion styling for different designers.

Do you have a clothing design background?
Yes, after working at Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design in Student Services for many years I decided to go back to school for fashion design. I graduated from Blanche MacDonald Institute of Design.

Were you surprised by the success of Pee-pee Teppee? And what would you be doing now if that hadn’t taken off?
I was very surprised. The invention came out of pure necessity as we needed it for our newborn son. We really had no idea we could build a business around it. If I didn’t have Beba Bean I would have my own line of bridal wear.

How do you balance work with being a mom?
That is the single biggest challenge I face daily. I love being a mom and my priority is always with my kids, however I do consider my business my third child so it deserves my attention as well. It really boils down to a lot of late nights working and still having the flexibility to be there for my kids everyday.

What are the challenges of running your own business? The benefits?
The challenge is keeping up with the demands of product cycles. We know that some lines are always huge sellers but the balance between demand and inventory can be tricky. The biggest benefit is doing what you love every single day. I am always thankful that I get to spend my day building a business that I truly love.

It seems that there are a lot of momtrepreneurs based out of BC. Have there been any pleasant surprises about being part of this community of mom-based businesses?
The support we all have for each other. I know when I was first starting out I relied on other mompreneurs to guide me in certain ways and I am always more than happy to pay that forward to others who wish to get into the business.

Is there a baby/kid product out there you wish you had thought of first?
Every time I see a great product I think “why didn’t we think of that?” I find that the best ideas are usually very simple. I love the Bumble Chair, Babylegs & Trumpette socks.

What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being a mom. I feel like I have a great work/life balance and I hope I am teaching my daughter that women can have careers and still be great mothers!

What do you wish someone had told you about starting your own business?
I wish someone had explained how competitive it is. I knew it would be hard but I didn’t expect the constant demand both in design and in business strategies. Valuing each and every customer has helped us grow substantially the last three years. Customers are very loyal and if you can establish a mutual respect, the brand and the store work beautifully together.

What’s your advice for the moms (and dads) out there who are thinking of launching their own business?
Get ready to have very little sleep and push your resources to the max. You really have to be prepared to put everything on the line to start a successful company. I believe the more you have on the line the more committed you are to success!

What’s next for Beba Bean?
We are working on expanding our online presence. We are also introducing a bath line and a sterling silver line. We are excited to expand into these gift markets and hope our customers will love it as much as we do.

Speak Up: Have you tried any Beba Bean products? What is your favourite?
Shop Beba Bean at Lusso