Word of Mom: Sugglings

Filed under: Hand-Picked Products, profile by Lusso Baby

Meet a Canadian Mompreneur

The birth of a baby is not only life-changing but, for many women, it can also be inspirational. At Lusso Baby we are proud to celebrate the Canadian women who have taken on the challenge of being moms while at the same time launching a new career. Inspired by the needs of their own children, these moms have created unique, organic and engaging products that parents everywhere can love. In this column, we will present our fans our favourite Canadian-made goodies, from clothes and shoes to toys and strollers.

Snugglings

THIS MONTH: Sugglings
WHO: Alexandra Weaver and Amanda Kaffka
CLAIM TO FAME: Affordable, modern, and unique
baby slings and accessories

What were you doing before you started Snugglings?

Before Snugglings I was working for the Richmond Museum and Heritage Services as the Education Coordinator. I’ve always worked in museums and art galleries in either curatorial or educational positions. I have a degree in Art History and an MA in Museum Studies.

Were you surprised by the success of your products? And what would you be doing now if that hadn’t taken off?

I was surprised with the success of our applique toques and legwarmers. When Amanda (my business partner) and I first started selling them at trade shows and markets we were both blown away by their popularity. Now they form the core of our collection. I’m sure if I wasn’t working on Snugglings I would probably be back at work part-time working for a museum or gallery.

Do you have a design or clothing background? If not, what inspired you?

I don’t have a clothing background (I can sew on buttons pretty well though) but my business partner and neighbour Amanda does. I’ve always been interested in design which stems from my Art History background so when my first child was born in 2008 I instantly became interested in everything baby. I approached Amanda with some ideas for some clothes and slings and the rest is history.

I was really inspired by all of the hand-me-down French clothes that I inherited from my brother who lives France. The quality and style of the clothing was fantastic and unlike anything that I saw here. I wanted to make sure that from the beginning Snugglings was known for quality. All of our products are made locally which is important to us and made from quality fabrics such as Bamboo and Organic Cotton. Our aesthetic style emerged as we developed and I think we’ve got a unique and modern look.

How do you balance work with being a mom?

It’s a very difficult balancing act, especially now that I’ve just had my second baby 6 weeks ago! Like most mom entrepreneurs, I do a lot of my work during my son’s nap times and at night and on the weekends. It’s rewarding in that I get to stay home with my children but very exhausting because there really is no down time. I would love to be able to dedicate a lot more time to Snugglings since I have such big ideas for our company but it’s so hard to find the time. I’m sure most entrepreneurs can relate! Having said that, I’m also very thankful that I have a job that allows me to spend so much time with my children.

What are the challenges of running your own business? The benefits?

Time management is the hardest thing about running your own business, especially when you do it while looking after your children. It’s really easy to get burnt out so I try to set aside some specific “work” hours and be as productive during that time as possible. I love how varied the work is though. There’s never a dull moment. You get to wear many different hats when you’re an entrepreneur: Sales person, designer, accountant, and marketer.

What is your favourite product so far and why?

My favourite product right now is our sling. I carry my daughter in one wherever I go and she loves it. They are made from a stretchy microfleece which is perfect for this rainy, chilly weather that we’ve been having! And of course she doesn’t go anywhere without wearing one of our hats.

What do you wish someone had told you about starting your own business?

Don’t expect a paycheque in your first year and don’t expect a regular pay cheque in your second year. There is a lot of hard and unpaid work that goes into starting up a business – especially in the apparel industry. But it’s also important to stick with it and learn from your mistakes. We are just now starting to reap the benefits of our hard work as we enter into our third year.

What’s your advice for the moms (and dads) out there who are thinking of launching their own business?

Make sure there is a demand for whatever you are doing and do your research. Also, don’t give up within the first year. The first year is usually the toughest and the one where you make all the mistakes. Just learn from your mistakes and move on. And I can’t stress enough how important it is to make connections with people who are in the same industry as you. We have met so many wonderful local designers who have given us valuable advice.

What’s next for Snugglings?

We are planning on adding new products to our growing layette collection. This year we added some newborn gowns and beanie hats and we’ve got some new ideas for Spring/Summer 2012 but that’s a secret! Now that I have a baby girl I’m all over girl clothing. It’s so much fun testing out new products on your own children. That way you know what works and what doesn’t.

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