Focus on Bear Hug Baby!
This week Belinda tells us about her sling business, Bear Hug Baby.
Website: http://www.bearhugbaby.com.au
Tell us a little about your business/products.
Bear Hug Baby has a wide range of carriers for babies through to toddlers. Ring Slings, Pouches, Wraps & Square Tais. We also carry other babywearing accessories such as Baby Legs & the Tummy 2 Tummy Babywearing DVD.
When did you start your business?
BHB has been running for just over 3 years. We made our very first sale in July 2004.
Tell us how you discovered babywearing and what impact it’s had on you.
When our daughter was born, I knew I would need something to help me get out and about with both her and our son. Our son, Connor is autistic, and having both hands free is very important.
When our first daughter was a baby, wearing her was the only way I was able to get around daily tasks with Connor, as well as get him & myself out of the house. I did some more reasearch on what was available as Rhiannon got heavier, and found a serious lack of products available in Australia, so set about making them myself.
What led you to start your business?
I kind of just stumbled across the business side of things really. I got requests from friends, & then friends of friends, and it just blossomed from there.
What motivates you in your business and what makes it enjoyable for you?
Being at home with my 3 kids is the most motivating factor. The most enjoyable thing is receiving emails/phone calls/letters from customers thanking us for helping them out. I love to hear the little stories that my customers have to tell me of how babywearing has saved their sanity!
What do you find challenging about producing and/or selling baby carriers? Keeping up with demand is getting way too much. We are currently in the process of expanding quite a bit, and finding the right people to help us has been a challenge in itself.
What is the best thing about babywearing for you?
I love being close to my baby! I love that she can sleep soundly on me, or happily chat away when I’m working, out and about or tending to the other kids. She doesn’t miss out on a thing because she is always right there in the thick of it!
Do you have any other special interests or causes?
BHB has recently signed up with the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation here in Brisbane, to donate $2 from every sale to their Working Wonders Foundation. We have spent quite a bit of time in the hospital with Connor over the past 6 years, so this is our way of giving something back.
What do you get up to in a typical day?
After getting Connor off to the therapy centre or school, the daily task of answering emails, processing orders & returning phone calls is always first. Then it’s onto making up or packaging orders and usually a trip to the post office. There is always time squeezed in for playing with a bit of play dough, finger painting, baking & outside play. That is my favourite part of the day 
Focus on…. 100Knots Baby Slings
This week, Neve Vujasinovic tells us about her 100Knots baby slings biz!
Website: http://100knots.com.au
Tell us a little about your business/products.
100Knots baby sling carriers are made with lots of love and care by a proffesional
moddeler/designer and a mom of 3.
When did you start your business?
I’ve started my business almost 4 years ago.
Tell us how you discovered babywearing and what impact it’s had on
you.
I’ve discovered babywearing by recomendation from a friend. I ordered couple of slings, and loved babywearing. It made my life so much easier.
What led you to start your business?
I could not find the sling which is comfortable enough. I have a back injury, and no sling was good enough…I made my own sling, and had lots of people asking me to make them the same sling…That led to improving that model of sling, and starting to sell it.
What motivates you in your business and what makes it enjoyable for you?
The best satisfaction is when someone who just discovered babywearing writes me a letter telling how much they enjoy babywearing…Sometimes the letters I recieve are so touching, they put tears in my eyes…
What do you find challenging about producing and/or selling baby carriers?
Hm…This is a tough one…Everything…From choosing a right thread and right fabric, to final sewing and packaging…Competing with other sellers, and answering the tricky questions about babywearing…I enjoy every bit of what I do!
What is the best thing about babywearing for you?
Babies cry less 
and sleep longer
Do you have any other special interests or causes?
No.
What do you get up to in a typical day?
Waking up, caring for two toddlers and a baby, sewing a lot, going late to bed…It is a long day, and this would be a loong answer.
Do you have anything more to discuss? Not at this stage, but looking
forward in writing more about slings someday.
Focus on Jazslings
This week, we interview Wendy of Jazslings.
Tell us a little about your business/products.
Jazslings Baby Slings manufacturers and sells baby slings, JazBands belly bands and other products which are not readily available in the typical baby shop.
When did you start your business?
We started to make slings two years ago for our friends and through word of mouth it progressed from there.
Tell us how you discovered babywearing and what impact it’s had on you.
Eight years ago I went for a walk with my son and he was being really fussy in his pram so I took his muslin wrap and fashioned a sling for him so I could continue to walk. It worked a treat and I was hooked on babywearing.
What led you to start your business?
By the time I had my third son Jaz, I had tried nearly every pouch and carrier on the market. They were either too fiddly or time consuming. I needed extra hands to do clips and buckles up and need an easy comfortable sling that was easy to use. After lots of trials I created the
JazSling.
What motivates you in your business and what makes it enjoyable for you?
I love seeing mums and dads wear their children. It is important to us that the JazSling is sold a reasonable price so when someone can’t choose between two colours they end up buying both or one for their friend or grandparent as well. When customers send photos of their children who are being carried in the JazSling and are either wearing a big smile or who are fast asleep and I know that parent has a contented child.
What do you find challenging about producing and/or selling baby carriers?
The most challenging aspect of producing baby slings would be finding beautiful fabrics.
What is the best thing about babywearing for you?
I now have four children, I can still run a business, house, play with the children whilst wearing my baby.
Do you have any other special interests or causes?
We are a member of “Australian Made” and are in the process of confirming membership with “INPAA” as it is important to us to provide safe Australian Made products.
Focus on… PicAnini
This week Celia Barry, owner of PicAnini, talks to us about her baby carrier business, and her fun-filled, busy life.
Tell us a little about your business/products.
Designed and made by me to suit the ozzie lifestyle in good quality strong cotton fabrics. One being a Hemp Cotton mix too.
When did you start your business? In 2006
What led you to start your business?
Was encouraged into it by my younger son Jason after losing our eldest son/his brother Justin to Cancer in 05 at the age of 33. There is nothing so good to help overcome grief than to be creative and get involved with a passion or helping others. I did both, and found the spin-offs so gratifying and helpful.
Lets face it, birth is a happy time of life too and creating my picanini’s has brought me into contact with such wonderful people from all corners of Australia and the world.
What motivates you in your business and what makes it enjoyable for you?
Each creation is done with caring and love as I mentioned and I enjoy the personal detail and service I offer.
What do you find challenging about producing and/or selling baby carriers?
There is no challenge because I love being creative.
What is the best thing about babywearing for you?
That it will promote a good quality, reasonably priced, uniquely designed and made ozzie baby pouch.
Do you have any other special interests or causes?
Yes being a breast cancer survivor (twice)…..I use every opportunity to help women who might be going thru it…….I also strive to set a good example that life should not change. We also raise money thru our sport of 4×4′ing for various charities, last year organized a 4×4 trip to the Vic High Country called “Drive4Life” and in so doing helped to raise $76,000 for the Northcott Cripple Children’s Asssoc.(motorized kiddies wheel chairs) There have also been a number of feature articles in our local Manly Daily paper associated with my picanini pouches , my breast cancer survival, loosing my son and being the only women driver in Australia to compete in hard core 4×4 events as I do.
What do you get up to in a typical day?
During the week, living by the beach we make the most of it … love to go for beach walks, ride my bike along the beach front, kayak with girlfriends in the harbour 1 morning, work p/t two mornings and make my picanini orders. Weekends we do much the same when we aren’t going bush or 4wheeling. A lot of time is taken with preparing our truck for competitions. I also design and make my own clothes when I find a nice fabric or have an idea I wish to make up.
Do you have anything more to discuss? I think I’ve gassed enough!
Spotlight on … Manufacturers and Sellers of Australian Baby Slings and Carriers
We all love to peek inside someone else’s life! Each week, we will try to interview an Australian baby sling wahm, to learn more about why they do what they do, and how they do it!
