Mother of Invention Contest Winner:
A Honey of a Deal
The winners of our latest Mompreneur contest share their secrets for sweet success by Alicia McAuley, photo by M. Alberstat
We are always amazed by the brilliant creations that come our way during our Mother of Invention contest, and this year is no exception. Nearly 40 entrepreneurs from across Canada gave us the lowdown on their products: everything from their initial eureka moments to sordid tales of long nights of hard work. In the end, we chose honeydumplings® as our grand-prize winner. With its all-Canadian, eco-friendly and totally unique baby mat, the company really got to the heart of what Canadian Family is all about. The best part? It was their kids who brought these mompreneurs together.
It started as a chance meeting at the local community centre 10 years ago, when then new moms Tracey Collinson and Louise Kean began the friendship that would eventually lead them down the path to a blossoming business partnership. Now, with the support of their families pushing them forward, this dynamic duo is on track to take the baby gear world by storm.
Proving that necessity is the mother of invention, Kean, mom of Ben, 10, and Grace, 7, and Collinson, mom of Jack, 10, and Henry, 6, were looking for a way to generate income without having to return to the daily 9-to-5 grind. “We wanted to find something that we’d enjoy, while still being mothers first and foremost,” explains Kean, who faced additional challenges as a recently separated mom. The two friends decided to combine their talents—Kean’s creative flair and Collinson’s knack for business—and in April 2008, Honeydumplings was born.
Influenced by her mother’s struggle with Parkinson’s Disease and her work as a reflexologist, Collinson was passionate about creating a product that would promote health and wellness, as well as being eco-friendly. With its natural bamboo cover, buckwheat-hull insert, and recyclable packaging, the Honeydumplings mat fits the bill.
As Kean and Collinson delve further into their business, the pair stress that they are moms above anything else. They also strive to be positive role models. “Now that my children are a little older and becoming more independent, I want them to see me as more than just their mother,” says Collinson. “I want them to know that women can be both great mothers and strong, successful businesswomen, without compromising.” Whether they realize it or not, Kean and Collinson are also teaching their children another important life lesson: when those inevitable life difficulties come along, sometimes all you need is a little help from your friends.
