Congratulations to our 2012 AusMumpreneur Awards Finalists
We have really enjoyed finding out about the amazing work being done by mums in business across Australia, we’ve received more than 200 entries this year (almost double last years entries!) We have been so impressed by the high-level of submissions we’ve received and would like to thank everyone that nominated for taking the time to participate in the Awards.
Here are the Judges finalists for 2012
AusMumpreneur of the Year 5+ years
Yvette Adams The Creative Collective
Born & bred in Wellington NZ. Left at age 21. Travelled over 40 countries over the next 7 years. Fell pregnant on the pill in London aged 26. Had my baby boy (2003) opposite Big Ben. Migrated to Australia and had my baby girl (2007) down road from the Big Pineapple. Serial entrepreneur. Hopeless employee. Capricorn-Dragon Generation X-Y cusper. The business has managed to experience continual growth, creating regular work for 5 full time employees, 30 contractors (many of whom get 80% of their work from us and have done for 3 years or more) and 2 franchisees, despite a GFC.
Toni Joel & Nikki Horovitz – Tonic
Tonic is the creation of Toni Joel and Nikki Horovitz: two Melbourne-based style aficionados with an ambition to make beautiful, elegant and timeless pieces for the bath, body and home. We pride ourselves on turning everyday things that are often considered mundane, into magnificent items for the home -”essentials” that become fabulous. Our philosophy at tonic has always been to adopt a fashion approach by identifying trends in colour, design and style, which are then introduced in a contemporary, affordable, yet luxurious way for home fragrance and body products.
Merendi Leverett Merendi Health & Wellness
I graduated from CQU in 1997 with a Bachelor of Human Movement Science, and from QUT in 2000 with a Graduate Diploma of Health Science. I have always had a passion for health & wellness and helping people. I have been working in the areas of health & wellness and occupational rehabilitation for over 13 yrs.
I started my business in 2008 when my twins were 3mths old. I ran “Mums & Bubs Fitness Classes” for new mums at local halls and parks, so that I could socialise with other mums. For the first year I ran my business out of my car. 7 years on and the business has evolved to now operating 4 multidisciplinary health centres.
My business is a one stop health centre focused on holistic health care. With our team of health practitioners we provide a range of services specialized in prevention and management of chronic disease and injuries.
Cyndy Mundy – Snazzy Baby
Babies are precious and that’s why Snazzy Baby is committed to providing parents with products that help protect their gorgeous little ones. With a background in nursing and sales and marketing it was a natural progression for me to use my creative ability to develop easy to use, multi-functional products which parents all over the world could use for their babies. Snazzy Baby products are sold all over the world and every product is an award winner – judged by Mums, medical professionals and our peers. Safety is our strongest criteria in product development.
Lucie Trinco – Il Tutto
Il Tutto is a brand of luxury baby bags for the style conscious mother. Il Tutto prides itself on carefully fusing style with function and all our nappy bags are just that. Made from luxury leathers and high quality materials we are the designer baby bag of choice for celebrities such as Cate Blanchett, Dannii Minogue, Sarah Murdoch, Charlotte Church, Denise Van Outen to name just a few. All our changing bags come with a removable lining so you can easily wash your bags internals, padded change mat, insulated bottle holder and clear plastic purse. I proudly design all products in the collection and they are sold globally in over 150 stores in 15 countries including David Jones, Harrods, Mamas & Papas & Mothercare.
Rising Star AusMumpreneur of the Year 3-5 years
Nicky Johnston – Happy Hero
Nicky Johnston: I am a mum to four boys, a primary teacher, an artist, make-up artist and author and illustrator. My bestselling children’s books “Go Away, Mr Worrythoughts!” and “Happythoughts are Everywhere…” have touched the lives of thousands little worriers and are a highly sought after resource. These books are extremely unique, as they are directly aimed at helping children manage anxiety. Based on my own experience supporting my eldest son’s battle with an anxiety disorder, I have created a business “Happy Hero” which offers hands-on resources and strategies for little worriers as well as educational presentations with the aim of building awareness and capability to support children, families and professionals dealing with little worriers.
Tina Harris – Lah-Lah productions
I’m a Mum of two beautiful little girls. I’m married to a crazy musician. I’m turning 40 soon and I’ve finally found my dream job.
My business, has four areas. The school I started four years ago, Lah-Lah’s Music Place, teaching music appreciation to children and their families.
Lah-Lah, the band, performing live shows all around Australia (including Sydney Festival, sold-out shows in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre and this July we are playing the City Recital Hall Angel Place.
Lah-Lah on TV, we have 12 video clips on Nick Jr. Australia, Asia and NZ. We are currently developing a TV series with BBC.
We have a merchandising currently listing two CD’s, a DVD distributed by Roadshow, and Lah-Lah apparel.
Amanda Edwards – Inviteme
A highly motivated mother of two young girls, I co-own inviteme with another mum made of the same stuff.17 years in marketing, public relations and events working for corporate companies (Myer, Adidas, Ansett, Laminex) has taught me to look at the bigger picture – which we do on a daily basis at inviteme.
With retail and personalized arms to our business as well as wholesale (Little Party Paper People), the new partnership of inviteme was created July, 2011 with the retail online store opening three months later, September 2011. Just nine months in the game and in a tricky retail market, we continue to exceed our forecasts and are growing at a rate of knots
Michelle Olden – Hitnitz46
I am the mother of 2 children and up until 2 years ago I worked as a real estate agent to enable my husband to stop doing FIFO work. After winning many awards and achieving all the goals I had set for myself, I relished a new challenge. This business was developed by me and Melissa Barrett who is a great friend of mine. Melissa found the natural herb that worked and I convinced her that we could make a business out of it, hence Hit Nitz 4 6 was born. We are now stocked all over Australia.
Leanne Conoley – School Camps Qld
http://www.schoolcampsqld.com.au
My name is Leanne Conoley and I am the owner operator of School Camps Qld. I have three children under 4 years of age and I am passionate about teaching children and young adults that life can be healthy, fun and easy if you have the right coping skills and tools to use.
Our focus is on providing our future leaders with leadership and communication skills so that they can grow up equipped with healthy thoughts, ideas and bodies to cope with the stresses of today’s life. So far this year, School Camps Qld has provided these programs to over 40 schools and over 2500 children.
Bromwyn Meakins- Lines – Quite Inviting
http://quiteinviting.com.au/home/
My name is Bromwyn Meakins-Lines and I’m 33 years old. I’m a single mum to two beautiful boys named Ethan, 9, and Chayse, 3, who both have autism. Quite Inviting was born out of my long-time love for all things paper and stationery that dates right back to my primary school days. I was lucky enough to be able to turn my hobby and passion into a fully-fledged business. I now own and operate four seasonal online businesses including South West Flowers, Hospital Flowers, Invite with Style and, of course, Quite Inviting, all out of my humble home office.
Emerging Mumpreneur of the Year under 2 years
Jennifer Campbell & Katie Walker – Multiplied Magazine
http://multipliedmagazine.com.au/subscriptions/
Katie and Jen are both mums to twin boys under three. Katie is also a successful photographer and designer, while Jen is a media and communications specialist. As twin mums, we are used to juggling, multi-tasking, balancing and managing demands on our time, and surviving on very little sleep. Australia’s Governor General Quentin Bryce said that women can have it all, but not all at once. We say, “Give a twin mum something else to do in her day, and you can be sure it will get done!”
We are both driven and determined businesswomen and take the business of Multiplied magazine very seriously –from strategic planning to financial projections and marketing.
Georga Holdich – Pure Poppet
Having two daughters I know a bit about dressing up and all things pretty! My girls love to become characters and play make believe and I was frustrated that the only play makeup and face paint products I could find for them, were usually made with pretty toxic ingredients. I try to choose a natural option for my skin and so why wouldn’t I want the same safer choice for my children’s young skin? So I developed Pure Poppet using natural, non-toxic ingredients. Currently the range includes play makeup kits, bags, play packs, crayons and stencils, with more to come.
Elise Easdown –What’s on 4 kids
I was the girl that wanted a career and couldn’t wait to be a mum due to my love of children. When I became a children’s paediatric occupational therapist I don’t think anyone was surprised.
They were however, very surprised when on maternity leave with my first child and pregnant with my second, I announced I was going to start my own business, work for myself and in a field worlds apart from the health profession!
My business has now become like a third child to me. It has needed nurturing and attention in its infancy but now it has become more established I am able to stand back, have faith and watch it grow!
Rebecca Lush – All about Amber
http://www.allaboutamber.com.au/
I am a mother of 3 children; I work from home as I am committed to being a good parent and keeping it as natural and normal for my children as possible. All About Amber grew from my creative urge to make jewellery and use my natural creativity to bring some beautiful pieces of work to life. Amber has always been a wonderful healing necklace in my family and I wanted to be able to bring this into Australia on a grand scale.
Melanie Seears – On the Gro
I (Melanie Seears) am the creative mind behind On The Gro – a brand developing dynamic, Australian designed parenting products. With a combined love of parenting and practical products, a career guided by motherhood seemed like the ideal combination for me. As a mother of three children, I decided to utilise my background in business to establish my own, and set about designing products that are innovative, stylish and safe. Key to my business is my continual pursuit to create affordable, quality driven products that provide simple solutions to everyday problems.
Melinda Weaver – Baby Ink
I am a very proud mum of two little ones aged 2 and 1. I have two major passions in life – my family and my business. Baby Ink offers a product that is easily accessible, easy to use and affordable. Colour inkless printing technology is the first of its kind and is exclusive to Baby Ink in Australia and New Zealand. Since our launch in February this year Baby Ink has been named in the Anthill Magazines SMART 100 list, a National Finalist for the Australian Small Business Champion Awards and has enjoyed successful partnerships with nationally celebrated brands.
Service Business Of The Year
Kristen Semmens – Nitpro
Nitpro & Ziggetty Snipits is a refreshing new concept in the children’s hairdressing industry and a rapidly growing franchise model. We are a combination of services; a specialised head lice treatment salon within a full function kids hair salon fully decked out with kids in mind… we’re the salon where kids can be kids and come see how much fun a haircut can be, and where parents can bring their family to end their head lice woes!
Julie Parker – Beautiful You
http://www.beautifulyoubyjulie.com/
I am a counsellor and life and business coach working as the Managing Director of my business, Beautiful You. A passionate positive body image advocate, I have a clinical specialisation in counselling women who have self-esteem, body image and eating disorder concerns and regularly appear in the media discussing these topics. My coaching speciality is supporting women to harness the power of self-love and how this profoundly impacts on their career, business, family and life. My first book is due out in September this year, published by Momentum Books.
Alison Bolakis – Mums who make
http://www.mumswhomake.com.au/
I am a motivated & extremely driven mother of 3 children. I love juggling my 2 small businesses around our busy life & having the opportunity to watch my children grow.
MWM began back in June 2010 to help showcase creative businesses & be found by the every day consumer. In this time we have grown to over 12,000 facebook followers, and see approx 5000 – 7000 unique visitors to our website each month. Our website has become the “go to” place to source anything & everything handmade!
Jacqueline Buckmaster & Nicci Morpeth – Bellabuy.com.au
Bellabuy was uniquely born, with discussions in the back room of a pub while nursing our babies as our husbands watched the footy! Now, over 12 months old, Bellabuy has over 8,000 members plus hundreds of loyal partners who use Bellabuy as their low cost, low risk way to market their brand online and through social media.
Collectively with 3 children under 3, and another on the way, we represent quintessential Mumpreneurs. Our combined experience and background in IT, Graphic Design, Beauty and Sales ensure Bellabuy is a well-rounded business working cohesively. Our collective ambition for success helped create Bellabuy.
Michelle Jankovic – Helping Hand is Here
http://helpinghandishere.com.au/
My name is Michelle Jankovic. I am a mother of two children, Bailey 9 and Jasmine 6 years old. I am a carer for my son Bailey who has Cerebral Palsy and a right hand difference. Both my children were born 8 week premature. I have been married for 12 years to my lovely husband Peter. I enjoy scrapbooking, gardening and going out for coffee.
I own Helping Hand Is Here, the gateway to disability support and services. It is an online disability directory to assist carers, families and health professionals by linking them to services and support.
Nicole Hammett – Little Miss Useful
http://www.littlemissuseful.com
I am a wife and mother to 2 boys (4 & 1). I am very dedicated to my business and passionate about helping small businesses succeed. Little Miss Useful started in 2008 (under an old business name) and I rebranded to Little Miss Useful in 2010. The rebrand is definitely been one of my best decisions as I always have people comment that I really am ‘Little Miss Useful’. We started out primarily doing administration work and then moved in WordPress websites and Social Media and 95% of our business now is that work.
Product Innovation
Dyna Predebon – Adoorable Toy Company Pty Ltd -
I am a mum of 3 energetic boys + a Graphic Designer + inventor = Mumpreneur. I have been a Graphic Designer for over 20 years, and opened my own Design Service Business when I was 22yrs old. Moving into motherhood bought many interesting lessons, and one particular parenting issue led me to the invention of the Adoorabear and Adoordecor concept.
After years of going through patenting, trademarking and the manufacturing process I joined forces with a close friend of mine, Leonie Wheeler, to establish Adoorable Toy Company and launched Adoorabear to the marketplace last year in 2011.
Laura Furiosi – Rashoodz
Rashoodz was started by myself and my friend, Tanya. We started the company four years ago, after the birth of my first baby. It then grew very quickly through our online store and wholesalers to even overseas with TK Maxx a giant UK store. During this time, Tanya moved on and I ran the business on my own. Now at 30yrs of age, I happily combine my Rashoodz work with looking after my three daughters aged, 5, 3 and 1 and husband Grant. Rashoodz is successful because it is designed by mums and because I love what I do.
Kelly Northey – Bamboo Bubby
http://www.bamboobubby.com.au/
My son was diagnosed with severe eczema at the same time he learned to roll and could no longer be wrapped or swaddled safely to protect his skin. We then resorted to baby one-suit outfits with hand-covers, but these also stop being made with this most useful feature at size 00-0.
Distraught and sleep-deprived from being kept awake night after night from incessant scratching and skin damage, I designed the first Bamboo Bubby sleeping bag and it gave us all peace of mind and a goodnight sleep!
Shae Tye – Sleepy Wings
http://www.sleepywings.com.au/
Shae Tye – Sleepy Wings New South Wales mum, Shae Tye, has developed a sleep solution that keeps her daughter from overheating but also wrapped so that she doesn‟t startle or scratch. Sleepy Wings is a versatile infant slumber wear jacket worn during a baby‟s day and night sleep – in summer or winter. Ideal for use in the car and pram; can be worn with arms up or down (just rotate) and has been designed with two unique dummy pockets to teach a baby to retrieve their own lost dummy!
Drawing on her own mothering knowledge and drive to solve this everyday problem of continuously replacing her babies dummy, Shae made the decision to enter the baby business, eager to share her innovative garment with other parents, with the goal to make life easier with their baby, providing more SLEEP for all!
Sleepy Wings is approved by the ‘Infant and Nursery Product Association of Australia’ INPAA and is Australian made.
Riki McConaghy – Messy Little Monkeys Burby
http://www.messylittlemonkeys.com/
I am a busy 32 year-old mother of 2 little girls, Lily and Macy. My husband and I are lawyers. I’ve put my legal career on hold to focus full-time on establishing and growing my business, Messy Little Monkeys.
Messy Little Monkeys was officially launched in May 2012 with our flagship product, the Burby. Whilst the business is still in its infancy, we have already had an overwhelmingly positive response both in Australia and internationally. Negotiations are currently underway following approaches from distributors keen to market our product globally. Australian and international patents are pending.
Kim Vespa – Vespa belly bands
http://www.vespaandtheladybird.com.au/
I am passionate and dedicated business woman who took a crazy off beat idea and turned it into my career. At Vespa & The Ladybird our philosophy is simple – excellent quality products; reasonable prices and most importantly superior service. We are the market leader in the manufacturing of Post Pregnancy Recovery Belly Wraps in Australia and New Zealand as well as having a significant foothold across the Post Pregnancy Shapewear market internationally. Our brand is strong and growing. Our presence and influence is strong and growing. Clients and customers have the luxury of dealing with a professional and highly efficient company, but with the engine and heart of a small business, I am the thinker and creator behind the brand, the face of our brand and the visionary of the company’s future direction.
Finalists will be interviewed and winner announced at the 2012 AusMumpreneur Awards Gala Dinner
Peoples Choice Finalists
Albums will be uploaded for voting on Wednesday 25 July 2012
| CUSTOMER SERVICE |
| Rebecca Lush – All About Amber |
| Kristen Semmens, Nitpro & Ziggetty Snipits Kids Salons |
| Katrina McCarter, Bubbler Deals |
| Melinda Weaver, Baby Ink |
| Heidi Howe, Blame the Baby Children’s Formal Wear |
| ECO FRIENDLY |
| Megan Bayliss, The Junk Wave |
| Dalal Ozdemir EarthyMamma |
| Georga Holdich, Pure Poppet |
| Susan Parry, Nifty Naps |
| Caroline Roberts, Gardening 4 Kids |
| BLOG |
| Jasmine Boothey, Bargain Mums |
| Michelle Jankovic, Helping Hand Is Here |
| Lara Hodgson Sunny Coast Kids |
| EricaLouise Recycled-Fashion |
| Fiona Purcell, My Mummy Daze |
| HANDMADE |
| Janell Fowler, BabyButton |
| Alison Benyon – Cheeky Pickle |
| Anita Keith, Winnie&Clem |
| Lisa Haynes Gourmet Dog Biscuits & Treats |
| Michelle Jeanes, Wicked Soy Candles |
| BOUTIQUE |
| Deb Waldron, Party&Co |
| Amanda Edwards, inviteme |
| Nicci Morpeth & Jacqueline Buckmaster, Bellabuy.com.au |
| Amanda Greenwood / Angelbub Maternity Wear |
| Charmyne Browne, Blonde Envy |
| BEST PRODUCT |
| Nicky Johnston, Happy Hero |
| Katrina Zaslavsky of Inspiring Birth Stories |
| Kelly Northey, Bamboo Bubby |
| Roxanne Gately, Nurture Cards |
| Leeana Mirko, Gem CandlesAlbums will be uploaded for voting on Wednesday 25 July 2012 |
Congratulations to all the finalist.
What a amazing bunch of women who are living the dream.
See you in Sydney
Fiona
Best of luck to all the finalists. Lots of interesting and quality business!