Binksy and Bobo - Interview

I came across this wonderful business on Twitter and thought it deserved a shout out. Here's what Katrina Poole of Binksy and Bobo, (owner/operator/mom/entrepreneur) had to say;

Tell us a bit about yourself:
I am a mother to a 21/2 year old sweetie (a boy) and wife to a crazy-fun husband. I live in Toronto. I love the energy of the city, photography, food (cooking & eating it), the quirky little things my son does that make me laugh (like just the other day, when he decided to lick my arms like a dog)....
I have always been creative, having studied Fine Arts in University and then having worked in an Ad Agency as a Graphic Designer, so deciding to start designing and sewing clothes was just the next thing.

Tell us about Binkys & Bobo:
While pregnant and huge with my son, I spent my days in front of my old sewing machine, making every item for my son’s soon-to-be-nursery. I sewed his curtains, bedding, bumper pads etc.
After the birth of my son, with all the fun I had designing his nursery, I decided to start sewing his clothing and thus Binksy & Bobo was born.

Any significance behind that adorable name?
Binksy is cute and whimsical (like my clothing). Bobo was the name of my little brother’s much beloved stuffed toy, Mr. Bobo, who, unfortunately ended up being shoved down the toilet.....so the name pays homage to Mr. Bobo.

What products do you carry? Tell us what makes them unique:
I carry a line of reversible clothing and stylish accessories for babies and children. Everything is handmade in Toronto, Canada. The nice part about having a reversible piece is, if there ever is a stain spilled down the front (which almost always happens), one can simply turn the item inside out for a fresh clean look.
I also carry accessories such as baby’s blankets and shopping cart covers that can be personalized with a monogram or fun graphic appliqué.

How long have you been in business?
I started the business in August of 2008.

Are you purely web based?
Right now I am an on-line store. I also partake in the Children’s Trunk Show held in Toronto in November and am now starting to branch out into retail stores.

What's the biggest challenge you've faced with Binkys & Bobo?
Building my brand, making people across Canada and the United States aware of Binksy & Bobo. The second challenge would have to be, not always being able to find the fabric I need for a particular item I’m making. I’m working on establishing relationships with more suppliers.

Anything else you'd like to add?
I have a blog; http://www.lipstickandlullabies.com/
where I like to talk about my double life as a mom and business owner. My blog features recipes and day to day ramblings and contests.

*Right now, I’m holding a laugh out loud contest. I’m giving away a personalized t-shirt and reversible short set ($60 value) to the contestant who writes me (in my comments section) of the funniest/most embarrassing moment in their child’s/baby’s life. For Contest entry and info, please click the following link: http://www.lipstickandlullabies.com/2010/04/contest-most-embarrassingfunny-thing.html

I am on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BinksyAndBobo
Fans receive from time to time coupons and special promotions

I am on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/BinksyAndBobo

Check out this fabulous line of products.

Golden Curly Tail - Check it Out!

Monica Ly, Co-Founder of Golden Curly Tail was kind enough to answer my questions about her awesome company. Check out our interview below and be sure to take advantage of the coupon code made specifically for Bumples readers. - bumples0310 - Good for 15% off your entire order. Offer ends May 1, 2010, so don't miss out.

Tell us about Golden Curly Tail;
Golden Curly Tail (GCT) is a new online webstore that specializes in eco-friendly baby and toddler wear. The mission of GCT is to make small changes each day to cherish and preserve our environment. We believe that even taking baby steps, we can make a big difference when we make conscious decisions and take conscious actions to take care of mother earth's natural resources.

Any significance behind the name and designs?
Golden Curly Tail (GCT) was inspired by the birth of my daughter, who was born during the Year of the Golden Pig in 2007. Some say, children born during the Year of the Golden Pig bring many blessings, and also 2007 was a rare year that happens once every 60 years. There was a baby boom all over Asia and also in the U.S. that year, as many Golden Piglets were born.

After my daughter was born, I realized she had eczema, and had skin that was very sensitive to many fabrics. After many sleepless nights of seeing her scratching and suffering, I went online and researched all I could do to help relieve her suffering, from fabrics, to lotions to toys, etc. After learning about the many benefits of bamboo, I fell in love with the bamboo fabric. Its so soft and is also hypoallergenic.

Currently, GCT has 3 designs. The GCT Logo, the "Golden Piglet" and the "Yoga Piglet".

The GCT Logo is an icon represents a new generation of Change Makers.
The "Golden Piglet" is a cool and playful character, and loves to be the center of attention.
The Yoga Piglet is calm and present in its natural yogi state. He also brings wisdom and inspiration to the next generation.

How Long has Golden Curly Tail been in business?
Golden Curly Tail officially launched in December 2009.

Your products are made with Bamboo - Could you explain the benefits etc?
Yes, our products are made of 70% bamboo and 30% Organic Cotton. Bamboo fabric is organic, natural and comfortable. It is also amazingly soft, highly absorbent, naturally anti-bacterial, biodegradable and dries faster than cotton. I couldn't believe how good bamboo fabric felt after I bought a bamboo towel for my daughter. Bamboo fabric is perfect for skin that is very sensitive skin to chemicals, dyes, etc.

What types of products do you offer?
We currently offer onesies and toddler tees and have three designs: The GCT Logo, the Golden Piglet and the Yoga Piglet. The onesie sizes include 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18-24 months. The toddler tee sizes include 2T and 3T.

Anything else you'd like to add?
We're currently offering FREE SHIPPING. Offer expires May 1, 2010.

And be sure to take advantage of our coupon code! Golden Curly Tail is located on the web at; http://www.goldencurlytail.com

Interview With GumDrop Lane's - Erin Ruane

Tell us about Gum Drop Lane;
Gumdrop Lane is a mommy-owned and operated online boutique featuring new and used apparel, accessories and gifts for girls up to size 6 and boys up to size 4T. We have been in business for two-and-a-half years. We carry new merchandise from names such as Tralala, Knuckleheads, Baby Nay, Kissy Kissy and Punkster and used merchandise from upscale brands as well as mall brands. You can find terrific deals on items starting at $1! We are based in Virginia Beach, Va.

What made you start this unique web site?
I knew there were other parents and grandparents who, like me, enjoyed shopping for both new and used items for the kids in their lives. I had always shopped consignment stores yet I had no problem paying retail for a really unique piece that I knew would be a standout on my daughter. So, I thought the offerings on the web at the time offering either new OR used weren’t offering the kind of one-stop convenience shoppers like me would appreciate. I launched GumdropLane.com as the first online boutique offering both new AND used in one store to better serve this customer base.

Love the name; any significance behind it?
Candy Land was always my favorite game as a kid so I thought it would sort of invoke fun images of childhood and be a natural fit from a marketing standpoint. It’s given me lots of inspiration in terms of the look and feel of both the logo and the site itself.

How do you find the items you sell on the site?
I travel to market several times a year and buy directly from the manufacturers in order to stock the new department. For the used department, I buy directly from parents who are interested in selling their little ones’ clothing and accessories to me. We all have those things that were the wrong size or the wrong season or are still in great condition even though they were worn a few times. Many of the used items on Gumdrop Lane still have the tags on them.

Is it just clothes?
GumdropLane.com sells clothes, accessories such as hair bows and gift items such as blankets and bibs.

Do you ship all over the world?
GumdropLane.com currently ships to the U.S. and Canada.

Any plans for the future of Gum Drop Lane that you can share with us?
Lots of fun things in store, but you’ll have to stay tuned for all the great details.

I noticed you won an award...tell us about that.
We were thrilled when one of our customers nominated us for a “Best Baby Website” and we won!

Anything else you would like to add?

We offer free shipping for orders over $99. We have two BIG sales each year with a minimum of 60% off every item in the store. Our Winter Sale begins this week! We are active on Facebook and Twitter, which are two great places to go for special announcements and coupon codes from GumdropLane.com and you can follow all the latest at our blog; http://GumdropLane.com/blog. Check out GumDrop Lane at; http://www.gumdroplane.com/