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What is your business called and what is it about? Tell us about the people involved too.
BabyBaby the brand is natural and organic skin care for infants, more than that it is a commitment to the health of children’s skin. Many children suffer from skin allergies and sensitive skin and parents find it difficult to find products that meet the needs of their ‘sensitive’ child and their other children in one product. We have made the commitment to meet the requirements of all children by providing a safe, natural, skin care product that does what it says it will and if not we promise your money back.

We have

a full range of bath products, shampoos, rash creams and body lotions to meet the skin care needs of a new born baby right through to older children. Our primary ingredients are essential oils specifically chosen for children and New Zealand’s own manuka honey which has a string of amazing benefits for the skin without posing a problem for sensitivities.

Our Nappy Rash Cream was recently recognised by the prestigious American awards, iParenting media, as one of the greatest products of 2009. It is also a favourite amongst the BabyBaby team who are all mums and use the products for their own families. Interestingly enough most of our key team members have children with skin allergies and refuse to sell anything their own kids can not use – thankfully they can use the entire range.

How long has your business been operating?
Since August 2002

Did you start from home and/or are you still operating your business from home? Tell us about any benefits of being at home.
I did start the business from home and now operate from home and a rented warehouse. Due to the nature of the business we needed somewhere to store and dispatch the product but as a busy mum I find it much easier to predominately work from home. Actually, I now work 8,000 miles from my warehouse. When my daughter needed medical treatment in the USA, I got connected to my warehouse in Napier via the internet and now sit in my home office of Pittsburgh running my New Zealand based business. My warehouse team also access the work computer from home which means they can spend less time away from their families while still getting the job done.

What prompted you to start your business?
I love everything to do with skin and its care. I am a qualified Beauty Therapist and owned a successful clinic for many years, however, I have four children and the long hours away from home working at the clinic were not conducive to family life. Although I could have started a clinic from home, my passion had become aromatherapy and children’s skin care. It had been a dream of mine to create my own line of products and with a lot of hard work that dream came true. I love it!

What have you achieved in the time you have been in business? What adversity have you overcome?
I guess like any working parent the adversity of managing family and work is a big one, however the biggest challenge for me has been running the business from the other side of the world and this continues to pose challenges, but so far none I have not been able to over come. I also have a chronically ill child who takes a lot of care along with three healthy children – life is busy and lack of time continues to get the better of me some days.