Meet Tasmyn Roach, owner of Awhi Company
Cultural identity is at the heart of Tasmyn Roach's business, Awhi Company. She shares her story with Kahu de …
Mums in business
Having a baby is one of the single biggest challenges you will face in your lifetime. It also brings the most rewards. For some Kiwi mums the births of their children creates an opportunity for them to combine their pre-baby skills and knowledge with their new family commitments, for others starting a home business is a way to bring in a much-needed second income without sacrificing time with their children.
OHbaby! was founded by one such Mum, Angela Pedersen, in 2000. Although her first child, Ella, wasn't born until 2005, Angela wanted to create a business that she could run from home whilst still being a stay at home Mum. The success of OHbaby! is a testament to the many hours that Angela, and her husband Royce, put into developing the site in those early days, and that they have continued to put in over the ensuing years.
OHbaby! is still staffed entirely by parents, many of whom work from home, and we know how much time and energy goes into running a home business, especially when you are also running a busy household!
Our Mums In Business directory profiles some homegrown success stories, women who have taken the plunge and established their own home businesses offering a huge variety of products and services.
We hope you'll help us support them!
If you're a Mum In Business and you'd like to see your profile in our directory, email website@ohbaby.co.nz for more information!
Meet one of our newest experts and the woman behind @zaziplays
Speech and language therapist and social media sensation, Zazi Henderson shares her story. WORDS: Kahu de BeerPHOTOGRAPHY: Rachelle Joilin Zazi Henderson and her partner, Jon are the dynamic couple behind Instagram platform @zaziplays, where …
Meet OHbaby's expert Clinical Nutritionist Gina Urlich
Clinical nutritionist, founder of Norish, and powerhouse mama of four, Gina Urlich talks to Kahu de Beer about what drives her. For many of us in the thick of life with a young family, Gina Urlich may be somewhat of a household name. The …
New OHbaby! experts talk about motherhood and family first aid
Paediatric intensive care nurses (and brand new OHbaby! experts) Charlotte Young and Teresa Wong are empowering parents with their one of a kind first aid courses. Words: Kahu de BeerPhotography: Alice Veysey Charlotte Young and Teresa Wong …
Introducing BABYZEN – Life Says Go!
Babyzen is a beacon of innovation and style in the world of baby products, revolutionising the way parents navigate the joys and challenges of raising their little ones. With a mission to make urban parenting simpler, more convenient, and undeniably …
Meet Georgina from Frankie Apothecary - Inspired by traditional wisdom
Meet Georgina from Frankie Apothecary. She is weaving a tapestry of love, family, and business. As a proud member of Ngāti Porou with roots in Samoa, Germany, Rarotonga, and more, her family embodies the beauty of multiculturalism. …
Introducing Shnuggle - Parenting made easier and safer for growing families
Our inspiration comes from being parents and experiencing all those first-time moments that new parents experience with baby. Shnuggle was born with the purpose of designing products that make life easier for parents and safer for babies. We …
Celebrating with Kiwigarden on their 10th birthday!
Celebrating 10 years in business is no small feat for a small kiwi business. For Kiwigarden, this momentous milestone is a welcome celebration following the recent challenges of the pandemic followed by the Hawke’s Bay floods earlier this …
Introducing NUNA - Designed Around Your Life!
Family means the world to us. We’re thrilled to be here with you at the start of the transformative journey of parenthood. Bringing practical and functional designs to life for families is a constant source of inspiration for us. We’ve thought of …
Meet Grace Rowland-Jones, owner of Acorn + Oak
Meet Grace Rowland-Jones owner of Acorn + Oak. Grace has a passion for supporting mothers and parents through the journey of pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Embracing the challenges of being a working mum, Grace manages her business from home …
Meet Natalie from Go Mama - maternity wear for active mamas
Meet Natalie, founder of Go Mama, a maternity brand offering activewear, swimwear, leisurewear, fitness equipment, and accessories designed to support women throughout their motherhood journey. Natalie embraces the joys and challenges of running a …
Meet Miriam Rutherford – van Gisbergen - founder of Safe T Sleep
Meet Miriam Rutherford-van Gisbergen - inventor, educator and director of Safe T Sleep® International. Together with her daughter Mieke, she has grown Safe T Sleep into the awesome business it is today, making sleeping safer for our precious babies …
Introducing STOKKE – Here we grow!
Norwegian-based company, Stokke is recognized worldwide for best-in-class solutions for children. For over forty years, the brand has combined its passion for Scandinavian design with the ability to challenge the ordinary and make beautiful products …
Meet Sarah Cowan: Owner of The Herb Farm shares insights on natural skincare, family, and business
Meet Sarah Cowan from The Herb Farm. The Herb Farm fuses the power of nature with a deep knowledge of traditional herbs and their own special alchemy to create 100% natural skincare and wellness products. Here Sarah shares the fascinating story …
Meet Lara Henderson: Founder of PURE MAMA - Naturally Powerful Skincare
Meet Lara Henderson from Pure Mama. Frustrated by the lack of pregnancy-specific skincare products available, Lara embarked on a mission to provide high-quality, naturally derived skincare for pregnant women and new mothers. Balancing the demands of …
Meet Stacey Thompson: Founder of Therm - Fun and Functional Kids Outdoor Gear
Meet Stacey Thompson, mother of two, a lover of all things outdoor and founder of Therm. Therm make outdoor gear that kids want to wear. It’s fun, it’s comfortable, and most important of all, it works. Therm's mission is to keep your children warm …
HOTmilk Lingerie
Meet Lisa Ebbing and Ange Crosbie, the women behind the glamorous HOTmilk brand of pregnancy and maternity lingerie. When you picture maternity lingerie, what comes to mind? Uncomfortable bras in boring colours, nana knickers, and oversized …
Allium Interiors - Jo Burrell
Jo Burrell is interior designer, buyer and co-owner of Allium, along with business partner Suzanne Barker. They set up Allium Interiors in May 2000 after the opportunity arose to open a Designers Guild concept store. They both have a passion for …
Be inspired by the woman behind Willow & Maddie
We talk to Erin Kemeys, the business woman behind Willow & Maddie, about her business and the family/work balance. Tell us a bit about your business: Willow & Maddie is the first company in New Zealand to bring the world famous baby …
Be inspired by the woman behind Snooze
We talk to Cara Popping, the woman behind SNOOZE, about her business and the family/work balance. Tell us a bit about your business: SNOOZE is an online store selling baby and toddler sleep products. Our key difference is that our products are all …
Be inspired by the woman behind Chuckles nappies
Joyce Tang is the woman behind Chuckles nappies. We ask her some questions about her business inspiration and what's happening next. Tell us a bit about your business: Chuckles began in March 2020 during maternity leave with my first child. My …
Be inspired by the woman behind White Fox & Co.
Melissa Beadle is the woman behind White Fox & Co. We ask her some questions about her business and the family life juggle. Tell us a bit about your business: I purchased White Fox & Co five years ago as a side hustle to fulfil my …
Be inspired by the woman behind Go Mama
Natalie Pitts is the woman behind Go Mama. We ask her some questions about her business and the family life juggle. Tell us a bit about your business: Go Mama is a maternity activewear brand. We offer comfortable and functional budget-friendly …
Be inspired by the woman behind Gwamma.x
Tracy Newell is the woman behind Gwamma.x. We ask her some questions about her business and the family life juggle. Tell us a bit about your business: What began as a necessity has grown into something that I'm passionate about. As a young …
Meet the author of Wild Kinship: Conversations with Conscious Entrepreneurs
Mount Maunganui-based mama and author Monique Hemmingson shares with us some snippets of conversations on balancing work and motherhood with two of the ‘conscious entrepreneurs’ from her book, Wild Kinship. Let’s get to know Monique... Tell …
Be inspired by the woman behind Fair + Square
Author of 'Wild Kinship: Conversations with Conscious Entrepreneurs' Monique Hemmingson chats to Carly Low from Fair + Square about her business and the family/work balance. How did Fair + Square come to be? To be honest, it was by accident. …
Meet the talented woman behind Kami & Kindred
Author of 'Wild Kinship: Conversations with Conscious Entrepreneurs' Monique Hemmingson chats to Hayley Richards from Kami & Kindred about her business and the family/work balance. How did Kami & Kindred come to be? I’ve always loved …
Be inspired by the woman behind The Lactation Station
Renee Ball is the woman behind The Lactation Station. We ask her some questions about her business and the family life juggle. Tell us a bit about your business: The Lactation Station started in my little home kitchen, baking 40 cookies at a …
Be inspired by the woman behind Addison Clothing
Hayley Addison is the woman behind Addison Clothing. We ask her some questions about her business and the family life juggle. Tell us a bit about your business: Addison clothing was created out of the need for breastfeeding clothing that was …
Be inspired by the woman behind Funny Bunny Kids
Sara Jamieson is the woman behind Funny Bunny Kids. We ask her some questions about her business and the family life juggle. Tell us a bit about your business: Funny Bunny Kids began after I was creating designs for my daughter Poppie, and …
New Edition NZ - Morgan Davidson
OHbaby! Tell us a bit about your business. MD: We sell the only New Zealand-made breast pump, along with alcohol-free, family-friendly sanitisers. I went into business with a good friend and after distributing other NZ brands internationally for a …
Little Flock of Horrors - Lucy Wildman
OHbaby! Tell us a bit about your business. LW: We’re a baby and kids merino clothing brand. I spent nine years working at a USA ski resort (where I met my husband Fran), and during my many hours snowboarding, I became aware of the benefits of …
The Dough Folk - Rachel Ward
OHbaby! Tell us a bit about your business. RW: I started The Dough Folk just over 12 months ago while on maternity leave with our fourth child. After some brain-storming with my partner, I began designing and crafting nature-based play resources, …
Mod & Tod
Josephine Leong, founder of Mod & Tod Josephine founded Mod & Tod in December 2018. She is mum to two girls aged 5 and 3. OHbaby - Why did you set up your business? Josephine - I love working with beautiful fabrics and wanted to create …
Addison Clothing - Hayley Harrison
Hayley Harrison (maiden name Addison which is how the business got its name) comes from Hamilton, where she has lived her whole life. Hayley has two boys, Luca who is 8 and Ollie who is 4. Hayley founded Addison Clothing at the end of 2016 and is …
KiwiOzNannies - Tanya Burrage
Tanya Burrage is the Founder and Director of Dream Childcare (Dream Au Pair, Dream Educator, Dream Nanny - formerly KiwiOz Nannies). She started Dream Childcare in March 2005 from her kitchen bench with a laptop, a mobile phone and three kids under …
Hannah Berg, Little Fern
Auckland-based Little Fern founder and mother of four Hannah Berg shares her tips on managing motherhood and being creative with running a business – and having a day job! OB: Why did you set up your business? HB: I didn’t want to spend my …
Baby business: homegrown success stories
From humble beginnings to global success, OHbaby! shares the stories of four homegrown Kiwi ventures whose hard work and ingenuity are providing products and services that support parents everywhere. Ten years we’ve been in this business! There’s …
BPM Childcare - Christine LeMaitre
Chaos control Marketing manager Christine LeMaitre's home truths. Things can go a little crazy when you're juggling a job, managing a home and keeping three little boys happy all at the same time. Sometimes, something falls off, despite your …
Kim Snel, Snugbags
Kim Snel set up Snugbags – Merino For Kids, in 2010, when she couldn't find a merino sleeping bag that was warm enough for her new baby. Based in Piha, West Auckland, Kim manages looking after her 5-year old daughter Neeva Rose, with running her …
Cara Davies, August
Cara Davies set up her fledgling merino baby blanket business as a creative outlet that allowed her to work from home. Based in Te Awamutu, the qualified florist tells OHbaby! about juggling life with her two boy Rylan (8) and Noah (5), the …
Maree Harper of LoveLoops
New LoveLoops owner/operator Maree Harper lives in Taneatua, Bay of Plenty and has two children aged 13 and 9. She chats with OHbaby! about managing work and motherhood.OB Why did you set up your business? MH I am the very delighted new owner of …
Tara Lowe - 2 Little Rascals
OHbaby! chats with 2 Little Rascals founder and director, Tara Lowe about taking care of business, and the kids, from Invercargill. Tara has twin boys and a baby on the way. She set up 2 Little Rascals wanting to do something from home while her …
Babu
www.babu.co.nz OHbaby!: Why did you start Babu? Ali: When I had my son Jack, I couldn't find any sheets I liked that were soft and functional, so I bought some fabric and made some myself. After that, we specified some fabric and had it made for …
Breastmates
Frances McInnes, Founder and Owner of Breastmates OHbaby!: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?Franny: I always had the entrepreneurial streak. Even as a pre-teen, I would organise fundraising and family garage sales. When I was …
Stuck On You
Carrie Felton, CEO of Stuck On You OHbaby!: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Carrie: I've been an entrepreneur from an early age. Remembering cleaning out my mother's attic and selling off some of her …
Mocka - Emma Smith
Emma Smith, owner/director of Mocka OHbaby!: What did you want to be when you grew up? Emma: I wanted to be a vet for years, but ended up being not particularly goodat biology! OHbaby!: Do you ever feel "mummy guilt" …
Merino Mana - Mary Hampton
Mary Hampton, Mum of three adult children and two young grandsons (Jacob 10, Harry, six), founded Merino Mana in 2008. Mary, when asked about her role, says "I have many roles with no specific title, generally I do the ordering of fabrics, …
