W-Women Globally

This is a true story. The story about 2 young moms who developped an (organic) product so successful that the company went straight to the top 5 in the Forbes ‘Boost Your Business’ competition in 2008.

‘Now is the time for global citizens to start preserving our natural resources. By using organic and sustainable materials, we continue to do our part and help heal the Earth. Even the smallest efforts can make a difference’. (Honeywear.net)

The Idea
Honeywear has been founded by 2 young mothers who could not find a sling that was convenient, easy to use and at the same time – organic. They were also looking for products made in the USA. They tried several different types of slings – very often too complicated to wear, expensive or sized in the wrong way. So – they simply decided to design their own sling. After some rave reviews from friends who used it, they decided to go for it and … the BabyBee sling was born.

The Company
Once they had their product – they needed a company.
Kristin Arsenault Keliher, co-founder: ‘Both of us are very concerned about the environment, the health of children, and local economy so we created Honeywear to reflect those beliefs and values. We are located in Asheville, NC where all of our slings are made. We use only organic cotton and formaldehyde free silk so your child and you can be sure you are wearing a safe product. We are a carbon neutral company through Appalacian Offsets, a local program to reduce carbon output through local programs. We designed a product and a company we could stand behind and be proud of.’
The name Honeywear came in a dream. ‘Sounds corny I know but it did. We were looking for something natural but also modern. And when Honeywear came up we knew it was perfect’.

The Women Behind
Both of the Co-owners, Christen and Kristin have experience in running own business, so they took that experience with them. But they needed to face that did not have any idea of designing so they have been learning this gradually. ‘We have been fortunate to find Daniel and Mary Lou Marsh right here in our own community. They own Spiritex and Poetic Justice. Mary Lou has over 20 years in the fashion industry and Daniel has over 20 years in the organic textile industry. They have taught us so much.’

The Forbes Contest
In May 2008, through Coop America (or Green America: a cooperative of green companies that Honeywear belongs to) they found out about the Forbes.com contest. They knew right away that they had to take the chance and had submitted a 500 word business plan about Honeywear. All 1500 companies from all over US applied for this contest. Honeywear was among the 20 applicants chosen for the final round. ‘We were one of the smallest companies competing. The next step was submitting a 30 second taped elevator pitch; this was posted on Forbes.com for people to vote on August 1st, the day I gave birth to my second child. After that we qualified into the top 5 and were flown up to NYC for a 20 minute presentation (with baby in tow). There we had to submit 2 business plans: one of 20 pages and one of 3 pages. The presentations were then posted on Forbes.com for another round of voting. Because of all the exercises they had us do along the way, we were made to really pick apart our company and see what worked and what didn’t. We were given the opportunity to really get to know Honeywear inside and out and we did! It was a tremendous experience and Honeywear is stronger now because of it.’
While they did not win the first $100,000 prize they learned not only about their own business, but also about business in general. They received a lot of press and recognition and the direct effects of it were the increase in sales, inquiries, and product recognition.

The Plans for 2009
Currently they sell their slings in the USA and Canada and have plans to expand globally. They have recently received inquiries from Spain, England and Australia. In 2009 Honeywear plans also to launch the organic clothing line for children.
‘We have designed a versatile line of beautiful clothing for children that will also be made locally. Our line has a timeless look with a modern twist that is comfortable enough to be worn out to play and classy enough to be worn out to dinner. Something for everyone’.

W-Women Globally: But finally, why is BabyBee sling better than others slings available at the market?
Kristin Arsenault Keliher, Honeywear, co-founder: The Baby Bee Sling has several benefits. It incorporates all the best qualities of other types of slings into 1 unique carrier. It is adjustable so any size caregiver can use it with a newborn up to a 30 pound child. You do not need to buy different sized slings and you do not run the risk of buying the wrong size. With our quick release buckle it is easy to get your child out of the sling, no wrestling a sleeping baby and waking him to get him out. It is a great feature that I personally have found very handy when putting my son into his car seat. The drawstrings on the sling also provide adjustment for many different positions to carry the child in. By tightening or loosening the pull cords you can customize the sling to hold your child in the most comfortable position for you and your child. It truly is a one-size-fits all sling. That along with the organic fabrics make the Baby Bee Sling the best choice.

Visit the company’s website.
Read also about Honeywear in the Forbes’ competition.


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