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NORTHWEST ENTERPRISING MOMS JOINS FORCES WITH CANADA’S ENTERPRISING MOMS NETWORK TO HELP MOTHERS WITH ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
SEATTLE – Every mother knows how important it is to find partners in her parenting journey. Whether it’s a spouse, sister or friend, that network of support is vital.
And that network is equally important for moms who have taken a step outside of parenthood to become entrepreneurs – whether it’s starting a business that makes millions of dollars, or a one-woman show run from the kitchen table.
Seattle-based Northwest Enterprising Moms is proud to announce it is joining forces with Canada’s Enterprising Moms Network. The two will become sister organizations – crossing the borders to bring likeminded entrepreneurial moms together to help each other find the balance between motherhood and business ownership.
“Northwest Enterprising Moms is excited to bring together two like-minded communities of woman and mothers to share their common interest of being a mamapreneur across the U.S. and Canadian international border!”
Members of Northwest Enterprising Moms include successful mamapreneurs such as Nicole Donnelly, creator of BabyLegs, the must-have fashionable arm and leg warmers for baby girls and boys; and Heather Correa, founder of the stylish yet water-resistant all weather WooBee blankets.
They will now network with British Columbia mother entrepreneurs such as Sandra Wilson, who created the extremely popular soft-soled Robeez shoes for toddlers; and Nicole Garza, who created her own easily cleanable leather bibs, Mally Bibs.
Mothers representing more than 300 mom-owned businesses will be able to network across borders. Members of the two organizations will communicate through online forums and attend special events and meetings held on both sides of the border. This new collaboration will also benefit those members who are trying to break in to another country with their product or service.
Kelly Sharples launched Northwest Enterprising Moms in Seattle in February 2006 when she brought together local mom entrepreneurs together for a Mother’s Day event. Kelley Scarsbrook launched Enterprising Moms Network in October 2007 in White Rock, BC.
For additional information, please visit www.northwestenterprisingmoms.org or www.enterprisingmomsnetwork.com.
Kelly Sharples, Owner/Partner
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; (206) 931-2542; www.bluedresspress.com
NWEM Mamapreneur of the Month:
Kerry Mazengia, Giday's Coffee
gidayscoffee.com
How long have I been in business?
We started our company in 2004.
Why did I go into this business?
Starting my own business came from my desire to stay home with my kids when they are young. I have 4 children, so having some kind of second income is necessary! I wanted to find something to do that would help support the family, but allow me the flexibility of being there for my kids as they are growing up. Starting the coffee business was actually my husband's idea. He is from Eritrea, East Africa. His family has a coffee farm in Eritrea. It has been in his family for many generations. However, a lot of the farm was destroyed during the long 30 year civil war with Ehiopia. They have re-planted and the new coffee trees are almost ready for harvest. It is our hope to become the first importers of Eritrean coffee! As for now, we specialize in African coffee that is organic and fair trade, from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi.
Our choice to start a coffee company was not only due to having a coffee farm in the family, but also because coffee is a cultural tradition of Eritrea, and an integral part of the social interaction among the people. Neighbors and family visit each other up to three times a day to enjoy and participate in what is really a coffee ceremony. It is more than just a drink and go type of thing. For them it is a chance to enjoy every part of the coffee bean, from its aroma to its taste, not to mention a chance to catch up on each other's lives. They roast fresh coffee beans using an open fire, then the hostess spreads the aroma of the fresh roasted beans around the room by taking a woven tray full of the beans to each person and waving the steam toward them. Next the hostess will grind the beans by hand for the right texture. Then, she will prepare the coffee, and the guests will enjoy three rounds of coffee with each round bringing out different sets of flavors from the same coffee beans. The ceremony will take anywhere from an hour to two hours. Eritreans have come to appreciate the unique flavor of fresh roasted coffee. So, this has become our goal as a coffee company: to bring that same unique flavor to your doorstep. While it is not feasible to roast coffee by hand on a commercial level, we do try to mimic this unique taste by roasting in small batches and only roasting coffee just prior to delivery. Our roasted coffee is packaged and delivered within 48 hours of roasting, ensuring coffee that will be as fresh and flavorful as possible.
What else makes us different?
We offer unique and profitable fund-raising options to support clubs, schools, and other non-profit organizations. We also offer the traditional Eritrean Coffee Ceremony either as a fund-raising opportunity or just a special addition to your event. Last, but definitely not least, we donate 5% of our annual profits to the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation (POF) headquartered in Seattle, WA. They are an organization that provides artificial limbs and assistance to amputees in developing countries. Please see their website for more information about this amazing non-profit!: www.pofsea.org
