A Nanaimo mother's dream of helping families and the environment at the same time has paid off with recognition through a provincewide contest.
Kit n' Caboodle Quality Children's Consignment Ltd. on Bowen Road is shortlisted for Small Business B.C.'s ninth annual Successful You Awards in the best community impact category.
Nominees in six categories were selected by residents who benefit from these businesses and 10 semi-finalists for each category were selected based on online voting results.
Nicole Hindman, owner/operator of Kit n' Caboodle, said she hasn't found out yet who nominated her for the contest, but the publicity is more than welcome.
"I want to let moms know I'm here," she said.
Hindman opened the business in December 2009, because there wasn't another consignment store for children's items in town.
Her goals were to help parents save money and save the environment.
"I know, being a parent of two, how fast kids grow out of stuff," said Hindman. "A lot of used children's stuff just ends up in the landfill because people don't know what to do with it."
The store sells quality used toys, clothing, furniture and other items, and gives parents who bring in the items either a portion of the sale or store credit so that families can purchase the next size up – or higher-end brands – at an affordable price.
Hindman also carries new product lines and items produced by local moms.
People can shop in the store on Bowen Road or online at www.knckids.com.
If items donated by the community stay on the floor too long, Hindman gives them to the CrossRoads Crisis Pregnancy Centre and The Ferns Association for Young Children and Families.
Bonnie Moody, executive director of CrossRoads, said the donations are a significant help for the organization, which provides mothers in need with clothing and other items for children up to two years old.
The top five finalists in each category will be chosen by a panel of staff from Small Business B.C. based on a more in-depth application from each semi-finalist. The finalists will then do an oral presentation in front of a panel of judges from the B.C. business community in February.
Final winners will be announced Feb. 28 during a ceremony at the Pan Pacific hotel in downtown Vancouver.
Bridget Field, products and services coordinator for Small Business B.C., said winners benefit from the increased exposure the contest gives them and also get a chance to get tips from business experts during the oral presentation.
She said the 60 first-round finalists were chosen from 162 nominees. Best community impact is one of two new categories added this year.
For more information, please go to http://www.successfulyou.ca.