Home-based baby business home free THREE years ago Sandra Wilson was exposed to 4 story receiving more and more play in the news: she discovered her job at Canadian Airlines was being cut because of reorganiza- tion and down-sizing. She decided to use the situ- ation to her advantage by using it as a stepping stone to achieving greater — balance between her home and work life as a working mom. Her solution was to start a home-based business so she could work out of the house and spend more time with her then two-year-old son Robert. The result was Robeez Footwear Ltd., a North Vancouver-based manufactur- er of children’s leather slippers and prewalker baby shoes. “I was disappointed when I discovered I was losing my job, bue looking back, grateful for the push,” oye Wilson who admits she owes a ‘lot of her success to an entre- preneurial course provided by Canadian Airlines as part of a retraining program for dis- placed employees. “The course gave me the financial management skills to grow my business and intro: duced me to Lorne Fingarson, my instructor and mentor who I still meet with regularly to bounce ideas off. “Starting a business has There are \ to learn and hurdles ta overcome,” says Wilson who likes to. compare the exp ¢ with riding a roller coaster. Persisting through the ups and downs has paid off for Robeez Foorwear Ltd. which now supplies children’s wear and gift stores throughout Canada, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, California and the U.S. Midwest. As the owner and operator of Robeez, Wilson plays a key role in the company’s business by cutting, conducting quality control, packaging, marketing and shipping om her home in North Vancouver. She also employs contract scamstresses, a network of sales reps and depends on her husband Jim to help out at busy times. “The biggest advantage of being a home-based business owner is the flexibiliry — I can set my own hours and sched- includes: Pizza, Pop & NEWS photo Faul McGrath ROBEEZ Footwear owner Sandra Wilson started the children’s leather slippers and prewalker baby shoes home-based manufacturing business after her job with Canadian Airlines was cut. The North Vancouver res- ident hasn't tooked back since. ule my time around my son’s activities,” says Wilson who enrolls her son in a combina- tion of daycare and preschool three times a week. Wilson attributes the popu- larity of Robeez shoes to their parent-friendly design. Robeez are made of soft breathable leather, they are easy to slip on and don’t fall off, there are no laces to come undone and they have safe, skid-resistant soles. 141 West 16th St. N. Van 935-6033 t{QY “One of the most reward- ing things is when people call to tell me how much they love Robeez and how they really do stay on their children’s feet,” says Wilson. Robeez are an affordable alternative to traditional baby shoes that are often stiff and uncomfortable for the baby’s feet. They are available in a large variety of designs includ- ing large daisies with happy laces, choo choo trains; teddy bears; orca whales; baby leop- ard print and a celestial design. Their suggested retail price is $24.95 - $26.95 and can be purchased at the following North Shore locations: Kuddel Muddel Kids; Boomers and Echoes; and Colors of Europe. For more details contact Sandra Wilson at (604) 929- 6818. HERE are the top five selling Robeez designs: iam 1. Celestial — yellow _ moon and star on blue shoe 2. ~ deddy — teddy on shoe with red bow _ 3. rca Choo Choo Train — red train on blue shoe | 5. Daisy — fuchsia daisy on white shoe “NORTH VANCOUVER RECREATION’ cOmmar¥sION ~ _Sammer c imagine a summer of “care: of qual yc: Camps ‘adventure for your “chilé: While in’ h ified, ‘responsible leaders.. wo BRE DAY. CAMPS © o- MontFri, Zune. rapes 29°: