Children’s Trunk Show All Grown Up
 In children’s lingo, it’s
the little idea that could. In fact, the brainchild of Torontonians Julie Ritchie and Kim Nichols has matured
very nicely. Just five years ago, the Children’s Trunk Show featured four vendors and operated out
of a private home. For the two-day event this November 9th & 10th, over 80 vendors will participate—from
chic new downtown digs in the Distillery District.
The first event of its kind in Canada, the Children’s
Trunk Show (CTS) features unique products and services fashioned by moms for moms. Its mission is clear:
to celebrate motherhood and give entrepreneurial women a boost. In the process, female consumers have the
opportunity to shop in a dynamic, stroller-friendly environment—and to purchase high quality, one-off
goods geared specifically toward moms. Hungry shoppers can fill up at Dish Cooking Studio, which will be
on hand to sell drinks, snacks, and new cookbook “Dish Entertains”. Founder Trish Magwood is
the latest mompreneur to join the show.
“We’re thrilled by the success,” says co-founder
Kim Nichols. “And it puts us in a great spot— having a waitlist of vendors means that we can
pick and choose.”
“Supporting mompreneurs and staging a fun event is important to us, but
so is providing well- made products you can’t get in stores,” adds Ritchie.
Indeed, every product
and service offered at CTS is hand selected and approved personally by Nichols and Rtichie. Goods feature
quality workmanship and creative design, and the show is well served by a growing appetite for all things “boutique”.
Yet while the promise of exclusivity lures many a mom, climate-conscious shoppers also enjoy knowing that
Junior’s new duds are locally designed and manufactured.
Humble Beginnings
Friends from high school, Nichols and Ritchie came upon the idea for CTS quite by accident. While Nichols
juggled raising children and representing a personalized bedding company, Ritchie (now a mom-to-be herself)
was travelling the world importing clothing for toddlers. Both had goods to sell, but no venue to sell them.
Hearing about the growing popularity of exclusive, invitation-only trunk shows in New York City, the women
recognized a void in the Canadian consumer landscape. Assembling two other suppliers and mailing invitations
to a select list of friends, CTS was born. From their very first show, it was clear they were onto something.
Word-of-mouth quickly pushed CTS to two shows a year—and the event now boasts the dubious distinction
of having spawned a number of “copycat” shows.
Still, the original won’t outgrow its purpose; the founders are determined to limit the event’s
size in the interests of keeping CTS friendly, fun, and easily navigable.
“A big part of the show
in our minds is moms mingling with moms,” says Ritchie. “It brings like-minded people together
and gives them the opportunity to connect and socialize and have fun. We don’t want to lose that.”
Vendors with a Mission
From Babes in Black to Toy Box Treasures, every CTS vendor has one thing in common — their market
is moms. What’s more, most business owners and designers are moms themselves; women who were inspired
by their own experiences in motherhood to create a special product for their kids, or fill a gap they saw
in the market.
“When I got pregnant and went to buy a diaper bag, all I saw were pastel sacks emblazoned with teddy
bears or hearts. Either that or they were all black,” says Posh Mom Diaper Bags founder Sherri Ground. “So
I decided to make my own.”
Inspiration for many mothers founding at-home enterprises came from the simple desire to spend more time
with offspring.
“It was a way to be a stay-at-home Mom, and it was something I loved,” says Tanya Newman, president
of Forty Winks. “Everybody wins.”
Minnow Hamilton, Director of Media Relations for www.savvymom.ca, Canada’s top online resource for
moms, cites the Children’s Trunk Show itself as one of the motivators behind her site’s launch:
“CTS is a great example of women taking control and producing excellent quality products that moms
and families need. There definitely is a ‘mommy explosion’ going on—it is very trendy and
cool to have a baby today. What the savvy moms like about the CTS is that the vendors sell good quality and
practical items for moms—not just the cool stuff. We are proud to be supporters of the Children’s
Trunk Show.”
Among the myriad vendors now exhibiting are Baa Baa Blankie, makers of eco-friendly baby blankets; the Cookerydoo,
which provides classes and cookery for pint-sized chefs; Dear Betty Designs, makers of children’s art
and furniture; and PerryWinklesKids, purveyors of fine children’s clothing. A partial list can be found
on www.childrenstrunkshow.com.
Noble Purpose
If providing a stage for working moms wasn’t enough, CTS supports the Hospital for Sick Kids with
every ticket sold. Since 2005, SickKids Foundation has been the onsite charitable partner of CTS, and $5,000
has been raised since that time through merchandise sales and patron donations. Funds raised go to patient
care, research and education.
Children’s Trunk Show is proudly sponsored by Canadian Family and Supperworks. For more information
visit: www.childrenstrunkshow.com
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