Necessity, as the proverb goes, is the mother of invention.
When Alexandra Carnio found herself juggling being a full-time mother with a young child, and running her own business, that necessity led to the invention of ProducKIDvity 香蕉视频直播 a childcare academy and co-working centre in downtown Kelowna.
Carnio is the founder and CEO of the venture that provides childcare services, as well as working space for parents and non-parents.
香蕉视频直播淵ou really can香蕉视频直播檛 work well with young kids at home,香蕉视频直播 says Carnio.
The concept of kids at daycare, while their parents work in another part of the same building, is not new, but Carnio says the idea is fairly unique to Canada.
香蕉视频直播淭here is only one other space in Canada that is actively doing this, and that is The Workaround in Toronto.香蕉视频直播
Carnio opened the doors to ProducKIDvity in April 2020 and had an immediate waitlist for childcare.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been a really positive response from the community,香蕉视频直播 she says. 香蕉视频直播淚t just seems like we香蕉视频直播檝e been able to check off a lot of boxes for families that weren香蕉视频直播檛 previously being met in Kelowna.香蕉视频直播
Soem of those boxes include extended hours, up to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, weekend childcare and a meal program.
香蕉视频直播淪tarting something from an idea and actually seeing it come to life is amazing,香蕉视频直播 Carnio adds. 香蕉视频直播淭he best part is the feedback and uptake from our services that this was such a need in Kelowna.香蕉视频直播
Carnio credits her education for helping achieve her success. Starting with a business and marketing program at Lethbridge College in Alberta, she transferred to Royal Roads University in Victoria in 2013, and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management.
香蕉视频直播淚 actually still use the business plan book that I had in university to do my business planning for this business,香蕉视频直播 she says.
Starting a business from scratch is never easy she advises those wanting blaze their own trails, adding it can be stressful and expensive.
香蕉视频直播淣othing ever goes to budget and nothing ever goes exactly as you plan.香蕉视频直播
But don香蕉视频直播檛 let that stop you, she continues. During the planning and construction for ProducKIDvity Carnio gave birth to twins.
香蕉视频直播淪o that was definitely a bit challenging, but at the same time I am building this for them.香蕉视频直播
Other challenges came in the form of moments of doubt.
香蕉视频直播淚 think if you look at any business it can be overwhelming,香蕉视频直播 Carnio says. 香蕉视频直播淚 really had to break it into bite size chunks for myself and put things in phases and stages, because if I would香蕉视频直播檝e looked at just the end goal it would have been so daunting.香蕉视频直播
She advises budding entrepreneurs to do their homework, market research, and plan and their finances well.
香蕉视频直播淎lways budget for more time and more money than you need because nothing ever goes on timeline as I found out very quickly in this business.香蕉视频直播
Carnio has future expansion plans for ProducKIDvity in Kelowna, and internationally.
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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