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 91裸聊视频 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.
91裸聊视频淵ou really can91裸聊视频檛 work well with young kids at home,91裸聊视频 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.
91裸聊视频淭here is only one other space in Canada that is actively doing this, and that is The Workaround in Toronto.91裸聊视频
Carnio opened the doors to ProducKIDvity in April 2020 and had an immediate waitlist for childcare.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been a really positive response from the community,91裸聊视频 she says. 91裸聊视频淚t just seems like we91裸聊视频檝e been able to check off a lot of boxes for families that weren91裸聊视频檛 previously being met in Kelowna.91裸聊视频
Soem of those boxes include extended hours, up to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, weekend childcare and a meal program.
91裸聊视频淪tarting something from an idea and actually seeing it come to life is amazing,91裸聊视频 Carnio adds. 91裸聊视频淭he best part is the feedback and uptake from our services that this was such a need in Kelowna.91裸聊视频
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.
91裸聊视频淚 actually still use the business plan book that I had in university to do my business planning for this business,91裸聊视频 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.
91裸聊视频淣othing ever goes to budget and nothing ever goes exactly as you plan.91裸聊视频
But don91裸聊视频檛 let that stop you, she continues. During the planning and construction for ProducKIDvity Carnio gave birth to twins.
91裸聊视频淪o that was definitely a bit challenging, but at the same time I am building this for them.91裸聊视频
Other challenges came in the form of moments of doubt.
91裸聊视频淚 think if you look at any business it can be overwhelming,91裸聊视频 Carnio says. 91裸聊视频淚 really had to break it into bite size chunks for myself and put things in phases and stages, because if I would91裸聊视频檝e looked at just the end goal it would have been so daunting.91裸聊视频
She advises budding entrepreneurs to do their homework, market research, and plan and their finances well.
91裸聊视频淎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.91裸聊视频
Carnio has future expansion plans for ProducKIDvity in Kelowna, and internationally.
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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