Success in the small business world often depends on originality in the
marketplace, or finding a need and filling a specific gap. On September
1, 2009, Shaunacy King did just that when she and her husband opened
Glow Maternity, which is now located in The Loft at 188 Hunter St. under
the big red awning.
Before opening their business, originally on
George St, Shaunacy realized that there was a need in Peterborough for a
maternity specific boutique and prenatal studio. So they put her idea
to work and created what is now the only maternity and baby specific
studio/boutique in the city.
While other stores might focus solely
on retail and sales for the journey into parenthood, Glow Maternity
offers an all-encompassing experience with classes, workshops and
programs that take parents from pregnancy through the birthing process
and into raising their newborns. The cornerstone of Glow these past
four years has been its motto and like-named prenatal course: BELLY, BIRTH AND BEYOND!
What separates Glow from other maternity
stores is the studio space where they teach various classes and
workshops with friendly, knowledgeable, qualified instructors. With
courses and workshops focusing on both pre- and post-natal, the studio
space is always busy! The Bellies, Birth and Beyond course is one of the
area's most popular for soon-to-be parents, and their pre- and post-natal Yoga courses are also a big hit for the bonding and fitness aspect
that it provides!
The retail boutique side of Glow Maternity,
which now focuses on essentials and locally made items, covers a wide
array of product options. Gently used maternity apparel under $20, muslin blankets, custom bedding, cloth diapers, nursing
products and locally made carriers are a just a few of the many items
available in their studio boutique. While they do sell mainstream
brands, Glow has always placed an emphasis on Canadian and locally made
goods produced by many people in and around our community. If the
situation is right, they are happy to sell for other local entrepreneurs
who don’t have the opportunity to sell out of their own stores!
An
appealing aspect about the owner of this maternity business is that
Shaunacy is also a mother of two and a Labour Doula who offers Birth
Services to clients outside and within the actual shop! The passion that
she has for helping parents during all stages of their parenting
journey can be felt from the minute you walk into her visually appealing
new space on Hunter St.
Being located in the tightknit small
business community on Hunter St. has allowed Shaunacy to experience the
amazing everyday feel of downtown Peterborough. She loves the sense of
pride that the owners around her have for their businesses and
appreciates the sense of loyalty they show to each other and to the
customers she happily meets. It is because of all this that Glow
Maternity takes part in a 3 for 1 Cloth Diaper Program which donates 1
cloth diaper for every 3 sold to families who desire them but can’t
essentially afford them.
