Two “momprenuers” launch HoneyBee Child, combining infant/toddler products with consulting services

Update: The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) honored the HoneyBee Child SwingEase as the 2013 most innovative entertainment and play product at the ABC Kids Expo in October 2013.

In founding HoneyBee Child, Menlo Park resident Jill Koziol and business partner Katie Stewart are drawing on both their professional background and their experience as first time moms.

“We created HoneyBee Child to meet the needs of stylish moms looking for products that are both chic and functional,” said Jill (yellow sweater in photo). “Our brand promise — ‘Made for your child. Designed for you.’ — conveys our desire to appeal to our market as not just moms, but also sophisticated women.”

Added Katie: “As new moms ourselves, we were often unsatisfied by the lack of balance between design and utility in the children’s products on the market. With our business and consulting backgrounds we had the ability to do something about it. We hope to use HoneyBee Child to help other momprenuers realize their potential as well.”

Their first product, SwingEase, resulted when they were confronted with the limited number of toddler swings at playground — and nothing similar available in the marketplace. Used to convert a standard chain swing to fit a toddler’s needs, it’s in the final manufacturing stage and should be available for purchase this Fall.

“Our second product is called the Queen Bee Bag,” said Katie. “It’s a bag that you can put in your purse that’s an alternative to carrying a separate diaper bag. It’s waterproof and washable.”

Long term, Jill and Katie visualizes HoneyBee Child as an avenue to help “momprenuers” translate their ideas into action and business through advice, assistance, investment, and acquisition. “We think of it as the Honeybee  Child Beehive, an incubator for other moms with great ideas,” said Jill.

Photos by Brooke Dever Photography