Dream Kit wins the 2006 Gift Award – Best Home Product by Little Swish.
Work at home mum abandons career, starts business & wins national award!
A work at home mum with a good idea, two toddlers and a two-year-old business has won the prestigious 2006 Gift Award for Best Home Product (Australian design) presented by Reed Gift Fairs –Australia. Vanessa Killen, whose Newcastle business Little Swish started just two years ago in the family dining room, impressed twenty-six judges from a range of industries including retail, publishing, manufacturing, design and government trade in a two-tiered judging process with her Dream Kit – an all-in-one naptime product designed specifically for toddlers and preschoolers to take the stress out of naptime when away from home.
Celebrating the best products, services and people in Australia’s gift industry and after two gruelling rounds of judging and five months of anticipation Debbie Evans, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Exhibitions – Australia comments “The talent and interest generated from this year’s entrants revealed that Australia’s gift industry has truly come of age”. Head judges included Julia Zaetta, Editor of Better Homes and Gardens, Peter Murphy from Austrade, Laura Rhodes from the Body Shop and Alan Donnelly from Freedom.
Vanessa, creator of the Dream Kit was ecstatic with the award, “This product came about when we needed to supply bedding linen for our then 2year old to take to her childcare centre. I made up a Dream Kit just for Olivia, one parent saw what I’d made and asked if I’d make another – Dream Kits started selling themselves by word of mouth. To keep up with demand I went from sewing around the clock to having this product manufactured overseas. With my pre-family career in accounting and HR, it’s hard to believe what started as a way to bring a little extra cash flow into our home has turned into a full-blown business in an industry which 2 years ago I knew nothing about. It’s been a very steep learning curve but to have achieved this level of recognition and success in such a short time is fantastic.” The Little Swish range which also includes, baby wraps and beanies, is now stocked by almost 70 retailers across the country including Mother Goose Toys online store.
“Busy parents on their way to work have a task ahead of them just getting out the door each morning without having to remember to pack all the necessities for their child in care for the day – the Dream Kit is an all-in-one product so no missing sheets, blankets or pillows. Nannas around the country have long been making bedding sets for grandchildren in care, but no commercially available bedding products really suited to the market need. Since the prototype I’ve updated the design so the Dream Kit is now styled to fit the mats & beds used in most child care centres across the country. The Dream Kit is also 100% cotton which is a huge bonus for the increasing number of children with allergy issues” said Vanessa. “On top of that, the Dream Kit is also a great comfort for children who don’t settle well when away from home parents and childcare workers love that plus child care centres are reducing the time spent making up all those tiny beds each day!