Business Spotlight: Sprogs.ca

By Mathew White

EDMONTON — Ask Nicola Doherty and she’ll tell you she’s not the kind of person who can just sit at home.  So when this mother of three found herself homebound for the foreseeable future, she knew she had to do something.

“I need to be busy,” said Doherty.  “And so I just thought this is something I can do from home and look after my kids at the same time.”

“You got to do what you know, and I know kids.”

In September 2010, Doherty started the home-based business, Sprogs.ca – a website that sells fun, but useful children’s products across Canada.

Background

For some, shopping for three children might seem like a bit of headache, but for Doherty, it was actually a source of inspiration.

“With having the three kids and just seeing what was useful and what wasn’t useful … a lot of the products out there are fluff,” said Doherty.

As if a light bulb had turned on, Doherty realized that there really is a need for reliable children’s products.  She started Sprogs to give parents a place where they could find exactly that.

The Business

Doherty quickly clued into the fact that the best products were not being produced by major corporations, but from people just like her.

“What I found was the products that were the most common sense and the most useful were all invented by parents, so what I’ve tried to do is source them out and get them all on one site,” said Doherty.

Sprogs.ca features hundreds of different children’s items, including everything from blankets and bibs to soothers and shoes.  Right now Doherty said one of her hottest items is the “Dripstick Ice Cream Holder” – an invention that’s preventing sticky fingers everywhere.

Another widely popular item is the Bibagogo – a locally made product which is essentially a bib, but with two hidden pockets for facecloths and a spoon. Doherty said promoting local products is something she takes very seriously.

“It’s so important because all these local people are finding something in the market that doesn’t exist and creating it to make other parents’ lives easier,” said Doherty.

With the companies’ one-year anniversary quickly approaching, Doherty said business has been good, especially the local support.  She said social media has been playing a major role in her success.

“There’s so many women that work from home for whatever reason and they’ve all been really supportive,” said Doherty.  “It’s been worth it just for that.  It’s been incredible.”

The Future

With all three of her children still age six and under, Doherty said that she plans on keeping the business just the way it is for the time being.

“My goal is slow, small steps and just keep finding more cool products,” said Doherty.  “More cool moms who are savvy business owners and try to help get their product out there.”