Nuzzle Baby

Nuzzle Baby

Unique, organic, keepsakes

Up and down the West Coast, in offices and warehouses, home offices and kitchen tables, small businesses are flourishing. Development West Coast runs a nine-week programme called Co.Starters to equip aspiring entrepreneurs so they can turn ideas into action. Many of the businesses do not have a traditional store front, so in this series of Open for Business, the Greymouth Star and Development West Coast sample some of the emerging small enterprises that are helping shape the future.

Co.Starters graduate Tessa Lindsay’s business, Nuzzle Baby, is a perfect example that geography is no-longer a barrier for doing business especially when talent, passion and the internet are involved. She has carved out a niche for herself selling handmade eco-friendly baby products online from the comfort of her home on the West Coast.

Tessa has been in Westport for around six years now. Both her and her husband were born and bred in Queenstown but were looking for a change. When her sister-in-law encouraged them to move to Westport they jumped at the opportunity.

“We packed up all our stuff, along with a pop tent. The plan was to camp. Little did we realize it rains a lot in April,” she says. “We lasted a week in our tent, before moving into their house.”

Tessa and her husband then rented a house for six months, before deciding to make the move to Westport permanent by buying a house. They have just finished renovating, and it is from her home studio that Tessa runs her business, Linc Design, while drawing inspiration from the magical landscape surrounding her.

“I have always enjoyed sewing,” Tessa explains. “Before doing my degree in Early Childhood Education, I was all set to go to Dunedin and study fashion design. I would often sew my own clothes as well as for friends throughout high school, even selling some.”

In 2014 they welcomed their first child, who was born with severe breathing and feeding issues.

“I wanted to make sure that what he played with was safe and enjoyable for him, and organic and free from toxins, so it wouldn’t affect his breathing at all.”

Tessa then got creative and started designing products that would be safe, engaging and nurturing for her son. Seeing the enjoyment her son was getting from what she made laid the seeds for her business.

“Based on my love for design, painting and eco-friendly natural products, I founded Linc Baby, later rebranded to Linc Design,” she says. “My business is baby toys, blankets, books and rugs made from organic and eco-friendly fabrics.

“The Taggy bunnies are designed for your little ones to love and cherish forever. The soft fabric books are perfect for little hands to grab, chew and read. The blankets are 100% organic cotton and perfect for those new born snuggles and the rugs brighten up your baby’s space, perfect for play-time and change-time. Everything is designed and handmade by me.”

Tessa started her business on Facebook making custom baby toys for people while her son was sleeping.

“It soon grew fast, so I made a website, then started up an Instagram which has been even more successful than Facebook for advertising and getting my products out there.”

She had gone back to work as a childcare teacher and was doing her sewing in the evenings. “I knew I didn’t want to be back working full-time in childcare and wanted to push my business, but I was stuck with where to go next,” Tessa says. “I heard about Co.Starters and jumped at the opportunity to do the course.”

She joined the Co.Starters programme being run by BullerREAP and EPIC in Westport.

“I loved how there were so many other people with the same goals and vision. We all helped each other along with ideas and support for each other’s business. It has helped me have faith in my business and know that I am not alone on the Coast, and that you don’t have to live in a bigger city to run a successful business.”

“Since doing Co.Starters and having Kevin Stratful as my mentor we are currently working through rebranding,” she says. “We’ll be pushing Google ads to expand to an even larger audience, which I am really excited for.”

“Being an online business means you can live wherever you love and for us that’s right here in Westport.

"We want to bring our children up in a relaxed small-town environment,” Tessa says. “And being able to draw inspiration for my fabric designs from the nature and landscape around me has been a huge influence in finding my unique style.”

www.nuzzlebaby.co.nz