New Brunswick Small Business Spotlight: Lulujo
Many great ideas are born out of necessity. Fredericton’s Lulujo is no exception.
The company was launched in 2009 by Dawn Marie Pottier. While on maternity leave, Dawn made the first Lulujo product, a ring sling for her child. Realizing she had a great business idea, Dawn soon launched Lulujo; the name is a combination of nicknames she had for her two children. The company now has over 100 SKUs across 15 product categories.
She transitioned from IT project manager to entrepreneur and by 2012, Lulujo products could be found in hundreds of retail locations across Canada.
With support from Opportunities NB (ONB), Lulujo began to attend international trade shows. As a result, Lulujo’s products are now sold in over 30 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and Central America. The brand’s line of simple, classic and affordable nursery products are available in thousands of retail locations ranging from baby boutiques to retail giants like Toys “R” Us, Indigo, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Amazon.
They have recently tapped into the Asian market and working with partners to launch their global Tmall flagship store on the AliBaba.com platform, one of the world’s largest online retailers.
In 2016, Dawn received national recognition when Profit Guide W100 named her one of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs. In 2017, Lulujo’s Baby’s First Year Blanket and Cards set captured the ABC Kids Expo’s New Product Showcase Award for Distinction.
“The entire New Brunswick community—business and personal—has really embraced our business. From customers to other business owners to government, there is a real desire from others to see people succeed here,” says Dawn Marie Pottier, founder & CEO of Lulujo.
This post is sponsored by Opportunities New Brunswick.