Business Profile: Breastfeeding apparel that’s both fashionable and comfortable.

Momzelle sells fashionable nursing shirts to help breastfeeding mothers achieve a positive breastfeeding experience. The shirts, available in a range of styles and colours, have hidden openings with direct access to the breasts, which allow mothers to breastfeed in public without having to lift their shirts. Momzelle has a social mission at heart: to help mothers feel good about nursing.

Their Story: Momzelle was born out of necessity.

Siblings Christine and Vincent Poirier were first inspired to develop their own business after the birth of Christine’s daughter, Cécile. Having designed a nursing shirt that allowed her to breastfeed discreetly in public, Christine’s trendy top received a great deal of attention from her midwife and friends. Recognizing a demand in the marketplace, Christine partnered with her brother Vincent and sought funding from CYBF through the Centre of Entrepreneurship at Centennial College. Together with the guidance of their CYBF mentor Josh Wiwcharyk, Christine and Vincent began to introduce mothers around the world to the products of Momzelle.

Since starting the business, Christine and Vincent have been involved in every aspect of the business from marketing to finances and everything in between. Their education and professional experience proved to be the right combination for developing Momzelle into a successful enterprise, bringing stylish fashions to new moms. Working closely with their mentor Josh, the business partners have been able to make key decisions about their business such as choosing the right Canadian suppliers to work with and also how to market their products globally.

Through Momzelle, Christine and Vincent work to promote breastfeeding awareness and make it more socially accepted. The conscientious entrepreneurs have been sponsors of the Breastfeeding Challenge, have taken part in breastfeeding seminars and offer breastfeeding articles and resources on their website.

Short Quote:
“Without the financial support of CYBF, we would not have been able to start our business as quickly as we did.”
- Christine and Vincent Poirier, Momzelle

Long Quote:
“We’ve learned a lot from our mentor’s experience. Having a mentor gives us the
confidence to grow our business faster.”
- Christine and Vincent Poirier, Momzelle

Canadian Youth Business Foundation
Canada’s Entrepreneur Gateway
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the ‘go to’ place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national charity, we are dedicated to growing Canada’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. www.cybf.ca

Centre of Entrepreneurship at Centennial College
Whether starting a new business or facing the challenges of operating an existing small business, the Centre of Entrepreneurship (COE) at Centennial College can help. The COE provides entrepreneurial training, business plan development, business advice and consulting, offering its professional expertise to small businesses in many industry sectors since 1988. www.centennialcollege.ca/coe