Necessity, as the proverb goes, is the mother of invention.

When Alexandra Carnio found herself juggling being a full-time mother with a young child, and running her own business, that necessity led to the invention of ProducKIDvity 害羞草研究所� a childcare academy and co-working centre in downtown Kelowna.

Carnio is the founder and CEO of the venture that provides childcare services, as well as working space for parents and non-parents.

害羞草研究所淵ou really can害羞草研究所檛 work well with young kids at home,害羞草研究所� says Carnio.

The concept of kids at daycare, while their parents work in another part of the same building, is not new, but Carnio says the idea is fairly unique to Canada.

害羞草研究所淭here is only one other space in Canada that is actively doing this, and that is The Workaround in Toronto.害羞草研究所�

Carnio opened the doors to ProducKIDvity in April 2020 and had an immediate waitlist for childcare.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a really positive response from the community,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚t just seems like we害羞草研究所檝e been able to check off a lot of boxes for families that weren害羞草研究所檛 previously being met in Kelowna.害羞草研究所�

Soem of those boxes include extended hours, up to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, weekend childcare and a meal program.

害羞草研究所淪tarting something from an idea and actually seeing it come to life is amazing,害羞草研究所� Carnio adds. 害羞草研究所淭he best part is the feedback and uptake from our services that this was such a need in Kelowna.害羞草研究所�

Carnio credits her education for helping achieve her success. Starting with a business and marketing program at Lethbridge College in Alberta, she transferred to Royal Roads University in Victoria in 2013, and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management.

害羞草研究所淚 actually still use the business plan book that I had in university to do my business planning for this business,害羞草研究所� she says.

Starting a business from scratch is never easy she advises those wanting blaze their own trails, adding it can be stressful and expensive.

害羞草研究所淣othing ever goes to budget and nothing ever goes exactly as you plan.害羞草研究所�

But don害羞草研究所檛 let that stop you, she continues. During the planning and construction for ProducKIDvity Carnio gave birth to twins.

害羞草研究所淪o that was definitely a bit challenging, but at the same time I am building this for them.害羞草研究所�

Other challenges came in the form of moments of doubt.

害羞草研究所淚 think if you look at any business it can be overwhelming,害羞草研究所� Carnio says. 害羞草研究所淚 really had to break it into bite size chunks for myself and put things in phases and stages, because if I would害羞草研究所檝e looked at just the end goal it would have been so daunting.害羞草研究所�

She advises budding entrepreneurs to do their homework, market research, and plan and their finances well.

害羞草研究所淎lways budget for more time and more money than you need because nothing ever goes on timeline as I found out very quickly in this business.害羞草研究所�

Carnio has future expansion plans for ProducKIDvity in Kelowna, and internationally.

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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