Following a month-long process of reviewing numerous applications from female-founded businesses and presenting finalists to public vote, we are excited to announce the winning recipient of the Dermalogica and Saben’s EmpowHER scholarship for business acceleration: owner and director of Mom Store, Anna Barlow.
Founded in 2021, Mom Store is an online store for mothers where they can browse and shop a mecca of high-quality products from ethical and conscious brands to support them through pregnancy and motherhood.
Born from a personal experience, Barlow sought to create a curated platform for parents which only stocked the very best and essential products, eliminating the frivolous items, where they could shop once, ship once, and have everything they needed.
“I wanted to create a centralised platform for all of my favourite things,” says Barlow. “When I was on maternity leave with my son, Hugo, I found that I was shopping from so many different businesses to get the products I wanted – products to prepare for birth, for postpartum, and then in the foggy newborn days – I must have spent a fortune on shipping.”
A key driver for the Dermalogica and Saben’s EmpowHER scholarship is recognising strong female leaders. For Anna, she was inspired to become an entrepreneur by her mother who passed away when she was just 12 years old.
“Seeing her lead the way as a passionate business owner of three businesses, as well as being a local district councillor and mother, proved to me that you can almost do it all. She taught me about being compassionate, driven and a fierce female leader who can absolutely do it as well as, if not better, than the men in your industry,” says Anna.
Natasha Bourke, the CEO for Two Hundred Doors (NZ distributors of Dermalogica) and Founder of Skintopia admires Anna’s unique and scalable business offering and is excited to support her on her journey, as her business grows.
“To see how far we’ve come from really humble beginnings has been incredibly rewarding. There is nothing better than working hard and being able to tangibly see the results of that hard work paying off,” says Barlow.
Mom Store best-sellers
“It’s insulated so it keeps your coffee hot for hours. If you’re not a parent yet, trust me when I say you’ll need this. Without it, you’ll never drink hot coffee again.”
“The go-to product for breastfeeding mums. These magic little silver cups will help to prevent + heal any cracks in your nipples caused from breastfeeding. IYKYK.”
“The ultimate stylish nappy caddy that will help to keep the chaos of newborn life a little more organised. It holds literally *everything* you need right by your side and can easily be moved around the house.”
Popular categories for her online store include Postpartum, Sleep Essentials, and Reusables.
“We believe we’ve curated everything you need to aid with recovery after birth. From vaginal birth, to caesarean sections, to breastfeeding – we’ve got you covered.”
“From the Frank Green reusable coffee cups to the popular straw bottles, these [products] are great for everyday life. We all like to do our bit for the planet, and these are a really epic way to reduce plastic waste and look good, too,” she says.
As the winner of the EmpowHER scholarship, Anna receives a prize valued at $10,000, including a $5K financial cash boost; a tailored mentoring course at Saben and Dermalogica’s head office; a The Icehouse ‘Taking Your Business Forward’ 3-month course plus Dermalogica skincare and a Saben handbag.
Anna will also receive a stylish Saben bag of her choice and access to Dermalogica skin care treatments and products, ensuring she feels confident and empowered in her endeavours.
Saben’s Founder, Roanne Jacobson, commented on the success of the EmpowHER scholarship grant which, fittingly, was launched on International Women’s Day. She was surprised by the high number and quality of submissions they received. “We also received over 7,000 public votes in total which is testament to the loyalty and the passion that these businesses have fostered within their communities,” says Jacobson.
Special mentions
Special mention goes to the runner up businesses who receive product from Dermalogica and Saben plus a workshop of their choice from The Icehouse to the value of $2,500 each:
- Nicole Kwan – So Fitness
- Abby Johnson – Hobsonville Hearing
- Estelle Dippie – Commonplace Distribution
- Katey Mandy –Raaie
Concludes Natasha, “We hope to be able to replicate this on an annual basis to continue to support Kiwi female-founded businesses to grow.”
Stay tuned to follow Anna’s progress during her mentorship course via Dermalogica, Saben and The Icehouses’ social media channels.
