Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneurs are Spoiled-One co-founders Shay and Vicki Moon, whose company is a leader in offering premium baby gear rental and delivery services. We caught up with the duo to find out what inspired the idea and where they see themselves in 5, 10, and 20 years…
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WORK
1. Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
We’re the co-founders of a baby gear rental and delivery service, available to GTA residents and visitors, that specializes in premium, high-end equipment.
2. What was the inspiration for your career route?
Shay: The inspiration behind Spoiled-One comes from my personal experience as a first-time mother. My baby grew fast (as all babies do), which required me to constantly replace outgrown gear. This was quite expensive, time consuming, and on top of that, created clutter. I quickly realized that many mothers were experiencing the same challenge and recognized an opportunity to help address this. I took the idea to my sister-in-law Vicki and asked if she’d be interested in partnering. She agreed that this was a unique concept with plenty of potential and jumped on board. We put a plan in place and soon after Spoiled-One was founded.
3. What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
When the Hazelton Hotel reached out last year to work with us. This is significant because one of the goals in our five-year plan was to work with high-end hotels. We were preparing to pitch them but the head concierge got to us first. The Hazelton partnership set the wheels in motion for additional hotel collaborations. It felt like a huge win and showed us that our hard work was paying off with market visibility.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
We’re striving for consistent growth over the next few years. Our goal is to expand into key markets across Canada and eventually into the U.S. We want to be the #1 baby gear rental service in North America!
5. Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Hard work, dedication, focus and patience always pay off. Believe in yourself. Even if things are not progressing as quickly as you would like them to, press on and continue to work hard. Good things will come.
6. Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
Shay: We support Sick Kids. As a parent with a child who has been a patient there, I understand what makes this place so special. I genuinely value what Sick Kids has to offer kids and families. A hospital visit, no matter the length, can be an extremely stressful experience for a child and her family, which is why it’s so important to have a place that provides the best care to each patient, no matter what the issue is. This takes a lot of stress off the kids and their parents. The doctors, nurses and administrative staff at Sick Kids all specialize in dealing with children, not just medically, but on a personal level. That makes a world of difference and is what sets Sick Kids apart from everyone else.
7. What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
Shay: Finding that all-important work-life balance. In addition to Spoiled-One, I have a career and family, which makes for an unbelievably hectic schedule. It’s forced me to reteach myself to prioritize what’s on my plate and the best way to do that is with a checklist. There’s still a lot of trial and error as I learn to master it, but I’m slowly learning to divide my time effectively between work, kids and my husband.
Vicki: I’ve always been a perfectionist and detail-oriented person – a combination that helps fuel my drive and expectations of myself as well as others. This is both a blessing and a curse. It motivates me to aim high, but is also a source of stress. I’m learning that success doesn’t happen overnight, that perfection is unrealistic (especially when running your own business) and that expectations need to be tempered by establishing short-term, achievable goals. Patience is key as we build Spoiled-One. It’s a work in progress, but slowly I’m getting the hang of it.
8. What does the word notable mean to you?
To be notable is to stand out from the crowd.
PLAY
1. Where is your favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
Shay: We love Spencer’s by the waterfront in Burlington. It has beautiful views of the lake, great service and food.
Vicki: Daisho at the Shangri-La or Bar Buca in Yorkville are definitely at the top of my list.
2. What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
Shay: Zara and Gap kids, hands down. I find that I’m always buying new clothes for my kids… yhey seem to be growing way too fast. These days, Photograph by Ed Sheeran is pretty much on repeat.
Vicki: I agree with Shay – Zara and Gap Kids as well for my little man. (And maybe Zara for me too.) Unfortunately, it would have to be Wheels on the Bus for my son.
3. Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
Shay: On a personal level, I love following @drawbertson on Instagram. His twin babies are adorable, he’s hilarious, and an amazing artist. It’s the mommy in me.
Vicki: I love following @marissawebb on Instagram because she is truly an inspiration to me. She was an orphan with no money, no family, but she built her own empire despite it all because she believed in herself.
4. What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
Shay: I recently visited France and Monaco. While France captivated me with its beauty, I totally fell in love with Monaco. It’s beyond words. Everything about it is immaculate, classy, sophisticated and teeming with old money. Up next is a family trip in August to Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Vicki: We went to the Maldives on our honeymoon and it was a dream come true. You’re in the middle of the ocean, so far from everything, that it doesn’t feel real. Up next is a trip to Aruba in September with our little man.
5. What gives you the greatest FOMO?
Shay: My kids! My son is nearly four and just started swimming lessons. His daddy has been taking him as I am at work during class hours. I get daddy to record the swim lessons so I don’t miss out completely. I fear missing out on witnessing my kid’s new experiences as they grow up.
Vicki: Again, I have to agree with Shay. When our nanny tells me stories about her day with our son, I get very envious that she is witnessing many of his ‘firsts’ and I fear that I’m missing out because I’m either at work, or am working on growing the business. He is growing up so fast. This age represents such a small window and, before you know it, it’s gone.
6. What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Shay: I secretly love watching The Bachelor and Bachelorette with my hubby. Every Monday, without fail, you’ll find me on my bed with my laptop ready to work and catch the show at the same time! How’s that for multitasking?
Vicki: My husband and I love going to the spa to relax and unwind. Couples massages, a lounge in the hot tub, and some cheesecake after… you can’t beat that!
7. What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
Shay: Junky toys for the kids. Not only do they break easily, they also create more clutter around the house. I wish I spent more on family vacations. To me, family memories are the ultimate ROI.
Vicki: Junk for hubby and I. We really don’t need material things that are “wants” and not “needs.” I dislike clutter so buying useless stuff that just sits around isn’t helping things. I wish I could say “yes” to anything we want – events, experiences, etc… not being inhibited by “no” because of the need to save money or not enough time.
8. And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
Shay: Success is many things. It’s looking in the mirror and feeling genuinely happy with every aspect of your life. It’s seeing your children make the right choices in life and feeling like you’ve taught them well. It is gratitude, generosity, love, happiness and humbleness.
Vicki: Success is finding that perfect balance between life and work. Work includes a full time corporate job, plus running a business. Life includes taking family vacations, visiting new places around the city and exploring the world with family. The challenge is managing both equally. If I can master that then I’ve found the ultimate success.
Cover photo by Jen Caruso, Artistic Portrait Photography
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