Moms getting some business networking in on the side

BY MARC LALONDE

marc.lalonde@transcontinental.ca

A new business-networking opportunity for women came about through its two founders bonding over what they had in common: their children.

Dollard des Ormeaux residents Shari Reinhart and Sheba Remer were both frustrated small-business entrepreneurs when they first met while waiting for their children after school.

Reinhart, a freelance writer, and Remer, now an art teacher, had both given up burgeoning careers to have children and be full-time mothers years earlier. Now, with the kids getting a bit older and more independent, both had launched home businesses in order to bring in some extra cash. With three kids each, it became a little bit tougher than they’d thought to spread the word. “We were both moms, trying to raise our families and start a business,” said Reinhart, who has two sons, 15 and 12, and a seven-year-old daughter. “We were languishing. I said ‘I know how you feel’ and we bonded quickly after that,” said Remer, who has an eight-year-old daughter and five year-old twins — one boy, one girl.

In an effort to promote their respective home businesses, Remer and Reinhart formed Mothers in Business, a networking group that would bring together moms with small businesses looking for ways to get word out about their businesses and make important contacts.

The first meeting was held at the end of last October and the response was tremendous, Reinhart said. “The energy was palpable. As moms, we have an immediate connection. We show up as perfect strangers and by the end of our meetings, it’s midnight and no one wants to leave. We even have free play time at our meetings,” she said, where members can just socialize and chat with other members.

Since then, the pair have hosted monthly meetings, where participants network, hear from guest speakers and new members get a 30-second pitch to tell fellow members about their particular business. “We meet, eat and greet. We talk not only about business, but about all kinds of things because we all have our children in common. It’s amazing. We already have a lot of success stories,” Remer said. The group now boasts about 200 members.

As for dads; sorry — you’re out of luck. The group is only open to mothers in business for themselves. Non-members can get a table at one of the group’s boutique nights and present their wares, but that’s as far as it goes.

The group is still working on a number of different projects, including an upcoming boutique night March 19 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Shaare Zedak synagogue on Rosedale Avenue in Notre Dame de Grâce. Admission is free. “We’re also working on a few other things,” Reinhart said. “We’re working on a Happy Hour speed meeting, which is like speed dating, and we’re working on a major fundraiser for October or November,” she said, adding the group is always looking for new members. For more information, e-mail mibnetwork@hotmail.com or contact Shari Reinhart at 514-684-9081 or Sheba Remer at 514-624-8590.