Pida Infant and Maternity Products, which was founded by Pierrette d’Entremont in 2006, spent two years researching and developing its first necklace, a soft, pliable, colourful pendant secured to a cotton lanyard. The product is designed as a practical accessory to hold an infant’s interest during feeding.
The West Pubnico company placed second in the InNOVAcorp I-3 Technology Start-Up in 2007 and received $25,000 cash for expenses and $15,000 in kind services for development of the business.
The engineering crew at Dalhousie University assisted PIDA in modifying the design and distribution was secured at several Californian stores after the product was launched at a trade show in that state.
By enlarging the size of the original pendant, changing its texture and colours, and increasing the length of the lanyard, the product becomes appealing to special needs children.
D’Entremont has first-hand experience with the needs of this group. She and her seven-year-old have Tourette Syndrome.
“By July 2008 we realized just how important the fidgeting, chewing, biting and sensory processing issues were to parents.” - Pierrette d’Entremont, owner of Pida Infant and Maternity Products.
“The special needs market is actively looking for this product and it’s showing (sadly) such a need,” said d’Entremont.
“By July 2008 we realized just how important the fidgeting, chewing, biting and sensory processing issues were to parents,” she said.
As a chewable accessory, the tool addresses these issues while helping youth fit in.
A website (www.chewelry.ca) for the new Kid’s Companion generated an impressive response late last year. Within a few weeks d’Entremont says they were getting many more requests and sales than ever expected.
“Moms, dads and occupational therapists were calling and we got two occupational therapy stores in the United States, one in Canada and one in Australia, without ever putting out one piece of marketing, other than the website,” she said.
PIDA continues to produce the HeartString Baby’s Companions as well, with demand for the product especially strong in Quebec.
