Women Who Do What They Love - Emma Davidson

Who is this woman? Emma Davidson

What is her passion called? Brindabella Baby. I started as an online and markets retailer on 1 July 2006. I'm about to leap into the unknown with a shop in Braddon (Canberra, Australia), opening in just over a week!



Where can you take a squiz at her stuff? www.brindabellababy.com.au

What does she actually produce? I'm a specialist retailer in eco-friendly and fair trade parenting products. Modern cloth nappies, baby carriers, clothing, toys, books, chocolate and more. Everything in the range has been thoroughly researched to ensure that it is ethically responsible. I am also passionate about supporting local designers and creators.

Why does she do all this? If I'm going to do something that impacts on time with my children, it has to be something that is an expression of my personal ethics and brings me happiness.

What is this talented woman’s story? I have three children aged 4, 3 and 1, and do my best to keep our carbon footprint small. I'm also passionate about social justice issues.

What pesky obstacles have tried to block her progress? I've learned a lot of lessons over the past two and a half years, and I still have a long way to go on this learning curve. I had fourteen years experience in the workforce before starting Brindabella Baby, but zero retail experience. Apart from learning how to retail, I also had to learn how to get the message out about my business. “If you build it, they will come” does not apply to online retailing!

What are her greatest joys in doing what she loves? Supporting fair trade, so that workers in developing countries can support their families. Like Bumwear's family-friendly workplace in Bali, where mothers bring their babies to work so they can continue breastfeeding, and preserve traditional batik printing techniques.

What is she loving most at the moment? I love organic cotton BabyLegs, made in a fair trade certified factory in China, and I often raid my daughter's wardrobe to use them as arm warmers in winter! Another favourite are WildSlings hemp silk ring slings, made by a Canberra mum and expert babywearer.

What is her inspiration? To make the world a better place for my children through eco-friendly and fair trade choices.

If she could do anything in the whole wide, entire world – what would she do? I would love to work in an NGO helping set up fair trade economic development programs.

Where would she escape to if she could? Dili, Timor Leste.

What would she buy there? I would visit Alola Foundation to pick up more handwoven tais cloth to be made into baby carriers.

What are her secret aspirations? All I want is to have one successful shop in Canberra. Anything more would be too much with three small children! Wish me luck for the opening of my shop in Braddon.

What is her greatest achievement? Having three healthy, happy children. (My husband says “snagging the best husband in the world”.)

What would be her absolutely perfect day? I'd be asleep for the whole day. Boring, but restful.

What five words sum her up? Passionate, outspoken, responsible, motivated and modest :)

What really fabulous advice does she have for others wanting to Do What They Love? Baby steps – start out small and grow gradually, so that mistakes along the way are opportunities to learn from without too much regret.

Emma's new store will be opening mid-April on Level 1, 29 Lonsdale Street, Braddon - upstairs from Zambrero Mexican cafe and across the road from Debacle and Unit Concepts.

Sign up for Emma’s Brindabella Baby email newsletter and get an invitation to the VIP launch party of her new store. There will be live music, an organic fair trade chocolate fountain, give-aways and more...

Are you doing what you love? Please contact me here if you would like to tell your Do What You Love story. I’d love to hear from you – no matter where you are in the world.