Story and photo by Randy Loewen

Nicole Vos and her five daughters. L-R: Katrina, 7, Serena, 4, Victoria, 10, Michelle, 8, Alexis, 11.

It might seem odd for someone to decorate their car with zebra stripes, but for Nicole Vos it makes perfect business sense.

With a family of five daughters between 4 and 11 and running a growing business full-time, life can sometimes be a bit of a zoo. But the zebra stripes are a carefully crafted brand for Vos’ business: Petite Chic.

The concept for her business came to her about six years ago while on vacation in Florida. Vos learned to make a bracelet for herself, and upon returning home to Uxbridge, she was approached by others asking her to create more. With a creative flair and an entrepreneur’s heart, Vos realized the business potential, and thus, Wild About Beads was born – a company specializing in mom and baby fashion products.

“The zebra stripes branding came about as a result of the business name: Wild About Beads,” explains Vos. The stripes play a prominent role in marketing. In fact, Vos’ five daughters play an active role and are often seen wearing some sort of striped garment to help put the company brand out in the public.
As demand for other items started to increase, so did Vos’ product lines, and in January 2010, Petite Chic was created to better represent the business.

Vos is in the process of launching a wholesale division of her business. In addition to The Cuddly Bunny Co., a Port Perry business which she now owns, her products can be found in 13 different locations in Toronto, Hamilton, Markham, Ottawa, Quebec and B.C., and have appeared in Canadian Living, Chatelaine, and The Mompreneur.

The rapid growth inspired her to audition for Dragons’ Den, a television series where entrepreneurs present their business ideas to a panel of experts for potential financing.

Vos had just returned from Florida this past April when she was asked to show up at the CBC building in Toronto to audition. Very much a “country girl,” as she puts it, Vos felt intimidated about driving to Toronto. With her five girls in tow and desperately seeking convenient parking, she discovered the CBC building had underground parking and drove down the parking ramp. “I still had my cousin’s roof rack on my car, and as I drove in, it was crushed by the top of the garage,” she grins. “I just wanted to go home!”
As fate would have it, the irritating parking incident gave Vos that added bit of chutzpah she needed to pull off what she feels was a very solid audition. Sworn to secrecy, she and the girls are not at liberty to discuss the outcome. However, it is hoped the details will emerge in the near future, and the wild life of Nicole Vos will continue to flourish.