Practically Gorgeous /
Funny Bunny Kids offers bespoke products made with love
Returning to New Zealand from Australia three years ago with a newborn in tow was a significant change for Sara and Andrew Jamieson, but one that has propelled Sara into the spotlight as one to watch when it comes to locally designed and made artisan baby goods and accessories.
MOVING FROM THE PILBARA IN WESTERN
Australia only three years ago, Sara and Andrew Jamieson bought a property outside of Geraldine, sight unseen, via fax from the maternity ward in Perth. Once daughter Poppie was born, they knew Western Australia was not where they wanted to raise her. With temperatures in the fifties and a 12-hour-plus drive to Perth, a cooler climate, friends, roots and family beckoned. ‘It was quite stressful leaving two highincome jobs but it was the right time to move home,’ Sara explains. Andrew was in operations for a transport company and Sara was a literacy coach and coordinator as well as a maths curriculum leader for the Pilbara region.
Before travelling overseas, Sara and Andrew helped his parents run Mackenzie Supply Services and what was The Top Paddock Restaurant and Bar. ‘Geraldine was the natural choice for us with both my parents here and Andrew’s mum. Geraldine and the country were the perfect choice to come back and raise Poppie.’ It was also significantly closer to Christchurch where Sara grew up and still has family.
Moving back home to New Zealand with a baby was difficult. Sara felt disconnected, like she had lost her sense of self. She missed the constant interactions of teaching and all that it involved. Sara writes openly and honestly about her struggles on her blog on her website, Funny Bunny Kids. ‘I want to normalise the real motherhood,’ she says. ‘Share the bad, the crazy, the ugly and the funny and empower other mums. I try to educate while I educate myself in all things empowering, mindful, conscious and supportive.’ She says if her blog helps just one person, then that is enough.
Sara never intended to start her business Funny Bunny Kids, which evolved through making her own bibs for her daughter. She couldn’t find beautiful bibs that sat well, caught dribble properly and looked perfect with outfits. What started as a small project of finding the right pattern, has grown into a thriving and personable boutique business that she juggles alongside motherhood and teaching.
The move from teaching was a tough one as it is Sara’s first passion. However, Funny Bunny Kids surpassed her initial goals and has allowed her to free up time to further develop her business and passions. ‘I’m lucky I am able to pursue this, to be a mum and I’m grateful my husband supports this. With teaching one day a week, I can keep my toes in at school, which I enjoy.’
Taught by her nana to sew and cross-stitch, and selling friendship bracelets at primary school piqued Sara’s interest in entrepreneurship. In August 2019, Sara took a huge leap and attended the New Zealand Gift Fair in Auckland. This saw her largest growth for the business overnight and put Funny Bunny Kids firmly out there.
The 2020 enforced COVID-19 lockdown was Funny Bunny Kids’ busiest time. ‘People were shopping,’ Sara brightly states, ‘at all times of the night and day. It got insane.’ With increasing followers on social media, a growing business, teaching four days and being present with Poppie, 2020 was challenging. Sara now employs three staff, including her mother, to keep up with orders. With 150 stockists
Keeping in mind the latest colour trends, Sara offers bespoke, long-lasting products made with love. Stores and customers alike can choose specific colour schemes that cater for all desires, seasons and tastes.
throughout Zealand and Australia and 5,000 (and growing) followers on social media, business is booming.
Sourcing her materials from Canada, the United States and Hong Kong, Funny Bunny Kids’ products offer a point of difference. Keeping in mind the latest colour trends, Sara offers bespoke, long-lasting products made with love. Stores and customers alike can choose specific colour schemes that cater for all desires, seasons and tastes. Bibs, pram garlands, rattles, teethers, dummy clips, milestone and name plaques, and keepsake boxes are all made from meticulously sourced supplies. Her products are thoroughly tested to meet the highest New Zealand safety standards. ‘Parents want beautiful things for their children – things that last. People respect the boutique element and know that their purchase is an investment for their child.
‘Trends, in colours particularly, derive from different children’s clothing collections allowing local and Australian stockists to have complementary accessories to their already stocked brands,’ she explains. ‘Sometimes I wake up thinking of colourways!’
With some of her largest stockists, Sara will collaborate with them to brainstorm colour choices before making four to six designs to send to their marketing teams. ‘Once I’ve looked at the colours for the season, I pick the bib fabrics mostly sourcing from US and Hong Kong and then the teether choices flow. Sometimes I put it out there to my brand reps and ambassadors who are really awesome at giving me their advice. For Easter, I tested the waters by giving them a colour palette and produced their favourite colours.’
All products are designed with careful consideration and testing of size, length and shape are all undertaken before the final design is decided. Warm LED lights are used for the night lights that do not disturb sleep or melatonin production. Beechwood is used in all wooden toys for its antibacterial properties, and it does not splinter. Food grade silicone beads are non-toxic, BPA, lead, phthalates, latex and PVC free.
‘I want to create and make beautiful products that you can trust are safe, as well as being New Zealand-made for tiny hands and growing minds. Funny Bunny Kids is so much more than a product; it’s about an education fix, a release, selfsoothing, readjusting each other’s crowns … not competition.’
Sara has discovered owning a small business in New Zealand to be filled with others’ kindness and authenticity. ‘There is no hierarchy. Businesses are constantly pushing and pulling each other up.’ There is the freedom to create and be supported. Lockdown’s national embrace for local has provided the time and space for small businesses to thrive.