Nancy Vardalos Ginakes

Kinsight Ltd.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then it’s easy to understand the genesis of the Safe-2-Go Safety Harness Backpack created by entrepreneur Nancy Vardalos Ginakes.

With three active toddlers at home, Nancy was looking for a product that would help keep her children safe and close by when the family ventured out to busy places. Says Nancy, “I had a vision of the kind of product I needed, but couldn’t find one.”

With a degree in Textile Science, Nancy designed her first prototype. It was a unique design and others quickly took notice. Nancy recalls, “When I was out at the zoo with the kids, I couldn’t believe how many people stopped to ask about it.”

“In the beginning it felt like I would move two steps forward and one back. But now it’s more like three and four steps forward.” After conducting market research and refining the product, Nancy went to the Women’s Enterprise Centre looking for information on trademarks, and patents.

The product is being manufactured in Hong Kong and a new distributor is on board, the Safe-2-Go Safety Harness Backpack is now in 200 specialty stores in the US and Canada. It will also be available on Target.com, BabiesRUs.com and Sears.ca this Fall.

Nancy attributes her success to perseverance and confidence. “If I really didn’t believe in the product I would have stopped a long time ago. Something told me to keep at it because a dignified alternative to existing harnesses would really appeal to all parents and caregivers.”

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