(Anaheim Hills, CA; March
28, 2004) Baby Bouquet, a complete line of skin care
products for babies and young children, was launched in
January after two years of intensive research and
development aimed at a single idea: offering skin care
products for babies that employed the same natural
ingredients, innovative formulations and quality
production as the best products used by their
moms.
"The entire idea for the business,
and for the products, came down to something very
simple," explained Jackie Trask, a co-owner of Baby
Bouquet with her husband Craig. "I buy - and I see other
women buy - expensive face creams that contain squalene,
shea butter, avocado butter, Vitamin E and wonderful
essential oils. That's our expectation, because we demand
quality. But what about babies? Don't they deserve the
same high quality skin care? Craig and I decided to
answer that question, and the answer is Baby
Bouquet."
The process of developing Baby
Bouquet's complete line of products was challenging. Both
Trasks quit high-powered corporate jobs - Jackie was a VP
of Human Resources at a high tech company, Craig a
mergers and acquisitions senior executive at a biotech
firm - and have invested over two years in perfecting the
product line. They hired a nationally known cosmetic
chemist to head research and development. Finally, after
176 trial formulations, they achieved their goal: a
unique blend of ingredients which delivered the quality
of women's skin care designed to meet the unique needs of
babies' delicate skin.
"We were not just looking for
something that would work, but for something that would
avoid the harsh chemical compounds that you often see in
commercial brands and even some costly brands," Jackie
said. "We wanted the best, most natural ingredients we
could find. We also wanted products that really worked
for babies. All the natural ingredients in the world are
of no use if they don't perform their job. We believe
that's what careful shoppers look for, and are willing to
pay for."
And the technical hurdles turned
out to be only half the challenge.
"How often do you see companies
come up with what looks like a great product in the lab
or on the drawing board, only to have real people out in
the real world just yawn when it's launched," Jackie
said. "There was no way we were going to make that
mistake. So, we held dozens of focus groups with mothers.
We listened and listened and listened. And, in essence,
what came to life as Baby Bouquet is a combination -
brilliant technical development by our chemists matched
with what mothers really want for their
babies."
For further information on the
entire Baby Bouquet line, click onto the website at
www.babybouquet.com.
Or call either Jackie or Craig at
714-701-0219.
COMPANY HISTORY
On August 1, 2001, Jackie and Craig
Trask became two more displaced corporate executives who
had always dreamed of owning a business they could be
proud to say was theirs. Craig, a California native, came
from a long line of entrepreneurs but for Jackie, who
grew up in rural South Carolina, entrepreneurship was a
new idea. Jackie, was the first in her family to graduate
from college, Harvard University with honors - no less,
and dreamed about entrepreneurship, but was wary of the
risks involved. She had become a nationally respected
executive, consultant, and noted speaker in the Human
Resources arena. But, an MBA from the top-ranked Wharton
School of Business had given Jackie exposure to what it
would take to build a successful business. Craig, a
former executive in mergers and acquisitions knew what
the critical pitfalls would be.
Together they brainstormed and
researched a number of potential opportunities but the
answer they sought was actually right under their noses.
Most of their friends were having babies and most of the
moms were typically in their 30's and 40's. These moms
were concerned about the quality of almost everything
that would impact their babies, yet they were still
planning to or already using baby personal care products
(shampoos, lotions, diaper balms, etc.) that contained
harsh chemicals. The moms were knowledgeable about the
ingredients and the innovations that made their face
creams, body lotions, and shower gels perform well but
didn't know very much about or never really focused on
what they were using on their baby's delicate skin. Even
more alarming for the Trasks was that most of these baby
products were ethoxylated. Typically ingredients like
sodium laureth sulfate, PEG, or POE are used to increase
solubility. The problem lies in trace contaminants such
as 1-4 Dioxane which is recognized by the FDA as a
powerful carcinogen. Some companies have attempted to
minimize the levels of 1-4 Dioxane in their raw
materials, but is there really a safe level for babies?
That's why Jackie and Craig have chosen not to use any
ethoxylated or propoxylated raw materials in their
products.
Providing safe, baby care products
with luxurious ingredients and wonderful textures became
the focus of 21/2 years of intense work for the Trasks.
While Jackie focused on working with the chemists on the
formulations, Craig conceptualized the artwork and logo
that is the Baby Bouquet trademark and has focused on
marketing. One hundred and seventy-six formulations
later, Baby Bouquet was launched in January of 2004.
Already, stores in New York are carrying the line as well
as upscale baby shops in California.