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As the owner of Cloud 9 Baby, a natural parenting products store in
College Station, Joanna Butenko admits that starting any business is
risky. "But I believed in it with all my heart, starting from the develop-
ment of my first baby sling to opening the doors to our retail space," she
said. "I have always been a big dreamer."
After moving to Texas ten years ago, Butenko started a home-based business in
2005, designing and sewing baby carriers to provide a product she believed in. The
Heavenly Bundle Sling was simple, functional and practical. Soon the demand grew,
and she started manufacturing the carriers in Houston and selling them all over the world. In September 2010,
Pregnancy Magazine listed the Heavenly Bundle Sling as a Top 13 Baby Carrier.
Traditional Carriers--Modern Versatility
"Baby carriers have been around for hundreds of years," Butenko said. "The design of our carrier is a pouch type
which was a product of seeing and using other similar carriers on the market and from experience, tailoring our
design to be more functional and versatile." Lightweight and portable, the slings can carry newborns to 35-pound
toddlers, letting parents do everyday activities while maintaining close physical contact with their babies.
Butenko opened Cloud 9 Baby in 2007 to provide products such as clothing, cloth diapers and accessories, baby
care items and nursing/maternity wear. Her dream was to build a haven where parents could find resources and
fellowship. After relocating to a larger retail space in 2012, the community room opened to host educational, fun
classes for parents-to-be as well as new parents and families with young children.
"We currently offer Baby Signs classes, Bradley Birth classes, Mommy and Me Yoga, and art classes for little ones,"
said Butenko. "We also have speakers who volunteer their time to come in to speak to families."
Immigrant Parents Followed Their Dreams
Butenko's trailblazing dreams were encouraged early on by her parents, who f led the former Soviet Union in 1979.
"My parents came to the United States with just the clothes on their backs and two small children," Butenko said.
"They dreamed of giving us a better life with more opportunities. They were big role models for me. Starting a
new life in a new place is always a challenge."
Butenko not only admires the wonderful women of the past who settled new lands and took on the roles of caregiv-
ers, mothers, inventors, educators, and heroes, but accepts the challenge to fulfill her roles as mother and female
business owner. "It also helps to have an extremely supportive husband and family," she said. "I knew if I worked
hard, my dreams could come true."
"I knew if I worked hard, my dreams could come true." Joanna Butenko
By Liz Mertz
To learn more about Cloud 9 Baby visit www.cloud9baby.com, call 979.690.1100,
or stop by their location at 4095-C State Highway 6, College Station, TX.