MANILA, Philippines -- Like all other mothers, Bea Ilusorio, Andie Quila, and Liza Robinson live for their children. Whenever they get together, the topic of conversation usually dwells on changing diapers, breastfeeding, due dates, and the cute and funny antics of each of their toddlers. And there's the nursery room to discuss. The banter thus leads to color schemes, furniture, and the things a baby would need for his very first room.
Motherhood is their expertise and they're always willing to give parenting advice to any parent they bump into. In fact, these three ladies are using this proficiency in mothering to earn a living. They own a furniture brand that caters to children. They call their store Two Tots Home Accessories Inc.
Two Tots was born out of necessity. Andie Quila and Bea Ilusorio have been friends since they were in high school in Poveda. They became pregnant at roughly the same time and they gave birth in 2008. While they were expecting, they shopped together for furniture and accessories for their nurseries, but all they could find were pieces adorned with familiar cartoon characters. Furthermore, they came in loud colors and even louder designs. "We were looking for a simpler look but they were non-existent. And whatever we found was out of stock. The store would have to order the item from abroad," says Andie.
Bea for her part couldn't even find a simple changing table. "I had to buy one that came with a tub. And when I was done with it, I asked myself, 'What am I going to do with the tub? Where would I put it?' It took a lot of space in the house," she says.
They decided to fix this problem by taking matters into their own hands. They designed the items they needed and had them built by a furniture maker. And whatever was made was solely used in their respective homes. When friends and relatives saw the items, they were impressed and they inquired about the costs and where they might acquire similar pieces.
This got Andie and Bea thinking. So when the babies were about six months old, the two mommies pooled their resources to establish Two Tots. The babies of Bea and Andie are the inspiration for the brand name. At first, they focused on babies' accessories. Not long after, Bea's cousin Liza Robinson arrived from the United Kingdom and she was looking for something to keep her busy. Liza is a mother of two and when she saw the items being sold at Two Tots, she suggested they add furniture to the merchandise. The three mommies thus started designing and making the kind of children's furniture they preferred.
The brand soon became popular through word-of-mouth and the website they created. But they needed a real showroom so they converted Liza's living room into a temporary showroom. This happened just twice a year. The makeshift store showcased various beds, cabinets, changing tables, chairs, bookshelves, and smaller items such as hampers, quilts, bean bags, bean cubes, blankets and quilts, and pillows, among others. They also made their presence felt at bazaars and they were soon approached by a home store which offered to sell the merchandise at its showroom in Makati. The store was IDeas for Living.
The "mompreneurs" describe their furniture as basic and simple. You can mix and match them with other pieces. "They're made of hardwood, which means they'll last long after your baby has grown up," says Liza. "We're practical mommies. We believe that one shouldn't spend too much on something that can't be used for too long. You can have basic items that your kids can use during his toddler years to his adolescent years, or until he moves out of the house. You can just recycle them as the kids grow up."
The designs they create are turned into real items at a factory in Pampanga. "The factory does everything hand-made, which makes it easier for us to customize items according to the clients' needs," says Bea.
Thus, anything made to order usually takes 45 days to build and deliver. "We try to fulfill the orders as early as we can but we should never ever compromise the quality," says Andie.
The items are also very practical. The bean bags, bean cubes, linens, and other accessories are all machine-washable and with removable slip covers. "We know things can be messy with kids around. So we have diaper stackers, where you can put all the diapers and hang them on the changing table or somewhere reachable. We also have clip hangers. It is where you put the girls' hair clips so you won't have difficulty looking for them. We also have sleep sacks, which are like wearable blankets that keep your baby comfy all night without the mom worrying about the baby being suffocated," shares Liza. "And children can't have enough storage space. There are toys to be put away, dirty clothes to clear up, books to tidy up, and linens to pack away. These are very useful for the mommies," says Liza.
Then, there's the changing table. A necessity in a nursery room, this multi-functional piece comes with a classic design with charming grooves on the front panel of the drawers. It has two drawers and three cubbies, making diapers and other baby essentials accessible. Rest assured, the table will remain useful even when your baby stops using diapers. It can actually be converted into a cabinet.
"We're flexible with the design. Some parents don't want any drawers. Others want only two cubbies. We can do that. We know that everyone has different needs," says Andie.
"We can also assess your home so we can customize the furniture to fit the space, no matter how small or big it is," says Bea, who is the resident interior designer.
Two Tots furniture and accessories are available at IDeas for Living, located at 2100 Don Chino Roces (formerly Pasong Tamo Ext.), Makati (open Mon-Sun 10am to 7pm). For inquiries, visit their website, www.twotots.net.
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