As parents, we know the joy of celebrating our children's birthdays, and every year, no matter their age, we marvel. How lucky we are to know and raise our children! How much we believe in them and their future! This rings true for us as founders of a small business as well, and as first-time entrepreneurs we are delighted to say Mini-Cycle has turned three!
Beginning in our Montreal apartment three years ago, Boutique Mini-Cycle was founded with the goal of eliminating fashion waste and giving parents more options to buy sustainably. We knew we weren't the only parents who wanted sustainable, ethical, and durable clothing for our children, and wanted to make it as affordable as possible. Thus, the idea was hatched to buy back everything from our clients when they're finished, and offer a thriving pre-loved shop alongside our new collections each season.
What started as a dream for ourselves, other parents, and our Planet, quickly turned into a small but mighty business functioning out of our old baby nursery, as we placed our daughters in the same bedroom. Stocking only brands we respect for their commitment to the environment, organic materials, and quality, the bins of beautiful clothing covered every square foot of our little home. We knew we were ready to get our own space. 
Two years ago, we launched our first official studio space in Saint-Henri, Montreal. Our staff went from one full-time team member to three that year and we saw thousands of like-minded parents join our mission from across North American and the world. Some clients sought us out for hard-to-find new collections from beloved European brands like Bobo Choses, Tiny Cottons, and Petit Bateau, while others followed our weekly Pre-loved drops with a passionate interest. We became the go-to option for beautiful, intentional kids clothes both new and secondhand in Montreal and Canada, with faithful customers from South of the boarder and overseas.
Last year our team grew to fifteen team members and we moved to a larger studio in Le Sud Ouest, which we'd outgrow only a few months in. We made it a priority to hire moms and work around their family schedules, to encourage work-life balance by closing our studio completely on weekends and making sure the kids of the team knew they were always welcome in the office. We started inviting the local community for free family photoshoots in our beautiful new studio and have met so many of you when you pop by the shop with your pre-loved clothes to sell.
Today, you'll find us in our largest space yet, a light-filled studio in Complexe Dompark in Le Sud Ouest which is open to the public. You'll shop the latest in sustainable kidswear or browse our Pre-loved section while our passionate team works away in our open-concept office/shop. Likely there will be kids playing underfoot and warm discussion between clients and employees about all things parenting and sustainability. In short, our dreams are being realized. 
According to one study, every time a piece of clothes is used for nine months, it decreases its environmental footprint by 25%. Three years of recycling clothing (which represents more than 2000 pieces since our beginning) and selling only the brands that will stand the test of time is not just an accomplishment for our small business, but for our planet. Thank you for your support, and for being part of the change!
Jad Robitaille