Becoming Mom Inc.

While mom is the person everyone comes to for comfort and security, she is also envisioning herself as her own CEO.

M and Em's Children's Boutique, 460 N. Main St., is giving customers a chance to meet local moms and artisans whose items grace the store’s shelves and racks. Kim Fuller, the store’s owner, is billing the event as an “” which takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday

Fuller, a mom herself, opened her own enterprise 11 years ago in Wheaton and moved the business six years ago to Glen Ellyn. The boutique sells clothing, accessories and other items for babies to adults. 

The idea for this event came from stocking unique handcrafted clothing and jewelry made by local artists. Occasionally, one or two artists appear at the store’s special events, she explained. This time, Fuller wanted to do something on a bigger scale by bringing seven artists from Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Elmhurst and Plainfield together to talk with customers.

“I’ve worked with most of them for a number of years and it’s fun to see them grow and come out with something different and new every year,” Fuller said. “This way, they’re keeping it fresh and obviously it’s good for us as a store. It’s also a great way to bring artists in multiple times throughout the year.”

Not only can customers see their wares, it’s also an opportunity for them to ask about the artist's backgrounds, or how they planned and opened their businesses. Fuller sees this event as a way of helping other small businesses like hers.

“It’s about supporting all of the local artists and mom entrepreneurs out there in the same way as people in the Wheaton and Glen Ellyn areas have so graciously done for me in the past 11 years,” she said. “I was just a mom who wanted to open a boutique and, knock on wood, I’ve been around for 11 years and I’ve continued to grow and expand. This is my third expansion.”

One of the artists appearing will be Glen Ellyn resident Kathyrn Alcock, a busy mother of two who designs sterling silver jewelry and hand stamped charms. Her other creations include handcrafted flower bookmarks and Scrabble tile necklaces—pink cord or metal ball chain necklaces containing an actual tile with a letter on one side and a colorful background with an initial in epoxy resin on the other side. She has been selling her items at the boutique for three years.

Alcock commends Fuller for being a supporter of women in her community. She is looking forward to meeting customers who will give her some feedback.

“I think it’s wonderful that the local moms and artists have an outlet where they can showcase their items,” Alcock said. “Some people go beyond to start their own companies and sell regionally and even beyond that. It’s nice to have somebody that will give people a launching pad.”