Bumps with Benefits has officially opened its doors on the corner of 75th and Troost.
“I created it as an idea that I want pregnant women to be able to come and have a place to escape and where they feel like they are the normal here, ” Executive Director, Gabrielle Bennett said. “When you're pregnant, it's this amazing experience, but it's a lot happening. There's a lot of emotions, there's a lot to prepare for and a lot of times, women feel isolated.”
That’s when Bennett decided she wanted to create a wellness center, bringing pregnant women and new moms together under one roof.
“We offer pre and postnatal fitness classes, massage therapy, childbirth and parenting workshops, support groups, fun events for pregnant women just to come meet eachother and enjoy their pregnancy,” she said. “We also offer virtual counseling, Doula services and photography.”
Through the process of making her idea become a reality, Bennett went through the city’s microloan program.
“It's a program that we saw a need for,” Kansas City councilman for the 6th District, Scott Taylor said.
Taylor said this was a program that has been in the works for some time now.
“We brought in a microlender, Justine Peterson, who was at the time was the second largest one in the country to make these really small business loans,” he said. “Typical loans, $8000-$9000, that small amount of money can make a difference between some of these businesses actually opening or trying to open.”
Bennett says the program allowed her to get her business off the ground
“I didn't want to be in any kind of debt and so I kind of ran through all the money I saved up and I needed just a little more just to get off my feet,” Bennett said. “I did speak with one of my local banks, one of the larger banks and try to see what it all entailed to get a business loan, and the majority of them said that you had to have a line of credit, well I'm not even open yet so I don't have any business credit and it takes a program to even establish that, so if this program didn't exist, I have no idea where I would've gotten the money from.”
Taylor says Bumps with Benefits could bring other businesses to the Troost area.
“The concept is an innovative concept well needed, all over the city,” Taylor said. “Where Gabrielle's located on 75th and Troost will be great because it may spark other people to open up businesses on Troost as well.”
Bennett says although her business is only three weeks old, she’s excited for what it’ll bring to the community, hoping one day to become a household name.
“I don't want women to have to feel like you're giving up everything, I want you to feel like you're embracing this new time in your life, and maybe if we can try and help women on the front end, we won't have as many problems on the back end,” she said.
There will be an open house of Bumps with Benefits at its location at 7546 Troost Avenue from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m on February 25th.
To see a list of upcoming events, check out bumpswithbenefits.com.
If you’re interested in learning more about starting small businesses in the KC area, click here.
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Rae Daniel can be reached at Rae.Daniel@KSHB.com.
