Canada/Educational Brigade: a start-up developing thanks to the imagination of children

A bad start to the day at daycare, a nightmare, boredom due to the absence of a parent. How do you explain these concepts to young children? At the Brigade Éducative, a startup born in Granby just before the pandemic, these situations are de-dramatized through games and imagination thanks to playful tools created by Marie-Pier Plante, Johanie Mailloux and Véronique Soucy, the three shareholders of the company. And when the magic happens, the doors open so well that a major Quebec chain is about to distribute their products through their network.

Already offered at the Papeterie Atlas and at Loupiot-Tanière familiale, the playful products of the Brigade Éducative will soon be available at Buropro Citation branches. This is a big step forward for this young SME, which will occupy a space located in the same area as the Empire store (on Robichaud Street) starting this fall.

"With Buropro Citation, everything has gone well," said the company's president."Every time we look at our website, there are questions from people, but the minute we start explaining, we always see eyes that grow and stars that appear," said Marie-Pier Plante, the founder of La Brigade Éducative.

"I came up with the idea during a university course that talked about metaphor in children and its importance in their development. As a trained educational support worker, I was often the reference for helping parents who were experiencing problems with their children. And naturally, I used some of the tools I marketed with the Brigade...magic stones, drizzles. And it worked," said Plante.

With the help of a partner, who left the ship to take on new challenges, the intervener is now giving life to her business project: a company specializing in the development of playful tools. Inspired by positive intervention, the SME offers enchanted mists, fabulous stones and magic potions through three animal characters: Mona the skunk, Polo the fox and Ziä the bat.

A local production

Recipient of a $25,000 grant following its participation in Start Up 54 chrono, an event organized by the Haut-Richelieu Chamber of Commerce, La Brigade Éducative is ready to move on to the mass production stage. A challenge that will not prevent the three mothers from pursuing their respective careers in education.

"We're all three moms and we know the budget we would invest in educational tools. Our tools were built around finding materials that could meet our price range. By making our own products, we are able to be competitive," said Ms. Plante.

Job creation, development of derivative products (stuffed animals, soft toys). Many projects are in the cartons of the three entrepreneurs. "I come from a family of entrepreneurs. Being in business is part of my genes," said Marie-Pier Plante.

Source: www.granbyexpress.com