Women Business Owners Find Strength in Numbers

A few chance meetings have led to a group of women entrepreneurs collaborating and cross-promoting each other's fledgling businesses in Downers Grove.

Melynda Onusaitis, the owner of , has spearheaded a collaboration involving her shop, children's clothing brand neemies, and Maggie Cuprisin Photography. Using a combination of social-networking and group events, the four businesses are leveraging their complementary skill-sets to expand their brand awareness and client list.

Recently, the four women collaborated on a children's photo shoot where the clothes were provided by and neemies, Salon Sophia did the hair and Maggie Cuprisin took the photos.

“There were a ton of kids and their families and we got a lot of beautiful shots,” Cuprisin said, adding that some of the photos from the shoot will be hung inside of Posh Kids. Cuprisin, who does a lot of family and maternity photography in studio and on-location, said she's currently running a deal with Posh Kids whereby anyone who signs up for one of Cuprisin's mini-sessions on Sundays receives a $10 gift card to Posh Kids.

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Tara Engstrom, who purchased and opened Salon Sophia a couple of months ago, said owning the full-service salon that specializes in coloring and weddings and also carries the distinction of being an Aveda Concept Salon—allowing them to sell and use Aveda products—has been a long-time dream. But realizing that dream comes the necessities of marketing and promotion, and Engstrom said she's gotten a pretty good response out of the cross-promoting.

Similarly, neemies designer Heather O'Donnell—who started designing clothes when she couldn't find any clothes she liked for her daughter—said the partnership has been great at increasing word-of-mouth.

“I think getting our names out there is probably the best benefit,” O'Donnell said. “Melynda knows a lot of people; I know a lot of people. Right now it's about getting the word out there.”

Of the four women—who started off as strangers but have become friends—Onusaitis has been the driving force of the marketing and social networking, a role the other three women are grateful she does.

“She's some kind of genius,” Cuprisin said.

To find Posh Kids on Facebook, click here. For neemies, click here. For Maggie Cuprisin Photography, click here. For Salon Sophia, click here.