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39 · Friday, May 7, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Mother and daughter convert passion to business By Jillian Kwasniak SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Jacqueline Dinsmore and her mother, Shirley Durk, have a passion for design. Together, they have created a one-of-a-kind business selling convertible handbags and clothing. The concept came to them while Dinsmore was on maternity leave in 2006. While packing for a cruise, the women found themselves in a predicament. "There were all these purses being shoved into a suitcase and I thought there's got to be a better way and Shirley agreed and between the two of us we came up with a concept for convertible handbags," Dinsmore said. "It works in the sense that you can bring one bag. You can bring a whole bunch of reversible slips and you have a number of handbags on your cruise." After maternity leave, Dinsmore went back to work briefly, but left her job as a corporate lawyer to focus on her business. Durk said the idea for the name of the company came from her granddaughter, Ali. "I said one day to Jackie, when we were thinking of this, `You know, I love Ali so much so why don't NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER PASSIONATE: Luvali Convertibles owners Jacqueline Dinsmore (left) and Shirley Durk are an Oakville-based company that sells reversible/convertible hang bags and children's wear. we say love Ali?' So it was Luvali." "It's Luvali Convertibles because we wanted to get the message across that everything we do is reversible or convertible," Dinsmore added. The bags are convertible, the hats are reversible, and the organic bodysuit for infants are reversible. "That's our theme. We're the reversible company," said Dinsmore. This year, the pair branded Luvali Convertibles as the "Reversible Company." Luvali Convertibles' products are featured in almost 500 stores across Canada and the United States. Both women agreed the best part of running this business was the time they get to spend together. "It's an amazing feeling to go to work everyday and sit side by side in an office with your mom," Dinsmore said. "How great is that? I can't begin to express how great it is. I also get to go to my kids' dance recitals and my kids tee-ball games." "We brainstorm all the time because we love being together. We love shopping and doing research and marketing and seeing what's out there so this just evolved when I was home too because I was going through some treatment," Durk said. "I was sick at the time, but Jackie was with me and we started developing this. It's wonderful how good things come out of difficult situations." In order to manage Luvali Convertibles, Dinsmore had to quit her job as a lawyer. "It's been a really wild ride. I think the next five to 10 years are going to be exciting times," she said. "I can't believe I dropped law n See Business page 42 Tickets available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office Order online at or call 905-527-7666 Proudly sponsored by: ...presents our first Annual May 14th, 2010 7:30-9:30 am Burlington Holiday Inn The Gala will be a wonderful celebration in support of healthy nutrition for children and youth in our community Hosted by City TV's Cynthia Mulligan, our first-ever Annual Breakfast Gala will showcase the spectacular cuisine of twelve of Halton's finest restaurants Fabulous Raffle Prizes and a visit by the Burlington Fire Fighters will complete our fun and entertaining morning $40 per ticket Tickets are limited For more information or to rsvp, please contact Leslie at: leslie@haltonfoodforthought.ca or 905.467.3544 THE ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION O LO F V A TH E FE R ST T E U A L SU N Y DA M AY N ,2 16 6T H A TH R E N S FREE ENTRANCE 11A M T O 4P M | T O W N H A L L | 12 25 TR A FA L GA R R D, OA K V I L L E www. c o m m u n i ty a r t s s p a c e . c a Design: w w w.fatimamenjivar.com IV A L 0 01 FO Ad space generously donated by: LA FONDATION TRILLIUM DE L'ONTARIO