19 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,A ugust 5,2021 insidehalton.com By Tamara Botting For almost 18 years, Donna Hamilton's job in the seminar field took her around the world. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. "And literally overnight, once travel bans started and the COVID virus spread, every- thing was shut down. All my events were cancelled, " said the Binbrook resident. "It was a very scary and nerve-racking time for the family, " she said. "When you have one main skill that you've done for the majority of your adult life, and then that whole entire world is totally closed, it's scary." Despite the uncertainty around her, the pandemic did have the benefit of affording Hamilton the chance to revisit an idea she'd had in the back of her mind for a long time. "During one of my trips, I came across fab- ric (made from) bamboo, and fell in love with it, " Hamilton said. "The look, the feel, it's just awesome. Especially in winter in Canada, it heats your body; it's body regulating. In the summer, it cools you off. Even if you're wearing long sleeves, you're not hot, " she said. Also, as someone who had eczema as a child, Hamilton knew firsthand how benefi- cial the fabric could be for anyone who has sensitive skin. With the pandemic ongoing, Hamilton decided to launch a business that sells cloth- ing and other items made from bamboo fab- ric, with the encouragement of her husband, family and friends. "I spent close to a year researching the best manufacturing teams, " she said, adding that it was important to her to use a company that would treat its employees ethically. Hamilton's company, Hanlyn Collective (named for her son, Hank, and daughter, Falyn) launched in March. She started out offering clothes for babies in size newborn to 24 months; she's now expanded the line to include some pieces for women, and the Christmas line - which will include matching PJs for kids up to age 10 and adult sizes - is coming soon. The online store also carries items like masks and blankets. "We do a drop of one to two new designs every single month, " Hamilton said. "Anything that's sold out is gone for good; we do not restock old prints. Everything is always new and fresh; you will never see it come back again." Hamilton said that while she was nervous about starting a new business venture during the pandemic, she's glad she took the plunge. "People are very happy with my customer service and the quality, so I'm thrilled, " she said. "It's been awesome." Pandemic upheaval prompts a new career Donna Hamilton's online business, Hanlyn Collective, sells clothes made from bamboo fabric for babies - like her daugh- ter, Falyn, as well as some adult-size pieces. - Jenna St. Croix photo Business in Oakville Retail SaleS aSSociate Ultimate Pool Service inc. is an award-winning swimming pool service company located in oakville, ontario. our dedication to providing excellent customer service has kept our business growing since 2002. We are currently looking for a full-time Retail Sales associate to join our team. 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