What is being entitled “Northern Ireland’s first reborn adoption nursery” has officially opened its doors to the public in Portadown.
A joint venture, The Little Reborn Company has launched in the Magowan West centre alongside The White Orchid Candle Company.
Owner of both, Nicola Pedlow has been teasing the grand opening of her first ever physical store since September across her social media platforms.
And now she has finally revealed the opening of Northern Ireland’s “first ever reborn adoption centre” next door to the existing Portadown Locksmith premises.
Nicola told Armagh I that she has been growing her candle company over the last three years, mainly from her permanent stall space in Belfast’s Victoria Square at weekends.
She said the idea for her reborn baby business was born out of the decision to take on her own premises in Portadown for a candle shop.
Essentially, White Orchid Candles lit the fuse for The Little Reborn Company’s development!
“The candles are quite seasonal and I had a gap,” said Nicola. “It was through social media that I saw, in Amercia, the adoption. I did my own research and from what I could see there was no one else doing this in Northern Ireland.”
Nicola says she doesn’t really have a target market but understands that the adoption experience will mostly appeal to young girls.
And she couldn’t be more excited by the prospect of getting kids off screens and back to playing with dolls and using their imaginations!
However, that being said, Nicola has also found through research that there is “growing evidence” for the comfort reborn babies can provide to those living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The adoption experience is open to anyone and while children may be completely comfortable enjoying their experience while the store is open to the public, Nicola understands that others may need a private setting for a variety of reasons.
Thos wishing to book a private adoption experience can do so in the evenings by contacting The Little Reborn Company directly.
Each experience provides a hospital gown for the baby and adoptee, name wristbands for you and your baby, choose your baby, listen to their heartbeat, weight and height of baby and an adoption pack which includes an adoption certificate, story book, ‘hello world’ plaque, bottle and dummy.
Adoption experiences also include a photo at the ‘adoption wall’, ringing of the adoption bell and signing of an adoption certificate.
The price of the package does not include the cost of the reborn baby.
While children will make up a large part of her clientele Nicola added: “I am not just a toy shop. I don’t want to be seen as a toy shop. It’s so much more than that.
“I also have so many ideas for workshops and events! The more I speak to people about the business, the more ideas they come up with. People are just as excited about this as I am!”
The babies are all hand-painted and of high-end design with silicone heads. Nicola is not currently making her own dolls but – with a creative design background – she does have plans to eventually move into production, bringing everything under one roof.
Nicola’s endeavour with the White Orchid Candle Co and The Little Reborn Company was successfully shortlisted in the top ten of the Go Succeed Ultimate Pitch scheme for the ABC area.
While her pitch didn’t manage to secure the overall top spot for £6,000 of funding, she regarded the shortlisting as an “achievement in itself” adding, “there’s always next year!”
The new premises will provide reborn babies, accessories, adoption, workshops, community events and more.
The White Orchid Candle Co, create candles using 100% natural soy wax, a renewable resource that burns cleanly and slowly, ensuring a longer-lasting and environmentally friendly glow. They can also be purchased on site.
