About Us
When I left my corporate career to be a Mum, I initially treated motherhood like a career. I became obsessed about how to do it ‘right’. I studied parenting strategies, sleep techniques, food, health, medicine/natural medicine, happiness, mindfulness, attachment... and so on. Every answer i wanted was led to such a rabbit hole of information, a counter opinion for every opinion.
It was ALL.JUST.SO.MUCH.
Then one day 3 months into the parenting gig I finally understood what I’d been missing that arrived by way of a moment with my son. I told him I’d brought him some kisses and kissed them all over his face. The emotion I felt in that moment was HUGE, it was a moment of pure joy. Something shifted in me in that moment and I realised that this was what it was about. Connection.
I wish I’d had this insight when I’d been so busy learning how to perfect motherhood. And that’s why I couldn’t keep it for just me.
I decided to wrap up the moment we had into a book that celebrates and builds connection. When you read the book you can’t help but slow down, forget all your troubles and focus on the moment you have and fill it with joy, kisses and cuddles.
I’ve since gone on to learn just how important affection and connection is for our little ones. For us to truly be there with them in the moment sets them up to cope with whatever this crazy world will throw at them.
The book has gone on to sell over 30,000 copies
Ami Muir
-
2014
May 2014
Idea sparked - “day of the moment”
-
2015
July 2015Kickstarter campaign launched
Campaign launched to fund the printing of the very first 1,000 copies
August 2015
Kickstarter ends with $6,304 raised to print the first 1,000 books
Thank you to all who gave support in helping us reach the target - we made it in only two and a half days! The feeling of achieving this goal was like nothing I’ve ever experienced - and gave me the confidence to keep going!
September 2015First 1,000 books printed
September 2015Mixt becomes the first store to order Kiss Co books
Thanks to the folks at Mixt for being the number 1 stockist of our self published book and for being a loyal customer for years following.
September 2015Website launched
I took a sick day from work to put the first Kiss Co website together on Shopify! (Sorry Chris)
November 2015Our first feature with OhBaby
We saw ourselves in a magazine for the first time! I’ve kept the magazine too :)
-
2016
February 2016Kiss Co is in 25 stores
May 2016Featured in Natural Parenting Magazine
It was a great pleasure to partner with The Natural Parent magazine (still a firm favourite) and giveaway a copy of our book with 200 copies of the magazine
September 2016
The Gift of a Cuddle published
-
2017
November 2017The Kiss Co reaches 50 stores in New Zealand
Just after the birth of our second child, we ticked over the 50 store mark - thanks for the love New Zealand!
-
2019
August 2019
Ten Little Kisses published
-
2020
May 2020WINNER
Loved by Parents Best Activity Toy 1-3yrs
Against hundreds and hundreds of applicants we took away ‘WINNER’ in Best Stimulative Toy and Best Activity Toy in the 1-3 year age category for Hide and Seek Kisses. A huge accomplishment for the Kiss Co and New Zealand!
June 2020
The Kiss Co Box Set created
August 2020Opened Australian Warehouse
After initially testing the demand for our products from our sister Australian market, we were happy to realise our brand was loved enough to open our first overseas warehouse! All orders from Australia + the world ship on our behalf from our very fast and efficient Sydney warehouse.
September 2020The Kiss Co Cards Arrive
To finish off the gift giving, we introduced our cards range to compliment our treasures
December 202020 Australian Stores 105 NZ Stores
SO exciting to spread our wings over the ditch and have so many beautiful Australian stores joining The Kiss Co family + see New Zealand growing even further
December 2020
SOFT RANGE ARRIVES
Big Kiss, Big Cuddle, Cuddle Cuddly + Sibling Set
When the first lockdown hit New Zealand we found an incredible manufacturer in Sri Lanka & had the time to design our entire soft range. Shipping delays saw them all arriving JUST after Christmas which was a big blow - but all pre order customers decided to keep their orders even though delivery was post Christmas! Thank you
-
2021
April 2021
WOODEN TOYS ARRIVE
Apiti and Pepi
Designing our Pēpi rattle was by far the biggest design challenge to date, but we are so proud of the final result! Our wooden selection is made of beechwood from sustainable forests, and the toys are coated in a natural beeswax to keep them for a lifetime.
September 2021
Love Wings launched
Just like The Kiss Co has grown as I have (or maybe I’ve grown as The Kiss Co has), its products have grown with my children. Love Wings was written for our middle child, who suffered from ’sad goodbyes’. I wanted him tounderstand Eckhart Tolle’s ideas on Love - and how it never leaves you, and so created Love Wings around this concept.
-
2022
May 202235 Australian Stores 115 NZ Stores
And we continue to grow! With lockdowns continuing in both Australia and New Zealand, we weren’t able to attend any gift fairs to grow our store lists, but they found us! Our organic growth has shown there is so much love for our little brand.