It's A Wrap!

At one time or another we've all come up with a great idea that solves a real problem, but how many of us actually turn that idea into a reality? Warren resident Betsy Dolan, creator of Wrapeaze, did just that. She turned her idea into a business that is beginning to expand, with her goods making their way into a store in Newport and others in Rhode Island.

A little more than three years ago, Dolan had her first child. As mothers everywhere quickly learn, getting an infant or toddler in and out of winter outfits and then in and out of the car seat as you do your errands is not an easy task. Everyone is happy until it's time to get their winter gear on.

Dolan knew there had to be a better way. Her solution is a warm, soft, hooded wrap that drapes over your child quickly and easily. One quick wrap and your child is bundled and ready for the trip. With Wrapeaze, there is no more struggling to get their little arms and legs into their snowsuits. Wrapeaze feels like a poncho and does not restrict movement. Unlike the poncho, however, there is nothing being pulled over the child's head which is an added plus. The Wrapeaze just surrounds them in warmth like their favorite blanket.

One may think Dolan is quite the seamstress, but that is not the case. Still, she created her first prototype and then, so sure of her idea, she took a trip to Wisconsin to visit her sister-in-law who did the sewing of the first sample. Since then the business has grown immensely. The original Wrapeaze was only for infants and toddlers and sales were all to friends and family, but soon Dolan took Wrapeaze on the road and showed off her wraps at local craft shows. In a short period of time, her Plan B business was looking up.

At the craft shows young girls would come up to the booth and ask if they came in larger sizes, saying they would buy one in a heartbeat if they were in a different color or came without a hood. The same happened with adults. 

So the young adult and adult versions were developed. Women, always looking for something that you can quickly toss on that doesn't look like you "just tossed it on," frequently buy shawls, ponchos and wraps. Even Dolan admits to wearing her Wrapeaze all over.

"It's good for business," she says. Of course, Dolan's Wrapeaze is very bright and full of colorful polka dots – just the thing to get noticed.

By the time she began extending her brand, Dolan was working full time in pharmaceutical sales and making Wrapeaze at night at her home. But the business continued to grow and soon outgrew its facilities. Dolan needed help to fill all the orders and got that help from a local Barrington tailor. Soon enough, however, the orders overwhelmed the both of them. Since October 2010 Wrapeaze have been manufactured in Fall River. In September, Wrapeaze launched a website and Facebook page to bring a new wave a business.

"The website sells Wrapeaze, but the real sales happen when people actually see them up close," says Dolan. "That is when they buy."

Wrapeaze is catching on and is already getting some attention. The Mommy MD Guides, a website featuring information and tips that doctors who are also mothers use for their families, recently highlighted Dolan and the Wrapeaze.

Plus, did you know that the National Highway Travel and Safety Association advise against putting children in their car seats with heavy bunting or jackets? All the more reason to bundle your child in a Wrapeaze.

Dolan will be at the Barrington Craft Fair at the Red Brick School on Dec. 16, but Wrapeaze products, including custom orders, are available all the time online at www.wrapeaze.com and at the following locations:

• Teddy Bearskins in Barrington at 290 County Rd.
  Barrington

• Groovy Gator in Portsmouth at Clock Tower Square and in Newport on Thames Street.