Hiring 716: Buffalo mom launches Mintberry Market

Aubrey Hlavaty was making a living in corporate America. She was an accountant by trade. But after having her daughters Ruby and Piper, she launched Mintberry Marketlast year. “It was the extreme opposite from what I was doing. I felt very vulnerable,” she explained.

The brand sells baby onesies, toddler t-shirts, and other chic baby items. At first, it was only available online. But, for about the last eight months Hlavaty has been renting space at Village Designs in the Elmwood Village. “We’ll sell our new stuff online, and if it does well, we sell it here in store.”

Village Designs is owned Michelle Voit. Like Hlavaty, she was headed down a different career path until she opened the women's clothing boutique four years ago.

Hlavaty said if you’re thinking about opening your own business, you should set a start date, and commit to it. She also said you should be open to new opportunities. Her favorite opportunity so far? Spending more time with her daughters. She says they are already proud of Mintberry & they are the business owner's priority.