Angela Dion, a dedicated mother and innovative entrepreneur, launched Simple Breastfeeding with her groundbreaking Blissful Bond Booby Pillow – a product born from her own struggles with breastfeeding and designed to offer comfort and support to mothers.
Despite its genuine value in solving a common problem, Angela faced the universal hurdle of any startup: a lack of inherent credibility. Her product was new, her brand unknown, and without established recognition, attracting the attention of both discerning customers and, crucially, risk-averse distributors was a significant challenge.
Distributors like Westfield and Baby Bjorn seek proven brand value and a solid reputation before committing to new products.
Seeing the immense power of third-party validation, Angela partnered with The Audacious Agency to strategically pursue industry awards. The goal was clear: transform her innovative solution into a recognised brand, instilling trust in customers and, more importantly, providing the stamp of approval needed to open doors with major retailers and distributors.
The Results: Unlocking Unprecedented Growth Through Recognition
The impact of the awards was immediate and transformative, providing the credibility Angela's startup desperately needed. Angela's achievements included two bronze awards at the prestigious 2024 Stevie Awards for Women In Business, where she competed against global giants like Google. She also went on to win at the Freedom Awards and is a finalist in the 2025 ROAR Awards.
The recognition garnered from these awards served as an invaluable testament to her product's quality and innovation, directly addressing her core challenge:
Global Recognition and Trust: The Stevie Awards, in particular, positioned Simple Breastfeeding on a global stage, providing instant authority. As Angela herself noted, acknowledging The Audacious Agency's role:
Message From Angela...
"Awards got me globally recognised and I was especially driven to succeed because you told me anyone that's starting out and even a concept, could get an award."
The weight of competing with and winning against established players underscored her brand's legitimacy.
"I was up against Google and a bank and I thought that was amazing. Even just coming third was like, 'Wow.' that's impressive. So, yeah, I never thought I'd be amongst the big guys."
She also observed the powerful impact the awards had on industry professionals:
"I mean, I never heard of the Stevie Awards. I was like, what's the Stevie Award?' But yeah, if you're in business, of the Stevie Awards and it was it when at my fair, I was just like, 'Wow, they knew about the Stevie Awards.' know what I mean? it is a big thing."
Opening Doors to Major Retailers and Distributors: Displaying her Stevie Awards at industry events like the Reed Gift Fair proved to be a game-changer. The awards provided the tangible evidence of credibility that risk-averse distributors required.
Accelerated Sales and Market Penetration: The enhanced credibility directly translated into increased sales opportunities and broader market reach. With the awards validating her brand, the path to market was significantly smoother. Angela summarised the overall impact: "...awards are amazing because they do give you the recognition and people do take you seriously and it helps you sell."
Within a remarkably short period since its mid-2024 launch, the Blissful Bond Booby Pillow is now stocked in pharmacies and baby shops online, and negotiations are underway for international distribution in regions like the Philippines and America. The awards have not only provided validation but have become a powerful leverage tool, opening doors to distributorships and resellers across the globe.
Find out more about Angela Dion of Simple Breastfeeding and the Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow here: https://simplebreastfeeding.com/
