Greg
and Jeanelle Troncone have spent their lives bringing comfort.
Their comfort mission began over two decades ago with two
products designed for baby comfort. Today they are considered
the comfort specialists and Jeanelle is known as “The
Mother of Comfort.” They create product and education
about the power of comfort. They are the founders of the Do
Comfort movement and the entrepreneurs of the nationally marketed
Comfort Silkie line of product.
In 1987, Jeanelle
was teaching expectant parents at a hospital how to birth
and care for their new babies. Parents were asking her for
recommendations for childcare when mother had to return to
work. Realizing that this was a difficult transition for both
baby and mother, Jeanelle decided to create something that
could connect mom and baby. Her own children were attached
to silkie items and she began to research the pheromone of
“infant attachment” and comfort behaviors. It
was before the internet and Jeanelle spent hours researching
infant comfort response through her hospitals’ physician
resource library. The research acknowledged that babies are
often soothed by stroking something soft and silkie; like
the edge of their crib blanket. Psychologists did not know
the qualifying factor. However, Jeanelle did and the Ah-h-h
moment had arrived. She knew from being around birth that
the fluid that surrounds baby in the womb has a silkie feel.
Babies were soothed by the silkie comfort sensation they stroked
through for nine months before birth.
Comfort Silkie Company began with
the Soft and Silkie Security Blanket for babies.
Babies had been dragging their crib blankets around for the
silkie feel of the binding. Jeanelle and Greg decided to create
something for babies with just the right comfort feels. They
researched all kinds of different textures and combinations
of fabrics looking for the right movement, stroke-ability,
and size for baby comfort response. They chose a very liquidy,
soft satin backed in a napped cotton and trimmed with a satin
binding. The satin binding included a loop that mothers thought
was for attaching but babies would use for stroking behaviors.
They researched the size easiest for babies to cuddle, stroke,
and effectively use to soothe. Knowing that mother’s
unique scent was soothing to baby, the design of the blanket,
its size and fabrics made it easy to be included in baby snuggle
time and to absorb mother’s scent. Finally, there was
something safe and comforting designed especially for baby.
This was not just another
baby blanket. Each aspect and detail of the design
was chosen for comfort response. Fabric: Napped soft cotton
flannel that feels like skin; backed in silkie satin that
has a fluid sensation. Binding: Wide satin for stroking and
double stitched for safety
Size: 14"x18" designed for little hands.
The Soft and Silkie Security Blanket received a patent
and babies and mothers loved it. Babies picked it up and immediately
began to snuggle, stroke and comfort. Mothers were happy to
have their silkie night gowns back and no more dirty, big
blankets dragging around.
However, store buyers didn’t
get the concept right away. Jeanelle was told
by a renowned marketer that “No one would ever buy this
and I hope you haven’t invested any money in it.”
The Soft and Silkie Security Blanket was going to take some
educating and convincing to be successful in retail. Buyers
were confused on whether it was a good idea to have a security
blanket or not. And, “Why in heavens’ name would
anyone spend money on a blanket that didn’t cover a
baby?”
Greg and Jeanelle put every thing
on the line and flew to their first New York tradeshow.
They were armed with a notebook of research on infant attachment
and baby comfort needs. The first Comfort Silkie order form
had the Soft and Silkie Security Blanket available in pink
and blue with two extra lines in case they added something
more. The stores that ordered that fall were the first to
offer the comfort blanket that has now soothed over a million
babies.
Their
next patented product was a unique shaped swaddling blanket
designed for wrapping newborns. At the hospital, Jeanelle
was having difficulty teaching new parents how to effectively
swaddle their babies with the available 30” receiving
blankets. The next Ah-h-h moment came in an inventive dream.
After a late night call from a frantic mom who was having
trouble swaddling her fussy baby, Jeanelle’s subconscious
tackled the problem. She dreamt a swaddling design, woke up
and sketched the idea and went back to sleep. The next morning
she gave it to Greg and he confirmed that it was a design
that could be produced. Its design addressed important comfort
factors for a new baby: Shape: Butterfly shape with soft wings
to wrap baby like a cuddly cocoon. Wraps over with baby's
arms tucked over tummy to soothe. Pulls up from bottom to
support baby’s newborn squatty position for comfort.
Helping baby transition from womb to world. Size: Swaddles
newborn to 16 pounds
Jeanelle went to see her patent
lawyer with the new design. He had told her on
their first meeting a few years ago “Go home, honey,
and raise your family. Most patented items never get marketed.
You have no idea how much money it would take to make this
successful.” The parents and babies who have been comforted
by the Comfort Silkie products over the years are glad she
didn’t listen to his advice.
Greg and Jeanelle were pioneers
in the baby comfort field.
Comfort Silkie products went on to win the much coveted Juvenile
Products Manufacture Award for innovation and design. They
also received the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval
which identifies the finest products marketed. Comfort Silkie
became a marketplace leader and industry favorite.
All the while, they were raising
six children in their lifestyle company.
Greg had closed his business partnership in construction technology
and joined Jeanelle in building a family business. They split
the business responsibilities along their lines of strength.
Greg heading up the left brain tasks of day-to-day business
and overseeing production. Jeanelle overseeing the right brain
aspects of product design, marketing, and public relations.
They enjoy working together and joke that together they make
a full brain.
Jeanelle did not plan on becoming a full time business woman
with her creative ideas. With the long hours of a growing
company she didn’t want her own children to grow up
without the mothering comfort she could provide. She decided
to homeschool her six children as part of her business day.
Family business took on a whole new meaning. Greg and Jeanelle
devised a school plan and curriculum that allowed them to
enjoy raising and educating their children. The reward was
been a close knit family and older children who have become
successful adults. Some of their children are now apart of
the Comfort Silkie team.
The Comfort Silkie company continued
to grow and add product.
Over the years they realized that we never outgrow our need
for comfort. More products were added for all ages and everyday
comforts. Jeanelle continued her education and research on
the power of comfort. She began working as a Comfort Therapist
and an innovator in the power and psychology of comfort. Her
comfort techniques and skills enrich the lives of premature
babies to aging seniors. Today, the Comfort Silkie lines include
soothing items for birthing mothers, breast cancer and cardiac
rehabilitation.
Comfort Silkie’s original
designs continue to bring comfort.
Even though there are many copies and variations of the Comfort
Silkie’s original designs no one can duplicate the heart
of their company. Greg and Jeanelle are still the best at
bringing comfort through their actions, their words, and their
products. Today they offer more than sixty comfort products
that bring the power of comfort to restore the body, quiet
the mind, and renew the soul.
To know more: www.comfortsilkie.com,
www.docomfort.com,
www.jeanelletroncone.com,
www.birthandbabycomforts.com |
