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Hampton resident Jennifer Fiander has been crowned eBay Canada's Mompreneur of the Year for using the power of the Internet to sell her journals for brides, grooms, mothers, daughters, fathers and sons.

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Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal

Jennifer Fiander of Hampton uses eBay Canada to sell a variety of journals.

"It's nice to get the recognition because I work so hard on the company," she said in an interview.

Fiander began her company Lil' Angel Gifts eight years ago after the birth of her special needs son, Cameron. Prompted by her own mother's constant questions on how to care for Cameron, who has Angelman syndrome, she developed an instruction manual for babies.

That instruction manual grew into a whole line of journals, note cards and other products for brides, grooms and family members, which she began selling on eBay (http: //stores.ebay.com/Lil-Angel-Gifts) and her own website www.lilangelgifts.com. Today, the mother of three ships her products around the world.

Fiander's son was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome - caused by a deletion of the 15th chromosome - when he was an infant. In his case, the disorder prevents him from walking, using his hands, or communicating verbally, and disrupts his sleep patterns.

After getting rave reviews from relatives about her instruction manual for babies, Fiander put together another manual - Organizing Your Child's Special Needs. When they began selling like hotcakes on eBay, Fiander knew she had struck on a successful product idea and began developing her ideas into 18 different wedding party journals, which today are her biggest selling items.

This summer, Fiander entered the eBay contest searching for Canada's Entrepreneur of the Year and Mompreneur, the first year eBay introduced the category. In her entry, Fiander wrote that eBay gives her the ability to work from home, express her creativity and build a business as well as be available for her special needs son and his younger sisters.

"I have the flexibility I need for doctor's appointments, school appointments, therapy, and hospitalizations," she wrote. "I am available to my children to wipe tears, kiss scraped knees, and laugh at their silliness."

Along with the title of Mompreneur of the Year, Fiander received $2,000 toward her business. She said she hopes she can use the title, which she will post on both of her websites, to help grow her business. After all, she said, eBay is based so much on trust.

"I think it's really going to help the customers relate to me and just help in making that connection and trusting me to do the transaction."

open house

An open house will be held tonight to hear residents' ideas on the redevelopment of the Sussex central business district.

The open house, organized by the consultants and the steering committee for a five-year redevelopment plan, will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Sussex Mall.

woman to be honoured

The St. Stephen Chamber of Commerce will be recognizing a female business owner on Oct. 23 as part of Small Business Week. At the dinner, which will run from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Milltown Legion, organizers will announce Charlotte County's Female Entrepreneur of the Year award. Tickets for the awards night are $25. For more information, email chamber.ststephen@nb.aibn.com.

Business workshops

Several workshops are being held in southwestern New Brunswick this month for business owners.

In St. Stephen, Enterprise Charlotte and CBDC Charlotte/Kings is holding a Profit Learn session on managing employees. The session will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Milltown Bed & Breakfast and costs $55. For more information, contact Danielle Sullivan at 465-6424 or email Danielle.sullivan@cbdc.ca.

In Hampton, Enterprise Fundy is sponsoring a Profit Learn session for local entrepreneurs on improving negotiating skills. The session will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Bamara Inn. The cost is $40. For more information, contact Candace Jeffrey at 432-2624 or Candace.jeffrey@ent-fundy.ca.

Erin Dwyer writes the Developments column for the Telegraph-Journal. The column runs Tuesday. To make a suggestion for the column, email her at dwyer.erin@telegraphjournal.com.