When Apnavi Pareek, our NJ Mompreneur of the Week, was a young mom in Singapore, a good friend saw her doing crafts with her son and knew she’d be just the person she needed to help run an art business. Apnavi loved crafts and working with children and knew this was her calling, and started hosting children’s arts and crafts classes on her own. Fast forward to 2019, when her family moved to New Jersey, and she launched her concept stateside. Today, Buzy Bugs is a curated creative hub for children specializing in arts and crafts sessions, sensory activities, STEM-themed events, cultural workshops, activity kits, and more. We caught up with this Jersey City mom of one to discover the well-known museums where she’s been known to host special events, her favorite ways to decompress, and the Jersey Shore beach her family loves to frequent, partly because it’s where they spotted their first dolphin.
Please share a bit about your family and background. I grew up in Jaipur, India, and went to school there. I got my undergrad degree in Software Systems from Delhi University and completed my Master’s in Business Management, where I met my husband, Anand. I worked in the corporate world for about two years when he was offered an opportunity to work in Singapore, so we moved and were there for about ten years. It’s where our son, Ahaan, 10, was born. Then, when another great opportunity–this time for a NYC job–came his way, we moved to Jersey City in 2019 and have resided here ever since. The proximity to the city, good school system and reputation for a close-knit community were deciding factors for us. Jersey City is a very walkable town with a welcoming community.
Why this particular business? I worked in sales and marketing while in India, but after moving to Singapore and the birth of my son, I had a few health issues. Rather than continue that career path, I focused on my health and family. I’ve always been into arts and crafts and love being around kids, and when a friend saw me being “crafty” with my son, she invited me to help her with the small art business she ran out of her home. I loved the planning projects aspect of it and working there, and I knew I didn’t want to return to the corporate culture and that pursuing my own business with kids’ activities and events would make me happiest.
What sets your business apart and makes it different from others that are similar? I’m passionate about making and creating beautiful memories for kids. These types of businesses usually focus on the end result, but it’s important to me that we focus on the hands-on experience and collaborative process instead.
What are you most proud of regarding your business? I originally started my business in Singapore and ran it successfully for 4 years there. When I moved to the US, I thought I couldn’t get it back to the same level, but I could do it and then some! I have a lot of kids programs and collaborative events in New Jersey and New York City, too. I work with museums, including the Asia Society Museum, Seaport Museum, and Brooklyn Children’s Museum, doing cultural workshops and events.
What do you wish you had known before launching your business that might have made the process run smoother in the beginning? I wish I had not had so much self-doubt and had more confidence from the get-go. I always thought people would think that because I spent so much time and energy studying something else, that’s the path I should take, so I held back what I really wanted to do for a long time.
Running a business can be a 24/7 endeavor. What do you like to do when you find time to unwind? To de-stress, I consciously try to stop looking at emails and stop working. I love talking to my son about his day-to-day and questioning him about theater, which he’s passionate about. I also enjoy watching movies with my husband and son, specifically mindless ones, so I don’t have to think. And I love getting together with girlfriends to chat, go for walks, and share dinners.
When it comes to Buzy Bugs, does your family get involved? Both my husband and son get involved. I look at Buzy Bugs as if it’s a family business. Anand works in a bank, but he happily supports me in tech and website. And, Ahaan has grown up watching me do this business—he’s picked up so much of it that people say that if I’m not here, he’d be able to handle absolutely everything, and I think they might be right—I swear he’s better at sales than me.
Please share some of your favorite local businesses and NJ spots that you and your family enjoy. Jersey City has so many great small businesses, and so many of these women entrepreneurs inspire me every single day. I genuinely feel like we’re all in this together. I started at Shenaaz Dance Academy and now partner with Shenaaz Jagasia, the owner of SDA, in our shared business, WonderWorkz, a holiday camps and events business. And Anushya of TangleTime with Anushya saw my skills and pushed me to start Buzy Bugs here in the US. I’m also a big fan of Jam Cakery Events, which joins us for some of our camps, and A Sound Start, a very special toddler music and movement business. Liberty State Park is right across from our home, and we love going there to picnic, cycle or enjoy being outside and taking it all in. The Watchung Reservation is also perfect for a half-day outing. It’s great to go for long walks there, and the kid’s play area is unique—it’s the ideal place for play and chitchat. And, of course, New Jersey’s beaches are very special. Point Pleasant Beach is a favorite because it’s clean and beautiful. It holds a special place in our hearts because we saw our first-ever dolphin there, and now, we enjoy going to see if we can spot one again.
What’s your best practical advice for a mompreneur just starting? Start small, but start strong! Take baby steps, but take them with conviction and confidence.
For more information on Apnavi Pareek and Buzy Bugs, please see the website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
