A Smart Story

In 1999, Julie Hellwich made a few gifts for friends. The style and wit of the products struck a nerve with her chums and local store owners, and quickly captured the attention of smart women everywhere.

A stay-at-home Mom at the time (Julie has two daughters born 18 years apart), the business began as a way for Julie to work and spend time with her toddler. Soon the products found their way into specialty gift shops from New York to San Francisco; Austin to Chicago.

In 2004, Julie and Girl Babies, Inc. made the national scene when they announced a partnership with The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) for the Smart Women 2004 Elect to Make a Difference Tour in an effort to excite, educate, and engage women around the 2004 presidential elections, and inspire them to “elect to make a difference” in their communities every day.

Smart Women Products have been featured on HGTV, Ladies Home Journal, GLAMOUR, Washington Post, BUST Magazine as well as many other local and national media venues.

Julie continues to promote civic engagement, register voters, and engage women of all ages in the political process. The Smart Women brand offers products via wholesale, retail, co-branding, licensing and soon publishing.  Smart Women products are sold worldwide.