Why has Dana been busy? This is Ford, her third little wonder. |
Who started Daisy Baby and Kids?
Daisy Baby and Kids is truly the brainchild of Andrea Paro. One day when she was pregnant with her daughter Tallulah, she said she envisioned a yellow duck on top of a white box with a ribbon, and from that vision Daisy Baby was born. The simplicity with a little pop of sweetness is where we were and where we are.
When did it start?
It started during that boom of the baby industry which I think really began when Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple was born in 2004. It was the first time we saw publicity shots of a baby's room being featured as much as someone's home, and it was the first time we saw a modern nursery like that. That's when you saw the design of nursery pushing the boundaries beyond a Winnie the Pooh theme.
What were your first lines back then?
One of the first lines we saw was Serena and Lily back when it was really just Serena and Lily. And that's when we started 10 years ago, making the nursery put the mark of you on it, starting to make sure it reflected you and your home and the celebration of your child. Also at the very cusp of this business was Bugaboo. When they entered this marketplace, strollers didn't look like they do today. We take it for granted now that they have these beautiful strollers that are just lovely and functional and have a bassinet that looks like a pram and the design and innovation in this industry is just beautiful. Every time I see a man hunched over an umbrella stroller and pushing it up the hill it looks like it's more trouble to have it than it would be without it! The way strollers have changed is phenomenal.
Bugaboo Donkey |
What do you think is special about Daisy Baby?
It's about the babies, and everyone loves the babies really, but we're also all about mom. What about mom? How is she doing? How is she feeling? How is she handling this time in her life? We kiss the babies and talk about sleep and breastfeeding and all of that. We follow that journey with the mom, from the first time she comes in the store and doesn't really know what she's wanting and we talk about it, research it, figure out her style and what she's after. We go through that process with her, ordering and it coming in and getting it installed and all of that, it's so special and neat.
What's a really special experience that comes from being part of Daisy Baby?
We had a baby come in the other day, about 9 years old. It just blows me away. Seeing that baby whose nursery we designed, and having that connection with the store and these parents still. The real babies, the Daisy Babies. All these little babies, I've watched these moms from being pregnant and through the birth and I love hearing the birth stories. I love listening about their water breaking to the moment they crowned all the way up until they come in here and bring the babies and I can say, "Sit down, have a seat and nurse here and chat with us." When the little ones come back and I watch them grow and maybe they think my name is Daisy instead of Dana, I'm the lady with the candy jar. I'm not a millionaire yet but my millions are counted in the babies I get to see grow up and all of the joy I get from having this little boutique in Bethesda.
What's changed about the boutique world in the past 10 years since you started?
When I found out about the boutique movement I was just leaving Los Angeles and it was really col to know abuot these small businesses who were finding interesting lines, not everything being so cookie cutter. I'm really proud to be a part of this movement. Ten years later though, I feel like there's barely any boutiques left at all. Everything is all internet and big box stores. I think about this side of Bethesda and I think in another 10 years there will be no boutiques left, just restaurants and chains.
What is the most important part of having a storefront? Why not an internet retailer?
When I think about my store, I'm proud of every single piece in here. It's like curating a museum, when you walk in, what do you smell? What do you see? What do your eyes light on? It takes focus and creativity and a certain gift and I love the fact that I can give that out and I appreciate that. I feel like it's important in the world - it's a unique piece of why a boutique is important and I'm glad I exist in that realm. I love when people come in here and they can touch and feel the things they see online. You can read fifty reviews but Dana is a review and I have used all of this and all my moms come and tell me how it is and this is what I live and breathe and sleep, this is what I DO.
What's unique about the baby industry?
Every day women come into our store and I love it, they're just shocked at how much has changed since they had a baby - 25 years ago, 10 years ago, 6 months ago. "This didn't exist when I had my baby!" That is one of the neat parts about this industry, those changes. When I think about Chewbeads, a woman invented a necklace babies can pull on and chew on. It's not trying to get kids to pull on your necklace, but babies will be pulling and chewing on our necklaces or hair so why not give them something safe to do that with?
Chewbeads |
Bambini Wear |
This computer program has only been with us since 2009, so it's missing some of the early years. But I've got almost 6000 clients that have come through this door since then. I've recorded 3000 orders. I don't know how many little babies that is, but for a little store like this, it's great seeing all those children come through here and grow up and it's just wonderful.
Just a pic of why Christina's been busy - I moved to Hawaii! |
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