I don't love to show my face a lot on my brand, but as we wrap up our final week of our first month of launching our memberships, I thought I should introduce myself and tell you more about my WHY and HOW I started My Petite & Me and &girl.
This journey really began just a few short months after having my first daughter Mary Margaret. Two babies in 13 months... ugh my body felt foreign to me. As a person that didn't have a great relationship with my body already, that was tough for me mentally and emotionally. Luckily, I had been called to start an amazing spiritual journey through a very special yoga teacher training where I spent nearly a year of my life, unraveling or trying to unravel, negative thought patterns and learning to be in my body fully for the first time.
It was life changing. It was also eye opening. I had never realized how absolutely mean I was to myself so much of the time! As my daughter grew and I started to catch myself in these negative thought patterns and behaviors, I realized oh man - she is watching me and learning from me. I need to be a better model for her. And to do that I need to SHOW her. What better way to show your little girl how to love herself than to do it with her - both together - on the journey.
That is where I decided to make my own Mommy & Me athletic wear. Because well yoga pants were my uniform and let's be honest just so darn comfortable! To match was to hopefully inspire EACH OTHER. You can't ignore your bad habits when a cute little girl is matching you step for step - literally!
It took me almost a year to figure out how to get them created - stick around and I'll share that story too one day. And then another year to manufacture and produce and get my clothing. I designed each piece. I measured and cut and touched fabric and sampled and washed and dried and tried on... and on, and on, and on. I cared so much that what someone bought from me would be something worthwhile. Because it was me AND my daughter's name on it.
Then- oh wow - I became pregnant with my fourth child and second daughter. I was ecstatic to have another little girl, but boy, I mean girl, did she make me sick that nine months! It slowed me down. Waaaayyyyy down. Then there were more setbacks business-wise, because that’s what happens. So, at the beginning of 2024 I said, I am going to give this one more go and maybe I need to change the way I see how this business will work.
I know I cannot compete with Old Navy and Target. I know I am not in the same category as Lululemon and other high-end brands, but what can I offer?
I can offer quality fabrics and cuts that are not made to be worn three times and pushed to the side. I can offer the care and customer service of a person who truly cares about the moms and daughters that use her products. But I cannot offer lots and lots of options each season and an endless supply of clothes. I cannot afford to be the first hit on your google search and outspend Shein.  I decided I wanted to streamline. And I wanted to start to offer one-of- a-kind small batch pieces that you can eventually only get through a membership. But I wanted that membership to have perks, and that meant that not only will people get these one-of -a-kind pieces through the memberships, but also, they were going to get a discount on my normal set pricing which is $25 for kid’s basic pieces and $39 for moms basic pieces. Plus, I wanted to offer them special discounts on certain products each month that only members receive so they can throw in some extra goodies each month when needed. I wanted it to be as affordable as I possibly could make it.
But to be transparent, this is as much about me the business as it is about you. I offer you this because this is what will keep a small business alive. I need to know my customers, I need to know how many to produce to make it make sense, I need to be able to talk members and find out what they want, what they like, how they want to wear athleisure.
I have seen so many women-owned business struggle lately, especially in the clothing industry. It is full of competition, prices to produce or buy wholesale are so expensive and customers are too enticed by the Temu and Shein prices and styles.
Times are tough, for all of us, but if you have gotten this far – know that each monthly membership circles back to the why. This is how I can keep going, but my why is because of you. Because us women are fighting like hell to help our daughters not grow up with the same baggage that we are trying to unlearn. We want the next generations of girls to be better at being fully alive, not locked into a stereotype of what she looks like, but who she is. We want to raise bold and brave women. Women that aren’t afraid to be all of themselves and to be it proudly.
Â
I believe in this so much. I ask for your help. Help me grow. Tell your friends, neighbors, come to our events or just share a post. It means more than you know!
THANK YOU so much to all the new members that have joined and trusted my vision for how much fun and value this will provide. I also want to thank so many of you who don't have young daughters, but who have supported me by sharing with friends and offering encouragement. It means so much to me! It is always hard to try something new. But you can't grow unless you decide to keep pushing yourself. I say that for myself and just like the purpose of the company - I truly hope that also inspires young girls to reach out for their dreams as well!