Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Bowen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
With a background in corporate merchandising and pregnant with my first child, a boy, I was frustrated at the lack of options for boys clothes. I always wanted to own a clothing store, so I quit my job in 2013 and started HipsterBaby.com selling cool clothes for boys. With a loyal boy mom following I would often hear complaints from girl moms wanting to see more edgy styles for their girls too, so after the birth of my daughter I added girls clothes to the website in 2015. Wanting more customer interaction, we did several pop up events around Dallas and Houston where we knew we had a concept that we needed to share more permanently. In the Fall of 2016 we found a small space in Richardson, Texas we renovated to match our unique and funky vibe to house both our online and in store merchandise. Store fixtures are far from the norm, an 80s truck bed, old school desks and chairs, toy dinosaur and unicorn sunglass holders, etc. Almost every fixture in the store was designed by me and made by my husband, after all our business is a family affair. Our store neighbors include a children’s play space, mom and pop ice cream shop, coffee shop, and 3 different restaurants. We focus on supporting small lines often only found online or creating one of a kind pieces such as distressed denim vests with hand sewn vintage patches. After all, our motto has always been “Only the Coolest. Only for Yours.” From newborn to size 10 we’ve got cool clothes for your son or daughter.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first started I had a lot of people tell me a boy’s only clothing store concept would never work and that people didn’t spend money on boys clothes. But I believed there was value in being the underdog so I stood by my idea, worked on marketing, branding, and SEO and it paid off. I would receive emails and messages from moms thanking me, that they finally had a ‘place to shop’ for their son. Which is why even today I carry a large assortment of boy’s clothes amidst an industry catering to girl’s.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Hipster Baby – what should we know?
Hipster Baby is an online and brick and mortar store specializing in cool kids clothes. You won’t find smocked clothes with trains and bunnies or white shiny mary janes. We are the antithesis of that look actually and we like to say that if me or my husband wouldn’t wear it ourselves we won’t sell it. Hipster Baby has a small community feel with a Dot Com reach.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Staying true to our brand, working all the time, and listening to market demands such as providing our local customers with the opportunity to order online and have it shipped and arrived to them in the same day.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2701 Custer Parkway,
Suite 714,
Richardson, TX 75080 - Website: www.hipsterbaby.com
- Phone: 2144849441
- Email: marydbowen@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shophipsterbaby/
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/shophipsterbaby/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hipster-baby-richardson
Image Credit:
Carol Riell Photography
Web & Witt
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