The Beginning

by Susan White July 20, 2015 20 Comments

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to our new online store and its first blog! What an adventure its been putting this site together! Its really just an extension of our store so in a way its been years in the making. In case you don't know, Whoopsie Daisy is a brick and mortar boutique that my mother in law, Linda, and I started back in 2002. At the time I was a new mom and she was a RN who worked with children. I had taken time off work to spend time with Shelby, my beautiful new baby. I was the store manager of a large chain clothing store and wasn't looking forward to putting Shelby in daycare to go back to work. I wasn't sure how to work it out but I knew I needed to stay at home with Shelby and I was determined to work it out. As I shopped for Shelby, visiting store after store, I found everything to be the same and nothing "stood out". I wanted color and unique fun things for her! I couldn't find what I really wanted and this is the mommy desire that led to our little store, Whoopsie Daisy. What a great way to stay home, or at least, take Shelby with me to work!

After all, I graduated college with a major in fashion merchandising and my true love was visual merchandising so it just made sense.  I had years of professional experience managing retail and I was ready to take on a new fashion adventure! I always loved fashion, in high school, it was a joke that "Susan will change the world. She will help everyone dress better!" Well I don't know about changing the world, BUT everyone did want to borrow my clothes so I did help some dress better! I must admit though, looking back at it, why they wanted some of my 90's fashion clothes I just don't know! When I look at old pictures I'm not even sure why I wanted them! I used to sketch pictures of the clothes I wish I could wear, but alas I made the most of what was available to me and I enjoyed wearing what I had. Which is really all we can ask from our clothes is that not only do they serve their purpose but that we get enjoyment from them! Anyway, fashion has always been a big part of my life and who I am. I love to watch someones face light up when they try on the 'right one'. Or when they come face to face with the perfect outfit and its love at first sight. They can see their little one in it before they even take it off the rack.

Linda was excited to open a store too! After being raised with 3 brothers then raising 3 sons, she was SUPER excited that her first grand baby was a girl. It was a dream come true and she was as excited as I was to go to market and see what we could find! Which lets be honest here, what we REALLY did at market was just buy what we wanted to dress Shelby in. I suppose that worked though and so after all these years I still buy and stock the store based on that same idea....."What would I want to see my kids in?" We have just always figured if we like it then other people will like it too! Maybe not everyone, but while we try, you can't always please everyone. 

We have had a lot to learn. Managing large retail chains and starting your own business are two VERY different things. We have been around for a while now and have sadly seen a lot of other stores come and go. Its hard to start a clothing store and we really spent the first few years just building up customers and gaining relationships with them. Owning a store is risky and a lot of work but it allowed me to be able to spend time with my babies. First with Shelby, then again in 2005 with my son Sawyer. He stayed with me at the store from the time he was about two weeks old. I just couldn't stay away from the store for long, I loved it! And what better place to bring a new baby than a children's boutique! It was such a blessing to be able to bring my kids to the store. I wouldn't have traded it for the world.

Now years have gone by and my babies aren't babies anymore. They still come and hang out at the store with me sometimes and I have watched them grow up there just like I have watched the store change and grow up. When you watch your kids grow up somewhere it becomes like home to you and that is really what the store has become. Its like a part of our family, its been a big part of our life for as long as our kids have been, we even have their pictures on the walls. Time has passed and its been a blessing. Linda retired a few years back and now I am fortunate to have my amazing husband Stephen there with me on a daily basis. He has always been involved and helped me when I needed it but now he is there with me nearly daily. He keeps the computers going, fixes things, helps with business stuff, and can even help you find the perfect hair bow for your dress! He supports me and helps me grow and change, constantly encouraging and motivating me. He is my cheerleader who also gets his hands dirty to make things happen. Things like this website couldn't be possible for the store without him. After all he did 'contribute' to the website by putting the whole thing together! Without him, this website would just be a  "wouldn't it be nice if" thought. I love him and am so very grateful that we can go through all of this together.

Whoopsie Daisy has allowed us to grow close to many people over the years, people who are more than customers to us. They are our community and friends, who we serve. We have watched kids grow up and start families of their own. We have held people's hands as they cry out their problems and laughed with them as they told us funny stories. We have had precious little girl customers grow up and end up an employee (We love you Kalyn). We have had the opportunity to help many wonderful organizations over the years. We are grateful for our customers, they are more than just shoppers to us. They are our community and friends. We can't wait to grow and meet many more customers through this new online extension of our store. This is all very new to us but I always like to try new things. Its like buying for the store, I always want to try new things when I buy. Its important to always try something new and never be afraid to "Stand Out"!

We look forward to getting to know you via social media, over the phone, email, or hopefully in the store if possible!

Thanks for being a part of our journey!

Susan, Stephen, Shelby, Sawyer, and Linda

 

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