Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Drake.
Hi Karina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was living in New York City and had just had my daughter, Alexa. At the time, I was working in advertising, but I always knew I wanted to have my own thing. I also felt it was time for us to move back to Austin. I really do think I lost my mind for a bit. Without rhyme or reason, I started reaching out to children’s brands that were widely available in NYC but not yet available in Austin. I had no real master plan and zero experience. I just had a good gut feeling that Austin needed a store like the one I was envisioning. I took things one step at a time to see if they could possibly even align – would I find a space in time?…would I be able to move back to Austin within that same timeline?…would the money I needed for the store be available? Would the merchandise be ready?…So many things had to come to together perfectly in order for the store to work. The amazing thing is that they did, and for me, that was a real sign that I was on the right path. Looking back, I would say that was the easiest part!
Since opening our shop in 2018, we have lived through a pandemic, moved spaces and met so amazing people along the way. We are a constant work in progress, but we have moved into a better space, have secured more amazing brands and are getting savvier on the business side of things.
Alright, 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?
It definitely has not been smooth! 😉 Being a business owner is such a rollercoaster. Finding a retail space was very challenging. So much of that process is out of your control. We lost so many spaces that felt perfect for the shop. Other struggles at the beginning included inventory issues, learning curves of owning a retail shop and making pricey mistakes. But none of those compared to the massive impact of the pandemic. Our shop was officially shut down for months. We still owed rent on our space, we had orders that needed to be paid. The world was shut down, and even though we had loyal customers trying to keep us alive, people weren’t shopping. It felt like we were digging ourselves into a massive hole, and It was the first time since the inception of the store that I wondered if we would make it.
While we are still working our way out of that hole, I can say that there is light at the end of the tunnel. With all of those struggles, the one thing that remained the same was getting up every day and doing (sometimes) only small things to keep this business moving forward. If you believe in what you’re doing enough, you will find always find a way. Or you will realize you have to pivot, sometimes stop. Regardless, if you are open, you will get the answers you need. You just have to be open to relinquishing control and trusting a lot of the unknowns.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The two things I am most proud of in regards to this store are our relationships with our people and our unique products. Nothing is more important in this shop than our “customers”. I put quotations around that word because I hate it. Almost everyone who shops at the store is considered a friend. The main goal of this store has always been to create a space that inspires joy, and we will truly do anything to accomplish that. One way we try is by bringing in really special items that make people feel really excited! Excited to gift, excited to buy for their new baby, excited to let their toddler pick out. Nothing makes us happier than hearing people “ooo and aaaa” while looking around. 🙂
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The baby industry is always booming and evolving. It’s almost scary to think about where it will be in the next 5-10 years. I see less fast fashion, more emphasis on quality fabrics and materials and maybe a crib that changes your baby’s diaper. JK, but hey! There’s already a crib that rocks your baby to sleep, so who knows!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@alexajbaby.com
- Website: www.alexajbaby.com
- Instagram: @alexajamesbaby
Image Credits
Lindsey Brown
