Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Neal.
Hi Meredith, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I married my high school sweetheart in 2018 at the age of 22. A little over a year later, we welcomed our first daughter, Penelope (Poppy), into the world. Prior to her birth, I was a teacher, but planned to stay home with her. We quickly became a single income family on a fresh out of college salary. Our budget was tight, but that was a sacrifice we wanted to make in order for me to be home with her. I always dreamed of dressing my kids in smocked clothing just like how my mom dressed me. Smocked clothing was definitely not in the budget though. Four months after Penelope was born, I started Poppy Kids Co as a way to dress her in precious, smocked clothing and maybe make a little extra money on the side. I would have never imagined that Poppy Kids Co would grow in to what it has in the past two years. It has been a huge labor of love and I have learned so much about how I capable I am as a young woman, mother, and an entrepreneur. Poppy Kids Co has blessed our family in so many ways and I can’t wait to see what it can grow to be.
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?
My husband and I love to come up with business ideas. From the time we started dating, we have attempted quite a few different businesses. We tried custom made to order donuts- but could never figure out a good recipe, a koozie that keeps your drink cold, and a statement earring business. We wrote a children’s book and got it partially illustrated. The list goes on and on. None of these businesses would be considered a “success” in traditional terms, but we learned something each time and had so much fun a long the way. I try to keep that attitude as I face challenges with Poppy Kids Co- each moment is an opportunity to learn and grow.
We’ve been impressed with Poppy Kids Co, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Poppy Kids Co is a smocked children’s clothing brand that focuses on creating colorful, heirloom quality pieces that you are going to want to pass down from generation to generation. These are high quality outfits meant for everything from playing and everyday wear to your most special events.
I think beyond our beautiful, hand stitched designs, Poppy Kids Co is unique from other smocked shops, because of the heart behind the brand. A portion of every purchase is donated to a charity close to the heart of someone in our Poppy Kids Co community. As the only person running every aspect of Poppy Kids Co, I have had the honor and privilege of connecting with so many women who have come across my shop. I get to hear about their sweet children and see pictures as they have grown up over the last two years. I also hear from their heart and the struggles they have. For this reason, I choose a new charity to donate to each month that directly impacts the life of one of the women I meet. I am so grateful that we have been able to donate thousands of dollars to various charities over the last two years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.poppykidsco.com
- Instagram: @poppykidsco
