A DREAM REALIZED

Even before she had a daughter, Lindsay loved everything about working in a children’s boutique: the products, the clothes, the toys. She loved being part of a store that could invoke such enthusiasm in its tiny customers. “It’s fun getting to see kids come in and they get so excited about the toys,” she said.

So when she moved to Massachusetts, she wanted to find a job at another one, yet there were none local to the area. Then one morning, she woke up wondering “what if I opened my own?” For a while, the question seemed like a far off dream, until the birth of her daughter Thea and the entrepreneurial guidance of her stepfather propelled her to take the first steps in opening Fox+Kit.

A PLAN IN ACTION

With no previous experience developing a business plan, Lindsay learned everything she needed through her own research, YouTube tutorials, and the advice of her stepfather, who has been a consistent mentor to Lindsay. The process was tedious and challenging, yet only encouraged Lindsay in pursuing her entrepreneurial dream. “It really helped me put together the image of what I wanted to do” she said, “and it really increased my passion for it because I was involved from the start.”

With a finalized business plan, Lindsay began seeking out financial support. After meeting with numerous banks, she was referred to Ascendus by TD Bank, where she applied for the SBA 7a Community Advantage loan. When she received the phone call that her loan had been preapproved, Lindsay said she was “jumping up and down with excitement.” With the loan, Lindsay was finally able to take the necessary steps towards opening her storefront. Lindsay is grateful for the attentive support she has received from Ascendus throughout the process. “Any time I have questions, they’ve been really great about getting me the information that I needed,” she said.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Lindsay’s daughter Thea, who will be two in March, has been a major driving force behind the store as well as one of Lindsay’s best customers. Lindsay’s dedication to offering the best items to her customers is personal, as many of the items in the store are also used in her home. “It’s great having the ability to say “I’ve actually used this, it really is great” and being able to give the customers that piece of mind that it’s not just something I picked out of a catalogue, that they can feel good about using for their children.” A majority of the brands Lindsay chooses are made from high quality sustainable or organic materials.

With her grand opening coming up on March 3^rd, Lindsay has come a long way from her once far off dream. “I thought it would never happen and here I am, going over all my orders and putting up shelving and getting ready to open.”