Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody Nabati.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Seven years ago, I followed my passion and created a trendy kid’s online boutique, Mini Dreamers. I used to work in the family business and after my dad passed away, I wanted to do something for myself to express more of my creative side. I had experience working in the kid’s clothing industry and started exploring my options to start something of my own. I went back and forth on whether to open a storefront or launch an online boutique and after a lot of thought, I decided an online store was a better fit for me. I personally am an avid online shopper and noticed there was a gap in the industry for a trendy kid’s online boutique. After months of planning, meetings and collaborating with our web developer, we finally launched our online store on September 7, 2016. Mini Dreamers started with myself, a photographer and a web developer. I would receive our merchandise, package our orders, enter all the new products online and answer customer inquiries all on my own. I worked around the clock to always make sure our website was up to date. After two years, it was finally time to expand our team and bring more employees on board.
We are so lucky to have the best team which includes a graphic designer, web developer, photographer, warehouse staff, assistant buyers, SEO and Ad team, content writers, and the list goes on. We did not rush into expanding until the company grew on its own organically and we needed to keep up with the order demands. We’ve outgrown and moved our warehouse space three times in the last two years and have added over 100+ brands to our designer list. As an owner and CEO, I truly believe that in every successful company, it is important to be active and involved in every department. I still work with the team to ship orders, answer emails, coordinate with our web team and photographer and I am constantly involved in the day to day tasks of the business even though I trust my team to handle it on their own. I’m always open to hearing how we can create a better online experience on our website and which new brands should be added on. I am so proud of how far we have come as I never imagined Mini Dreamers would be the company that it is today. I am grateful for all of our shoppers who choose to shop at Mini Dreamers and allow me to do what I love every single day!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes and No. I’ve never owned my own business and had no idea how or where to start. I’ve had to learn about accounting, managing employees, contracts, negotiations, etc. Not having my dad available for guidance was really difficult too and I felt very alone in the process. I really had to spend so much time researching, asking questions, and learning about topics I never knew about to make sure I was doing everything correctly. My family really stepped in and helped. I am so thankful for all their guidance and support throughout the years and I truly wouldn’t be where I am without them.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mini Dreamers is a mini department store for kids, carrying over 120 kids clothing brands from around the world. Inspired by stores such as Intermix and Shopbop, Mini Dreamers captures that same experience for kids, with the trendiest and most unique pieces that are hard to find anywhere else.
Our clothing is handpicked from every designer to create the absolute best selection. At Mini Dreamers, we keep up with upcoming trends as well as curate and creatively style outfits, so you don’t have to.
We attend multiple trade shows throughout the year to find exclusive brands to carry on the site and constantly search through Instagram to find smaller brands to support and carry as well.
We offer our customers a personal styling option, where one of our stylists, Yassi, is available to assist with sizing and styling needs via text.
We now collaborate with brands to offer exclusive styles only available on Mini Dreamers. This helps us differentiate from our competitors and offers a unique assortment of products.
We really give our customers what they want. They love the vast selection of brands and styles we offer.
What matters most to you? Why?
I really take pride in how the site is so user-friendly and easy to navigate. I spend hours a week with our web developer, making sure all the features on the site are working properly and how we can better it. Nothing feels better than when customers email or DM us saying how much they love shopping with us. It really makes all the hard work worth it. And at the end of the day, seeing our customers loving their purchases and their minis styled in our outfits means the world. We really have such an amazing community of customers and we are so thankful for the love and support over the years.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@minidreamers.com
- Website: www.minidreamers.com
- Instagram: @minidreamerskids
