Interview + Giveaway with Amy of June & January

We have loved June & January since their early days as Little Hip Squeaks! It's no surprise that Amy, CEO and Director of Creative, has paved the way when it comes to hip baby and kids clothes, as well as some cute basics. She is not only an amazing entrepreneur, but a sweet mama friend and we want to share her with all of you! Enjoy this interview and stick around because we have got a fun giveaway for you below!

ZO: We love how you managed to create a baby/kids line that combines style, functionality and comfort! The playful colors and patterns and the super soft and stretchy fabric is perfect for kid’s play and makes life easy for mom! Can you tell us about your inspiration and vision for the line? What things have been particularly important to you as a mom of two?

AMY: The vision of the brand has really changed in the last 2 years — we used to have so many prints in our lineup, but over time the solid basics became such a staple piece in my own children’s wardrobes that I really wanted to shift focus there. I love that our pieces can go from nap time to preschool to playground to birthday party without much effort. There was such a big gap between the tacky appliquéd items you can pick up at Target, and the high-end couture pieces that you find in a lot of commerce brands these days, and I wanted to fill it in. I just wanted to make simple clothes that kids can really play in, which ties back to our brand motto of “We believe kids are fun and their clothes should be, too”.

ZO: You recently went through a big name change! How did that go? Are you happy with the change? We can't wait to see what other exciting things you have up your sleeve…care to share any with us?!

AMY: Whew, I spent so many (many many) nights tossing and turning — it was terrifying! I truly hated the name for years, and the moment I found out I was having a January baby, I trademarked June & January. Luckily she actually came in January ;) We made sure we were properly staffed with a team who would make the transition easier (SEO and PR, specifically) and put a lot of campaigns in place to make sure we wouldn’t be swept under the rug and forgotten about — and so far it’s been really successful and for the most part, an easy changeover.

A big part of the name change was separating ourselves from being specifically for babies/young kids. We have plans to work on some collaborations and projects that are outside our typical comfort zone!

ZO: You are a rockstar mom and entrepreneur and we have loved watching your business grow and thrive! What is the most important lesson you have learned in the process that you could share with other aspiring entrepreneurs?

AMY: One of the biggest things that I think small businesses get caught up with today is comparing themselves to other brands, and trying to replicate the same route of success that they used — when it’s so important to follow your own path and make decisions that work best for you and your own team. I’ve definitely fallen guilty of it in the early years — and even now when I work out of the Freshly Picked offices when I’m in Utah I am always filled with a jealous rage that our office doesn’t have a soda machine. I have a lot of friends who will see what one company in their space is doing, and assume that they should be doing it, too (hiring PR, hosting events, marking prices down, etc) — but you really need to tune out all that noise, look at what your goals are and find out the best way for YOU to get there.

ZO: Zoe Organics is SO excited to be heading to NYC to be apart of the City Kid Pop-Up hosted by June & January and Polarn O Pyret! There are going to be so many amazing brands there! What was your vision when putting something like this together? **UPDATE: Due to the circumstances surrounding the Valley Fire, Zoe Organics will no longer be able to attend the Pop Up. We are so sad to be missing out!**

AMY: This has been an idea I have had for several years! Back when I used to do Renegade Craft Shows, people would ask if I knew the locations of other kids’ brands at the show. Why wasn’t there a small retail market for brands in our industry?! Everyone knows that parents rarely spend money on themselves ;) ;) so it made perfect sense to me, but I never really had the time to put pen to paper and make a plan. Earlier this year Polarn O Pyret approached me about doing a sample sale together in Brooklyn, and I thought it was a perfect opportunity to throw something bigger and better than a sample sale. I wanted to bring together all the brands that I know and love, a group of small businesses who have a great social media reach and would love to network with each other offline. I’m hopeful that we get a great turnout, but also like to think that it’s a great opportunity for other makers and shakers to connect and get motivated!

Looks amazing right?! This event will be held at 501 Union Gowanus, Brooklyn on 9/27 from 11am - 6pm!

Now for the fun part! Enter the giveaway below to win $100 to zoeorganics.com + $100 to juneandjanuary.com! Good luck! xo

(US residents only. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter giveaway)