Some of you know that we started Papoose out of an 800 square foot space on New London Turnpike in Norwich, some of you don't. We now call that place the dungeon, because we had the place so packed to the ceiling with product that no sunlight would ever come in. It was in a medical office building, with limited parking and we weren't even allowed to put a sign out to advertise our whereabouts. But, we had to start somewhere and that place fit the bill. Plus, our landlord was extremely flexible and wonderful to us. We outgrew that space in about six months and were on the hunt for a new location that would fit all of our needs. That location is our present location at 82 Salem Turnpike. But, how did the whole idea start you might be asking?

Holly had the name, "Papoose" in her head for a very long time as a name for a store that she wanted to open someday. She even mentioned it to Carol on their way to or from a La Leche League conference a few years ago. Carol retired from Backus Hospital after 32 years in maternal health and as a Lactation Consultant in Dec. 2006. Carol can't sit still for long, and mom's and Pediatricians were calling her at home for breastfeeding support because her position had not been filled at Backus. She wanted to have her own lactation practice and needed a place to work out of.

Holly and I were friends and I always went to her at the salon to get my hair done. We met in 2003 when our boys, Cole and Will were in Kindergarten at  Montessori. We clicked immediately with our same parenting philosophies. I was teaching in New London, but was getting bored and wanted a new challenge. That is something about Holly and I, we always are looking for the next challenge. She left hair, I left teaching and the rest is history. Although we carry some of the same skills from our other jobs with us at Papoose.

We are constantly learning from each other, Carol keeps Holly and I grounded when we get BIG ideas and we laugh. We have been through some intense training to educate our customers on our services and products which we stand behind 100%. We are having a great time, our husbands are behind us all the way. We can't thank them enough for their support and labor in making the store look so wonderful. And, we know our kids will love Papoose someday. Right now, they just think of it as a painful, boring place to be, that keeps their mommies away from home. They don't realize that they are the inspiration for this wonderful dream come true. ~Amy