LAPLACE — With the nearest maternity boutique positioned an hour away in Baton Rouge, Katelyn Montalbano not too long ago opened The Bump & Company LLC to aid expectant moms in the River Parishes and outside of appear and come to feel their finest.
Found at 1974 Ormond Blvd Suite F in Destrehan, the new company was a aspiration many years in the making.
Montalbano was 6 months along with her initially son in December 2017 when she declared her being pregnant to her mother. The up coming working day, they headed straight to Desired destination Maternity in Metairie, with her mother insisting she desired to be prepared for the early morning she’d wake up and understand practically nothing healthy. Fortunately, the shop experienced a bogus belly that Montalbano was in a position to try on to gauge how clothes would fit even further together in her being pregnant.
Location Maternity experienced shut down by the time Montalbano was pregnant with her 2nd toddler much less than two years later on. The only choices for maternity procuring were being the constrained choices at Walmart and Focus on. The garments she was able to find didn’t match her fashion, and the massive chain shops didn’t offer a bogus belly to see how the clothing would in shape.
Locating maternity apparel in large box outlets has become even much more difficult as fitting rooms have closed amid COVID-19 safety measures.
“At that level, my mom and I talked about opening up a maternity retailer, but we didn’t do it. I experienced two toddlers beneath 2 yrs previous, and there was a whole lot going on,” Montalbano claimed. “Then, for the duration of Hurricane Ida, we were being sitting around with no energy or drinking water, and we made a decision to pull the plug and open a maternity shop. We went ahead with our notion and within just six weeks, we opened, and we have been carrying out nicely.”
The Bump & Firm LLC delivers maternity clothing to in shape each individual situation, from laid back leggings and T-shirts to fashionable gowns for newborn showers and photoshoots. Other goods provided consist of hats, necklaces, candles, slippers, stomach help bands, Mommy and me robes with matching swaddles, and PJ sets for maternity, postpartum and breastfeeding.
Of class, Montalbano built confident to inventory the fitting place with a comfortable belly that velcros underneath the dresses. Any time she hears giggling from behind the curtains, she knows a 1st-time mother is striving on the tummy, giddy with enjoyment in excess of what’s to come.
In accordance to Montalbano, many of the shirts and attire at The Bump & Business are not strictly maternity items.
“Around 85% of our objects can be worn postpartum,” she said. “A massive aim of mine is to have a lot that can be worn later on so persons are not investing a ton of funds on something that can only be worn for a few months.”
Th Bump & Business strives to retain a realistic value stage, with a the greater part of clothes and equipment ranging from $20 to $60. In the to start with month of company, the most well-liked merchandise have included sweater attire, hoodies, ball caps and tie dye pajama sets.
Heading into 2022, Montalbano’s aim is to have a new item in the keep each individual 7 days. The Bump & Business will also be performing with a nonprofit organization this 12 months.
“We are functioning on getting folks to donate their maternity photoshoot attire. The moment we get sufficient, we will set out a rack and promote them for $20. The money we make will be donated to a battered women’s shelter,” Montalbano said.
Considering that opening in late November, The Bump & Business has now received a pursuing of return prospects. As a St. Charles Parish native, Montalbano is grateful for the help she’s noticed from her community, as nicely as the encompassing location.
“This is my to start with smaller company. I’m obtaining a good deal of assist not just from St. Charles Parish, but from the River Parishes, Houma, Mandeville and Baton Rouge. I’m finding a wide variety of buyers from all more than, which is phenomenal,” she mentioned, introducing, “I am often open to suggestions on what persons would like to see.”
Support has also arrive from outdoors of Louisiana. Just after publishing a TikTok showcasing maternity have on, Montalbano woke up to on the net orders from 11 different states. It only took two times for the TikTok to surpass 240,000 views and 10.4K likes.
The Bump & Firm LLC is open from midday to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday by way of Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The boutique is closed on Sunday and Monday.
For much more details, observe The Bump & Enterprise on Fb, Instagram and TikTok or go to thebumpandcompany.com. Montalbano may well also be attained by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 504-401-1956.