Do you love when a dream becomes reality? We do! For Chelsea Santos that’s just how Yaya + Lou got its start. Chelsea walked by the vacant College Park storefront one day and jokingly said one day that will be my children’s store. And today the store is one of Orlando’s most beloved local spots.
Chelsea is a mama of two, to Amelia (7) and Stella (4). Her sweet nicknames for them, Yaya and Lou inspired the store’s namesake. They opened in early 2019 and are going strong through the pandemic.
What made you want to open Yaya + Lou?
I wanted to open a children’s store for over five years before I actually did. I have always loved fashion and wanted to own a retail store since I was very young. When I had my first daughter it ignited my passion for kids’ fashion and my desire to open a children’s clothing store.
What can we find at the store?
You can expect to find a lot of high quality children’s labels from all over the world. I don’t buy from one or two large wholesale dealers. I reach out to each label individually to create an account. I make sure to have personal experience with each brand before offering it in the store.
We have a second hand corner in our shop called ENCOR(NER) where customers are able to bring their gently used children’s clothes and accessories that align with brands we do or would carry in our shop, and in return they receive store credit. We then resell those items at a reasonable cost and customers are able to shop great brands for less! ENCOR(NER) has been really well received by customers and it’s one of my favorite parts of the shop. I can’t wait to watch our second hand corner continue to grow!
Tell us about your favorite things in the store:
This is a tough question because I truly love everything in my store. I would say Maileg brand is one of my favorites to carry in the shop because everything they create is magic. Their main product that they are most known for are tiny bean filled mice family members that each have their own matchbox to live in.
How have you pivoted during the pandemic?
We had already launched our e-commerce webshop last October so luckily we were prepared to shift our business focus to online orders. When the pandemic hit and we were forced to close our brick + mortar, we began offering free shipping on any order amount to make it worthwhile for customers near and far to continue shopping with us. For all local orders, my daughters and I would hop in the car and drive around doing drop offs.
My goal for the shop is to continue spreading the word that we exist to customers nationwide. The thing I look forward to the most is meeting and building relationships with new customers and maintaining the relationships I have already built with current customers.
Is Yaya + Lou a good place for holiday shopping?
Absolutely! We stock up on toys and books for the holiday season for babies and children. We pride ourselves on carrying unique, heirloom quality toys that will remain in the family for years to come.
How does your family help with the shop?
My seven year old has become quite the helper in the shop! She has watched me long enough to know exactly how things are done from ringing items up, organizing the store, to adding inventory into the system. I am able to assign her independent tasks that are a great help to me! I try to reward her for her help either with a small amount of money or a special treat so she knows her help is valued! My four year old is also eager to help so I try to find small tasks that she is able to complete so she can feel like she is part of the team! In addition to my daughters, my mother is always willing to help in the shop on days I need extra hands!
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