Today we’d like to introduce you to Ginger Gray.
Hi Ginger, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For more than two decades, Doodlebugs Children’s Finery & Gifts has been dedicated to helping families celebrate childhood with beautiful clothing, thoughtful gifts, and exceptional customer service.
After many years of retail experience and a degree in retail management and marketing from the University of SC, I knew that I wanted to have my own business at some point. I originally had the heart for formal wear and was in the process of purchasing an existing business when the owner decided at the last minute that she was no longer wanting to retire. In early 2002, I was approached by a children’s boutique owner where I had shopped for my own children. She was looking to relocate in Mt Pleasant, SC and had decided to sell her Georgetown location. In May of 2002 my husband and I purchased the business and changed the name to Doodlebugs, which was our nickname for my daughter at the time.
Like many small businesses, our journey has included challenges. In 2013 we experienced a devastating fire that destroyed 7 businesses in the Historic district of Georgetown. We lost everything at the time, but were quickly reminded of the incredible love and support shown in our community. We regrouped and continued serving our customers from a smaller location, determined to keep Doodlebugs moving forward. We were there for several years, but knew we needed a larger space. In 2017, we proudly opened the doors to our current, larger locati0n- a space that allows us to offer an even greater selection to our customers while continuing the personalized service that has always defined Doodlebugs.
Today, we remain committed to providing a carefully curated shopping experience for families near and far. Whether you are looking for the perfect baby gift, a special outfit, or everyday essentials, we are honored to be a part of your family’s story.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As mentioned previously, we have faced many obstacles. The total destruction from a fire in 2013, and then multiple flooding issues over the next several years in the newer location. Thankfully, we are now on higher ground and do not have to worry as much about weather related issues. However, in 2020, as many other small businesses we were hit hard from the effects of Covid. Having to keep our doors closed to the public we refocused and had to depend solely on social media to get the word out about new arrivals. Most of this occurred near Easter, which is typically one of our busiest times of year. Our inventory, which was ordered in August of the previous year, was still arriving although we weren’t able to have the traffic though our store as we normally would. These issues affected and ultimately forced many small business to shut their doors. Thankfully, we were able to work hard and continue on through exceptional customer service and long hours of photo taking and posting.
As you know, we’re big fans of Doodlebugs Children’s Finery & Gifts. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are known for our exceptional customer service, beautiful merchandise selection, and the relationships we have built with generations of families throughout our community. Many of our customers shopped with us as children and now bring in their own children for us to dress.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to personal service and community. We take the time to get to know our customers and their stories, helping them find exactly what they need. As an independent boutique, we carefully select products that offer quality, style, and value while maintaining a unique assortment you won’t find in big-box stores.
Our story is also one of resilience. Our journey has strengthened our connection to the community and reinforced our commitment to serving local families.
We want readers to know that Doodlebugs is more than a children’s store-it’s a place where families can find thoughtfully selected products, friendly faces, and a shopping experience that feels personal. From baby registries and gift-giving assistance to seasonal fashions and special occasion attire, we are dedicated to helping families celebrate every milestone.
We are proud to be a locally owned business that continues to grow while staying true to our roots: providing quality merchandise, exceptional service, and a welcoming atmosphere for every customer who walks through our doors.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Entrepreneurship itself is a risk, but one of the biggest risks I ever took was rebuilding and reinvesting in my business after our store was destroyed by fire in 2013. It would have been easy to walk away, but I believed in the business, our customers, and the role we played in the community.
In the next several years, I took another significant risk by moving into a much larger location and expanding the business during a time of great uncertainty for many retailers. After, this moved we ultimately decided to purchase the building and renovate the upstairs apartment into an AirBnb. It required faith, careful planning, and a willingness to step outside of my comfort zone for sure.
Those risk taught me that growth often comes from challenging circumstances. They reinforced the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and most importantly trust God to lead your way. Looking back, the risks were worth taking because they allowed Doodlebugs to continue growing and serving generations of families in our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doodlebugschild.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doodlebugschild
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgetownDoodlebugs
