Pop-up to permanent bub store
AFTER having her first child, Larrissa Kek noticed a gap in the market for children and baby fashion.
Tapping into the market when her daughter Dana was only six months old, Larrissa began her Royal Bubs n Tots journey with pop-up stores in Dubbo, turning it in a brick and mortar store front in 2013.
With a lack of baby and children selection at the time, Larrissa sought the opportunity to establish her own boutique to cater for baby essentials.
“I was excited more than anything,” Larrissa told Dubbo Photo News, saying she wanted to close the gap in regional babywear.
After the success of her pop-ups, Larrissa communicated with her suppliers and commenced her plans for a permanent store.
With her daughter only being 15 months old when the store opened, Larrissa expressed her struggles as a new mum and a new small business owner.
Having to learn the challenges of motherhood and owning a small business, Larrissa said she is proud of the stock and services she has invested into the store.
“It has been a bit of a journey through the drought and the pandemic, but we have definitely had our successes,” she continued, saying the company has grown a lot over the years and continues to provide incomparable services in the region.
Royal Bubs n Tots is a one stop baby shop offering all baby necessities including, clothing, shoes, accessories, prams, carriers, breast pumps, car seats and other items.
Larrissa recently opened a gift shop offering children necessities at the Dubbo Base Hospital, she continued saying “it was a challenging process, but well worth it”.
Having three children now aged ten, eight and five, Larrissa shared that her life is busy, but she is excited to see where her passion for the store will go.
Larrissa said that the stock she orders are either Australian suppliers or overseas brands brought by Australian distributors.
To be Australian distributed, products need to meet Australian safety standards and requirements, she continued saying that when she receives new products, she tests them out on her own children to make sure they are practical to use.
Larrissa admits to hand selecting each item that will be available for purchase at the store as she is proud of the variety and brands that the company offers.
“I really enjoy guiding first time parents with products that they need,” she shared, adding that it can be intimidating not knowing where to start from when you have no experience.