Izabela Minkiewicz founder of Blue Almonds
Situated in London between South Kensington, Chelsea & Knightsbridge Blue Almonds is a beautifully curated boutique stocked with everything parents could want for their new baby.
In providing a bespoke service to parents they focus on the relationship rather than the purely transactional. Izabela Minkiewicz founder of Blue Almonds talks about her all female team.
Does having a predominantly female team change how you provide your services to your customers?
While the gender composition of a team can influence dynamics of clients’ relationship, what truly matters is the team’s commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of our customers. Our predominantly female team brings, I am convinced, a deeper understanding of certain aspects of motherhood, potentially enhancing support for women during their journey. However, empathy, knowledge, and a customer-centric approach are crucial regardless of the team’s gender makeup.
At the end of the day I believe that a healthy team is a balanced team and for Blue Almonds to function most efficiently we really need both of the energies combined together.
![Blue Almond Iza](https://pirouetteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Iza-Blue-Almonds-shop-Feb-24-brand-shoot-stories-by-chloe-brand-photography-uk-61-uai-258x172.jpg)
Why and how did you start BA? Have you always wanted to have your own business?
I started Blue Almonds before my first child Filip was born. In fact, my business is a year older than my 15 year old Filip.
I had previously worked for a hedge fund for a couple of years after I moved from London to Poland. I remember feeling the rigid corporate culture was quite restrictive. I always felt very entrepreneurial, and needed a wider variety of things to do and participate in.
I pictured myself as being more creative going forward and I really wanted to give birth to a creation of my own.
On top of this I was already 34 years old when my husband and I started considering the wonderful but challenging realities of having our own children. My friends started having babies and there was a constant need for gifts so I became familiar with all the baby shops in the area. My inspiration must have come from there, even if I was, at that point, still considering other various business opportunities such as opening a little café or a video rental business. I also associated running my own business with freedom and flexibility and those were important arguments for starting my own business, but funnily enough that later proved to be very far from reality, especially in my early years of Blue Almonds.
Although my final business choice felt a bit unusual at first given no prior experience in this field, it instantly proved to be a very natural fit for me, and I love the fact that I could so easily relate to my pregnant customers as a mum-to-be.
You recently celebrated International Women’s day with a guest speaker for your team. Do you see it as part of your role to encourage and empower other women in business?
Certainly! Hosting events like International Women’s Day celebrations with guest speakers allows us to spotlight the experiences, insights, and successes of women in various fields. It’s about creating a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and inspiring opportunities. I feel very privileged having a great circle of women being a large inspiration to me and I understand that my contribution for this world to become a better version of itself could be simply sharing those women with one another and connecting them together in a meaningful way where they can all feel they are contributing and purposeful.
![directory women edition](https://pirouetteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/directory_pack_women-uai-258x194.jpg)
I felt strongly that my vision of Blue Almonds was to provide a service myself - a mother, to another mother rather than from a purely focused commercial business perspective &
I am delighted to say that over the years this is what it has become.
Izabela Minkiewicz
![](https://pirouetteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rounds-uai-258x235.jpg)
What do you really need when planning the arrival of your first baby?
I would say that what you really need is a blend of material and non-material things in equal measure.
![baby Blue Almond](https://pirouetteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lue_Almond_baby_store-uai-258x559.jpg)
1. Baby Gear: Items like a crib or moses basket, car seat, pushchair, nappies, bottles, breast pump (if breastfeeding), and clothing are crucial.
2. Nursery Setup: Create a comfortable and safe space for your baby to sleep and play, including a crib or moses basket, changing table, and storage for clothes and supplies.
3. Feeding Supplies: Whether breastfeeding or formula feeding, ensure you have the necessary equipment such as bottles, teats, breast pump (if breastfeeding), and feeding pillow.
4. Health and Safety: Stock up on baby-friendly health and grooming items like baby thermometer, baby nail clippers, infant-safe toiletries, and a first-aid kit.
5. Parenting Books/Resources: Educate yourself on baby care, breastfeeding, and parenting techniques through books, online resources, and parenting classes.
6. Support Network: Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, and fellow parents who can offer advice, help, and encouragement during the transition to parenthood.
7. Emotional Preparation: Recognise that parenthood can be both rewarding and challenging. Take time to mentally prepare for the changes ahead and prioritise self-care to maintain your well-being.
8. Financial Planning: Consider the costs associated with having a baby, including healthcare expenses, childcare, and potential changes to your income or work situation.
9. Childcare Arrangements: If applicable, make arrangements for childcare or parental leave to ensure you have support during the early stages of parenthood.
10. Flexibility and Adaptability: Understand that every baby is different, and parenting may not always go as planned. Stay flexible, trust your instincts, and be prepared to adapt to your baby’s needs as they grow and develop.
By focusing on these essentials, you can better prepare for the arrival of your first baby and embark on your parenting journey with more confidence and readiness.
![Pirouette media](https://pirouetteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PirouetteMedia_logos-uai-258x44.png)
Katie Kendrick
Katie is a specialist in kids’ fashion and lifestyle, editor, consultant, content creator, and owner of Pirouette - a leading resource to the industry.
With a keen interest in both the business and creative aspects of the industry Katie has interviewed buyers, agents, stylists, designers, influencers, covered runway shows, produced trade show reports and curates thought provoking and engaging exhibitions.
She is passionate about good design, creativity and brands that manage to combine this with their environmental responsibility.
Subscribe to Pirouette's monthly Newsletter.
You might also like
July 24, 2024
Playtime with Chantal Danguillaume
Interview with Playtime Show Director Chantal DanguillaumeShow Director Chantal Danguillaume explains what excites her about the trade season, how Playtime has evolved over the years and how the…
July 22, 2024
ESCADA, for all generations of women
Interview with Ioana de Vilmorin, Escada Global Creative Director Though the fashion industry is densely populated with women they become much more scarce the higher you climb, yet Escada is…
July 19, 2024
Children’s show – New York
Children’s show runs from the 29-30 July, describing themselves as ‘the elevated International baby and children fashion industry expo in New York city.’ Interview with show…
July 9, 2024
Smallable future remains undecided
Following Smallable being placed into receivership back in May of this year they continue to look for investment. It seems the judicial administrators have received 3 known offers to date before the…
July 4, 2024
TikTok… time is running out
Why do we shy away from TikTok As an industry are we missing the boat by ignoring the untapped potential of the TikTok parent/child consumer audience. Surely it’s where the future customer base will…
June 29, 2024
directory* picks at Playtime Paris SS25
Our directory* picks from the Playtime Paris show SS25 collections.
June 29, 2024
6 things for ‘good fortune’ in the Chinese market.
A look at the Chinese market with Ivo Au Yeung 6 is symbolic of good fortune in China and is considered a great number for business. So we asked Ivo Au Yeung from RollingKids & C.O.T.E.…
June 29, 2024
directory* zine – Playtime edition SS25
Paris plays host to more than the Olympics The Spring Summer ‘25 kids’ fashion & lifestyle selling season hits France just as the world’s focus goes Olympic in the beautiful city of Paris. A…
June 17, 2024
INTERVIEW Kidswear time with Raffaello Napoleone
At Pitti Bimbo 98 with Raffaello NapoleoneCEO of Pitti Immagine since 1995. Since his tenure Pitti has developed a diverse array of shows from fashion to food, to fragrance. Here he devotes his time…