Meet Betsy McKenzie

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Betsy McKenzie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Betsy, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Inspired by my two children, The Youngsters was dreampt up during my maternity leave with our second child. I wanted clothing that wasn’t just cute but also comfortable and durable – because let’s face it, kids are adorable, but they’re also messy, playful, and constantly on the move! I believe in slow fashion – building capsule wardrobes that parents can rely on, with an emphasis on unisex styles that can easily be passed on or handed down.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Officially opening in March 2022, The Youngsters is all about cool, comfy, colorful goods for kids. With a heavy focus on high-quality clothing intended for everyday wear, I love to partner with brands who not only understand the “fun factor,” but those who also create with intention, and care for our planet.

Curating the shop is truly one of the greatest joys of my job – like Christmas morning with every new collection! I carefully handpick every item, ensuring it meets the same quality standards I’d want for my own children. I strongly believe in the message that investing in fewer, but better quality pieces for kids is the way forward. Every collection we carry is intended to offer many different ways you can mix and match, and our hope is these styles are loved, lived in, and passed along for someone new to enjoy.

As we look to close out our 3rd year in business, we have recently made a number of exciting improvements to the webshop – perhaps small details, but for us its very exciting! Perhaps the most exciting extension of The Youngsters – our blog, Shop Talk recently launched. I like to this of this as our cozy space where we dive into style ideas, capsule-building inspo, and all things Youngsters!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

With over 20 years in the creative fashion industry, I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in color, texture, and design – working as an apparel colorist, in merchandising, trend forecasting, and packaging development. It was this love for creativity that naturally evolved into curating something of my own. But it wasn’t until I became a mother that I truly found my calling – creating a space where kids’ clothing could be both fun and functional.

The absolute hardest part in truly beginning my entrepreneurial journey was taking the leap itself! I had absolutely zero experience in starting a business outside of my love for fashion, but I was ready to learn, which I think is SO important. The willingness to ask for help, lean on others for advice and expertise.

Following two (very full) years of mothering, learning, and creating, The Youngsters came to life.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

Someone once told me that is will eventually be impossible to wear all of the hats as a business owner, and this couldn’t be more true. Over time, I have come to realize I actually cannot do it all (and do it well), and asking for help with the things I don’t carry such knowledge about has been the greatest gift. The things I love most about The Youngsters, I manage – the buying, the customer interactions at every level, our social channels and marketing efforts. Behind the scenes, I have help with financials, and additional marketing partners who manage our ads and assist with content creation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shoptheyoungsters.com
• Instagram: @shoptheyoungsters
• Facebook: @shoptheyoungsters

Image Credits

Chelsea Neff