You’d think after six years of running Sand + Salt Kids I’d be completely confident every time I placed a production order.
I’m not.
Every single collection still comes with that little voice in my head asking,
“What if nobody likes it?”
Ordering stock is one of the biggest decisions I make.
Once I say yes, there’s no changing my mind.
The fabrics are ordered.
The garments are made.
The money is spent.
And then I wait.
It’s Always A Leap Of Faith
People often imagine designing kids’ clothing is the hard part.
For me, the hard part is backing myself.
Every order is a gamble.
Will parents love the colours?
Will kids reach for it every morning?
Did I order enough?
Did I order too much?
No spreadsheet can answer those questions.
At some point, you simply have to trust your instincts.
Small Batch Means Bigger Decisions
One thing that’s always been important to me is keeping Sand + Salt Kids small batch.
It means we don’t produce thousands of every design.
We make smaller runs, learn from each collection and improve the next one.
The upside?
Our collections stay unique.
The downside?
Every production order matters.
There isn’t room to hide behind huge volumes.
Every design has to earn its place.
The Moment I Know It Was Worth It
There’s one moment that makes all the nerves disappear.
It’s not when the samples arrive.
It’s not when the collection launches.
It’s when I hear that Shopify notification and realise someone has chosen one of those pieces for their child.
That feeling hasn’t changed since my very first order.
And I hope it never does.
Why I’ll Always Keep Taking The Risk
If I waited until I felt completely certain, Sand + Salt Kids wouldn’t exist.
The Life Is Rad tee probably wouldn’t exist.
The Salty Kids Club collection might never have happened.
Sometimes building a business means making the best decision you can with the information you have, then having the courage to stand behind it.
So yes…
I still get nervous every time I order stock.
But I keep doing it anyway.
Because every collection starts with someone believing in an idea.
For Sand + Salt Kids, that someone is me.
Looking for small-batch kids clothing that’s designed with purpose and made to last?
Explore our latest collection and discover why every piece begins with one simple decision, backing an idea.