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Business & Tech

Made on Cape Cod: Cape Cod Baby Company

Two longtime friends formed a company that fulfills their entrepreneurial spirit, expresses the uniqueness of living on Cape Cod and creates original "Cape wear for babies and kids."

When Diane O'Dowd and Ellen McPartlan met while working at the Chatham Squire they quickly discovered that they had similar entrepreneurial spirits.

Having both worked in the restaurant industry for other entrepreneurs--O’Dowd in Boston and Ocean City, New Jersey and McPartlan in New York City and California--they decided to start their own venture in 2010 with the Cape Cod Baby Company.

“Our lives were quickly changing and we were interested in starting something new,” McPartlan said, and the “inspiration came from our own growing families and the sheer beauty of life on Cape Cod.”

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So, they decided to create a line of clothing for babies (and soon after toddlers and kids) that reflected good quality, was affordable for families on a budget, and represented their connection to the natural beauty of Cape Cod.

Currently Cape Cod Baby Company has nine different designs ranging in sizes from newborn to 10 years old, and are purchased by locals and tourists alike; according to McPartlan, by “anyone with a child in their life who they would like to buy a gift for.”  

All of the original designs depict what Cape Cod means to the business partners and their families, and how special it is to spend time in such a special place. The clothing are made from with high yarn counts with durability and ultra softness, which makes it a good surface for high resolution printing.

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The Cape Cod Baby Company line of clothing consists of bibs, bodysuits, T-shirts, and sweatshirts. The Cape Cod Kid includes surfboard T-shirts, Great White Shark T-shirts, and sunset T-shirts.

McPartlan says that being parents themselves, it is important to ensure that the inks they use are non-toxic and BPA free, and that their clothing suppliers comply with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act “which requires manufacturers and importers to certify that the products they sell meet all applicable standards.”

One of the things of which they are most proud, is the feedback they receive from their customers. When kids ask to wear Cape Cod Baby wares over and over again, it makes  both McPartman and O’Dowd feel really great about what they are doing.

When asked what their greatest challenges are, they said “just about everything is a challenge.” They both work full time, and spend a lot of time taking care of their families.

Yet “they both enjoy a challenge and have really enjoyed this whole process.” 

The process includes doing much of their own graphic design, sales, and marketing. But they “feel fortunate to have this opportunity to fulfill [their] entrepreneurial dreams and create something that we and our families can be proud of.” 

Cape Cod Baby Company can be found online at www.capecodbabycompany.com , as well as at Island Outfitters in Osterville, the Chatham T Co in Chatham, Soho Arts Co in Hyannis, 3 Buoy's in Harwichport and Details at the Barn in Dennis.

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