We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Norman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
lil gremmies was born out of an idea I had while on maternity leave with our second son. I was trying to order clothes for both of my boys online and I just couldn’t find anything that I liked. There are so many cute options for little girls clothes but boys really have no good options and I got tired of buying black/white/grey. I have spent over 15 years of my career in apparel operations, working for e-commerce businesses, and I figured I already had the blueprints to make this happen so I may as well give it a shot. My husband is a creative director at a branding agency and so I looked at him one day and said “We’re going to start a children’s pajama brand. And we’re going to launch it in three months”. Given that we both have full time jobs and had just added a second baby to the mix, it was a wild idea, but I knew we could do it. We’ve always wanted to build something together and three months later our first collection launched!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I moved to New York after college with no real plan but with enough confidence to know I’d figure it out. I began my career in sales/planning for Ralph Lauren and was lucky to have been hired by the most amazing woman, Gabriella Liotta, who continues to be heavily involved in my career as both a mentor and friend. She gave me the foundation for everything I’ve ever accomplished in my career and I’m so grateful. Lots of people have family in similar careers they can turn to, but I was never going to be a doctor, so fate really stepped in and led me to Gabriella. I went on to spend some time as a retail buyer, but ultimately found myself when I moved to the operations side of the industry. I have spent 10 years now leading e-commerce businesses in the consumer goods industry and was able to apply the skills I’ve learned throughout my career to the creation of www.lilgremmies.com. As a small business, the biggest thing you could ever ask for is for organic brand support. If you try our brand and love it (trust us – you will) — tell your friends! Support the small businesses that, now more than ever, need word of mouth to continue to grow amidst digital acquisition challenges and costs rising day by day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d first start out with an e-bike ride down to the beach, because Newport Beach has got to be one of the best places to visit! After a beach day we’d take the ferry over to Balboa Island, get a frozen banana from Dad’s, and finish up at Sol Cocina for margaritas and tacos. Since my kids are huge Disney fans, it would only be expected that a day would be spent at Disneyland! I’d start off with breakfast at Haute Cakes to fuel us up for the long day and spend the remainder riding rides and eating treats at Disneyland. We just redid our backyard and pool so I’d plan the following day to recover at the pool at my house, enjoying the SoCal weather we all know and love. I could never send guests on their way without taking them to my favorite dinner spot – Arc in Costa Mesa – to enjoy the best food, cocktails, and ambiance!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I grew up in a family of medical professionals. My father is a Psychiatrist, my mother was a nurse, my brother is an emergency room doctor and my sister is a pharmaceutical scientist. To say that I was the black sheep of the family would be an understatement. Forging my own path with nobody to turn to for career advice was scary but my parents are so incredibly supportive. They have always rallied behind me and given me the confidence to know that I CAN do anything. When I told them about this crazy idea they immediately said “we’re in!!! let’s do it!!” and, thus, our family business was born! My mom has been instrumental in making this happen and I’m so proud that we’re building this together.

Website: www.lilgremmies.com

Instagram: @lilgremmies

Facebook: facebook.com/lilgremmies

*lil gremmies makes pajamas for children, sized Newborn to 10Y.
*All of the pajamas are made from Bamboo so they are extra soft and cozy!
*All gremmies pajamas are CPSC compliant, Oeko-Tex certified, and created in a GOTS certified supply chain, which means we don’t use harsh flame-retardant chemicals, our garments are free of harmful chemicals and substances, and are created in factories with the best ethical and eco-friendly standards.
*We sell on www.lilgremmies.com but you can shop the brand in-store at our pop up shop at Poppiseed Market in Irvine through the end of the year.. 3911 Portola Parkway, Irvine CA 92602
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.