AAPI Small Business Series: Avery and Me
Hi there, welcome to the sixth edition of our fabulous monthly series, "Supporting AAPI Small Businesses!" We're super stoked to use our platform at Joeydolls to shine a spotlight on the fantastic work of AAPI small business owners like Avery & Me and spread the word about their incredible products and services.
Today, we've got something really special to share with you: Avery and Me, a rad company founded by the super-talented Cathy and Maria Huang. These guys are all about Avery and Me, where they create custom baby apparel and toys, gifts, etc., that are just too cute for words!
We firmly believe that supporting small businesses is key to building a strong and resilient economy. By featuring kickass AAPI small business owners like Avery and Me, we want to help them reach more people and see their businesses thrive.
So, hop on board this exciting journey as we dive deep into the world of Avery and Me, and let's raise a toast to the hard work, dedication, and mad creativity of AAPI small business owners like Cathy.
Alrighty then, let's get this party started and learn all about Cathy and Maria's awesome biz!
Tell Us About Yourself & What Does Your Business Do?
Hey there! I'm Cathy Huang, and this is my partner Maria Huang. Together, we kickstarted Avery & Me back in 2019. Our mission was to bring greater Asian representation to the world of children's apparel. But you know what? We didn't stop there! We've since grown and ventured into toys, gifts, and so much more. It's been an exciting journey for us!
How Long Have You Been in Business, and How Did It All Begin?
Yes, the story behind Avery & Me is truly special to me. It all began during my maternity leave with Avery. At that time, I had two main goals in mind: firstly, to ensure that my precious baby thrived and stayed healthy, and secondly, to dive into something completely new and exciting. And guess what? The idea for this "something new" struck me during one of those late-night pumping sessions. It was only natural that it revolved around babies!
But there's more to it than that. Motherhood brought about many changes, and as soon as I had Avery, I realized the importance of passing on aspects of my culture that I used to take for granted. Things like indulging in a hot pot on chilly winter nights, embracing Lunar New Year with more enthusiasm than Thanksgiving, and fostering an early appreciation for the Chinese language.
And thus, the mission of Avery & Me was born. While we absolutely adore funny puns and cute stuff, if you take a closer look at our products, you'll notice that the majority of them are also inspired by Asian culture. Whether it's milestone cards featuring baby's "100 Day" celebration or kids' tees proudly proclaiming "Wo Ai Gong Gong Po Po," which our customers have shared have brought countless smiles to grandparents near and far, our mission is to bring greater Asian representation to the world of children's apparel and goods. We firmly believe that it's never too early to introduce our little ones to the richness of Asian language and culture and, perhaps more importantly, to display it proudly!
What Challenges Have You Faced in Running This Company and an Asian-Owned Small Business?
Running Avery & Me as an Asian-owned small business has certainly come with its fair share of challenges. Both my sister Maria and I have demanding day jobs—I work on strategic initiatives and operations for the Commerce team at Meta, while Maria is a labour and delivery nurse. Balancing these full-time jobs with the responsibilities of Avery & Me is a constant juggling act. On top of that, I have two little ones, and Maria just had her first baby, so finding time for anything has become even more challenging.
However, despite these obstacles, we remain deeply committed to Avery & Me's mission of bringing greater Asian awareness to the realm of children's apparel and gifts. It's what fuels our passion and determination to keep pushing forward. We firmly believe in the importance of representation and cultural pride, and that belief is what motivates us to overcome challenges and make it work, no matter what.
What Are Your Favourite Things About Your Company?
Oh, where do I even begin? One of my absolute favourite things about our company is the dedication we put into making sure our products exude pure Cuteness Overload. It's a thrill when we receive new shipments of the products we've designed, and opening that box of adorable goodies never fails to make us squeal with delight! Seeing our ideas and designs come to life and knowing that they will bring joy to our customers is truly fulfilling.
The happiness and excitement that our products bring to people, especially children, is something that constantly brings a smile to our faces. It's incredibly rewarding to know that we are making a positive impact and spreading joy through our creations.
What Are Your Hopes and Dreams for Your Company?
Our hopes and dreams for Avery & Me are pretty big, I must say! One day, we envision our company growing and scaling to the point where we can serve as a platform to support all small businesses that want to promote their Asian-inspired goods. We want to create a space where diverse voices and creative minds can come together, celebrating and showcasing the beauty of Asian culture through various products.
It's an ambitious goal, but we like to dream big! We believe that by expanding our reach and supporting other small businesses, we can collectively create a vibrant community that celebrates and uplifts Asian-inspired creations. It's an exciting vision, and we're determined to work towards making it a reality.
How Can We Best Follow and Support You?
If you'd like to stay updated and support us on our small business journey, there are a few ways you can do so! You can follow us on Instagram at @averyandme, where we share updates, sneak peeks, and all things related to our business. We're also on Facebook, so you can find us there as @averyandme. And guess what? We've recently mustered up the courage to dabble in TikTok too! You can find us on TikTok with the handle @averyandmeofficial.
We'd be thrilled to have you join us on these platforms, engage with our content, and show your support. Your likes, comments, and shares mean the world to us and help us reach more people who might love what we do. So, come on over and let's connect and create a community of Asian-inspired goodness together!
Anything Else You Wish to Share?
Absolutely! I just want to take a moment to express our deep love and appreciation for the Asian-owned small business community. It's a community filled with incredible talent, creativity, and resilience. We feel incredibly grateful for initiatives like this one that shines a spotlight on AAPI small businesses and provide a platform to share our stories.
Thank you so much, Joeydolls, for inviting us to be a part of this and for supporting our journey. Your support means the world to us, and we're excited to continue spreading love, representation, and joy through Avery & Me. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
For more information, follow Avery and Me on,
- Website: www.averyandme.com
- Facebook: @averyandme
- Instagram: @averyandme
- Tik-tok: @averyandmeofficial