My clients have expressed that one of the biggest stressors of getting family photos is figuring out what to wear to the family photo session. I totally get it, and I am thankful that Romp + Tumble is helping us fix this problem!
Now clients that book a photo session with Monica Conlin Photography will be able to borrow an outfit (size newborn to 3T) for your photo session FREE of charge.
Romp + Tumble is an Atlanta-based company that curates and rents bundles of baby and toddlers clothes for every stage of a child's growth. Their clothes are eco-friendly and sourced primarily from independent women led brands. Bundles include new and like-new clothing in gender neutral styles - always without holes and stains. Clothes are cleaned to the highest standards in accordance with CDC guidelines to kill viruses.
Romp + Tumble will work with you ahead of the shoot to understand your style and size preferences and present you with up to three options to choose from. The outfit will be delivered to you ahead of time and once the photo shoot is over we will take back the outfit for no hassle returns. Outfits may include tops and bottoms (styled together) or footed / un-footed one pieces. They can also style with a piece of clothing you already own.
My own children were able to try out some of the clothes that Romp + Tumble offers, and they loved wearing them. My daughter enjoyed each item we received and the various patterns and styles that came in her size (3T). Every clothing item was not only cute, but comfortable and well-made.
The outfits were cozy and perfect for snuggling and playing around the house.
Not only were the outfits good for our lazy days at home, but because they are high quality and durable, they were perfect for a day outside as well. We get outside every day and we need clothes that work with our active and playful lifestyle. These did!
Let’s Meet Tara, a fellow mom and local business owner.
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Tara and I am the founder of Romp + Tumble that curates and rents bundles of baby and toddler clothes. Prior to starting Romp + Tumble last fall, I worked in finance for a number of fortune 500 companies. My husband and I have two amazing boys - Sahil aged 9 and Kush aged 6, who have lots of energy! We moved to Atlanta from New York about 9 years ago and live in Morningside. COVID has meant a lot more time with the family - the kids and I are reading the Harry Potter series (book seven!), we have instituted a daily cocktail / mocktail hour and have held very exclusive dance parties at home in our pajamas.
What made you want to start your own business?
A career in finance is demanding, particularly while you are having kids. After coming out of what I call my baby haze, during which time all I did was work and try to keep it together, I looked around and realized the need for better solutions to help working parents. All parents need access to new models and solutions that help us get time and space back in our lives. And that’s the mission of Romp + Tumble - to maintain the joy of dressing your babies and toddlers in cute clothes, but reducing the work around organizing, storing and getting clothes out of your home, sustainably. The idea came to be as I was sending my kids old baby clothes to a friend. We launched with our first offering at the end of September 2020.
What makes your company unique as a subscription service?
First off, our model is based on renting. We source new and like new premium quality eco-friendly clothes primarily from women led brands who care about the people and processes behind their clothes. We offer two bundle sizes - a 22 piece and an 11 piece at 75% off retail prices. It is important that we make access to sustainable options affordable. All our bundles include a variety of daily-wear options that you can mix and match. We curate based on a design questionnaire that you fill out.
What was the need that you saw and wanted to help fix that led to this idea?
I talk above about the fact that parents need more time and space back in their lives. We are burdened with domestic labor. One study administered by BCG noted that working parents are spending upwards of 55+ hours a week on domestic labor on top of their full time jobs. So, big picture we are trying to solve for that. Additionally, as someone who cares about the environment, textile waste is a problem. Only 15% of textiles in the U.S get recycled, the rest go into landfills and can take up to 200 years to biodegrade. Babies and toddlers grow so fast, but their clothes don’t. It seems ripe for rental.
How are you reducing stress for moms?
Most of the domestic labor falls on mothers. This includes shopping, organizing and storing clothes. Let’s not forget...what do you do when your child outgrows? We want to maintain the joy of dressing babies and toddlers in cute clothes, but eliminate the rest of that work. With our bundles you get what you need when you need it. Generally, our customers hold onto items for a couple of months and exchange as their child grows or seasons change, but we do offer monthly exchanges for those who wish to switch out more often. The clothes you get will always be clean (we maintain CDC guidelines for killing viruses) with no holes or stains. But we do know that stains and minor tears will occur and we do not penalize you for it. We ask that you send back and we will wash and mend the clothes as needed. If the clothes do not meet our standards and need to be taken out of circulation we donate or recycle them. End of life is important for us. We worry about it, so you don’t have to.
Why is renting clothes better than buying for this age of children?
By the age of two, children go through seven clothing sizes! That’s a lot of shopping. By renting, with Romp + Tumble, you have access to a closet of curated hand-me downs that are seasonally and size appropriate, in line with your style. Plus, you don’t have to worry about how to get it out of your home when your child outgrows.
Why is it important for your company to work with women-led brands?
Romp + Tumble’s values very much reflect my own personal values. I have always been committed to uplifting women and this was very important to me when I started the company. Women create amazing businesses and generally give back to their communities in meaningful ways - it's an honor to support them.
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?
Continued growth and being able to offer our customers amazing service. We have some really fun collaborations (like this) and giveaways that we are doing. We have plans to bring more community component into our model I am also excited to continue our spotlight series where we highlight female entrepreneurs - many of them Atlanta based.
Where do people go to learn more and contact you?
Website: www.rompandtumble.com
Email: tara@rompandtumble.com
Monica Conlin is a newborn and family lifestyle photographer that specializes in newborn photography, Fresh 48 photography, smash cake photography, school photography, maternity photography, and family photography. Monica lives in Decatur, GA and services Decatur, Atlanta, and the surrounding areas.
