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New Devine Street children’s shop to open Saturday

Melinda Waldrop //August 23, 2018//

New Devine Street children’s shop to open Saturday

Melinda Waldrop //August 23, 2018//

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Sarah Monteith Rama grew up shopping on Devine Street, and she hopes her new business will give more generations a chance to make similar memories.

Rama is opening Duck Duck Goose, the brick-and-mortar manifestation of her successful online children’s shop, on Saturday at 2816 Devine St.

“I remember going to the Dandelion on Devine Street when I was little,” said Rama, who was born in Columbia and majored in business at the University of South Carolina, graduating in 2004. “It’s full circle to be able to do something that’s so locally involved.”

Sarah Monteith Rama arranges merchandise at Duck Duck Goose, her new children's shop set to open Saturday on Devine Street. (Photo/Provided)Rama is renovating the retail space that formerly housed children’s boutique Little Lambs & Ivy, which closed this summer. The store will feature layette items for babies and clothing lines for older children along with gifts and accessories. Brands will include La Petite Fleur, Little English, The Beaufort Bonnet Company and Johnnie-O. The shop will also offer a baby registry.

Since the July 17 announcement of her children’s shop, Rama has been overseeing renovations, including flooring replacement.

“We want it to be bright and light and clean,” Rama said.  

Rama, who will keep the online business she launched in August 2017 open, is eager to meet some of her current customers in person.

“I’m looking forward to helping new moms register and just meeting the people who’ve been my customers since a year ago who I actually don’t know,” she said. “But I feel like I know them, so making that personal connection — we’re really excited about that.”

Rama has a 2-and-a-half-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter. The idea for her online business came about because of the time she spent shopping online for her children. She hopes the Devine Street location, which will feature home delivery and free gift wrapping, will add another level to that service.

“I know as a working mom, it’s just nice to have these conveniences, but I think with a lot of these conveniences in our lives, we’ve lost the personal touch,” she said. “In this industry, so many people do want to touch and feel. They want to come and hand-select.”

Rama and her staff of five also plan to offer personalized, private baby registry appointments and to participate in community events that will appeal to Duck Duck Goose’s customer base.   

“We’re bringing back some old-school service,” Rama said. “We’ll get it to you faster than Amazon, and it will be gift-wrapped.”

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