The children’s subscription apparel box industry has become very competitive, with the likes of Target, Gap and Old Navy all entering the space. While those companies have deep war chests and brick-and-mortar locations across the country, Mac & Mia is betting that there’s still value in in the human touch.
The company has closed a $5 million Series A to fuel its growth via the hiring of more remote, part-time stylists. Mac & Mia has added 100 personal stylists to its team since March of 2017 and is on pace to triple that number by year’s end.
A large part of what makes our business so special is the direct relationship our stylists have with our customers.”
“A large part of what makes our business so special is the direct relationship our stylists have with our customers,” said CEO Marie Tillman. “As we scale our customer base we want to maintain that sense of personalization and that direct connection to the stylist.”
Mac & Mia’s personal stylists are one of its biggest differentiators. They work one-on-one with parents to pick the perfect styles for all seasons and occasions. According to the company, 99 percent of its stylists are parents themselves.
“It’s a level of detail that sets us apart, even among big national brands like Target, Gap and Old Navy entering the space, and would be missed by algorithms alone,” said President Jason Smith in a statement.
Mac & Mia has a team of 40, which includes part-timers and warehouse staff, working out of its Chicago headquarters. In addition to bringing on more personal stylists, Tillman said the company would also grow its technology team.
Chicago Ventures, KGC Capital, Corazon Capital, Emerisque Ventures and a group of strategic personal investors participated in the round.
“We’ve been fortunate to have some really great support from Chicago-based investors," said Tillman. "It’s great to have people in our own backyard to turn to for advice and resources.”
Mac & Mia launched in 2014 and has raised over $9 million.
