In an effort to find matching outfits for family photos with Santa Claus, Gema McGuiness found herself driving all the way to Virginia Beach, where she met another mom in the exact same dilemma.
“We said our farewells thinking we’d never see each other again and the very next day, she was the family after us at Little England Farms,” McGuiness said.
When she told her husband about the experience, and the woman being behind them in line, “he just responded with: do it—and The Inlet was born,” she explained.
Her business’s name is a nod to Gloucester and life on, and around, the water. “Don’t get me wrong, we went through many names but nothing felt quite as right as something simple and coastal,” she said. “My husband came up with The Inlet.”
McGuiness chose Main Street as the location for her boutique for the foot traffic, hoping it will lead to success. “Aside from special occasions, I don’t believe people would seek out a children’s store because of online shopping, but if someone is just out and about they’re more likely to stop in,” she said.
And she loves getting to meet soon-to-be and new moms that come into her shop. “I know we are a store, but I also want to give all moms a place to be excited about,” she said.
“I can’t emphasize enough how much walking helped me get back to feeling like myself after having babies. I encourage all the new moms to walk Main Street—come grab something cute for the baby, grab the Diet Coke they’ve been craving for nine long months, and just enjoy this new chapter.”
At The Inlet, McGuiness carries brands that have lasted with her own kids. “I want everyone that shops with us to know they are buying quality pieces,” she said.
When looking for brands and items, she looks for pieces that are practical and will help make becoming a mom an easier transition. “I quickly learned bathing suits with snaps for changing swim diapers are better than those without—it’s the little things you don’t think about,” she said.
“I haven’t tried every brand out there and I have my first market as a buyer this summer, so I always encourage my customers to let me know things they swear by and I’ll do my best to get it here.”
Hearing from her customers that Gloucester needed a place like The Inlet has been encouraging for McGuiness. “I’m so overwhelmed, but also so blessed to have the amount of support I already do,” she said. “I really want to get to a point that I play a very active role in this community and put in what it has given to me. I don’t take this opportunity for granted and again, I am so blessed to be able to open The Inlet.”
Her boutique is a unique spot, offering a spot to get baby clothes, baby shower gifts, and things of the sort, without having to drive all the way to Virginia Beach or Richmond. Going for a Palm Beach and Charleston mixture aesthetic, McGuiness credits her dad for bringing her vision to life. “There’s not a Pinterest Board he can’t create,” she said. “And the peel and stick wallpaper put my marriage to the test, but I’m happy to say we made it through.”
Expressing her gratitude, McGuiness highlighted all of the people who helped her get started. “I absolutely could not have done it without my husband and girls, my mom and dad and family and friends,” she said.
“I love Gloucester so much, I’m truly proud of where I grew up and even in the future, if I end up living somewhere else, I hope to still play an active role in the community and give back with The Inlet.”