Meet Jessica Sosa-Cardenas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Sosa-Cardenas.

Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Baby PeaTree was founded in 2019 by my sister and I out of a love for our family and an experience we had back in 2010. At that time, our uncles, Rafael and Steve were expecting a baby through surrogacy, which happened to be via one of our aunts. This beautiful show of support was one of the purest expressions of love we had witnessed and as a family, we were thrilled to celebrate the newest arrival. In planning the baby shower my sister and I quickly realized that there were no gifts to be found that represented our uncle’s new family. So we decided to create a children’s line that represented ALL family types….. and so Baby PeaTree was born. We are a brand that focuses on inclusivity and sustainability. Our onesies and toddler tees are made of 100% organic cotton and our designs reflect the modern family; everyone from same-sex parents, those who have struggled with infertility or suffered a miscarriage to babies conceived through IVF.

Over the past three years, our brand has grown and the company has evolved. I am now the sole managing partner of PeaTree and the focus has shifted a bit. I am really focused on becoming a lifestyle brand that is universally inclusive; ensuring that our collections represent EVERYONE. Each new collection honors a different group; our latest being LatinX with designs like our fun and playful “Mami’s/Papi’s Little Frijolito” or our “Tengo Chisme” designs. This collection is another one very near and dear to my heart (just like our launch collection), as it honors our Latin roots, and let’s be real, we’re LA natives and Latin culture is such a big part of our city. So how could I not?!?

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
PeaTree was founded the year before the pandemic. Our one-year anniversary was slated to happen in April 2020, unbeknown to us, this would be the first month of quarantine. As many small businesses experienced, we were at a standstill, facing so many roadblocks; uncertainty of the realities we’d be faced with day after day. Running the business bi-coastally (I live in LA and my sister lives on the East Coast) posed its challenges, on top of the fact that quarantining in the suburbs, to quarantining in the heart of a major metro city were two very different experiences. So my sister and I made the decision to focus on our mental and emotional health and surviving the pandemic while learning to function under quarantine; needless to say, PeaTree was going to need to take a step back from the priority list. It was a bit heartbreaking to know something we had worked so hard on was going to take a pause.

Our sadness over this was short-lived though as we were blessed through the experience that our society was also focusing on and highlighting the need to support the community and that included small businesses. With little to no marketing in 2020 through the better part of 2021, PeaTree was fortunate enough to receive organic sales. This support gave us the light and encouragement we needed to keep PeaTree going and in the summer of 2021, I was ready to get our name out there again. Learning how to operate in our new “normal” and the updated climate of social events, I started to venture out and participate in local pop-up markets to drive sales and gain visibility. This in and of itself was not always smooth sailing; people were not fully ready for large public gatherings and the economy was slowly shifting. This has definitely made for some rough days and moments of doubt, but through it all though, I have continued to see the connection people feel to our origin story and the desire to support small businesses. This is what keeps me focused and motivated; knowing people feel seen and supported through our brand.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Being a brand that focuses on inclusivity, this is really something I take seriously in every aspect of the business. From the designers, photographers and marketing consultants I work with to the garment vendors and production manufacturers, I work mainly with People of Color, small family-owned businesses and LGBTQ+ creatives. I believe that if PeaTree is truly about inclusivity, then this is something I need to ensure is represented through all facets of the company. This is something I am probably most proud of with the brand; our connection and empowerment of our community.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Funny that you ask; I have found mentors through networking. I love connecting with people, so that is probably why I was so drawn to the pop-up market scene. The vendor marketplace is truly a “community over competition” culture and I have not only been blessed to connect with so many modern families at events but also have met some amazing vendors who are beautiful souls. Some have become friends and through these friendships as well as our shared experiences & support of each other, have inadvertently become mentors. Sharing their own entrepreneur experiences and struggles, providing advice or feedback as well as being helpful with business references has been invaluable. I share all of this to say don’t be afraid to chat with people you come across in your everyday life and ask questions. People are more inclined to share their experiences with you and provide helpful advice more than you think. “If you never ask, the answer is always NO”.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.babypeatree.com
• Instagram: @babypeatree
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BabyPeaTree