How it all Started

A RURAL LIFE in New England surrounded by natural beauty, art and culture–it's what dreams are made of. For us to live and work in the beautiful Berkshires of western Massachusetts is a dream come true. Our 12 wooded acres was a happy playground for our two children and ever-present dog. However, in 2004 my wife Maura & I found ourselves at a crossroad in our careers. We were both weary of unsatisfying results working for others and decided to combine our strengths to work together.

THE ROADS WE TRAVELED

Maura’s life has always been filled with creative art. Inspired at an early age by her artist mother, the two spent many hours together in creative pursuits. Maura majored in fine art at college, worked in graphic design and then textile design, and had a passion and proven talent for working in design. Her joy of using color and creating distinct prints are the foundation of what makes Needham Lane unique!

I had earned a business degree and had spent years in various sales and marketing positions. I was excited to use my background to begin introducing the Needham Lane collection to stores throughout the country. To promote our line, I exhibited at wholesale trade shows from coast to coast: Las Vegas, Dallas, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Chicago, New York City, Atlanta and Boston. My theme song was Willie Nelson’s hit song “On the Road Again”.

THE ROAD DIVERGED

As a small business, we naturally gravitated towards working with small boutiques around the country. With the Recession of 2008 forcing many small boutiques to close, along with the rise of e-commerce, wholesale selling was changing at a rapid pace. We found that the high cost of participating in trade shows, paired with the low attendance of buyers from boutiques, made doing the trade show circuit no longer feasible for us.

That was an aha moment for us and the beginning of wearing many more hats in our small growing company. Relying of Maura’s design sense, we forged ahead to join the e-commerce revolution and set to work in designing the wonderful Needham Lane website that we have today. Now we were also amateur copywriters and photographers bringing our products to life on our website. We enjoy the interaction that we have with all the customers that we meet through our business. We remain a small woman-owned, family-operated business (that is our daughter modeling the pink pajamas in the photo up top).

Our guiding principle in doing business is to treat others, as we would want to be treated. We want to exceed our customers' expectations and conduct our business with integrity. Many customers enjoy the refreshing difference of dealing with a small company like Needham Lane that cares about its product and cares about their customers. A good day is when we make a living. A great day is when we hear from a satisfied customer. We love what we do.

"So glad to buy from a small company. I chose you because I LOVE cotton and
LOVE the colorful—but not garish—prints that you design. I had such a hard time
finding pajamas that would make me feel covered and pretty at the same time...in cotton.
Thanks so very much for coming out with these pretty pjs." — Nancy W.

"Needham Lane has the best pajamas of anyone. I have been buying their pajamas for many years
and have loved each pair. Soft, comfy, beautiful and fun colors. They are classics and hold up really well.
Also, each pair comes with a personal note from the owners, which is such a nice touch.
I'm a believer and would never waste time shopping anywhere else." — Barbara M.