Ryemarkable Samantha Benson

Sammy + Nat is a baby and child gifting brand with two retail stores and an online store. They specialize in thoughtful, high-quality gifts, including our signature pima cotton pajamas, personalized monogrammed items, and custom baby bundles. They've created a space that’s warm, curated, and easy to shop for meaningful moments.

Tell us about your family:

My partner and I welcomed our baby girl this past November. Our lives are a balancing act of parenting a young child, me running a business, and working through the joys and challenges of growing together as a family.

We’re rooted in love, growth, and a deep commitment to building something meaningful—both at home and in our community. We also have a dog, Lulu! She was my first baby! You may have seen her in the window at S+N over the years.

How would you describe the work that you do?

I’m a founder, creative, and operator rolled into one. My work is equal parts heart and hustle—designing and selling beautiful products, running a team, managing financial strategy, and constantly evolving to meet the needs of busy, thoughtful gift-givers. It’s not just retail; it’s an experience that celebrates new life, love, and giving.

Since our daughter was just born last year, we’ve grown and stretched in ways I never imagined. Having a baby has been the greatest joy and also the greatest transformation. We’re learning how to grow alongside her and with each other. There have been hard seasons, but we’re committed to doing the work, staying grounded, and building a loving, stable life together. One unexpected joy has been learning to slow down. For almost two decades, I was always onto the next thing—growing the business, chasing goals. But with her, I’m learning to be more intentional, to really be present for the smaller moments. It’s a different kind of growth, and it’s made me a better person, partner, and mom.

What did you do before launching Sammy + Nat?

Before launching Sammy + Nat, I worked in fashion, focusing on branding and marketing. I was at Michael Kors corporate office for years. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a love for storytelling through product and customer experience, which led me to build something of my own.

Sammy + Nat started with a deep love of design and a desire to make gift-giving feel easier, more meaningful, and beautiful. I saw a gap in the market for curated, elevated baby gifts that feel personal but don’t require tons of time. So I built Sammy + Nat around that idea.

What do you love most about your business?

I love watching a product come to life—from idea to design to seeing it in a customer’s hands. I also love that our store is part of people’s most joyful moments—celebrating new babies, birthdays, holidays. It’s incredibly meaningful to be a part of that. And while my role has shifted as we’ve grown, I really love being in the store. I’m trying to carve out more time to be on the floor again—it’s where the magic is.

What’s been your biggest challenge—and how did you work through it?

Navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship—especially while becoming a new mom—has been incredibly intense. We’ve faced major financial challenges, team turnover, marketing missteps, and the pressures that come with growing fast. At times, we followed the wrong big-business advice, which left us overstocked with too much product. But we're finally coming out the other side, and it feels like a fresh start. I’ve learned so much through it all.

Now, we’re refocusing on what we do best: thoughtful baby gifting. That includes our signature pima baby collection, matching pajamas for siblings, monogramming, and elevated gifts for baby and child. We'll still carry some lifestyle clothing, but our heart is in the gifting experience—making it easy, beautiful, and meaningful. What gets me through is staying close to my vision, being scrappy when needed, and always coming back to why I started: to build a soulful, sustainable business that supports my family and brings joy to our customers.

What do you think has been the secret to your success?

Tenacity, creativity, and the ability to pivot quickly. I trust my instincts, I listen to my customers, and I work really hard—I am also learning how to ask for more help. Being emotionally resilient and willing to evolve has been everything.

How has becoming a mom changed how you approach your work and understand your customer?

It’s given me an entirely new lens. I am my customer now—a busy, overwhelmed mom who wants to gift well, feel seen, and make life just a little bit easier. I understand the emotional weight behind every purchase, especially when it’s for a new baby or someone you love. That insight has made our product offerings more intentional, more helpful, and honestly, more joyful to create.

This is the fun part for me. Becoming a mom has opened my eyes to so many unmet needs, especially for first-time moms who don’t know what to buy or what to put on their registry. I’ve become obsessed (in the best way) with figuring out how to better serve both gift-givers and the new moms receiving those gifts. It’s become a personal mission, and I’m excited to keep growing in that space.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurial parents juggling business and family life?

Give yourself grace. You’re not going to do it all perfectly—and that’s okay. Prioritize ruthlessly, create systems that support your energy (not drain it), and surround yourself with people who lift you up.

Don’t be afraid to stay scrappy and focused. Big success doesn’t require big spending—it requires sustainability, clarity, and joy. Stay on track. Focus on your core product, service, or value, and stick with it. It’s so easy to get distracted trying to chase new opportunities or please everyone. But mastering your space and growing from that foundation is a much more scalable and sustainable path.

And most importantly, go with your gut. Every time I’ve taken a wrong turn, I can trace it back to a moment where I talked myself out of what I knew was the right move. I’ve learned a lot from those moments, but most of the time, your instincts are right.

Does your daughter test out your products?

Yes! She lives in our pima zipper rompers and is the very first tester for everything soft, cozy, and giftable. Her reactions (and messes!) are helping me make decisions on design and practicality and new product and ways to gift.

And just for fun, any favorite shows, books, or quirks?

I’m a sucker for a good documentary—about anything. I love learning how people live, work, and create. I’m always scheming interior design ideas, whether it’s refreshing a corner in my own house or helping a friend reimagine a room—I usually have an entire vision board in my head.

Fun fact: I can design baby gift bundles in my sleep (and sometimes actually do at 3am!). At our warehouse, we’re proudly dog-friendly—our pup Lulu has a few four-legged coworkers who come in with the team. They even have their own space to run around and play, which adds so much joy to the workday.

And if you stop by Sammy + Nat in the next six months, you’ll see some exciting changes. We’re doubling down on gifting—making it fun, easy, and rewarding. We’re rolling out more curated bundles, simplifying the shopping experience, and launching offers where the more you gift, the more you save. See you at the shop!