Running a business and raising kids is not a straight road — it’s more like a messy kitchen counter full of tiny hands, big dreams, and a lot of learning along the way. This is my story — the story behind The Small Wonderland — a brand born not in a boardroom, but between baby naps and kitchen playtime.
The Beginning: Chaos, Cuddles & an Idea
In 2020, when the world was adjusting to lockdowns, I had my own tiny storm at home. We had just moved from Mumbai to Gujarat. My second baby was only 6 months old, and my first daughter was 3 — full of energy and imagination.
One day while playing “kitchen-kitchen” with her, I realized something was missing — Indian play food. Dosas, idlis, rotis — things she saw me cook every day — weren’t available in pretend toy form. That’s when the spark lit up.
Building the Brand During Naptime
I had no business plan, no factory, and no team. What I had was an idea — and my phone. I started calling suppliers, sourcing fabrics, and explaining my vision to illustrators — all while nursing a baby or folding laundry. Slowly, one sample at a time, the pieces came together.
Each design went through trial, error, and lots of imagination. Every time my daughter approved something with a big smile and said “Mumma, it looks real!” — I knew I was on the right path.
The Women Behind the Stitches
The stitching work is done by talented women around me — mothers and homemakers who couldn’t step out for jobs but had skills in their hands. I handed them raw materials, explained the designs, and together we built a little system. They earned income from their homes, and I got beautifully stitched toys — made with love and purpose.
This part of the journey makes me proud — it’s not just my dream, but a collective effort by many women with hidden talent.
Balancing Both Worlds
There are still days when I feel stretched between school tiffins, delivery orders, doctor visits, and customer messages. But this blend — of being a maker, a mom, and a dreamer — is what makes The Small Wonderland so close to my heart.
Sometimes, my toddler’s naptime is when I plan a new toy. Sometimes I skip a post on Instagram because one of my kids needs extra cuddles. And that’s okay — because this business was built on motherhood, not in spite of it.
Why I Keep Going
Every time a parent messages me saying their child loved the toy dosa or made a pretend thali for their grandparents, I feel fulfilled. It reminds me why I started this — not just to sell toys, but to create magic, memories, and moments of connection for little ones.
This is not just a business. It’s my diary in fabric, threads, and tiny toy foods. It’s where business and babies grow side by side — sometimes in chaos, often in laughter, always with love.
Falguni Gohil
Founder
