We were lucky to catch up with Mai Akdeniz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mai, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

Looking back my path, I feel that I started the business at the right timing. My brand The Picnic Day started in 2021. Before that I used to support my husband’s food business for years but it was my dream to start my own one day. The turning point came when our son was born. It made me question what kind of role model I wanted to be for him, and if I felt ok that I was not following my own path. Then the pandemic hit the world and there was a long lockdown period in NY. It was enough time for me to make a commitment to my passion.
It is not easy to run a business while raising a little child, and maybe I could have started earlier. But the fact that I was able to listen to and to be true to myself makes me confident that it was the right timing for me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Mai Akdeniz and I am the founder of The Picnic Day. It is a NY based brand offering timeless and cheerful clothes for children.
My design inspiration comes from my childhood memories. Growing up in a small town in Japan, I would wear soft-hued, classic (but not boring) outfits that my siblings could take over regardless of trend and even gender. They still look great today and that’s the kind of clothes I want to create for modern kids.
Another mission of mine is to be gentle with the environment. We minimize the use of plastic at every phase of the business. It’s all in the name- picnic is to enjoy nature with friends :)

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I started very small and it all started in my bedroom! First I sewed clothes and bags myself for my son. Then neighbors and friends asked me where I bought them and they placed orders to support me. Then their friends and some random people asked too. During that trial period I made a website and started an IG account. There was a fashion design contest, I joined and won the first place. Few months later, a popup store was the next thing to do. At this time I placed a bulk order for the first time. The popup went well and I learned about my clientele. That made me think of opening a brick and mortar store to be a one-stop shop for cute kids clothes and gifts. And that dream store opened its door in 2023.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This story is about Personal Legend, or purpose of life and I learned that it’s more important to listen to the voice within rather than trying to find answers in the outside world. I met this book decades ago and it is still a bible for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thepicnicday.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepicnicdaynyc?igsh=MXZ6YXloajM4ODFxZg==