By Ashley Daniels<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ginger Gray, owner of Doodlebugs in downtown Georgetown, says she always wanted to be involved in the fashion industry, but her sights weren\u2019t originally set on children\u2019s fashion \u2013 it just landed that way over 20 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI really had a desire to open a formal wear bridal store,\u201d says Gray. \u201cIt\u2019s what I always wanted to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She goes on to explain how her husband, who used to be a UPS delivery driver along Front Street, talked to the owner of Calico Closet, the former children\u2019s boutique pre-Doodlebugs; she was in the process of selling her store and moving to Mount Pleasant. Meanwhile, Gray was in the midst of buying a formal wear store in Georgetown, but when that fell through, the door opened for her to buy Calico Closet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was definitely a decision through lots of prayer,\u201d says Gray. \u201cWe knew at that point that we definitely had things falling into place for a reason. \u2026 And I\u2019m so glad we did because I\u2019ve enjoyed it so much. It\u2019s definitely something that is rewarding.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dubbed Doodlebugs after a nickname Gray endearingly gave her daughter when she was younger, the children\u2019s clothing and gift store has withstood the test of time over the last couple of decades. Gray lost the original store location to the fire that swept through downtown Georgetown in 2013. They moved to the 900 block of Front Street for several years, where it flooded several times, and now Doodlebugs stands at the corner of Front and Broad streets, where it has operated since 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really neat to see how much Georgetown has grown,\u201d says Gray. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing the difference, to look back from now to even 10 or 20 years back. \u2026 And it\u2019s really nice because the businesses are a close-knit community, especially after the fire, offering help when needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doodlebugs specializes in baby, boys, and girls apparel for all seasons, including gowns, outerwear, loungewear, swimwear, gifts, accessories (shoes, socks, jewelry, sunglasses, and more), toys (stuffed animals, lovies, baby books, diaper bags, photo frames, and more), rain gear, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor little girls, the traditional smocking is very popular,\u201d says Gray. \u201cI don\u2019t think that will ever go out of style. And for the little boys, we sell a ton of the Properly Tied line, which is just casual shorts that can get wet, and PRODOH is another brand that\u2019s great for the area because they can get wet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gray\u2019s eight employees help with merchandising, sales, social media marketing, and Doodlebugs\u2019 online store, with Gray solely doing all the buying for the store. The boutique hosts special events in-house, such as pop-ups in the summer and appearances from silhouette artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to see all of these kids that we dressed as kids, and now they\u2019re having children, and they’re bringing their children in, and we\u2019re dressing their children,\u201d says Gray. \u201cIt\u2019s really neat to have watched them grow up and now watch them become mothers and parents themselves. It\u2019s really fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Gray\u2019s daughter, \u201cDoodlebug,\u201d is 28 years old and a registered nurse at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet, and her son just turned 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo more little ones!\u201d says Gray, with a laugh. \u201cNow I have to wait for grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gray shares that when she is not having fun dressing her little clients in the finest wear, she always has a book in her hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI sit by our pool and read or go to the beach, or we\u2019re out on the boat,\u201d she says. \u201cWe have such a beautiful area here, so, I mean, really just anywhere on the water is where I want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n