Inspired by the birth of her daughter Bella, first-time mom Monica Royer co-founded Monica + Andy in 2014 with her brother, Andy Dunn (founder of Bonobos), to deliver softer organic fabrics, better-designed clothing and blankets, and a seamless, easy shopping experience for parents. Now 10 years later, Monica + Andy provides a range of products, resources, and experiences online and in its three stores to help parents raise their children healthily and happily. In addition, in 2023, the brand collaborated with mass retailer Walmart, launching its M+A by Monica + Andy collection.

Royer spoke to attendees at Women in Retail’s On the Road event in Los Angeles earlier this month. The conversation was livestreamed on LinkedIn and recorded for the Women in Retail podcast. Women in Retail members can also watch the recorded conversation here. Here are some highlights from the discussion:

On How Covid Changed Her Business–For the Better: During the pandemic, Royer explained that Monica + Andy had to rebuild its entire supply chain. “For almost 18 months we had no new products and were out of a lot of things, so we knew we had to pivot and work with new suppliers,” she said. While at the time it was challenging, the new supply chain made it possible for the company to scale and deliver products efficiently to Walmart when the opportunity arose. What’s more, when the pandemic hit, Monica + Andy morphed its programming in its stores to live, virtual events that discussed topics such as what to do if you are having your baby during the pandemic, etc., which helped thousands of then-isolated parents.

On Her Leadership Style: “I would describe my leadership style as evolving,” Royer said. “The person I needed to be when I started the business in 2014, and the business I was running then, is very different than the business I am running now. So, I am very focused on executive coaching for myself to find out what my strengths and weaknesses are as I grow alongside my company.”

On Mental Wellness: Royer’s bother, Andy Dunn, suffers from bi-polar disorder, which he discussed at length in his best-selling memoir Burn Rate. Royer said Dunn’s mental health journey informs how she approaches mental wellness in her company. “Andy felt so much shame around having this disease, so he hid it for so long. That’s why it was so cathartic for him when he finally wrote the book — he was able to finally share his story with the public.” Royer said. “Andy taught me that you never know what people are going through, even at your own company, so we always ask our team how they are feeling before our check-in meetings begin.” While Royer said she can’t really shield the team from work stress, “we always check in with mental and physical health first, and if it is there, then we try to figure out how we can be there for them and help serve them.”

On What’s Next for Monica + Andy: Royer said Monica + Andy just launched a new website that is more content-focused, allowing the company to be more content, community and commerce-driven — all at the same time.  “We are really focusing on our ability to serve customers more at this age and stage, and deliver more personalized information and more personalized one-to-one experiences. That is a key goal we are working on right now.”

On Advice to Upcoming Entrepreneurs: “I would say that this is your now or never moment,” Royer said. “It is not an easy journey, but if you are passionate about something, it’s such a fun life’s work. It has been the journey of a lifetime for me; I highly recommend it.”