Meet Milk and Honey Baby’s Founder and Designer Nichole Horiuchi. Milk and Honey Baby is an upscale baby boutique with beach & boho inspired styleapparel, shoes, blankets, dolls, organic gifts and toys for children up to age 6. Nichole was born and raised in Huntington Beach, Orange County. With a background in fashion design from CSU Long Beach, she has been influenced by a beach lifestyle, travel and a love for good design.

Milk and Honey Baby originated in 1996 as a wholesale company, manufacturing the brand locally in Orange County. In 2011, Milk and Honey Baby opened its first brick and mortar retail boutique in Costa Mesa, CA.

Q. What is the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner?

A. “I feel the biggest challenge is the changing retail market. Competing with on-line baby retail. I try to market on social media as much as I can and get our name out there.”

Q. What do you like about having your shop at SOCO and the OC Mix?

A. “I love having our store at the OC Mix. Next year will be 7 years since we opened. We were one of the first stores here and have seen it grow over the years. It’s exciting to be a part of it!”