Taking Over the Family Business – Fresh Peaches Bikinis
In June of 1979, Janette Love had been shopping around for a swimsuit for daughter Lannette who was 2 years old at the time. Unable to find anything at a reasonable price, Janette decided to head to the local fabric store in search of swimsuit fabric and a pattern. Who knew that this simple decision would change Janette and her family’s lives forever!
Once Janette had completed her daughter’s swimsuit, she decided to use the remaining fabric to create a matching swimsuit for herself. Over the next few days they went swimming at the community pool and received countless compliments on their mommy and me attire, and Janette was asked where she was able to find such flattering swimsuits. She explained that she had made them herself, the neighbors began begging Janette to make them swimsuits, and she said no the to the first few requests as she did not see herself as a talented seamstress.
After saying no several times, one neighbor named Donna was insistent that she make her one, Janette obliged and over the next few days her doorbell was ringing non-stop with all the girls from the neighborhood wanting to place orders for swimsuits.
Over the next 8 years, Janette cut, sewed and sold her swimsuits out of her home during the week, and at several swap meets throughout Southern California on the weekends. Each year her clientele grew and grew, as did her styles and fabric selections.
By 1987, Janette was raising her three kids and growing her business as a one woman show, customers were coming to the house at all hours of the day and night, so Janette decided it was time to open a store. She rented a small warehouse building with a big metal roll-up door just a mile from her home and each year the business grew and grew!
Her three kids were growing up in the business and helped out after school and on weekends, cutting orders, answering phones, greeting customers, really anywhere and everywhere they could.
By 1993, the one warehouse building had turned into three and the store was quickly outgrowing this space, so Janette moved the store to a street front building and kept the warehouses for materials, designing and manufacturing. Over the next 15 years the store continued to grow in popularity and became a California icon with customers driving hundreds of miles to shop our one of a kind, handmade swimwear. Janette’s children were now taking on more leadership roles in the company, son James was the warehouse manager, daughter Lannette the head designer and daughter Carriann as the store manager.
In 2006, it was once again time to expand and Fresh Peaches moved to a new 6,500 square foot building near Quakes baseball stadium, everything would now be housed in one facility, designing, cutting, manufacturing and the largest swimsuit showroom in California.
Over the next 10 years Fresh Peaches continued to evolve and grow, adding new styles, the highest quality fabrics available and unparalleled customer service to our customers.
At the end of the 2018 Summer, Janette is finally going to retire after 4 decades running this amazing company. Her daughters are going to take over and bring their family business to the masses. As of September 2018, Fresh Peaches Bikinis will transition to an online only company in order to offer our high quality swimwear to women everywhere. Our exceptional customer service, high quality, countless styles and impeccable fit will be available to customers worldwide and we could not be more excited. We look forward to continue to bring you the best swimwear in the world, designed by a woman, for all women!