Our Story
Where Doreen & Ada began
Doreen & Ada began during lockdown in 2020, when lots of my friends were having babies and baby showers had suddenly become virtual.
Shops were selling out of baby accessories, and I struggled to find beautiful gifts that I could send directly to friends without them arriving surrounded by unnecessary plastic packaging.
I wanted to create somewhere you could choose a lovely, useful gift, have it carefully packed and send a little bit of love through the post.
And so, Doreen & Ada began.
The story behind our name
Doreen Ada was my nana's full name — Doreen after my nana, and Ada also belonging to my great nana.
My nana was a huge part of my childhood. She was an inspirational woman who made me feel incredibly loved, and although she's no longer with us, naming the business after her felt like a lovely way to carry a little of that love forward.
It also seemed especially fitting for a business built around gifting.
When you can't be there in person, sometimes a thoughtful parcel arriving through the letterbox is your way of saying I'm thinking of you, I love you, and I'm celebrating this moment with you.
That's what I want a Doreen & Ada parcel to feel like.
A little family business
Doreen & Ada is still very much a small, family-run business.
It's mainly run by me — now a busy mum to a toddler — with my mum and dad regularly roped in to help too.
There isn't a giant warehouse behind the scenes. Your orders are prepared and packed by us, and whenever we can, they're walked to our local Post Office — usually accompanied by a buggy that's carrying rather more parcels than it was probably designed for!
Little choices that matter
Avoiding unnecessary plastic was part of the reason Doreen & Ada started, and it's something that's remained important to us.
We use recyclable or recycled packaging wherever possible, and our postage labels and gift messages are printed using eco-friendly ink.
Walking our parcels to the Post Office also means one less car journey whenever we can manage it.
They're small things, but we believe lots of small choices can make a difference.
Beautiful things for real family life
We choose products that are lovely enough to give as a gift but practical enough to become part of everyday family life.
From our muslin squares and baby essentials to the little gifts you choose for someone special, I want everything from Doreen & Ada to feel thoughtfully chosen rather than mass-produced and impersonal.
Becoming a mum myself has made that even more important.
Sent with love
Six years after that little lockdown idea began, every single order still matters to us.
When you shop with Doreen & Ada, you're supporting an independent family business — and helping me continue something that carries the name of a woman who meant the world to me.
Whether your parcel is travelling to your own home or being sent directly to someone you love, we'll pack it with care and send it on its way with a little bit of love from our family to yours.
Thank you for being part of our story. 🤎
With love,
Laura
Founder of Doreen & Ada