OPERATORS Operators Titans E001: Caden Lane (with CEO Katy Mimari)
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Sep 25, 2025 Katy Mimari, the founder and CEO of Caden Lane, shares her impressive 21-year journey in building a nine-figure baby brand. She discusses the pivotal transition from wholesale to direct-to-consumer, which revitalized her business. Katy reflects on the challenges of surviving economic downturns and her innovative approach to product expansion. Key lessons learned include the importance of customer connection and resilience, along with her heartfelt decision not to sell the company, valuing independence over immediate payout.
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Hobby To Business: The Original Spark
- Katy started Caden Lane simply because she wanted to run a company and scaled from a photography business into product.
- She launched diaper bags after seeing friends with uncool bags and leaned into a baby-focused brand before having children.
The Company-Name Twist
- Katy named the company after a baby name she wanted but her sister used it first, then later named her own son after the company.
- The story shows Katy's instinct to claim ideas quickly and move forward despite imperfect origins.
Surviving 2008: Cash Is Comfort
- In 2008 revenue more than halved as wholesale orders vanished and credit cards stopped processing during the recession.
- Katy ran the business frugally, aiming to keep $10,000 in the bank to pay rent and payroll while not paying herself.
