Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Desaulniers.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a military family and so I do not have an easy answer to “Where are you from?”. I have lived in 30 different homes throughout my life. My extended family lives in and around West Springfield, MA, so I consider myself an east coast woman.
I attended university and ultimately received a MS in Marine Biology. I worked in this field for a decade before I had my first child. I was married and have two grown sons. We lived in California for 12 years and then Delaware where I was lucky enough to work at a family toy store where I eventually advanced to manager and buyer. Five years ago, I had a life change and I landed in Williamsport to be close to my very good friends who I have visited regularly over the previous 30 years. About 2.5 years ago, I saw the space that is now The Mulberry Moose available for lease. The adventure began.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ups and downs just like for anyone who starts a new business. There was trouble finding the right people to make a cohesive team that could run the shop, share the joy and keep the load of a new business somewhat off of my shoulders. It took time and now I can say I have an amazing group of people helping me run the shop. The other big challenge was the tariff confusion which happened in my first year in business. The toy industry was hit hard. Over 80% of the product that our American toy companies sell is manufactured in China. Tariffs hit a high of 120% in spring 2025 and settled to 30% by summer, but still the industry did not know if this would change. Supply chains were affected and, overall, cost for product increased by 15-20% across the board. We absorbed the cost as much as possible and in the end we raised our prices accordingly. Luckily, our customers are incredibly loyal and keep coming back!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Over my adult life I have had a variety of adventures. As a marine biologist, I traveled to the bottom of the ocean to study sea life at hydrothermal vents, I worked in Antarctica as both a scientist and as a part of the science support staff. I hiked 6th graders around a CA state park to learn about our ocean and coastal environment. I raised two extraordinary boys and our family was able to travel and live overseas for some time. I believe these experiences help me to color outside the lines and give me a spark to try new things.
While raising my boys, I started a home based business that was much more fun than I had expected. I liked the product I was selling, I enjoyed educating people and having them buy the product that I recommended was satisfying.
As I continue to curate The Mulberry Moose, I find that I am endlessly creative. I curate product that is high-quality, fairly priced and kid-powered. My customers are responding to what I bring in and, every day, I am looking for new things to share with this community. I enjoy people and believe that if we treat folks with kindness and curiousity, only good things can come.
I am very proud of this shop and what it is bringing to our community. I hope to be around for many years to come.
What matters most to you?
As I said before, treating people kindly, with curiousity is the best cure for any discourse. We have a lot going on in our world and providing a space for families to gather, play, discover and create memories is my mission.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themulberrymoose.com
- Instagram: themulberrymoose
- Facebook: themulberrymoose
