05/27/2026
A few people have been asking me how Thrive Outfitters got started, and the truth is, it happened on a completely normal afternoon working at our local Tiny Totz Consignment!
I originally took the job just to learn the ropes of retail. But one day, a velcro adaptive sweater came across the counter. Shortly after that, a pair of BILLY AFO shoes came in.
As someone who has worked as a Direct Support Professional for the last 20 years, seeing those items meant the world to me. Over the years, I have spent countless hours trying to shop for those I have cared for. I know firsthand the intense frustration of hunting for adaptive clothing and gear online, only for it to arrive and simply not work out leading to that endless cycle of packing it up and returning it.
Because I've dealt with that exact same struggle, I know the massive relief it brings to caregivers, and the pure joy a child feels, when they finally get to wear something that is actually comfortable.
Seeing those clothes pop up at the shop made me realize something: families shouldn't have to rely on getting lucky at a consignment store just to find gear that works.
That was my lightbulb moment. I realized I didn't have to leave my two decades of experience behind to start a new business—I could merge my passions! I decided right then to build the exact store our community is missing.
I wanted to create a welcoming place that truly gets it. A safe space where kids—including my own special needs son—can actually go shopping and feel completely seen, heard, and celebrated just as they are.
That is the heart behind Thrive Outfitters. Just a local mom and DSP trying to make life a little easier and a lot more fun for families right here in Craven County. I am so incredibly excited to take you all on this journey with me! 💙
