Get to know: The creator of Beco

We’re big fans of Beco carriers here at P&N, so when we had the chance to catch up with the ever-busy creator, Gabby Caperon, and learn more about the woman behind the brand, we grabbed it! She gave us a peek into her daily life and talked about how she made it on her own after coming to America with only $500 to her name.

Tell us about the inspiration behind the Beco line. Why did you go into the business of making baby carriers?
Pure need combined with lack of funds. Before my son was born I purchased a well-known brand of baby carrier just to find out that it didn’t work for me. After acquiring a broken sewing machine, fixing it, learning to sew and seven months of prototyping (sold every single one of them), the first Beco Baby Carrier came to be.
What’s a typical day in the life for you?
This question alone gave me anxiety when I was thinking about it on one of my long drives! I should send a copy of this to my grandparents who are constantly complaining about me not writing them a letter. 🙂
Exactly 10 years ago, I moved from Prague to California. (Oct 29 was the anniversary!) I was 25, single and had $500 with me. I really didn’t know that I was MOVING here either. I just came to “visit” and work at my friend’s hotel/spa as a massage therapist, a career path I started back home in the Czech Republic. A couple of months into it, I got married here and that was it.

The reason I’m bringing this up: It’s wild how much has changed in my life during those ten years! I am single again; I have a beautiful/amazing/inspiring seven-year-old son named Duke, and (practically) another child called Beco Baby Carrier! And the $500 I moved here with … I donate it each month to various causes or just give away to people who seem to need it more than I do. Anyway, what was the question? Ah, yes … typical day in the life:

• 6:30 a.m. – Wake up time (hit the snooze until 6.40 a.m.)
• 6:40 a.m. – Check on emails (that gives me the first shot of adrenaline so I can start moving)
• 7:00 a.m. – Shower, get Duke ready (he’s a night owl, so mornings are a bit rough for him)
• 7:50 a.m. – Drop off at school
• 8:00 a.m. – Breakfast at C’est Si Bon, a local French bakery. I go there twice a day for the past nine years. I don’t have to say what I want anymore.
• 8:20 a.m. – Back to school, drop off snack for Duke
• 8:30 a.m. – Back to the office … I say “back to the office” because that’s my starting point; I live in a loft above my office at Beco HQ.
• 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Things here get kinda foggy—about two million things happen every single day! Meetings with employees, suppliers, accounts, teachers, accountants, lawyers, contractors… the list goes on. I am Beco’s CEO, COO, CFO and proud mama. Making most decisions on my own can be a whole lot of decision making, but in a way it’s easier. There’s no drama or arguments in the process. Being director as well as producer makes me more responsible and helps me always see the big picture.

I am fortunate to have the best team of people I could possibly find. We have an international staff presence in three different countries, and our team ranges from 25 to 60+ in age. Half of the team works from a different state or even continent. We can truly say we work “around the clock,” because at any given moment someone from Beco is up and working! I LOVE THAT!

• 7:00 p.m. – Duke gets home (a magic made possible by his dad)
• 7:30 p.m. – Homework time and piano practice
• 8:30 p.m. – Free time for Duke (usually gets glued to his iPad)
• 10:00 p.m. – Shower, convince Duke to get ready for the bed
• 10:30 p.m. – Final check on emails (my Inbox is at about 200+ unread at any given point)
• 11.00 p.m. – SLEEP

Now for a fun, quick Q & A:
Secret recipe for “gettin’ ahead”:
Curiosity, courage, perseverance, patience
Favorite saying:
“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”
Favorite color:
White. It’s all colors together in a perfect harmony.
Favorite word:
Love
Favorite band:
Journey, Johnny Cash, Mumford and Sons
Favorite designer:
My brother (who fortunately works for Beco!)
What you do for fun:
I compete in MotoTrials. (It’s like rock climbing but you happen to be on a motorcycle!)I ride a 2012 Sherco 290, an awesome machine!
What you are most grateful for:
My son, my life partner and my health
Your most valuable possession:
My memories
Favorite things to do:
Laugh, make love, sleep
You can find Beco’s full line of carriers at beco.com.