Everyone’s business could use a little help these days, so we’re featuring some companies owned by local residents or located in Westchester/Playa to help promote shopping locally and supporting community members.
Here’s the scoop on Deux Life, owned by Playa Vista resident Melissa Gerber!
Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. A. Hi! I’m Melissa Gerber, a Playa Vista resident originally hailing from Chicago. I’ve lived in Playa Vista with my now-fiancé (fingers crossed our August wedding still happens!) for four years and my favorite part of the area is the proximity to the beach and being able to surf before work!
I completed my MBA at Loyola Marymount University in 2019. I have 10 years of marketing experience, but while in grad school found a passion for social entrepreneurship and started a company last year called Deux Life. We take pre-owned children’s clothing, repackage and resell it to parents at a discounted price with the mission of keeping it out of landfills.
Q. Please tell us a little bit about your business? A. We’re not your average children’s clothing company. Deux Life was founded within the Business Incubator program at LMU and is a mission-first company. First and foremost our goal is to reduce clothing waste in landfills and give more clothes a second life. Each thrift box is filled with 10 pieces of quality inspected, brand-name, pre-owned clothing for kids sold at a fraction of the price of the original retail value.
Growing up doesn’t have to be expensive. Deux Life Thrift Boxes makes shopping for kids clothes easier, more economical and better for our planet.
Q. How have you shifted your business since COVID-19? A. The good news is kids are still growing and still need “new” clothing, so Deux Life can still be a part of every parent’s life.
We have added our upcycled-textile masks to each order to further reduce waste.
Additionally, we’re still buying clothes from neighbors! For people interested in selling, they can leave the clothing out on their porch or driveway, and I will pick it up and pay $1 a piece electronically (via Venmo or Paypal) for what I keep. I will responsibly donate the remaining. Or, if the person wants it back, I can drop it off again.
Visit our website for a list of guidelines for what I buy. You can also reach out to us for a contact-less pickup and electronic payment arrangement.
Q. Anything else you’d like people to know about your business? A. We take boys’ and girls’ clothing in sizes 3T to 14/16. No shoes, accessories, undergarments, swim or toys, please. All appointments can be contact-less during the Safer at Home ordinance.
Q, What are some of your favorite local businesses? A. Stacy’s Cookie Lounge has made fun quarantine projects, I love getting coffee from SACHI.LA, and of course tacos from Benny’s!
Visit deuxlife.co for more info.