Samara Lamm ’98

Alumna

“I knew the risks I was taking, but I felt I was ready. My experience at PMC gave me self-confidence and prepared me for this step.”

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Samara Lamm ’98 is an entrepreneur on the fast track to success. Working seven days a week, Samara is making her dream a reality, and she is having fun despite all the hard work.

A New York native, Samara majored in Child Psychology and minored in Counseling at PMC. Wanting to work with children, she spent many hours weekly at the Ann Pappajohn Vassiliou Child Study Center on campus, mentored by Jean Prescott, the center’s Director. The two often discussed the needs of children and Samara’s dream to open a business catering to children. At the same time, Samara also babysat and house-sat for families in Brookline and Newton, developing a loyal clientele.

After graduation, the pace intensified. Samara decided to stay near PMC and put together the money needed to open her business. She took jobs in Newton at the Temple Beth Avoda Nursery School and at the Memorial Spaulding Grammar School. In the evenings and on weekends she continued to work as both a baby- and house-sitter.

“I couldn’t stand waiting to build up my resources to get going,” Samara said. “I knew the risks I was taking, but I felt I was ready. My experience at PMC gave me self-confidence and prepared me for this step. I literally saved every penny I could. Within two years I had built up enough savings to go forward. I did it all with my savings and credit cards. I didn’t take out a single loan. While I was working, I refined my ideas and decided that there was a market for an arts and crafts and toy store that also had space for a studio, birthday parties, and other celebrations.”

“My first goal was to get some space and do something for kids. I rented a 1,000 square-foot storefront in Newton, decorated the place myself, bought my own stock, and opened the doors of the Kids Place for Fun in September 2000, and all without a business plan,” Samara recalled. “The location was terrible. It was between a cigar store and a men’s barber shop, and it had no parking, but it worked.”

In the first year of business, Samara grossed more than $200,000, hosted some 350 birthday parties, and saw more than 8,000 children cross her threshold, some alone, some with their parents. She was and is the store’s only full-time employee, assisted by 12 Newton North High School girls who work in rotation.

”I hand-pick all my merchandise for children between the ages of 3 and 12,” Samara said, “and I only get things that I’d want my own children to have—if I had children. Many of the toys are educational, and none are violent.”

“My business is recession proof,” Samara continued. “Regardless of what is happening in their lives, parents seem to want the best for their children. They sacrifice so that their children will be happy. I realize this, and I try to create an atmosphere where parents can interact with their children without stress and without interruption.”

Most of Samara’s business has come by word-of-mouth, although she placed one small ad in the Boston Parent’s Paper and had a major feature article done on her business in the Brookline and Newton Tabs.

At the beginning of December 2002, Samara moved her business into a new 2,200-square-foot facility at 188 Needham Street in Newton.

(Editor’s note: For further information go to Samara’s Web site at www.kidsplaceforfun.com.)

Profile as published in the Winter 2003 Pine Manor College Bulletin.