We know we all purchased a few mugs with that image! Desiree — or Desi as she likes to be called — is an artist and businesswoman who has just started a new venture called Cape Cod Beach and Baby Rentals. She provides contactless delivery for all of your beach and baby gear needs!

Amplify: What does Cape Cod Beach and Baby Rentals offer?

Desi Filkins: We’re a solution to families who are traveling to Cape Cod on vacation for a short visit, or to grandparents and other locals needing equipment. Our services allow you to rent sanitized, quality beach gear and baby equipment and have it delivered to your location for your convenience. Items we carry are strollers, cribs, beach chairs, toys and more. The purpose is to serve and create a convenient service so that families may enjoy their vacation and time with loved ones with less stress and hassle of bringing cumbersome gear.

Amplify: Who would you say are your customers?

Desi Filkins: Definitely tourists and visitors, but also grandparents or anyone who is needing beach or baby gear but maybe aren’t necessarily interested in investing in them or don’t have the storage space for those items.

Amplify: What inspired you to get into this business?

Desi Filkins: I had heard there was a need for this type of service on the Cape and thought it was genius! And so I did a lot of market research and saw the potential and decided to just go for it!

Amplify: When did you start CC Beach and Baby Rentals?

Desi Filkins: We just launched this month! I was blessed to have the first booking on Memorial Day weekend to the penthouse of a local resort for a crib, which was delivered and set up prior to the guests' arrival. And we’ve already got a few bookings in for some upcoming weekend vistors.

Amplify: How did you go about starting your business? What steps did you take? And did you encounter any obstacles along the way?

Desi Filkins: I knew there was a market for it, and as I priced things out, fortunately I was in a financial position to be able to pull it off all by myself. But I’ve invested ALL of my savings into it, so this HAS to work for me. I’m going to make it work!

I had two obstacles. The first was my frame of mind at the beginning. I was working a decent-paying job, but I was miserable. It was depressing and really created anxiety. I pushed through by the grace of God. I knew I had to change my situation and the only way to do that was to branch out on my own and become my own boss. The second obstacle — and probably the biggest — was the website. I designed the website myself for the most part and only hired someone to add two parts to it for the booking and design. But I’m an artist so I knew exactly how I wanted it to look.

I’m also an artist and still take commissions. I love to paint surrealism, especially realistic surrealism. My work lately has been more representational — figures and landscapes and still life.

Amplify: Where do you see your business in five years?

Desi Filkins: I would love to grow and expand and have a location and employees. My goal is to not have to do everything myself one day. -- Tara Vargas Wallace

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On the Web: https://www.capecodbeachandbabyrentals.com and http://www.desireefilkins.com
On e-mail: capecodbeachandbabyrentals@gmail.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cape-Cod-Beach-and-Baby-Rentals-100141255511862/?ref=page_internal
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capecodbeachandbabyrentals/ and https://www.instagram.com/indigoandorchids/

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