Business of the Week: La Petite Maison

Patch sat down with Nanette Walsh, the owner of , to talk about fine linens and why the Gallic touch has been popular in Hingham.

Where are you from?

I’m from New Jersey. I went to college in Massachusetts and then after graduation, I was working in Boston. That’s where I met my husband and we decided to move to Hingham. I opened the store in 1998. 

Why did you open La Petite Maison in Hingham?

I was living here and working in a corporate setting in Boston. I had an interest in collecting antiques as a hobby so I was doing that on the side. I saw that there was a space available in Downtown Hingham and it was a dream of mine to have my own store. I decided to take the leap from the corporate world and do something that I wanted to do. I opened a little store selling fine linens and antiques on South Street and it was quite tiny, so I called it ‘La Petite Maison.’ It was a very appropriate name for the space. 

You soon moved into bigger premises, the current location is much larger than the original… 

Less than a year after opening, the space beside me was available so I took that as well and made it into one store. I really expanded on the linens and I was there until 2003. Then a space on North Street became free and so I moved over here. Then in 2008 this corner location opened up and I took it. I’ve expanded the business three times since 1998. 

Steady business growth is a testament to the retail product for sale. Do you think that you expanded at the right pace?

I want to say that I did it in baby steps…it was a gradual expansion. I was fortunate to have a good customer base and I’ve had customers that have been with me since I opened 13 years ago. They’ve been loyal and very good to me; I’ve even seen their kids grow up!

Where are your customers from?

Obviously Hingham, but they come from Cohasset, Duxbury, Marshfield, Milton and Scituate. Some even come down from Boston so we are definitely a destination store. The linen lines that I carry and the type of products in general are the reasons that people come here but having an established French influence really separates me from other stores in the area.

So you are a committed Francophile?

(Smiles) I went to France before we were married and fell in love with it. We then went back on our honeymoon and had a great time. I appreciate the fine products they have, the linens and the tabletops so …yes, I am a Francophile.

Do you have an online presence?

I have a website but I don’t have e-commerce set up. I get enquiries and I should have more of an online presence but I don’t.

Presumably the tactile nature of your retail product is a barrier to online shopping?

Unless the customer knows the brand. People who know of a brand, see it online and then see that I carry it will come in because they want to see the colors and patterns. 

What makes Hingham special?

Hingham is unique because of the Downtown area. It’s one of the few towns in the area that still has a strong downtown presence. A lot of towns don’t even have a real shopping destination or, if they do, it’s not individual stores but a plaza or a mall. Hingham has a true Downtown with 'Mom & Pop' shops, it’s charming and historic. People love to come here and stroll, eat at the great restaurants and make a day of it.

Do you think that the dedication of the Hingham business community helps?

They’re very careful in terms of growth; they really manage Hingham. They want to preserve the charm and the historic quality that it has. I think that’s very important and they have done a good job with that. Hingham residents have always been good in supporting local businesses, especially in the Downtown area. 

What are the most popular lines in La Petite Maison?

The largest part of my business is the linens. We also have a lot of soaps and fragrances. The people who come here have their favorite scents and once you get addicted to something like that, you come back for more! I have a nice selection of unique baby gifts, bedding, blankets, that also do well. 

Spring is here, what new things will be arriving in the store?

I travel to France once a year and my customers look forward to what I bring back. I shop the different markets in Paris to find unusual decorative accessories and treasures. Customers are always excited to see what I have actually found and brought back. I have a shipment arriving in mid-April; there will be all sorts of treasures from France that I’ve found (smiles). 

What advice would you give anyone who is thinking of starting a business in Hingham?

You have to see what other shops carry and what will make you different. You need to offer something that nobody else has…especially in Hingham Square.

What would be the tagline for La Petite Maison? 

Fine French Linens, Unique Accessories, Beautiful Baby Gifts. And don’t forget about our French jams and cheeseboards!