Wrapped in love: A Great Baby celebrates new beginnings

Photos by Rachel Howard   

Mary Zimmer’s small business is making big memories. 

Founded in 2015 when Mary became a grandmother for the first time, A Great Baby has blossomed into a thriving enterprise that specializes in personalized baby blankets, swaddles and other newborn gifts. A seamstress by trade, Mary spent years sewing dance costumes for her children. When her first grandchild arrived, her creativity took a new direction.   

“It just flourished, and there was nothing like it at the time,” she recalls. “We quickly outgrew what you can do in a home.”   

What started as a labor of love has grown into a full-fledged business that is ever-growing, with custom creations that serve as both products and keepsakes. From her Hartselle workshop, Mary oversees every detail, ensuring that each item is as unique as the child it’s made for.   

Mary’s shop offers an extensive range of personalized gifts for any occasion, but her custom swaddles have become the standout product. These beautifully crafted blankets have traveled to hospital rooms across America, adorning newborns with their names in Mary’s signature designs. A Great Baby’s collection doesn’t stop there—crib sheets, toddler blankets and even matching pajamas for parents are part of her growing product line.   

The heart of A Great Baby is Mary’s connection to the families she serves. Her products often become a part of life’s most intimate and emotional moments. Customers frequently place orders before their child is born, and when they finally open the box, it is often the first time they see their baby’s name printed on something made just for them.  

“That’s a moment I feel honored to be a part of,” she says.   

Since its founding, A Great Baby has expanded its reach far beyond Hartselle, shipping orders across the U.S. and internationally. Despite this growth, Mary remains deeply committed to the mission that drives her—celebrating the gift of life with products that foster love, joy and connection.   

“For so long, parents dream about these moments,” Mary reflects. “I aim to make them as perfect as possible. 

All Mary’s products are made in-house—designed, printed, cut and sewn in her shop in Hartselle. Every item is fully customizable, allowing parents to choose from a wide range of patterns, colors and personalized text.   

While baby swaddles and blankets are the cornerstone of the business, Mary notes that their custom-printed family pajamas are quickly becoming a customer favorite.  

“Baby swaddles and blankets are the bread and butter of my company but moving right on up are the custom printed pajamas,” Mary says with a smile. And it’s not just the tiny ones who benefit—A Great Baby offers pajama sizes for the whole family, so everyone can match in cozy, personalized sleepwear.   

Today, Mary employs four part-time staff who help her fill 50 to 60 orders each week. Popular designs like deer and antlers or tractors for boys, and pink coquette bows for girls, are among her best sellers. With each new order, A Great Baby helps families celebrate life’s most precious moments—wrapped in love, warmth and a little bit of magic.