What started as physical therapy now sits as a store front at 92 State Road as Paige’s Paracord enters its next chapter as a business.

It all started 20 years ago when Bob and Marianne Santos moved to Dartmouth for a one-floor home to accommodate their daughter, Paige’s, cerebral palsy.

As time went on, Bob and Marianne noticed Paige was favoring her right hand as the left one was weaker. Doctors suggested tying knots as a form of physical therapy in order to strengthen Paige’s left hand. 

Having been in the military, the Santos’ were familiar with survival bracelets, which are made from knotted paracord, and decided to give it a try.

“Within half an hour, she had it down pat, and she was making a different color bracelet every day,” Marianne said.

“Now, I do them in my sleep,” Paige joked. 

After selling them at a few craft fairs beginning in 2013, the Santos’ decided to take their unexpected business online. “It exploded,” Marianne said. 

Soon the family was making more than just bracelets, now selling mats, wreaths, keychains, ornaments and more, but they quickly began to notice a hurdle in their business endeavor: space.

In every room of their home, sat piles of Paige’s Paracord and even after building a shed, they were desperate for more space. Marianne highlighted how it also affected the business itself as they couldn’t stockpile many products and couldn’t do bigger projects that would require multiple days of work.

So when Paige graduated from UMass, she had two options: pursue a master’s degree or do the business full-time with Marianne. 

Holding a grand opening for their storefront on Black Friday, Nov. 29, it’s clear what Paige chose.

Paige said she appreciates having a central location for everyone to come and shop as well as the structure the store front gives her.

In addition to the physical therapy, the business helps Paige socially. While the craft fairs offered some interaction, it was tricky to get to very many due to the hassle of loading and unloading the merchandise. 

Marianne said Paige is unable to help with lifting, so doing 20 to 30 fairs a year was already difficult. The business will continue to participate in about 10 a year, posting notice at the shop on the days they will be closed.

“A central location where people can come and shop, at least the locals, it’s going to be, I think, a lot better,” she said.

The Santos’ said they get their paracord from R&W Rope in New Bedford, emphasizing how they get all of their materials locally.

Their goal is to also sell some products from other local crafters as well as introduce some more nautical home decor in the new year, Marianne said, adding they also do commissioned orders.

Paige said her goal is for the store to be “someone’s go-to gift shop for anything gifts.”