Kids Retail Innovators 2007
Staff -- Kids Today, 11/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
Kids Today's second annual retail innovators list recognizes retailers who are meeting the challenges of growing their businesses in an increasingly competitive marketplace by being creative, enterprising and steadfast. More and more of them are thinking outside the box when it comes to engaging consumers, either with free services and design assistance, Web sites or educational classes and gift registries. All of our innovators are independents and many of them family owned. Some stores are newcomers to the industry with a year or two under their proverbial belts, while others have been in business for more than 60 years.
Our list is not a ranking, so they're presented in alphabetical order. Stores may only appear on the list once. If your store isn't listed and you feel it is innovative, please e-mail me a photo or two and a description of what sets your store apart to lcasinger@reedbusiness.com, and we'll consider you for next year's list.
Congratulations to our 2007 Retail Innovators!
Cat and the Fiddle, Plano, Texas
1 store; Estimated 2007 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Kids specialist in business since 1999. Carries product for infants through 10 years in 3,200 square feet of selling space. Has six employees, including a sales team of four. Key vendors include Stanley/Young America, Newport Cottages and Bratt Décor for cribs; Best Home Furnishings for other furniture; Custom Car Seat Covers for gear; Pine Creek Bedding and custom bedding from an in-house seamstress for textiles; and Renditions by Reesa and North American Bear Co. for accessories. Cribs account for 25% of 2007 total sales; other furniture and textiles, 15% each; gear, 10%; accessories, 25%; and toys and apparel, 5% each. Offers design services and holds open houses. Believes its unique, one-of-a kind products and outstanding customer service sets it apart.
Chocolate Milk, North Miami, Fla.
1 store; Estimated 2007 total sales: less than $500,000
Family-owned kids specialist founded in 2005. Carries product for infants through 4 years in 950 square feet of selling space. Has two employees. Key vendors include Nurseryworks for cribs; Newport Cottages and Vintage Gardens for other furniture; Rock Star Baby for gear; House Inc., Serena & Lily, Angela Adams and The Rug Market for textiles; and Jubilee, Empress Arts and Maura Daniel for accessories. Cribs account for 15% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 8%; textiles, 20%; accessories, 15%; toys, 11%; apparel, 28%; and other merchandise, 3%. Offers design services and delivery. Believes its exceptional customer service is the key to its success.
Crib4Life, Altamonte Springs, Fla.
1 store; Estimated 2007 total sales: $1.7 million
Family-owned kids specialist established in 1995. Carries product for infants through teens in its 2,800-square-foot store. Has seven employees, including five sales associates. Key vendors include Baby's Dream for cribs; Best Home Furnishings and Brooks Furniture for other furniture; Glenna Jean, Cotton Tale Designs and Bananafish for textiles; and Glenna Jean, Cotton Tale Designs and Bananafish for accessories. Cribs account for 40% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 50%; and textiles, 10%. Offers local delivery and setup, as well as free layaway.
giggle, New York
5 stores; Estimated 2007 total sales: $5 million or more
Baby and new parent specialist founded in 2002. Operates two stores in New York and one each in Greenwich, Conn., San Francisco and Walnut Creek, Calif. Also sells online. Stores carry product for infants through 4 years in a combined 12,000 square feet of selling space. Key vendors include NettoCollection, Nurseryworks, Oeuf and Stokke for cribs; Dutailier and True Modern for other furniture; Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Bugaboo, Quinny, Maclaren USA and Phil & Teds for gear; Dwellbaby, NotNetural and giggle for textiles; and Manhattan Toy and Flensted for accessories. Holds seminars for expectant and new moms and weekly storytelling sessions. Offers the Ultimate Gift Registry, which includes new parent checklists, a dictionary to explain baby products and baby gear guides. Expectant parents receive a 10% off discount after registering. Has complimentary personal shoppers and offers same-day delivery and full-service assembly. Stores feature a parent lounge and a kids playroom. Says its merchandise selection and highly trained sales teams leads to its success.
Goore's for Babies to Teens, Sacramento, Calif.
2 stores; Estimated 2007 total sales: $5 million or more
Family-owned specialist founded in 1992. Operates one Goore's Babies to Teen and one Goore's Outlet. Stores carry product for infants through teens in a combined 30,000 square feet of selling space. Member of NINFRA and Baby News buying groups. Key vendors include Stanley/Young America, Baby's Dream, Creations, Westwood, Capretti, Pali, Dutailier and Stokke for cribs; Dutailier, Stokke, Best Home Furnishings, Canwood, D.L. Myra and John Boyd Designs for other furniture; Peg Perego, Graco, Phil & Teds, Britax, Recaro North America, Bugaboo, Quinny, Maxi-Cosi, Orbit and Stokke for gear; CoCaLo, Kids Line, Glenna Jean, N. Selby Designs/Cotton Tale Designs, Lambs & Ivy, The Rug Market, Little Giraffe, Juvenile Solutions, Carters and ABC for textiles; and Mura Daniel, The Rug Market, Murphy Smith Designs, CoCaLo, Kids Line, Twelve Timbers, KidKraft, Heart to Heart, New Arrivals and Molly & Me for accessories. Cribs account for 10% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 20%; gear, 30%; textiles, apparel and other merchandise, 10% each; and accessories and toys, 5% each. Offers car seat installation classes, classes for expectant/new moms and certified bra fittings. Has an online and in-store gift registry and offers delivery. Believes its size, quality and service sets it apart.
Infant Interiors, Newport, R.I.
2 stores; Estimated 2007 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Kids specialist established in 2002. Operates one store each in Newport, R.I., and Osterville, Mass. Stores carry product for infants through teens in a combined 2,000 square feet of selling space. Key vendors include Bratt Décor, Newport Cottages and Million Dollar Baby for cribs; Little Castle, Serena & Lily, Badger Basket Co., Bradshaw Kirchofer and Relics for other furniture; Phil & Teds, Mountain Buggy, Uppa Baby and Silver Cross-London Bridge Partners for gear; Serena & Lily, New Arrivals, Sweet William, Beautiful Baby, House Inc. and The Rug Market for textiles; and Jubilee, New Arrivals and Charn and Co. for accessories. Cribs account for 25% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 20%; gear, 5%; textiles, 45%; and accessories, 5%. Holds open houses and classes for expectant and new moms. Supports the community through local charity raffles. Offers design services and delivery. Merchandises stores in room vignettes to allow shoppers feel as if they are in a nursery.
Isis Maternity, Needham, Mass.
3 stores; Estimated 2007 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Maternity and baby specialist founded in 2002. Operates three locations, complete with a retail store and classrooms, in Brookline, Arlington and Needham, Mass. Carries product for infants through 3 years. Stores have a combined 5,000 square feet of selling space. Key vendors include Stokke for cribs; Stokke, Svan, Cariboo, Bloom and Dovetail for other furniture; Bugaboo, Phil & Teds, Uppa Baby, Mountain Buggy, BOB Strollers, Quinny, Silver Cross-London Bridge Partners, Graco, Radian and Clek for gear; Stokke, Petunia Pickle Bottom and Aden and Anais for textiles; and Manhattan Toy, HABA and Wee Gallery for accessories. Cribs account for 1% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 3.5%; gear, 6%; textiles, 0.5%; accessories, 30%; toys, 10%; apparel, 13%; and other merchandise, 36%. Has created a community for new families built around its expert-led classes and exceptional product offerings. Is the preferred prenatal education provider for Brigham & Women's Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Classes include childbirth education, parenting preparation, prenatal and postpartum fitness and massage, lactation consults, new moms and dads groups, child development groups and music and activities classes.
Kidlands Furniture Emporium, Modesto, Calif.
1 store; Estimated 2007 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Kids specialist founded in 1992. Carries product for infants through teens in 7,000 square feet of selling space. Has 10 employees, including a sales team of four. Key vendors include Stanley/Young America for cribs; Stanley/Young America, Furniture Basics, DL Myra and Trendwood for other furniture; California Kids, Fireside Comforts, Kids Line, S&D Fabrics and Fun Rugs for textiles; and Molly & Me, Creative Images-Art4Kids and Levels of Discovery for accessories. Cribs account for 1% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 90%; textiles, 3%; accessories, 5%; and other merchandise, 1%. Holds special events and open houses and offers design services and delivery. Merchandises through uniquely themed rooms. Believes its warm customer service and experienced staff has led to its success.
Kid's Supply Co., New York
2 stores; Estimated 2007 total sales: $2 million
Family-owned kids retailer specializing in custom furniture. Founded in 1995. Operates one store each in New York and Greenwich, Conn. Stores carry product for infants through teens in a combined 3,000 square feet of selling space. Has eight employees, including six sales associates. Cribs account for 5% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 75%; and textiles, 20%. Offers design services. Offers customization of furniture and designs and manufactures 90% of its furniture mix, including beds, trundles, bunk beds, desks, changing tables, glider rockers, bookcases and built-in systems.
Lakeland Baby & Teen, Wayne, N.J.
1 store; Estimated 2007 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Family-owned kids specialist in business since 1974. Carries product for infant through teens in its 8,400-square-foot store. Has seven employees, including five sales associates. Key vendors include Bonavita, Sorelle Furniture, Baby's Dream, Stanley/Young America, Shermag and Dutailier for cribs; Stanley/Young America, Raymond Oaks, Dutailier, Ocean Imports and Best Home Furnishings for other furniture; Lambs & Ivy, Celebrations, Over The Moon, California Kids and Kids Line for textiles; and Stanley/Young America, Bonavita and Sorelle Furniture for accessories. Cribs account for 40% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 52%; textiles, accessories, apparel and other merchandise, 2% each. Offers design services and delivery. Its knowledgeable staff specializes in personalized service.
Lone Star Baby & Kids, Frisco, Texas
3 stores; Estimated 2007 total sales: $8 million or more
Family-owned kids specialist founded in 2001. Operates one store each in Dallas, Frisco and Arlington, Texas. Stores carry product for infants through 10 years in a combined 36,000 square feet of selling space. Key vendors include Munire, Creations, Stanley, Bonavita and Baby's Dream for cribs; Best Home Furnishings and Dutailier for other furniture; Graco, Chicco, Britax, Combi, Recaro, Peg Perego and BOB Strollers for gear; CoCaLo, N. Selby, Cotton Tale Designs, Glenna Jean, Kelly Kouture, Sweet Kyla, Kids Line and Picci for textiles; and KidKraft, Creative Images-Art4Kids, Twelve Timbers, Mud Pie and Hotslings for accessories. Cribs account for 15% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 35%; gear, 20%; textiles, 15%; accessories, 10%; and other merchandise, 5%. Holds open houses and classes for new/expectant mothers. Offers delivery. Believes its employees, product selection and customer service set it apart.
Lullaby Lane, San Bruno, Calif.
3 stores; Estimated 2007 total sales: $5 million or more
Family-owned kids specialist established in 1947. Operates one Lullaby Lane store, one Lullaby Land Kids store and one Lullaby clearance store. Stores carry product for infants through 7 years in a combined 23,000 square feet of selling space. Also sells online. Has 48 employees, including a sales staff of 35. A member of NINFRA and Baby News buying groups. Key vendors include Baby's Dream, Bonavita, Million Dollar Baby, Pali, Morigeau-Lepine, Munire, Sorelle Furniture, Oeuf and Stokke for cribs; Vermont Precision Woodworkers, Best Home Furnishings and Dutailier for other furniture; Graco, Peg Perego, Combi, Britax, Bugaboo, Maclaren, Chicco, Quinny, Maxi-Cosi, Fisher Price and Orbit Baby for gear; CoCaLo, Lambs & Ivy, Kids Line, Dwellbaby and ABC for textiles; and Twelve Timbers, Tiny Love-The Maya Group and KidKraft for accessories. Cribs account for 10% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 40%; gear, 20%; textiles and accessories, 10% each; toys and apparel, 5% each. Offers an online gift registry, on-site car seat installation and free educational classes on selecting baby products, home safety and nursing. Believes its 60 years in business, wide in-stock selection at all price points, high level of one-on-one customer service and educational classes have made it successful.
Pippin Mcgee, Lafayette, La.
1 store; Estimated 2007 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Family-owned kids specialist founded in 2005. Carries product for infants through teens in its 9,000-square-foot store. Has 12 employees, including five salespeople. A member of BFP buying group. Key vendors include Stanley/Young America, Capretti, Natart Juvenile and Pali for cribs; Best Home Furnishings and Little Castle for other furniture; Combi, Peg Perego, Bugaboo, Joovy, Uppa Baby, Baby Jogger and Phil & Teds for gear; and Mudge & Molly, Pine Creek Bedding, Elegant Baby, Thank You Baby and Serena & Lily for textiles. Cribs account for 31% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 39%; gear, 10%; textiles, 9%; accessories, 4%; and toys, 5%. Holds open houses and offers delivery and in-home design services free of charge. Store includes televisions playing throughout, a free-throw basketball court and a fenced-in toddler area.
Posh Baby, Staten Island, N.Y.
1 Store; Estimated 2007 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned kids specialist founded in 2006. Carries product for infants to 2 years in its 1,800-square-foot store. Has three full-time employees one part-time employee. Key vendors include Munire, Natart Juvenile and Stanley/Young America for cribs; Bratt Décor, Dutailier, Pali and A.P. Inds. for other furniture; Bugaboo, Peg Perego and Britax for gear; and Nava's Design, Kelly Kouture and Celebrations for textiles. Cribs account for 40% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 50%; and other merchandise, 10%. Offers delivery and is heavily involved with local schools. Is dedicated to customer service and believes building relationships and trust with customers is its key to success.
Texas Kid Co., Beaumont, Texas
1 store; Estimated 2007 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned kids specialist in business since 2004. Carries product for infants through teens in its 5,500-square-foot store. A member of NINFRA buying group. Key vendors include Bonavita, Baby's Dream, Munire, Legacy and Bratt Décor for cribs; Stanley/Young America, Little Castle, Best Home Furnishings, KidKraft and L.A. Baby for other furniture; Peg Perego, Britax, BumbleRide, Kolcraft and Team Baby for gear; Cotton Tale Designs, Pine Cone Hill, Glenna Jean, Bananafish, Terra Sutta Designs and Pine Creek Bedding for textiles; and KidKraft, Two's Company, Melissa & Doug, Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids, Green Frog Art, Swankie Blankie and MaryJack Studios for accessories. Cribs account for 30% of 2007 total sales; other furniture, 30%; gear, 10%; textiles, 20%; and accessories and toys, 5% each. Strives to carry Texas vendors. Special events include Grandparents Day every Wednesday. Has a baby registry and offers full design services from wall paint choices to rugs and lighting. Offers delivery and custom painting and has a 600-square-foot specialty toy department.
All sales information are Kids Today market research estimates. All data estimated for calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2007.
Source: Kids Today market research
Giggle
Infant Interiors
Isis Maternity
Kidlands Furniture Emporium
Kid's Supply Co.
Lone Star Baby & Kids
Lullaby Lane
Posh Baby
Texas Kid Co.
-
Kids Retail Innovators
Nov 15, 2006 -
Kids Retail Honor Roll
Nov 1, 2008
