Baby's & Kid's 1st opens second Young America shop
By Lisa Casinger -- Kids Today, 9/1/2006
Baby's & Kid's 1st Furniture celebrated the grand opening of its second Young America Signature Shop in July in Houston.
"Today's fashionable parents are interested in more than just buying furniture," said owner Larry Muller. "They want to create a nurturing environment for their little ones that will take them through their teenage years. Following our motto to 'expect the best from 1st to last,' the Young America Signature Shop simplifies the process of choosing furniture that will grow with the child, allowing parents to see firsthand how quality furniture that is perfect for their infant today will work wonderfully for their teen later."
Glenn Prillaman, Young America senior vice president of marketing and sales, and Ray Harding Jr., Young America sales manager, joined Muller and his wife, Yvette, for the official grand opening, which included a ribbon cutting and sale event for Young America furniture.
The Mullers opened the largest of their three Houston-area stores about 18 months ago and after trying other juvenile manufacturers decided on a Young America Signature Shop. When market demographics encouraged the Mullers to move their original store to the Houston Galleria location, they agreed to include another Young America Signature Shop as well. The Shop comprises nearly 1,500 of the 5,500-square-foot store.
"To date Young America has done exactly what we had hoped it would," Muller said. "It does for us in juvenile what our other trusted manufacturers have done for us in baby. Customers have actually come in with a list of Young America furniture and asked us to order it for them. We attribute this to YA's marketing approach."
The third Baby's & Kid's 1st store also carries a lot of Young America furniture, but space limitations prevent it from housing a full-blown shop.
Muller and Prillaman met at a Kid's Today conference where they sat on a panel discussing how traditional baby stores could get into selling juvenile and how adult stores could sell baby. Prillaman introduced the Young America concept to Muller, who then followed up with him at the next High Point market.
"Yvette and I were sold on the Young America concept and the aggressive approach the company took regarding marketing the product to today's parents," Muller said.
"We are delighted to open our Signature Shop in Houston at Baby's & Kid's 1st Furniture," Prillaman said. "In addition to being one of the largest baby and juvenile specialty retailers in Texas, Baby's & Kid's 1st is known for its quality and service. Like Young America, Baby's & Kid's 1st is committed to helping parents make the best choices for their children."
Baby's & Kid's 1st Furniture opens its second Young America Signature Shop. TJ Swafford, left, and Glenn Prillaman, Young America; Larry and Yvette Muller, Baby's & Kid's 1st; Ray Harding Jr., Young America; and Mary Forame, Baby's & Kid's 1st.
