Kids Retail Innovators
Staff -- Kids Today, 11/1/2006
Retailing is one of the toughest jobs out there and when you do it right, you deserve recognition. With that in mind, Kids Today debuts its annual Retail Innovators list. We solicited responses throughout the industry and limited the list to 20 stores who think outside the box or have a different spin and raise the retail bar. The list is not a ranking, but rather a recognition for a job well done.
The retailers on this list do more than stock their floors and shelves with product. The Baby's Room in Norcross, Ga., has a "men's club" room with recliners and TVs so Dad can relax while Mom shops. Child of Mine has set up a Science Scholarship program and is starting baby signing classes in its store. Kidspace in Amarillo, Texas, makes dream vignettes for its customers complete with rainforest murals and sounds. Starlight Baby is housed in a barn in New England and Magic City Kids is the only independent children's store in Billings, Mont. The ideas and ingenuity go on and on.
Baby and Kids At Bennett's, Sarasota, Fla.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned kids specialist, founded in 1982. Carries product for infants through teens in its 9,000-square-foot store. Five employees. A member of NINFRA. Offers delivery. Key vendors include Baby's Dream, Million Dollar Baby and Pali Design for cribs; Rumble Tuff for other furniture; Britax, Peg Perego, Bugaboo USA, Graco, Baby Jogger, Rockstar Baby and Combi USA for gear; Kids Line, Lambs & Ivy, Picci, BananaFish and Cotton Tale Designs for accessories. Cribs account for 40% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 10%; gear, 30%; accessories, 5%; toys, 10%; apparel, 5%.
Baby Love, Sunrise, Fla.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $12 million
Family-owned specialist, established in 1973. Carries product for infants through four years in 40,000 square feet of selling space. 50 employees, including a 40-member sales team. Is open seven days a week and offers one-year layaway, as well as delivery. Is a NINFRA member. Key vendors include Pali, Baby's Dream, Morigeau-Lepine and Natart for cribs; Dutailier, Stanley and Chanderic/Shermag for other furniture; Britax, Bugaboo USA, Peg Perego and Maclaren for gear; Nava's Designs, Kids Line, Glenna Jean and Lambs & Ivy for textiles; Kids Line for accessories. Its large selection and its sales staff's longevity and excellence set it apart.
Baby World, Oakland, Calif.2 Stores; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned specialist, founded in 1983. Stores offer product for infants through four years in a combined 7,000 square feet of selling space. A member of Baby News buying group. Employs a team of nine, including eight sales associates. Offers delivery, gift wrapping and car seat installation and breastfeeding seminars. Key vendors include Munire Furniture, Pali and Stanley for cribs; Dutailier and Little Castle for other furniture; Bugaboo USA, Maclaren and Peg Perego for gear. Cribs and other furniture together account for 30% of 2006 sales; gear, 30%; toys, 20%; accessories and apparel, 10% each. Prides itself on one-on-one customer attention and service.
Child of Mine, Daphne, Ala.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned, founded in 2003. Carries product for infants through teens in its 7,000-square-foot store. Two employees. Key vendors include Bratt Décor, Stanley, Corsican Kids, Eden Baby Furniture, Million Dollar Baby, Creations Furniture, Lea and Little Castle for cribs and other furniture; Jacobson International Imports and Dream On Me for gear; N. Selby, Cotton Tale Designs, California Kids, Pine Creek, BananaFish, Kids Line, Fireside Comforts, Sweet Kyla, Blue Moon, Olive Kids and Bacati for textiles and accessories. Cribs account for 30% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 45%; textiles, 20%; gear, accessories, toys, apparel and other merchandise, 1% each. Offers design services and delivery and holds classes for new and expectant parents and baby signing. Gives high-level customers a free baby photo plan with a local photographer. Has a "family tree" wall displaying customer baby photos. Offers programs through local adoption agencies to assist parents in choosing furnishings. Has awarded $3,000 in scholarships to local sixth-grade students through its Child of Mine Science Scholarship Program. Is committed to educating customers about furniture quality.
City Sprouts, St. Louis1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: less than $500,000
Family-owned specialist, founded in 2005. Carries product for infants through six years in its 1,200-square-foot store. Five employees. Has design services and a gift registry and holds special events. Key vendors include Nurseryworks, Offi, Stokke and Hic-Cup for cribs and other furniture; Orbit, Easywalker, Svan, Stokke and Oeuf for gear; Dwell, Nurseryworks and Stokke for textiles; Dolce Mia, North American Bear, Bla Bla and Oopsy Daisy for accessories. Cribs and other furniture together account for 6% of 2006 sales; gear and textiles, 1% each; accessories, 5%; toys, 25%; apparel, 40%; other merchandise, 22%. Its eclectic mix includes everything from cribs to wooden pull toys to black, AC/DC-inspired onesies.
Five Cent Lemonade, Miami1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned specialist, established in 1999. Carries kids home furnishings for infants through teens. Key vendors include Bratt Décor, Caramia Furniture, Newport Cottage and Nurseryworks for cribs; Bradshaw Kirchofer Home Furnishings, Newport, Duc Duc and Nurseryworks for other furniture; Bugaboo USA and Mountain Buggy for gear; BeBe Chic, House Inc., Serena & Lily, Maddie Boo and Bella Notte Linens for textiles; Renditions by Ressa and MacBeth Collection for accessories. Cribs account for 10% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 50%; textiles, 20%; accessories, 10%; toys, 2%; other merchandise, 8%. Offers design services and delivery and holds story telling events and musical sing-a-longs.
Kids 'N Cribs, Antioch, Calif.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned specialist, founded in 1982. Carries products for infants through 10 years in its 6,000-square-foot showroom. Has five employees, including a sales staff of three. A member of Baby Furniture Plus. Key vendors include Baby's Dream, Stanley and Million Dollar Baby for cribs; Camelot, Bonavita and Munire Furniture for other furniture; Graco, Combi USA, Chicco, Maclaren and Britax for gear; Lambs & Ivy, Kids Line, Crown Crafts Infant Products and Cotton Tale Designs for textiles. Cribs account for 70% of 2006 total sales; other furniture, 10%; gear, textiles, toys and apparel, 5% each. Offers delivery. Its fair prices, in-stock merchandise and longevity set it apart.
Kidspace, Amarillo, Texas2 Stores; Estimated 2006 total sales: $2 million
Family-owned specialist, founded in 1990. Stores, located in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas, carry product for infants through teens in a combined 15,000 square feet of selling space. Nine employees, including a seven-member sales team. A member of NINFRA. Key vendors include Baby's Dream, Bonavita and Munire Furniture for cribs; Tradewins, Stanley, John Boyd Designs and Best Home Furnishings for other furniture; Peg Perego and Britax for gear; Fireside Comforts, Pine Creek and Cotton Tale Designs for textiles; Wall Daisies by Kidspace, Twelve Timbers and Renditions by Ressa for accessories. Cribs account for 20% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 30%; gear, 10%; textiles, 20%; accessories, 15%; toys and apparel, 1% each; other merchandise, 3%. Holds special events and offers design services, delivery, layaway, financing and an online gift registry. Displays furnishings in room vignettes designed to stimulate the senses. Prides itself on selling the benefits of investing in a child's space.
Kreativa For Kids, Miami1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned specialist, founded in 2003. Carries kids home furnishings for infants through teens. Six employees, including a three-member sales team. Key vendors include Stanley for cribs; Flexa for other furniture; Serena & Lily, Company C, Eastern Accent, Pine Cone Hill and Blauen Ltd., for textiles; CBK and Creative Living for accessories. Cribs account for 1% of 2006 total sales; other furniture, 53%; textiles, 16%; accessories, 30%. Offers delivery and assembly and features custom draperies, bedding and pillows. Its personal service and design services set it apart.
Magic City Kids, Billings, Mont.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned specialist, established in 2000. Carries products for infants through teens in its 7,500-square-foot showroom. Employs a staff of four. Holds special events and has free gift wrapping. A Baby News member. Key vendors include Munire Furniture, Million Dollar Baby, Simplicity, Rumble Tuff and Pali for cribs; Flexa, Dutailier, Rumble Tuff and Best Home Furnishings for other furniture; Britax, Graco, Peg Perego and Bob Strollers for gear; Kids Line, Brandee Danielle, Cotton Tale Designs and Summersault for textiles; KidKraft and Kids Line for accessories. Cribs account for 20% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 40%; gear, 20%; textiles, apparel and other merchandise, 5% each; accessories, 3%; toys, 2%. Is the only independent children's store in Billings.
Pickles & Ice Cream, Little Rock, Ark.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned specialist carrying home furnishings for infants to two years. Owners purchased the company in 1990. Has 4,000 square feet of selling space. Employs a team of six, including five sales associates. A member of Baby Furniture Plus. Key vendors include Baby's Dream, Bonavita, Million Dollar Baby and Nursery Smart for cribs; Best Home Furnishings for other furniture; Graco, Peg Perego, Britax, Combi USA, Compass, Bugaboo USA, Bob Strollers and Chicco for gear; Glenna Jean, Cotton Tale Designs, Kids Line, CoCaLo and Pine Creek for textiles and accessories. Cribs and other furniture together account for 50% of 2006 sales; gear, 25%; accessories, 15%; apparel, 10%. Holds car seat safety seminars.
Rattles & Rhymes, Athens, Ga.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $500,000 – $999,999
Family-owned specialist, founded in 2002. Carries products for infants to two years in its 5,000-square-foot showroom. Also sells online. Has eight employees, including five sales associates. Key vendors include Bonavita, Sorelle Furniture and Legacy for cribs; Million Dollar Baby for other furniture; Graco, Combi, Britax, Peg Perego and Maclaren for gear; Kids Line, Pine Creek and Brandee Danielle for textiles; Kids Line, Brandee Danielle and Maya for accessories. Cribs account for 42% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 10%; gear, 17%; textiles, 14%; accessories, 9%; toys, 2%; apparel, 5%; other merchandise, 1%. Offers design services, delivery and an online baby registry. Its quality staff, clever merchandising and competitive prices set it apart.
Room To Grow, Cincinnati1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Family-owned retailer, established in 1994. Its 8,000-square-foot store carries home furnishings for infants through teens. Six employees. Key vendors include Natart Juvenile Furniture, Legacy, Munire Furniture and Westwood for cribs; Dutailier, Best Home Furnishings and Vermont Precision for other furniture; Britax for gear; Pine Creek, Sweet Kyla and Fun Rugs for textiles; Creative Images, Renditions By Ressa and Kid Kraft for accessories. Cribs account for 20% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 65%; gear, textiles and accessories, 5% each. Offers design services and delivery and participates in the local Parade of Homes and Homerama. Just added a new section of developmental toys for infants to five years. Its knowledgeable sales staff and selection of quality products set it apart.
Schneider's Juvenile Furniture, New York1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Family-owned specialist, founded in 1950. Carries product for infants to teens in 5,000 square feet of selling space. Five employees. A member of Baby Furniture Plus. Key vendors include Morigeau-Lepine, Pali, Stanley, Dutailier and Sorelle Furniture for cribs; Vermont Precision, Lea, Stanley, Dutailier, Flexa and Rumble Tuff for other furniture; Bugaboo USA, Phil & Teds, Jane, Zooper, Maclaren, Valco, Micralite, Uppababy and Combi for gear; Glenna Jean, Pine Creek, Cotton Tale Designs, Kids Line, BananaFish, Mudge & Molly and Picci for textiles. Cribs account for 70% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 14%; gear, 10%; textiles and toys, 3% each. Offers delivery. Its excellent service, experienced staff and assortment of quality furniture set it apart.
Starlight Baby, Southbury, Conn.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: less than $500,000
Family-owned, established in 2006. Carries product for infants through four years. Its 1,900-square-foot store is located in a renovated 1800's-era barn. Also sells online and has a gift registry. Three employees. Key vendors include Stanley for cribs; Cariboo/Scandinavian Child and Levels of Discovery for other furniture; Svan Chair, Britax, Peg Perego, Combi USA, Baby Björn, Phil & Teds, i'CCo USA, Rockstar Baby, Zooper, Valco Baby and Hollister for gear; Little Giraffe, Kushies Baby, Kelly B. Rightsell Designs, California Baby and Fun Bath for textiles; North American Bear, Sassafras and local artists for accessories. Features its own hand-painted furniture and custom bedding line. Cribs account for 20% of 2006 total sales; other furniture, 10%; gear, 20%; textiles, 5%; accessories, 15%; toys, 5%; apparel, 25%. Holds an annual baby fair and safety event, as well as classes for new and expectant parents. Offers design services, a personal shopper service and shipping across the U.S. Prides itself on a stress-free environment for parents to shop while children play.
The Baby's Room, Norcross, Ga.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Family-owned specialist, in business since 1985. Its 13,000-square-foot store carries kids home furnishings for infants through 7 years. Key vendors include Munire Furniture, Sorelle Furniture, Bonavita, Pali and Morigeau-Lepin for cribs; Best Home Furnishings and A.P. Inds. for other furniture; Graco, Combi and Maclaren for gear; BananaFish, CoCaLo, Glenna Jean and Sweet Kyla for textiles; Little Giraffe, Mud Pies, Creative Knitwear and Bunnies By The Bay for accessories. Cribs account for 18% of 2006 total sales; other furniture, 55%; gear, 8%; textiles, 10%; accessories, 5%; toys, 3%; other merchandise, 1%. Offers design services and delivery. Store features a "men's club" room with recliners and a TV.
The Wooden Swing Co., Dallas3 Stores; Estimated 2006 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Family-owned retailer, founded in 1978. Has showrooms in Dallas, Frisco and Fairview, Texas. Stores have a combined 10,000 square feet of selling space and carry product for ages two to 12. Key vendors include My Room, John Boyd Designs and Stanley for furniture; California Kids, Fireside Comforts and Davenport Home Furnishings for textiles; KidKraft, Jubilee, Renditions by Ressa, Creative Images, UKid and Judith Edwards Designs for accessories. Furniture accounts for 30% of 2006 sales; textiles and accessories, 5% each; other merchandise, 60%. Holds special events and offers design services, delivery and installation.
Toy House, Jackson, Mich.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Family-owned specialist, established in 1949. Carries products for infants through teens in 14,000 square feet of selling space. Employs 22, including a sales staff of 16. Key vendors include Legacy, Munire Furniture and Rumble Tuff for cribs; Best Home Furnishings, Dutailier, Pearl Furniture, KidKraft and Stokke for other furniture; Britax, Chicco, Graco and Compass for gear; Kids Line and Lambs & Ivy for textiles and accessories. Cribs account for 5% of 2006 sales; other furniture, 10%; gear and textiles, 8% each; accessories, 4%; toys, 65%. Holds classes for expectant and new parents and offers delivery, gift wrapping, assembly and UPS shipping. Has a strong commitment to educating customers. Its hands-on displays, wide selection and knowledgeable staff set it apart.
Treasures Rooms Baby & Kids Furniture, Town & Country, Mo.1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $3 million
Family-owned specialist, established in 1989. Carries home furnishings for infants through teens in 13,000 square feet of selling space. A NINFRA member. Key vendors include Munire Furniture, Pali and Westwood Design for cribs; Rumble Tuff, Stanley, Tradewins and Shermag for other furniture; Glenna Jean, BananaFish, California Kids, Lambs & Ivy and CoCaLo for textiles; Homestead and CBK for accessories. Cribs and other furniture each account for 40% of 2006 sales; textiles and accessories, 10% each. Holds special events and offers specialty items.
Treehouse Kids, Cincinnati1 Store; Estimated 2006 total sales: $1 million – $2.9 million
Family-owned specialist, founded in 2003. Its 8,000-square-foot showroom carries home furnishings for infants to teens. Product mix is 50% baby and 50% youth. Five employees. A NINFRA member. Key vendors include Baby's Dream, Dutailier, Bonavita and Shermag for cribs; Berg, Rumble Tuff, Tradewins, Flexa, Dutailier, Best Home Furnishings and Atlantic for other furniture; Graco, Chicco, Baby Jogger, Britax, Peg Perego and Joovy for gear; Lambs & Ivy, Sweet Kyla, Kids Line, Sozo, Kentex and Whisper Soft Mills for textiles; Small Fry, King America and Kiddie Lites for accessories. Cribs and other furniture each account for 40% of 2006 sales; textiles, 10%; gear and accessories, 5% each. Holds special events and offers design services and delivery. Is located in the same mall as Babies "R" Us and Baby Depot.
Baby Love
Child of Mine
City Sprouts
Kids Space
Five Cent Lemonade
Kreativa for Kids
Magic City Kids
Toy House
Treehouse Kids
The Wooden Swing
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