One Stop Kid Shop: STORE SPOTLIGHT PREMIER RETAILER Q&A

Today we are thrilled to interview Sandy Coonley, owner of One Stop Kid Shop in Malvern, PA for our Store Spotlight. Sandy is an active member of her Victorian era community, has a great take on dressing a stylish child, and a bright and beautiful store jammed packed with everything a kid could want. Read more to discover today’s “Premier Store Spotlight” with children’s boutique One Stop Kid Shop. Enjoy!

One Stop Kid Shop
131 West King Street
Malvern, PA 19355
610.296.2225
www.oskspa.com

Join One Stop Kid Shop’s Facebook page and click HERE 

1.    What was your inspiration behind opening your children’s clothing store – One Stop Kid Shop?
Sandy: I have been in retail my whole life. I have a degree in Retail Management from Syracuse University. Until I had children, I worked in many positions for a variety of stores, including being a clothing buyer and a store manager. I was working at a children’s store when my youngest child left for college, and at the same time the owner of the store decided to close. So it was a natural progression for me to take over and in 2009 One Stop Kid Shop was born!

2.    Tell us about any special events that you have planned at your store this coming summer and fun deals we can expect.
Sandy: We just had our Anniversary Sale. I mailed postcards to my customers. On each card was a peel off sticker and under the sticker was a discount ranging from 20% to 40% off their entire purchase. We challenged the customer not to peel off the sticker until they came into the store. One Stop Kid Shop will have a red, white & blue sale before July 4^th – keep a look out and come by!

3.    Describe the neighborhood of Malvern, Pennsylvania where your store is located. Did you grow up in the local area?
Sandy: Malvern is a small Victorian era town with Victorian street lamps and brick pavers. All the stores, restaurants and businesses are locally and independently owned. The business owners all know each other by name as well as their customers and delivery people. Though I did not grow up in Malvern, the area has been my home for 22 years.

4.    Memorial Day and summer break for kids is just around the corner. What are 3 vacation clothing must-have items that are in your store for summer?
Sandy:

• Colorful swimsuit 
• Sunhat with UV protection
• Beach cover up

5.    Where are your favorite family hangouts in the Malvern area?
Sandy: YMCA – they have activities for kids, families and adults. The YMCA has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, several gyms, workout facilities and sports fields. My children went to preschool and summer camp there, and today when they are home they go to the weight room to get in a workout.

6.    Tell us about a “special” moment that made your day working at your store.
Sandy: When the children try on clothes we ask them to give us a fashion show. Some of them are shy at first, but to see the confidence on their faces when they come out of the fitting room and spin around always brightens my day.

Le Top wall featuring outfits (clockwise from top left) from our spring 2011 “Flutterbye Butterfly”, “Beachy Keen Monokinis”, “Poppies”, “Puppy Pals”, “Heart’s Delight”, and “Hop To It!” collections

7.    What do you think are the 3 perfect ingredients if there was a “recipe” for dressing a stylish child? Always having solid basics? The perfect tutu? Great jeans that are durable for the everyday play of boys? Tell us your ‘secret recipe’ on style.
Sandy: Every boy needs a pair of chinos or twill pants that can be dressed up with a dress shirt and tie or a polo shirt or just be casual with a t-shirt. A basic navy blue blazer is a must in every boy’s wardrobe. For girls, she needs leggings in basic colors that also can be dressed up or down depending on what she wears on top. No girl’s wardrobe is complete without a fancy dress that makes her feel like a princess.

8.    Sesame Street is instrumental in the lives and homes of so many families and children throughout the ears, who was/is your favorite character and why?
Sandy: Elmo – he is full of life and laughter. He is always inquisitive and optimistic. 

9.    What collection or piece from Le Top or Le Top Baby line or Rabbitmoon do you love from the Spring/Summer 2011?
Sandy: Le Top’s “School of Fun” Collection – I love the styling and bright colors.  This collection started selling as soon as it was put on the sales floor.

Le Top's "School of Fun" collection

One Stop Kid Shop
131 West King Street
Malvern, PA 19355
610.296.2225
www.oskspa.com

 Join One Stop Kid Shop’s Facebook page and click HERE

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Warning: Limit Children’s Sun Exposure

Today the American Academy of Pediatrics issued an alarming statement and policy urging parents across America to limit their children’s sun exposure. The AAP policy released “Ultraviolet Radiation: a Hazard to Children and Adolescents,” published in the March 2011 print issue of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 28), offering guidance to parents and pediatricians on skin cancer prevention and safe sun exposure practices. It stated, “Lifelong sun protection is recommended starting at an early age. Education about UVR exposure is important for all children, especially those at high risk for developing skin cancer: children with light skin and eyes, who freckle or sunburn easily, or have a family history of melanoma. Pediatricians should advise children, parents and teens about the dangers of UVR exposure.” It is important as parents that we teach our children to be responsible about the sun – it goes a long way in preventing signs of skin cancer!

Their recommendations for children were to:

1. wear proper clothing and hats, timing outdoor activities to minimize peak midday sun (10 am-4 pm) when possible
2. apply sunscreen
3. wear sunglasses
4. Infants younger than 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight and protected with clothing and hats.

The policy also urges support of a new legislation that will prohibit children under 18 from using tanning devices or going to tanning salons.

According to Thomas Rohrer, M.D., Secretary of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, “melanoma is the most common skin cancer in children. In addition, only six severe sunburns in a lifetime increase risk of melanoma by 50 percent. It is important that parents, teachers and physicians encourage sun avoidance and protection by monitoring their children’s moles and freckles for the ABCDEs—asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, diameter, and evolving; encourage children to wear at least 30 SPF sunscreen and reapply it every 2 to 3 hours spent outdoors…One study estimated a 78% drop in skin cancer risk if parents protect their children from significant sun exposure in the first 18 years of life.”

Scarily the AAP’s report also discusses that people of all ages continue to overexpose themselves to harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun, especially in tanning salons. According to the AAP’s report, “The use of tanning salons is a common practice among teenagers, especially females. In a national survey, 24 percent of non-Hispanic white teenagers 13 to 19 years of age used a tanning facility at least once. The intensity of UVR radiation produced by some tanning units can be 10 to 15 times higher than the midday sun. Along with the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Dermatology, the AAP supports legislation prohibiting access to tanning salons or use of artificial tanning devices by children under the age of 18.”

Do you think that minors tanning in tanning salons should be illegal and banned? If it is illegal to smoke before the age of 18 due to cancer and other health risks, shouldn’t tanning salons for minors be illegal too?

Take the proper steps and protect your children! Le Top offers swimwear (note: with no UV protection), but also cover-ups and hats to help protect your children’s delicate skin from the sun. Be safe and enjoy your vacations this spring!

(clockwise for top left) Le Top "Ship Ahoy-boys" terry hooded cover-up, "Beach Keen Monokinis" hibiscus beach dress and sunhat, "Sunny Duck-boys" cover-up shirt, swim trunks and hat, "Beachy Keen Monokinis" waves and bubbles beach dress and sunhat.

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