TickledPinkandBlue.com: ONLINE PREMIER STORE SPOTLIGHT Q&A

It’s all about online shopping these days. Many moms (and most that I know) are running around all day – from taking their kids to school to fitting in after school activities and sports to bedtime stories and more…what better way to relax and do a little e-shopping with one of our favorite online premier boutiques – www.TickledPinkandBlue.com. We are obsessed with this online children’s clothing boutique and their mission is to provide their customers with high quality products at affordable prices and superior customer service – Le Top can vouch for that! We were able to sit down and talk to co-owners, Katherine and Ashley, this week and get the scoop on their website, how they decide what to buy for their products on their site, their tips on online shopping, and sweet deals if you sign up as a customer on their website. Read more to find out about TickledPinkandBlue.com!

 228.697.5192

www.tickledpinkandblue.com

CHECK-IN and JOIN
TickledPinkandBlue.com’s
Facebook page and click HERE

 

1.     Tell us the inspiration behind the name Tickled Pink and Blue? How long has your online store been around and what was your inspiration behind launching the website?
Tickled Pink and Blue is owned by two friends, Katherine and Ashley. We wanted to come up with a name that was playful, fun and whimsical and expressed how we feel about children and our personalities. We’ve both always loved children and were looking forward to starting our own families and dressing our children in today’s beautiful and adorable fashions. Ashley had just become a mother to her beautiful daughter, Ava, and we were “tickled pink” to have Ava in our lives. After brainstorming and chatting, as women do, we came up with Tickled Pink. We wanted to, of course, include boys in the name of our online boutique, so Tickled Pink and Blue emerged!

Our online store has been around since the summer of 2011. Our inspiration behind launching our site was to find beautiful, well-made clothing that is affordable and share them with moms, grandmothers, aunts, and others shopping for the just the perfect outfit or dress for their special bundles of joy. We are very good friends and were teaching together at the same school; however, we were looking for something to do that we could have fun with, would be able to spend more time with our children, would be flexible, and more importantly would allow us to dress up our little ones, and all our friends’ and families’ little ones, in all the latest fashions.

Ashley's daughter, Ava, in one of her favorite outfits (Le Top Tiny Bubbles).

2.     What do you look for in clothing/accessories companies when buying for the boutique?
First and foremost, we look for affordable prices for our customers. We feel that it is important to offer quality clothing at great prices. We also look for a wide variety of styles from traditional smocked clothing to casual playwear to soft and comfortable sleepwear, with a keen eye on items that we would dress our own children in. We also try to keep a well-stocked inventory with the current seasons hottest items and our best sellers. For this reason, it is important to us to work with companies that have a flexible and easy reorder program and good turn-around times and delivery windows.

3.     What advice would you give to parents shopping for their children? Do you find that most parents take the same stylistic approach with dressing their children as they do with themselves?
The advice we would offer to parents shopping for their children would be to purchase items that are of good quality. We would also encourage parents to look for items that they love and make their children comfortable.

We find that parents’ stylistic approach to dressing their children differs considerably. Some parents dress their children in more traditional or classic clothing and feel nostalgic when their children are wearing some of the very same long-lasting brands. Others tend to dress their children in trendier styles, while other parents choose a combination of traditional styles and trendier styles when dressing their children. Whatever the parents’ stylistic approach, Tickled Pink and Blue hopes that every parent can find something at our online boutique that they would love to have and purchase for their children.

4.     Spring 2012 styles are coming into stores and brightening up any family’s winter wardrobe. What are your top 3 items (clothes, toys, giftables, etc.) for any parent online shopping for warm weather items?
Our top three clothing items would be Le Top’s Sun and Sea Ocean Print Jumpsuit, any of the ruffled bubbles by Petit Ami, and short sets for boys by Rosalina and Mud Pie featuring smocked or appliquéd designs. Any of these items would be perfect to dress your child in to enjoy the upcoming summer fun!

5.     Any special events that you have planned at your online store for spring? Tell us the inside scoop about any special events and especially the fun deals we can expect! Do you list any deals on your great Facebook page?
We often have great discounts for our valued customers. As an Easter gift to our customers, we are offering 10% off our new spring and summer clothing until the end of April. In order to take advantage of this offer, you can register as a customer on our website and use the code “EASTER10” at checkout. Yes, we do list any special promotions or sales on our Facebook page, so we would like to remind everyone to “Like” our Facebook page, so you don’t miss out on any of our great deals and fantastic promotional events!

6.     What are your top 3 children’s movies or books and why?
Ashley: For babies to younger toddlers, I love Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.  My daughter who is 19 months just loves this book. For children a little older, I think the Fancy Nancy books by Jane O’Connor are just precious. Little girls love to dress up and wear pretty, frilly things, so it is a lot of fun to read these books and look at the adorable illustrations. My favorite book for all ages is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I think we all remember reading this as a child. I still have memories of actually getting to eat green eggs and ham in pre-school after my teacher read us that book.  It was such a fun day! 

Katherine:  American Girl collection of books (and they come with dolls…who wouldn’t love that!) and The Polar Express (remains a favorite of mine today and reminds us all to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in our hearts:)).

7.     Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?”

Katherine and Ashley at their website Launch Party last June

Ashley:  Well, I do have one thing that I always said I would try to do and that was to have my kids sleep in their own beds. So far, my husband and I have stayed pretty true to that except for a few occasions in which she was sick or not feeling well. 

Katherine: My husband and I are expecting our first children. Yes, that’s right, children! We’re having twins, and we couldn’t be more excited. One thing that is really important to us, as parents, is to make sure we don’t lose ourselves once we have children and make time for each other as a couple.

8.     What are the hottest trends for kids’ clothes right now?
The hottest trends for kids’ clothes right now are bright colors with fun patterns and of course, polka dots! Paisley print items have been very popular with our customers this season as well. Outfits accented with appliqués, ruffles, and grosgrain ribbons are also a really big hit.

9.     What Le Top or Rabbitmoon Spring 2012 collection is your online store’s favorite and why?
We actually have three favorites from Le Top’s Spring 2012 collection.  We love the bright colors of coral, aqua, orange, and lime green featured in the Sun and Sea Collection. In Tiny Bubbles, we fell in love with the dot print sun-suit top and ruffle panty. Who doesn’t just love polka dots! The Love Bug Collection pairs our two favorite colors together, which are pink and green. The floral and striped patterns look just perfect together, and the grosgrain ribbon and embroidered flower add just the right amount of sweetness for your little girl. All of these collections have adorable, fun styles that make you look forward to all of the activities that you will get to enjoy with your children this summer. 

Le Top "Love Bug" Sunsuit Top & Striped Panty

Tickled Pink and Blue

 A Children’s Clothing Boutique
228.697.5192

www.tickledpinkandblue.com

CHECK-IN and JOIN
TickledPinkandBlue.com’s
Facebook page and click HERE

 

Read Full Post »

Baby Bug & Me: PREMIER RETAILER Q&A

It’s a baby bug’s life! Read about our 6th premier retailer in our weekly “Store Spotlight” series where we feature one of Le Top’s best stores.  Judy Novinger, owner of Baby Bug & Me, gives us the fun facts of the state bug of Pennsylvania (where her store is located), her launch of a “shoetique,” what mommies buy in her store versus her online boutique, and what celebrity mommy she would love to meet!

1.      What made you decide to enter the children’s business and what did you do before?

Judy: Baby Bug & Me is a spin off of my previous retail gift shop named Lightning Bug, Inc. There was a major closing of many of the children’s boutiques in the greater Harrisburg, PA area a few years ago.  I opened Baby Bug & Me in September 2003 to fill this retail gap.

2.      The name of your store is very playful – where did the name come from?

Judy:   My original gift shop featured a whimsical little girl lightning bug as our logo.  Our baby boutique logo shows the little girl lightning bug all grown up and pushing a buggy with a baby bug.

Thus the name “Baby Bug & Me.”  Oh by the way, the “Lightening Bug” is also the state insect of Pennsylvania!

3.      What would people be surprised to learn about you and your store?

Judy: I was formerly a gift buyer for a large department store and decided to interview for the children’s clothing buyer position. I was told that I ‘didn’t have what it took to buy children’s fashions’ and did not get the job.   As time went on, I moved on to pursue other opportunities in sales and retail.  Ironically, had I been selected for that original position there probably would not be a Baby Bug & Me today.

4.      Who is your target customer?

Judy: The grandparents are my strongest supporters!  Being a grandmother of eight, I know the thrill of having the child of my child in my arms.  My customers share stories, pictures and what they want to buy for their families. The grandparent shopper is looking for the clothing that “keeps children looking like children”. That is why Le Top is our largest clothing retailer source.  They give quality and take cute to the limit!

5.      As a couple, you and your husband must have incredibly demanding schedules with the store. What’s the key to your successful marriage?

Judy: My husband Jim, whom I am married to for 40 years, is the man behind the scenes.  Even with having a full-time job, he still finds the time to support Baby Bug & Me.  From my visions, he builds my fixtures.  He supports my business computer needs, and he is the MUSCLE behind the heavy “grunt work.”

6.      What products do your clientele like the most?

Judy: Layette, playwear and shoes are our strongest categories.  We provide sizes preemie to 4 toddlers for boys, and girls’ sizes expand from preemie to 6x with a move to 10/12 in the fall. This fall we will have completed our expansion of “The Shoetique”.  This is our store within a store concept for shoes.  Fortunately, my customers are very forthcoming with what they want for their shopping needs.  They want good quality shoes to match the clothing they purchase.

7.      Any Celebrity customers over the years or do you have any celebs buying right now?

Judy: Most of my celebs are from our diverse local TV and radio personalities.  It’s fun meeting the person behind the voice on the radio.

8.      There are so many famous celebrity mommies that we see each week in the weeklies such as Us Weekly, InTouch, etc. – if you could meet one celeb mommy or daddy, who would it be and why?

Judy: I think I’d like to meet Sandra Bullock.  She seems like a good, caring working mother and an all around nice person.

9.      Between all of the social media outlets – Facebook, Twitter, and more – what do you think about social networking and how it allows moms and dads to come together as a parenting community?

Judy: I have learned that the computer savvy mother turns to the Internet for their children’s needs.  After hours, when moms are finally settled, she browses the Internet to shop and network with other parents.  We actually just hired a new associate for our store that set Baby Bug & Me up on Facebook.  Wow! What a network!  I also have learned to surf the net to find new and exciting product for the store – it helps me with the necessary planning to attend seasonal kids trade shows.

10. I heard the Lemoyne area in Pennsylvania is pretty cute; describe the neighborhood your store is in for us.

Judy: Lemoyne is located approximately 2 miles south of Harrisburg, PA, our capitol.  We are 1 of 14 upscale businesses located above the West Shore Farmers Market.  Picture a smaller scale Quincy Market type atmosphere as seen in Boston.

11. What do you feel are the three biggest keys to your success?

Judy: Customer Service, Fine Quality Merchandise, and Product Knowledge.  We always want our customer’s time in Baby Bug to be a good experience.  They deserve individual attention when buying for whatever the occasion.  We supply free gift wrapping for one stop shopping and a special play area to keep those little people occupied.  Customers want a unique look that screams quality.  We feel the customer deserves to know the origin, manufacturer and the proper care of all our products.

12. How do you select your products for the store? Do you find that there is a difference between your online boutique consumers for your brand versus your typical store consumer?

Judy: We have a three-part formula.  One third is what I feel the customer will like.  One third is what is trending i.e. organic.  One third is what the area demands, shoes, christening, seasonal, preemie, etc. We find our online customer wants to buy accessories and toys rather than clothing.  The store customer wants to touch the merchandise.  They like to see the colors, evaluate attributes and talk with us about proper sizing.  How frustrating it is to buy something on the web only to find it needs to be returned for one reason or another.  We do shipping for the continental US and military APO and FPO addresses for both online or store sales.

13. If you had one piece of advice for someone entering children’s retail today, what would it be?

Judy: Always begin with a financial business plan. It is not a matter of just going to the market place and buying pretty things. Do your homework to meet both the area’s needs and your financial plans.  Mentor with other business people.

14. What is your best or most memorable moment in your store?

Judy: I believe that most people, when asked this question, would probably respond with a happy story, and I have many of those. However, my most memorable moment was when I was able to personally assist a grieving grandfather in selecting the burial clothing for his deceased new grandchild. I felt so humbled in helping this family.

15. What collection or piece from Le Top and/or rabbit moon are you loving from the Spring/Summer 2010 collection?

Judy: I am wowed by the oranges and blues of Lots ‘o Fish, a true step away from the traditional blues and pinks. The style and fashion make this a fun group for either boy or girl.  I love the mixing of patterns and stripes and the use of the whimsical orange fish appliqués.

Baby Bug & Me
900 Market Street
Lemoyne, PA 17043
717.763.1780
http://www.babybugandme.com

Read Full Post »

A Neighborhood Boutique at Your Fingertips!

Daisies are like sunshine to the ground.” – Drew Barrymore

Jason and Julie's Daughters

Stop and smell the daisies???  Although daisies really don’t have a fragrance, the idea of saving some time is sweet!  When you need to find some really special children’s clothing for your little one, or a great children’s gift, save some time and visit our friends at www.Green-Daisies.com.  Jason and Julia Pugh, busy parents of two little girls ages 2 and 4, started their online store to give other on-the-go parents the opportunity to access all the amenities of a neighborhood boutique in the serenity of their own home.

Julia was sitting in her garden watching her daughters pick daisy after daisy and it occurred to her that daisies bring simple happiness to life.  The name Green Daisies seemed unique, and it reflected their goal of creating a store that offered an exceptional, high quality and pleasant shopping experience.  She understands that busy parents want outstanding customer service and high quality clothing, but browsing through stores is not always a simple task with little ones!

Julia and Jason love the location they have chosen to plant their family – a little town with a big name – Boulder, Colorado.  They encourage other outdoor-minded families to come and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Rocky Mountains, the wonderful hiking trails, or to participate in the largest annual 10K run in the country.

Although Green-Daisies.com is only 7 months young – there seems to be a following that has developed, including some ‘anonymous’  and ‘not-so-anonymous’ celebrities – including Campbell Brown! I am sure Campbell would agree that time is of the essence when you are a working mother – and signing on to Green-Daisies.com is like having your neighborhood children’s store right in your own home!  Julia and Jason are attentive to the needs of your children, your privacy (including all those anonymous celeb’s out there!) and your time.

You can keep up with their daily happenings, newest items, and much more on their “neighborhood” social networking sites.  So come, Tweet, Facebook & Blog with Green-Daisies.com today!  Julia and Jason love the satisfaction of listening to suggestions from their customers, and to make Green Daisies a satisfying and rewarding shopping destination for busy parents.  Drop in for a “chat over the neighborhood fence” – and see the great le top styles featured on Green-Daisies.com!

Read Full Post »

Reverie Baby

Where would we be without friends? We are so fortunate to work with retailers who are wonderful partners in business – and even more privileged when we can call some of these wonderful people our friends!

Reverie Baby welcomes you!

We wanted to share pictures and information about one of our “best friend’s” beautiful store – Reverie Baby, located in Santa Rosa. This part of California is home to beautiful countryside, fabulous wineries and one very distinctive children’s boutique! The owners – Eva and Arnie Levine – are very special people. They operated stores that specialized in fine linens for over 35 years – and just when they began to consider retirement, they happened upon the idea of opening a children’s specialty boutique. The store has been open for 5½ years, and is located adjacent to their linens store, Reverie Linens, in Montgomery Village Shopping Center. I don’t want you to get any mistaken ideas about Eva and Arnie being ‘ready for the rocking chair’ – when we go out to dinner they can “out-party” me!  Everyone needs friends who work hard…and know how to have fun!

Arnie with his friendly smile, ready to help

Their beautifully merchandised store specializes in clothing for children in sizes newborn to toddler – and is known by some as “Grandma Heaven!” Arnie tries to buy merchandise that is ‘special’ – and would appeal to moms and grandmothers who are looking for the classic baby outfit or gift. The moms especially love playwear that is unique – but never ‘over the top!’ Reverie Baby offers beautiful gift wrapping, and for years had one ‘signature paper’ – only the ribbon colors would differ. They have now added choices in gift wrap, because at baby showers in the area all the gifts would be wrapped in identical wrap! A gift from Reverie Baby is cherished and valued as something truly special and exceptional.

We asked Arnie, “What is the key to your success?” I loved his answer, because it is fundamentally simple – yet so difficult to achieve: “Everyone comes in my store happy, and they always leave happy.” The staff at Reverie Baby always greet you with a genuine smile and have excellent product knowledge – so nice, when compared to many retailers these days. We love Arnie’s philosophy, maybe THAT’S why he is our good friend!

Reverie Baby at Montgomery Village, 2406 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. Click on photos to shop Reverie Baby online.

Read Full Post »

Tiny Toes on Good Morning Maryland!

Tiny Toes in Bel Air, MD

We’re so excited to report that Karen and Tina from Tiny Toes in Bel Air, MD were featured on Good Morning Maryland last Friday! Christine Epps Consulting came by Tiny Toes and hand-selected the le•top Strawberry Fields printed dress as a budget-worthy find for a casual Easter outfit. We can’t think of a better store to be featured on Good Morning Maryland. Karen and Tina have a passion for children’s clothing as well as a passion for customer service. They are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and are always willing to go the extra mile to make sure your shopping experience at Tiny Toes is the best one. Whether you are looking for a plush toy or the latest le•top outfit, you are sure to get stellar service and a great selection at Tiny Toes. If you are in the Bel Air, MD area, stop by and pick up your very own Strawberry Fields dress for Easter and beyond! You can also shop Tiny Toes online, and there’s always our le•top store locator to help you find a le•top retailer near you.

Strawberry Fields from the le•top Spring 09 Collection

Read Full Post »

pediped™ Footwear Launches new Spring/Summer 2009 Collection!

pediped™ footwear spring/summer collection: Harvey

You saw our fabulous “shoe closet” here at le•top a few weeks ago, all thanks to our friends at pediped™ footwear. Well, we just heard from them that their Spring/Summer 2009 collection is now available, and just in time for the warm weather, they’re boasting more sandals than ever! As a designer who admits to being a “shoe-aholic” (is that being redundant?), I appreciate how pediped has styles for every occasion, ensuring that your darlings look their best, while still providing comfort and support. pediped footwear is a natural complement to any le•top or rabbitmoon outfit – spring, summer, fall and winter! They have such a sweet company story, too: in their quest for the perfect soft-soled shoe for their first daughter, Angela and Brian Edgeworth just decided to do it themselves and launched pediped in 2004 – lucky daughter! 😉 This award winning company is known for their exceptional quality, unsurpassed comfort and distinctive styling. You can easily find pediped footwear in stores (in the U.S. and worldwide) or conveniently shop pediped online – they offer more than 120 designs for boys and girls between their two lines, Originals and Flex. Originals are soft-soled shoes for newborns to age 2+, and the Flex line offers rubber-soled shoes for children 1 to 6 years (EU sizes ranging from 17 to 29).

pediped™ footwear spring/summer collection: Giselle

Read Full Post »

In Fashion Kids

One of our retailers, In Fashion Kids, was honored as an inaugural winner in the Baby Clothing category by TheFind. We are so excited to brag about In Fashion Kids’ big achievement! A compendium Website for consumers for all things shopping, TheFind lists the best stores, online retailers, sales and coupons, as well as helping to find those hard-to-come-by items…like Nadine’s rabbit moon blankie! 🙂 The Find has launched an annual list giving recognition to top 100 online specialty stores in sixteen categories. We congratulate Jacquie (owner) and In Fashion Kids for winning a top spot in the first TheFind100!

To find a great selection of baby and children’s costumes, dress wear and, of course, our fashionable le•top baby and children’s clothes, the search mission has already been done for you…just go to In Fashion Kids!

Read Full Post »

Pediped Love

Shoe heaven...

A tiny portion of our “little” shoe collection provided by our wonderful friends over at Pediped. Their shoes were modeled with both our le•top and rabbit moon clothes for the Fall 09 photo shoot. We had the shoot a few weeks ago, but you’ll have to wait a few months to see them. I promise you, they are just gorgeous. 🙂

And boy! Did our designers have a ton of fun on their online shopping spree at Pediped!

Read Full Post »

le•top on TV this morning!

le•top sherpa 3 piece set at comfykid.com

We’re all very excited to see our le•top clothes on TV this morning! Wow! We feel like celebrities! 😉 Good Day Sacramento had a little spot on Kool Kids in Vacaville, CA who recommended our Sherpa Jackets in soft pink and navy blue as great Christmas gifts for the little ones in your life. We couldn’t agree more! Kool Kids is located at 318 Main Street, and you can reach them at 707. 469. 9170.

Look Ma! We're on TV!

They are selling the jackets for $15. For those of you who aren’t in the Vacaville area, you can get the jackets online at ComfyKid.com, who are offering the jackets in a three piece set (long sleeve shirt, coverall and jacket) in sizes Newborn through 12 mos., for an amazing sale price of $28.50!

UPDATE
Editor’s Note: the link to Good Day Sacramento (click on the photo at right) is now a direct link to the actual segment. There’s a short little commercial in the beginning, but then our segment starts to run. It’s about shopping locally and under $100!

Read Full Post »