Kids Today - Kids Retail Honor Roll

The Kids Retail Honor Roll highlights retailers who’ve made the grade when it comes to creativity, business acumen or community involvement. Each of these 10 retailers has something special to offer, from decorating services and eco-friendly products and shipping materials to child identity kits, custom gift baskets, special services and more. Congratulations!

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: $500,000 - $999,999

Family-owned kids specialist in business since 1991. Carries product for infants through teens in 10,000 square feet of selling space. Also sells online. Has six employees, including four sales employees. A member of Baby Furniture Plus buying group. Key vendors include Romina Furniture, Natart Juvenile, Bonavita, Dutailier, Ragazzi Fine Furniture and Bratt Décor for cribs; Best Chairs, Dutailier, Romina Furniture, Natart Juvenile, Bonavita and Ragazzi Fine Furniture for other furniture; Peg-Perego, Bugaboo, Quinny and Maxi-Cosi for gear; and Nava’s Designs, Pine Creek Bedding, Glenna Jean and Nina Selby for textiles. Cribs account for 30% of 2008 total sales; other furniture, 40%; gear and textiles, 10% each; and accessories and apparel, 5% each. Holds open houses and offers design services and delivery. Displays product in detailed floor vignettes. Says its greatest form of advertising is word of mouth.

www.babyandteengallery.com

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: less than $500,000

Family-owned baby and mom specialist founded in 2008. Carries product for infants through 4 years in 1,000 square feet of selling space. Also sells online. Has two employees. Key vendors include Q Collection Junior, Nurseryworks, Green Haven Studio and ducduc for cribs; Easy Walker and Baby Planet Strollers for gear; Jessica Scott, Ltd., Q Collection Junior, Pixel Organics and Sherri Blum for custom designs for textiles; and Just Too Cute and custom designs for accessories. Cribs account for 10% of 2008 total sales; other furniture, 5%; gear, toys and other merchandise, 10% each; accessories, 30%; and apparel, 25%. Specializes in healthy, eco-friendly baby products. Offers local education classes on creating a healthy nursery and home, as well as classes for expectant and new moms. Has partnered with GO MOM! Direct to provide a baby consultancy service and with Cheryl Brewer Designs to offer custom eco- and baby-friendly nursery design. Also works with the local group Triangle Mommies for product reviews.

www.greenpeababystore.com

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: $500,000 - $999,999

Family-owned kids specialist in business since 2005. Carries product for infants through 7 years in 2,500 square feet of selling space. Also sells online. Has nine employees, including a sales team of seven. Member of NINFRA buying group. Key vendors include Munire Furniture for cribs; Best Chairs and Badger Basket for other furniture; Chicco, Britax, Graco, Peg-Perego, BOB, Instep and Sunshine Kids for gear; KidsLine, CoCaLo and Glenna Jean for textiles; and Burton Burton, Twelve Timbers, Tiny Love, KidsLine and CoCaLo for accessories. Cribs account for 12% of 2008 total sales; other furniture, 3%; gear, 26%; textiles, accessories and toys, 8% each; apparel, 12%; and other merchandise, 23%. Special events include a semi-annual Car Seat Check Lane for safety inspections and child identity kits. Also offers design services and delivery. Believes its wide selection and customer service leads to its success.

www.heybabystore.com

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: $1 million - $2.9 million

Family-owned home furnishings specialist founded in 2002. Has 10,000 square feet of total selling space. Its Children’s Wonderland division carries product for infants through teens. Has eight total employees, including five salespeople. Sells kids products online through pearlekids.com. Key vendors include Stanley Young America, Art for Kids Furniture, Newport Cottages, Bratt Décor, Mosiacwares and A.P. Industries for cribs; Stanley Young America, Lea, A.P. Industries, Art for Kids Furniture and Newport Cottages for other furniture; and Serena and Lily and Nava’s Design for textiles. Cribs account for 20% of 2008 total sales; other furniture, 60%; and textiles and accessories, 10% each. Has delivery and offers free decorating services with its professional interior designers.

www.lquarters.com

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: less than $500,000

Family-owned, online specialist founded in 2005. Carries product for infants through 4 years. Has one employee. Key vendors include Bratt Décor for cribs, other furniture and accessories; Baby Planet for gear; and Bamboosa, Cotton Money, Kicky Pants, Fleurville, OiOi, Noodle & Boo and SwaddleDesigns for textiles. Cribs and accessories each account for 10% of 2008 total sales; gear, 15%; other furniture, textiles, toys and other merchandise, 5% each; and apparel, 45%. Has a baby registry and offers personalized help in selecting gifts. Donates a portion of its profits to a local pregnancy resource center.

www.motherearthandbaby.com

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: less than $500,000

Family-owned baby and mom specialist established in 2004. Carries products for infants through 4 years in its 1,500-square-foot store. Also sells online. Has two employees. Key vendors include Oeuf and Spot on Square for cribs; Svan and Cariboo Furniture for other furniture; Aden + Anais, Avalisa, Oeuf and David Fussenegger for textiles; and J Schatz, Wee Gallery, Avalisa and Blik for accessories. Cribs and other furniture each account for 5% of 2008 total sales; textiles, accessories and toys, 20% each; and apparel, 30%. Services include delivery, custom orders and nursing bra fittings. Its free shipping uses environmentally-friendly materials. Believes its knowledgeable staff and helpful customer service sets it apart.

www.nestmaternityandbaby.com

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: less than $500,000

Family-owned, online specialist founded in 2008. Carries product for infants through 10 years. Has two employees. Key vendors include Nicole Reid Collection and Naturpedic for other furniture; Baby Planet, Rock Star Baby, Easy Walker, Green to Grow and Nollie Covers for gear; Kinder-Cashmere, Zoe & Sprout, agoo, Meg Jewelry, Bloomers Baby, Melissa & Doug and anamalz for textiles; and With Love, Jen Warren and Gilbert Designs for accessories. Other furniture accounts for 10% of 2008 total sales; gear, textiles and apparel, 20% each; and toys, 30%. Offers a dedicated line of eco-friendly products ranging from natural skin care items to organic linens and mattresses. Services include a baby registry, gift certificates, custom gift baskets and shipping.

www.peekabooplanet.com

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: $1 million - $2.9 million

Family-owned kids specialist founded in 2006. Carries product for infants through teens in 4,500 square feet of selling space. Has six employees, including four salespeople. Key vendors include Stanley Young America, Ragazzi Fine Furniture, Bratt Décor and Newport Cottages for cribs; Oak Designs, Little Castle and Dutailier for other furniture; Pine Creek Bedding, Maddie Boo, Mudge and Molly, Bebe Chic, and Serena and Lily for textiles; and Smile for the Birdie, Green Frog Art, Jubilee, North American Bear Company, Gund, Renditions by Reesa and Ribbit Ribbit for accessories. Cribs account for 30% of 2008 total sales; other furniture and accessories, 20% each; textiles, 25%; toys, 2%; and apparel, 3%. Offers custom design services through its three in-house designers. Prides itself on its customer service.

www.preciouscargofurniture.com

1 Store; Estimated 2008 total sales: $1 million - $2.9 million

Family-owned kids specialist established in 2000. Carries product for infants through 7 years in 6,000 square feet of selling space. Also sells online. Has nine employees. A member of BFPA buying group. Key vendors include Stanley Young America, Corsican Furniture, Million Dollar Baby, El Greco Woodworking and Newport Cottages for cribs; Little Castle, Best Chairs and Four Seasons for other furniture; Stokke and Bugaboo for gear; Serena and Lily, Kristaben Home Bedding, Maddie Boo, The Gordonsbury Company, Bella Notte Linens and Pine Cone Hill for textiles; and Maura Daniel, Jubilee, Lee Karen Designs, Apple Pie Graphics and Teamson Design for accessories. Cribs, other furniture, gear, textiles, accessories and toys each account for 10% of 2008 total sales; apparel, 40%. Special events include trunk shows. Has a baby registry and offers complimentary gift wrap and nursery set-up services. Donates a portion of sales to children’s charities. Strives to treat each customer like a celebrity.

www.sugarplumdreams.com

2 Stores; Estimated 2008 total sales: $500,000 - $999,999

Family-owned kids specialist founded in 2004. Stores carry product for infants to 10 years in a combined 5,600 square feet of selling space. Has six employees, including a sales team of three. Key vendors include Munire Furniture and Baby’s Dream Furniture for cribs; Stanley Young America and Best Chairs for other furniture; Peg-Perego, Maclaren and Britax for gear; Glenna Jean, Bananafish, Kelly Kouture, and Serena and Lily for textiles; and Teamson Design and Levels of Discovery for accessories. Cribs account for 35% of 2008 total sales; other furniture, 15%; gear, 20%; accessories and apparel, 10% each; and textiles and toys, 5% each. Offers delivery services and holds educational classes for expectant and new moms. Prides itself on excellent customer service.

www.thebabyshoppe.net

GreenPea™ Baby

Living Quarters

Hey Baby

Mother Earth and Baby

Baby and Teen Gallery

NEST Maternity & Baby Boutique

Peek A Boo Planet

Precious Cargo

Sugarplum Dreams

The Baby Shoppe