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Saturday, March 19, 2005
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Store caters to itsy bitsy people Basics for babies offered in downtown Brainerd Senior Reporter A new store on Laurel Street in downtown Brainerd combines basics for babies and infants in a boutique setting.
There are items for the small -- musical mobiles, rockers, infant sleepers, cribs, bassinets, blankets, bath time ducks and frogs, books, frames, interactive dinner sets, tiny wooden tables and chairs. And there are items for moms and dads, such as memory books, elaborate picture frames and designer bags. Little gift bags offer a T-shirt for a sibling taking on the role as big sister or brother.
Owner Nancy Macken said the store, appropriately titled itsy bitsy, is a cross between a specialty store and one with the basics.
"We're specialty without the high dollar," Macken said. "We're competitive in prices."
The specialty lines and designer diaper bags share space with the more everyday items. Macken plans to add baby monitors, more strollers and infant seats. Toddler beds are one item people are requesting, Macken said.
At the back of the store a small area displays baby furniture and bedding and provides ideas for combining accessories from mobiles and lamps to valances and wallpaper. Theme bedrooms for infants can be updated with bedding designed for toddlers up to ages 10 or 11 without a total makeover.
Macken is no stranger to the subject. She has a background in early childhood education and taught preschool. With two sons of her own, Bryce at 4 and Austin at 10, Macken said she focuses on safety when buying inventory and looks for items that are cute yet still practical and an overall value.
She said the goal is to have fun items not found in other stores and to be competitive on pricing when it comes to things that are on larger retail store shelves. Interactive placemats may be helpful in keeping a hungry child occupied while dinner is served. One has a tiny, flat train that can circle the mat, going through a couple of tunnels along the way.
Gift items include books and kits that allow parents to create their own keepsake clay handprints with their children. A shadowbox setting provides a small colorful handprint, room for a baby photo and the birth details of date, length and weight. Gift lines range from $10 to $25.
Macken said she tries to feature area talent and is working with two area authors and an area blanket maker. Blankets range in price from $12 to $30. Designer diaper bags run the gamut from $56 to $94.
The store offers to create and personalize name plaques, painted by Macken's mother-in-law, as customers provide a child's name and interests. For infants, the plaques are painted to match the nursery. Cribs range from $170 to $329 with four-piece bedding packages for $115.
After three requests in two weeks for double strollers, Macken is looking to add them to the inventory. Itsy bitsy also has a baby registry.
A playroom in the store offers a place for children to be hands-on while parents browse. Macken's youngest son, Bryce, who is quick to note he is almost 5, provided a tour. An upstairs nook was created for a story time space. Macken said she'd like to add a story hour for children and other events.
Macken said setting up the store and now operating it have been positive as moms and expectant moms and grandparents come through the door.
"It's been like a dream for me."
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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