· By Christine Tang
Retailer Spotlight x Smoochie Baby
Located in the hip Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg, is trendy kids boutique, Smoochie Baby! As I was roaming NYC a few years ago, I wandered into this shop and instantly fell in love with their selection of cool brands and fun toys. Their service is top notch and the shop is always organized and filled with the newest kids products. Congrats to Penelope, owner/buyer of Smoochie Baby, and her team who celebrated their 6 year anniversary this year! We were able to chat with Penelope and find out more about why she started this exciting venture and her favorite parts of running her business.
Talk to us about how you started your shop and what was the aesthetic you were aiming to have!
Smoochie Baby was born in 2006 shortly after my son, Max. I was a new mom, immersed in the world of baby clothing and we were moving from NYC back to our native Toronto. At the time Toronto was seriously lacking cool baby clothes, so I decided to open a "New York style" shop for babes and name it after my littleSmoochie Baby. The aesthetic was fun, colorful, and approachable. Nothing too precious or overly expensive. It was an instant hit but we missed New York terribly so we decided to move back and move the store back with us. Smoochie Baby Brooklyn opened in May 2008.
What are some things you look for when you are shopping for products to sell?
Dressing kids should be fun. I love lines that use lots of color and have a sense of humor. Price point is also very important. Nothing too expensive or too delicate. I want to sell clothes that kids can run around in and moms can throw in the washing machine. I also love to support brands that are made in the U.S.A. This is why I am such a huge fan of Kira. Christine has a real whimsical approach to her designs. I love her sense of humor and the fact that she uses organic cotton is an added bonus.
What are your favorite things about running the store?
I'm a real people person so I love interacting with our customers and getting to know them. Visiting trade shows is my absolute favorite part of owning Smoochie Baby. This is where I do most of my buying as well as connect with the designers and sales reps behind the brands. It's a lot of work but so much fun.
What is your favorite piece from the new Kira Kids SS15 collection?
I'm a sucker for anything gold so I love the Golden Girls tulip tank and Burger tee. I'm not sure if Christine intended for the tulip people to look like the band Kiss, but they totally do and I love it!
Lastly, what is your ideal summer vacation?
My parents are both from Greece. I try to visit every summer with my husband and our Smooch. There is no place on earth I love more in summer. The people, the food, the islands. It is just magical.