Opinions on starting a mother-child friendly store?

Question

I recently had a baby and had a very hard time in my area finding maternity clothes much less now being a nursing mother trying to find nursing bras and shirts. I have problems going into stores with my stroller because alot of stores do not have handicap buttons. Once in the store the aisles are to small to get the stroller thru without hitting/knocking things over.Some stores the carseat doesn't fit on the shopping cart. I'm having trouble now finding a babycarrier. I know what I want a front and hip carrier but can only find a front or hip carrier.I would like to open a store that mothers-to-be and new mothers can come and find what they are looking for in one place. With nice size aisles to get thru. Maybe even a sitting area for kids to play, mothers to have disscusion groups . And if I don't have what you are looking for I will order it for you. There is so much I would like to do with the store but not enough room left to write. Any help on the idea of my store will be great.

Answer 1

Sounds like a great idea! We have an awesome store in Davis, CA called the MotherBaby Source. It's a boutique (and most of their stuff it too expensive) but the ladies who work there are very friendly and knowledgable, and the store is very mom-and-baby friendly. They also rent out breast pumps (a very nice service). You could offer a weekly moms group class or post a bulletin board for lactation consultants and caregivers to post their info.

Help finding the right nursing bras is nice to have, too. That can be very confusing.

It's hard to have a store that's big enough to fit a stroller in comfortably, without having to limit your merchandise and therefore, you have to weigh the cost/benefit of having more space to move around vs. less inventory.

You could have "stroller parking" in front, and make it stroller friendly that way.

We also have a large baby superstore in Sacramento called "Goore's". They have everything, from cribs, to strollers, to carseats, toys, etc. It's definitely big enough to take your stroller in, and they have employees to help out in every area. But it sounds like you are talking about something more like a boutique.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Just a suggestion, If you were to sell Plus Sized maternity clothing you would make a killing at your shop. it is beyond hard to find clothes as a plus sized female, and then to add a growing bun in the oven is only making it harder. That would be a great thing, the need for it is huge.

If your store were in colorado i would definatly be there

Answer 3

that sounds great how about nursing a baby in the store is it nursing friendly
here in michigan a woman got into trouble for nursing her child
so there was a nurse in at the location where it happend a whole b unch of mothers just sat and nursed there

i dont have kids but i have three awesome nephews and when the baby is hungry they are hungry my sister will just whip it out and feed them i dont blame her you have a great idea there good luck with it and take care and your in my prayers

Answer 4

I would definitely have an enclosed area with toys for the kids to play with. The kids can play in close proximity to where the mother can brouse through the clothes racks.

Answer 5

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME...

I would personally love to shop in places that are child friendly, i am sick of glaring looks from salespeople who have NO clue how hard it is to shop with a child.

What do you need ideas on ??

Names: how about "mommy and me" or "child smart",

if you are aiming for an upscale place, i would hire a sales associate who mans the children's play area..so that parents can shop and order w/o having to keep one eye on their child. have a bracelet/sign in system with up to an 2 hour limit for shopping in store.

good luck !