Celebrity Baby Blog Reviews

Ask a Shopkeeper: Let's Go Strolling

We spoke with Jo and Melissa from Let's Go Strolling about their business. Let's Go Strolling is an independently owned boutique where the customer service shines and the products are selected for what they offer and the quality they possess.

What inspired you to start your shop? How long have you been in business? How did you come up with your store's name? Do you have a physical store as well? What categories do you cover?
We were both in love with strollers, diaper bags and fun & innovative baby gear. Jo had bought, tried and sold more than 20 strollers and Melissa had a similar diaper bag collection building up. After our second children were born we decided to take our passion for baby gear and turn it into a business where we could help people buy the best baby gear that was truly mom-tested and mom-approved so they didn't have to go through all the trial and error we did to find the products we love. We have a showroom in Oakland which has been great and we've had customers from all over the Bay Area, US, Canada and beyond. We love working in person with our customers but are only open by appointment to make sure we are accessible to our on line customers as well. We sell baby strollers, designer diaper bags, stroller and diaper bag accessories, as well as the best baby gifts out there including personalized blankets, outfits, and innovative baby gear. We are starting to expand into other areas as well and will be carrying the Skokke Dream crib as well as Dwell bedding for this fantastic and unique crib.

Who is your ideal customer? What age range do you cater to?
Let's Go Strolling makes parents lives easier by offering them a selection of only the best strollers, diaper bags, and baby gear that we and our customers have tried and loved. Our ideal customer understands that quality baby gear stands the test of time and makes their lives with baby so much easier that it is worth it in the long run. We don't cater to any specific age- just parents (and grandparents) who appreciate the benefits of high quality products and a company with stellar customer service.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about? Which trends are a hit with your customers? Tell us about your favorite pieces this season.
I think that with diaper bags, the new trend is what we call the "Diaper Bag in Disguise." These are the bags that while they are amazingly functional diaper bags, they also "pass" as a regular every day bag. Some of these bags are the Storksak bags - the Emily, Elizabeth and Gigi, Skip Hop's new bags - the City Chic line and the Via Messenger. Fleurville also has a great bag that fits this category - the Lexie Tote and even the Sling Tote can work well as an everyday bag, as can the Darling by Lexie Barnes. Our favorite piece this season is fantastic - it's the Limited Edition Boy Meets Girl Pink/Blue Valco Twin Trimode and we are an exclusive retailer for this unbelievable stroller. It is half pink and half blue - and they are beautiful shades of both colors. It is fully loaded and really the perfect stroller for anybody with a son and daughter of stroller riding age - it can even take a toddler seat for a third child or a ride on board and still pushes like a dream!

Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry - How did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
This is so tough. We honestly love everything that we carry - that's why we carry them! I'd have to say Valco - they were one of the first brands we carried and we continue to love them, which is why we partnered with them on the exclusive special edition stroller. Their products are innovative, stylish and practical. I especially love how well thought out the features of their strollers are - truly they are made for parents on the go who value a high quality stroller with amazing maneuverability but also like those extras like seat cushioning, extra basket space and cup holders that make their lives easier. Carry You - they are the innovators of the stroller accessory. We were their first retailer and have adored their products since day one. They make the best cup holders, organizers and snack trays and they work on so many of the strollers that we carry. UPPABaby - I also like how this product was designed with the needs of real parents in mind instead of just what the engineers said was "feasible". I think the Vista is a great reversible seat stroller at a fabulous price point and weight but what I really also admire is the company's commitment to customer service which I think is so valuable. At the end of the day we only want to carry products whose manufacturers stand behind them 100% so that our customers have a great shopping experience with us and a great warranty responsiveness if an issue does come up.

What are your top selling brands and products?
There are so many it is hard to pick out just some. Most of the products on our website are there because we sell a lot of them and customers give us great feedback repeatedly on these products. Obviously bigger names like Bugaboo are big sellers for us but we also pride ourselves in finding innovative products from smaller newer companies, that while not our best-sellers, do appeal to our customers and have their own niche. One of our newest finds, Generation Baby Diaper Bag Pouches have been flying off our shelves. We've also just added Mommy necklaces that we wear and love and have had a lot of interest already.

What's next for your store?
We've moved to a bigger store location open in January 2008 and we have just released for shipping our exclusive "Boy Meets Girl" Pink/Blue Limited Edition Valco Twin Trimode stroller which we have worked closely with Valco on to create the perfect stroller package for a boy-girl family.

What is the average order total?
We'd never kiss and tell but it does really range from customers who buy it all at once to customers who slowly order what they need - as they need it.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use?
Orbit Baby Stroller System, Bugaboo Cameleon and Bee, Queen B (Heidi Klum), Julia Roberts has a Valco Twin Trimode with toddler seat in Scarlet Red and sources tell us Gwyneth Paltrow ordered 2 Jane Powertwin Strollers - one for NYC and one for her London home. The Storksak bags are a celebrity favorite as well (Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt).

Can you tell us about any celebrity clients and what they have ordered?
We have fulfilled orders for major TV personalities and LA & NYC moms we all know, but we can't share any more details than that (except that we did get very excited when we got the calls from their assistants!)

Can you offer a coupon code to our readers?
For a limited time Celebrity Baby Blog customers can use the code CBB08  for 10% off diaper bags and accessories -- some exclusions do apply -- the code is good on diaper bags, stroller accessories, baby gifts, and all our non-stroller/car seat goodies. As mentioned some exceptions do apply per our contracts with some vendors (like Skip Hop). Free shipping is offered on all US orders of $100 or more. Code is valid through August 2008.

If you have any suggestions for stores you would like to see profiled or if you, as a store, would like to feature please email danielleATcelebrity-babies.com

Ask a Shopkeeper: Black Wagon

We spoke to the owner of the Black Wagon. they sell their clothing and products online and also at their store in Portland, Oregon.

What inspired you to start your shop? How long have you been in business? How did you come up with your store's name? Do you have a physical store as well? What categories do you cover?
I have been a retailer for 15 years, selling vintage and then fashion forward pieces for the hip young adult crowd. I took my son to his first trade show at 3 months and shopped for children's apparel, while my employees shopped for our adult store. At the time the market was ripe and ready for fun and tasteful modern baby clothes and cool kids clothes. My goal was to bring in a selection of tasteful, timeless, beautiful and fun clothing for babies and kids. After our 1st year on-line, we opened our flagship retail location in the very hip and happening Mississippi neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Black Wagon is 2.5 years on-line, 10 months brick and mortar. We came up with the name Black Wagon, because the Wagon is an iconic representation of childhood. We are all about items that stand the test of time from artful 1960's books ABC and ZOO from designer, Bruno Munari, to Vans classic slip ons. Black represents an alternative to everything that is mainstream in the children's marketplace. And we all know that black is the preferred color of fashionistas everywhere! We sell modern children's furniture and bedding. We have a cool, eclectic book selection. We sell mobiles, toys, plates and special items for the home. We specialize in apparel by independent designers for children ages newborn to age 8. Sum up your store's style and sensibility in one sentence.

Who is your ideal customer?
Black Wagon is THE style destination for babies and kids, and their parents! Our customers are hip parents and cool aunties and uncles who want to find something stylish and modern to give to their children and friends with kids.

What age range do you cater to?
We also cater to parents living abroad, who turn to us when they need a little flavor for their kids. We carry items for newborns to age 8 and some items for their parents.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about? Which trends are a hit with your customers? Tell us about your favorite pieces this season.
For girls and boys we're seeing a lot layering. Girls are picking up our dresses that will take them through several seasons, from Kit + Lili sun dress to Egg + Avocado tunics with jeans and a long sleeve tee. Ashor's Room Ruby dress works great alone, but I love it best with their heart leggings, puff sleeve modal top and constructed zip hoodie. Boys are wearing hoodies, with tees, polos, and button ups. Lots of boys are walking out with our Signature Black Wagon Hoodie, great with Ashor's Room shorts or Small Paul jeans and Monster Industry tees. The laid back surfer kid look is still hot. We sell tons of kids vans sneakers for boys and girls. I love seeing young boys with long hair. The best thing we're seeing is fashion that complements children, but mirrors the sophistication of adult apparel.

Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry - How did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
This is a difficult one: Egg+Avocado, Pixel Bedding, Ashor's Room. I love all of these brands because they are all run by small independent designers, who are bringing to the marketplace exciting, fresh items for children.

What are your top selling brands and products?
Small Paul, Dwellbaby Kids, Vans sneakers, BabyLegs.

What's next for your store?
We're very excited about fall! A few of our designers are expanding their size range to size 10 or 12, and many customers can't wait for that. We've also found some organic and sustainable lines, like Fig Organic and Argington, that we are proud to carry.

What is the average order total?
There's never an order too big or too small at Black Wagon. We pride ourselves in having something for everyone, whether it's a special book, a complete wardrobe or nursery set.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use?
From what I see on Celebrity Baby Blog, we have: Harajuku Lovers Fleurville Appaman, C&C California, BabyLegs.

Can you tell us about any celebrity clients and what they have ordered?
We get a lot of musicians in our store. Just last week Anthony Kiedis and his girlfriend were in here shopping and they purchased a Dolly Parton onesie from Reckon.

Exclusively for Celebrity Baby Blog readers: Enter CelebBB15 for 15% off your total order -- valid through July 31st.

Email danielleATcelebrity-babies.com if you, as a store, would like to be profiled, or if you have a suggestion for a shop you have purchased from online.

Ask a Shopkeeper: Baby Concierge

We spoke to Caroline Cosgrove of Baby Concierge, a fantastic online shopping service in the UK.

What inspired you to start your shop? How long have you been in business? How did you come up with your store's name? Do you have a physical store as well? What categories do you cover?
As with most baby related businesses, the idea for Baby Concierge was born when I was pregnant with my first child, 6 years ago and was shocked by the overwhelming range of products on the market and the lack of good advice available to help me make the right decisions. The gap for a nursery advisory service seemed huge! Baby Concierge has now been going 5 years. It began life in my spare bedroom, progressed to my dining room and garage and when it had pretty much taken over the house, I moved the business to its own premises in London’s Ladbroke Grove. We now have a fabulous showroom for people to visit and we also showcase our most popular products on the Baby Concierge website. Sum up your store's style and sensibility in one sentence.

Who is your ideal customer? What age range do you cater to?
Baby Concierge helps parents to be select and source everything they need for a newborn baby. The choice of products is unlimited and the emphasis is on expert advice and great service. Any parent to be who wants to make informed choices and avoid mistake purchases is an ideal customer. We can work to any budget and are no more expensive than a John Lewis Store (UK). We cater primarily for 0-2 years.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about? Which trends are a hit with your customers? Tell us about your favorite pieces this season.
The new Bugaboo Cameleon colours are fabulous, I love the ‘off white’ and ‘chocolate brown’ fabrics. Maclaren’s coffee brown and pink techno XLR is turning heads and Storksak’s Emily and Jamie bags are hot favourites.

Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry - How did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
We carry so many brands that it is hard to single out 3 but Bugaboo, Boori and Kidsmill are probably 3 of the best in terms of quality, reliability and style.

What are your top selling brands and products?
Bugaboo, Maxi Cosi, Stokke, Boori, Kidsmill.

What's next for your store?
We have just started to enable clients to view and amend their shopping lists (post consultation) online and clients can also now create gift lists on line. We have so many products that we are still busy uploading the most popular ones to our site.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use?
Most of the products we carry are used by celebrity babies and parents – we know first hand because, we often supply them!

Exclusively for CBB readers: Enter celebrity babies in the special notes section at the checkout to receive 10% off your order and remove VAT when you are called to confirm your oder. Please note that once your order has been placed you will recieve a call to clarify lead times and confirm payment details.

Please email danielleATcelebrity-babies.com if you have an suggestions for shops you would like to see interviewed or if you, as an owner of a store, would like to participate.

Ask a Shopkeeper: Pampered Tot

We spoke to Audrey Lasry of Pampered Tot the on line boutique for everything baby related (except clothing) with the best customer service experience.

What inspired you to start your shop?
Having our first child, we spend so much time, money, and energy trying to find the best products for the best prices. The Internet was the obvious place, but items proved difficult to find, customer service was lacking, and delivery times were long. With these frustrations, we set out to create a store that offered the best products, with the highest quality, in every category. We packaged this together with same day order fulfillment and responsive 24-hour customer service.

How long have you been in business?
Pampered Tot has been operating since 2004.

How did you come up with your store's name?
Who doesn’t have one? The name just seemed right.

Do you have a physical store as well?
Pampered Tot is available only on line. We have a physical space, which serves as a showroom by appointment only.

What categories do you cover?
We carry everything from bottles to Bugaboos! We have over 450 products on our website. The only category that we chose not to cover is clothing. Without standardized clothing sizes, “buying before trying” leads mostly to unhappy customers and a flurry of returns.

Sum up your store's style and sensibility in one sentence.
Pampered Tot is a one-stop shop for the best baby stuff from around the world, in every major category.

Who is your ideal customer? What age range do you cater to?
We cater to parents and those who are expecting soon! We are not main stream, but prefer to call ourselves up “upscale internet boutique”.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about? Which trends are a hit with your customers? Tell us about your favorite pieces this season.
The hot trend these days is, generally, “spending on baby stuff”. It seems that fashion and status has hit our market, as parents are lining up to spend $1,000 on a stroller, and over $400 for bedding. We are among the top Bugaboo Stroller retailers in the nation. So, I would have to say that Bugaboo is our hottest brand right now. Dwell Baby bedding and Kushies toys are a close second and third, respectively.

Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry - How did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
We carry over 49 brands. They are all our favorites. We don’t carry anything that we wouldn’t or haven’t used ourselves. We have a long list of criteria that we ask of our vendors before we represent any particular brand. We don’t only concentrate on what’s popular. Quality, vendor customer service, timely delivery and product availability also top the list.

What are your top selling brands and products?
Bugaboo: Cameleon, Frog Strollers, Dwell Baby Crib Sets, Kushies, all toys.

What's next for your store?
We have been fortunate enough to grow at a rate of 25% per month. While in this hyper growth stage, our focus is on servicing our customers. There is an enormous amount of competition out there, none of which seem to care about the customer after their credit card number has been entered. With exceptional customer service, we are giving people what they are currently lacking; a personalized shopping experience on the internet.

What is the average order total?
$325.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use?
The list is long, so I will limit mine to the top five. Bugaboo Strollers, Baby Jar Blankets, Bibs, and Burpies Dwell Baby Crib Sets, Selecta Toys, Ergo Baby Carriers.

Can you tell us about any celebrity clients and what they have ordered?
We have many celebrity clients, being a Santa Monica based company. We prefer not to mention names.

Exclusively for CBB Readers: On top the company's standard offer of free shipping (for order over $100) and no sales tax, enter BabyBlog at checkout for an additional 5% off.

Ask a Shopkeeper: Nina and Tom

We spoke to Nina Gatewood, designer and co-owner of Nina and Tom. Her partner in business and life is her husband Tom. Together, they design simple and fun tees for kids. We love their sensibility and clever motifs.

How long have you been in business?
Three years this month.

How did you decide on your brand's name?
Tom came up with the name. He thought it sounded nice and since we do the designing and printing along with everything else, why not?

Where are your products sold?
We have an active website. We sell to boutiques. Whole Foods Grocery Stores. At our local Davis Farmer's Market and even all the way in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Why did you decide to start your business?
It happened by accident. We had made t-shirts for friends and our new baby. People saw them liked them and wanted to buy them.

What is your design inspiration?
We share a pretty clean aesthetic. Everyday pleasures, food, the outdoors, the excitement of learning something new and having favorite things. And we are not too comfortable with edgy stuff that is out there for kids and the super cutsie stuff as well.

Tell us about your ideal customer?
Someone who values well crafted, made in the USA, environmentally conscious, fun, clever clothing for babies, kids and adults.

What are your most popular products?
Love and Peace for all ages, Color Theory and I'm This Many.

What products are you most excited about?
Our conversion to 100% Organic Cotton in bright colors and the new designs coming out soon.

Do any celebs have your products that you have been able to confirm?
Mariska Hargitay, Dayna Devon, Chantal Kreviazuk and Melissa Joan Hart.

How does being a parent inform your design sensibilities? Do you think being a parent makes you a better designer of children's products?
We watch and listen to our young child and his friends to see what they are interested in. What makes them happy. Yes, but we've both always had the sense of what kid's like.

What skills did you need to learn for your business?
Everything, from computer programs to screen-printing. Not to mention the business side and we're still learning

Do you have a "day job"?
Nina stays home with our three year old and sixteen-year-old sons and Tom assists in surgery.

Where do you see the brand in five years? Ten years?
We would like to see our brand be a brand that is well known for being sustainable, classic, fun, and positive. All with quality maintained.

Tell us about the design process.
Most of the designs are inspired by being with our three year old while on our walks. Nina then works out the ideas by drawing them out first, then takes them to the computer to get them ready for production. She then hands over the designs, along with color details to Tom. Tom then does the technical job of mixing inks and screen printing the shirts.

Do you work with any philanthropic organizations? Tell us about them.
We are active politically. We have made donations to organizations like AIDS Life Cycle, here in California. We donate our time, money and products to various charities locally, nationally and globally.

How long does production take?
Ultimately, we love what we are doing. We love it when kids come up to us and say things like, "This is the shirt you made, it's my favorite shirt." We also think we are doing something right because it's not just the kids, moms and grandmas who love our products, but the dads and grandpas too. When they tell their wife's to go buy more Nina and Tom shirts for the kids, that says something.

Exclusively for CBB readers: Enter the code cbb for 20% off everything (excluding Onesie-A-Month).

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Do you own any shirts from Nina and Tom? If so, which one and why do YOU love them?

If you have any further suggestions for shops you would like to see featured please email danielleATcelebrity-babies.com 

Ask a Shopkeeper: Care for the Kids

We spoke to Rebecca Carroll, proprietor of the Care for The Kids Boutique, about her on line store and the variety of baby related products they carry.

What inspired you to start your shop?
What started as an experiment has blossomed into a seriously viable business for me. I know this is going to sound cliché, but I really was inspired by a drive to create and control my own “destiny”. As a mother of three very young kids and with a deeply ingrained entrepreneurial spirit, staying at home and “crafting” all day was just about killing me. I started in direct sales years ago and found it to be easy and fun, but it allowed me absolutely no wiggle room for my own ideas and campaigns. I found a product line that was actually very similar to my direct sales product and got the hair brained idea that I could do this on my own. Two years later, there is virtually no trace of my original product on my website as I pretty much built my store in a very free-form manner. I started with items I knew I wanted, and then as I grew more experienced, started to add lines based upon what my target audience would want, whom I eventually defined as a mother or grandparent who had a flair for trends and style and is looking for unique, quality items.

How long have you been in business?
I have been in business for almost 2 years.

What categories do you cover?
I carry the Max Daniel Baby Collection, Kaiya Eve couture pettiskirts, Posh Baby, and some really fun new musical skirts by Acting Out that any daughter would just go ga-ga over. I also have a fabulous “gifts for mom” area on my site that lures some moms back for that unique Margaret Nicole wicker clutch, or one of my Little Earth recycled license plate purses. I offer moms a selection of environmentally conscious, but stylish and fun fashion accessories, as well as Artisan-created décor choices such as hand-tooled leather hope chests, wall clocks by famous designers such as Max Bill, and monogrammed gifts of all kinds.  My toy section has everything from Gigantic Giraffe Stuffed Animals to the Wolfgang Sirch Villa Sibi modernist Dollhouse, and the incredibly popular Sibi Olga contemporary child’s rocker made in Bavaria and part of the new trend towards Scandinavian-designed playrooms and toys. I don’t stick to one aesthetic either. I know plenty of style-snobs out there, and I am definitely not one of them. Every design approach has it’s own audience, and I truly do find contemporary as well as “boutique-ish” both to be really beautiful choices. But they are just that - choices and I want my customer to have plenty of those. Trying to fit into a niche would just totally spoil my whole creative process.

Who is your ideal customer?
My customer so far, has pretty much been the young mother shopping for her children or for baby gifts.

What are your top selling brands and products?
The Max Daniel baby blanket and Kaiya Eve couture pettiskirts.

What is the average price purchase?
It varies. Price has never been a deciding point in what I will choose to carry. You seriously can not pigeon hole great products into pre-determined price-points. My playroom and nursery furniture selection has prices ranging from a $150 Badger Basket Oval bassinet to a $3,900 Corsican Iron Crib.

What's next for your store?
When it stops being fun, I will stop. Unless of course, I’m making too much money. Serious though, I do have a long term vision. I would love to be a catalog company offering high-end and specialty gifts/décor. I personally, am addicted to catalogs and I think I could bring a really great one to the audience. I am really excited to announce that I have just recently picked up the Tali Gilette line of fine family-themed jewelry and P’kolino Modern playroom furniture to my selections, and last but not least the wildly popular award-winning LIKEaBIKE (enjoyed by Cate Blanchett’s son)! Numbers indicate my desire for inclusion.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use? Can you tell us about any celebrity clients and what they have ordered?
I carry the Max Daniel Baby Collection -- they make Violet Affleck’s favorite baby blanket -- and Kaiya Eve couture pettiskirts -- favored by Dakota Fanning, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Molly Shannon and more.

Favorite new items.
I now carry a large variety of the Max Daniel Baby Blankets (most $52), Elegant Baby Helicopter Bank ($26) and NFL Football Bling bags by Little Earth (from $25) as seen on Oprah.

Exclusively for CBB readers: Enter MAX1010 at the checkout to receive 10% off your order. Coupon valid through September.

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Have you shopped at Care for the Kids Boutique? What do YOU think?

If you have any suggestions for shops we should profile, please email danielleATcelebrity-babies.com.

Ask a Shopkeeper: Belly Dance Maternity

We spoke to Belly Dance's Jennifer Strom Simonte about her business and two websites; Belly Dance Maternity and Belly Dance Baby.

What inspired you to start your shop? How long have you been in business? How did you come up with your store's name? Do you have a physical store as well? What categories do you cover?
I was looking for a business that would allow us to focus on customer service, in an area where our team would work closely with customers. I was also looking for a way to build a business, rather than just one store, and I felt that the maternity category was growing quickly. We have been in business for five years. We have three stores in New York and Chicago, and two websites, Belly Dance Maternity and Belly Dance Baby. We sell everything related to pregnancy, from jeans to black tie dresses to skin care to diaper bags. In addition, our baby site includes our favorite brands in every category from clothing to nursery furniture.

Sum up your store's style and sensibility in one sentence.
Belly Dance Maternity sells hip maternity wear for stylish moms-to-be. Belly Dance Baby sells what’s hip, cool, and comfortable for baby.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about? Which trends are a hit with your customers? Tell us about your favorite pieces this season.
Tunics are big this season. In addition, dresses and are hot this summer. We love dresses, as they look good and are really comfortable. Here are a few of our favorites. And designer denim will always be huge.

Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry - How did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
We are biased at the moment. Nom/Naissance Maternity was our favorite brand, but we recently purchased Nom, so it is now our brand. We also love that Paige Premium Denim is now making maternity jeans. They are hip, yet classic. And Olian is a fabulous brand, with stylish pieces at great prices.

What are your top selling brands and products?
We sell designer denim, stylish tops, and basics like black pants really well. We are well-known for having a wide range of prices, and our designer denim assortment is awesome.

What's next for your store?
We are continually in expansion mode. Our websites are growing quickly and, as always, we are looking at places for new stores.

What is the average order total?
Probably between $100-300.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use?
Celebrity babies and parents use many of our products. Nom is a very hot celeb brand, worn by Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Kate Moss, and pretty much anyone you can imagine. In addition, we have lots of celebs shop for designer denim. Celeb babies love Maclaren strollers, Little Giraffe blankets, and Tea Collection clothing.

Can you tell us about any celebrity clients and what they have ordered?
Kate Hudson wore the Nom 9 months tee, Mariska Hargitay wore Nom tanks and bought a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag. Britney Spears wore a Susana Monaco dress from us to her baby shower. Diana Krall bought designer jeans.

Exclusively for CBB Readers: Save 15% off your order when you enter CBB at the checkout!

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Have you shopped at Belly Dance Maternity or Belly Dance Baby? What did YOU think?

If you have any suggestions for online stores that you would like to see profiled, please leave a comment or send suggestions to danielleATcelebrity-babies.com.

Ask a Shopkeeper: Bellee Maternity

We spoke to Regina Hurtado, owner/designer of Bellee Maternity in the US.  for maternity clothing and everything else pregnancy and baby related. (Please note that they are not related to the Bellee Maternity, the online UK shop.)

What inspired you to start your shop?
My inspiration came from my own bumps. While pregnant, I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on clothing for a short amount of time but I sure didn't want to wear just a muumuu all the time, either.

How long have you been in business?
We have been in Business since March 2005.

How did you come up with your store's name?
Our name was a unique spelling of a common pregnancy word. Everyone has a Baby Bellee!

Do you have a physical store as well?
We do not currently has a physical location but this allows us to keep passing the savings on.

What categories do you cover?
Pregnancies aren't cheap and being able to help cut down expenses with Trendy Fashion Worthy clothing is a big spirit-lifter! We cover just about everything and anything for your bump! We have piercings to labor ease oils to postpartum creams and teas. We have a very wide range of products for all moms, from the green to the rockin'!

Sum up your store's style and sensibility in one sentence.
A Rockin' Flare with a sense of Green Earthy Mom in Funk.

Who is your ideal customer?
Our ideal customer is anyone wanting to add edge and sex appeal to their baby bumps.

What age range do you cater to?
Age simply don't matter, it's all about "What Your Belly Style" is.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about? Which trends are a hit with your customers? Tell us about your favorite pieces this season.
The hottest trends this year are Rock Styles! With so many Rock Star Moms having babies they are bringing the edge to the maternity world. The biggest items this year are Rockin' Tanks & Tee's with Yoga Style Legs. My personal favorite pieces are "Love Hurts" and "Baby Momma", both very true statements and our best selling tanks. Our tanks are transitional so you can wear them after baby keeping your Rockin' Style with one price!

Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry - How did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
Bellee Wear -- our own style, funk and unique view of the joy of pregnancy. Earth Mama Angel Baby -- they have gone above and beyond to keep pregnant women healthy and happy. Bellies Rock -- they are a new rockin' maternity line sure to please any momma with their unique designs and fabulous funk.

What are your top selling brands and products?
Top selling brands are our exclusive lines and are now being sold in several other trendy boutiques. Our mamas love to keep their bellies fresh with EMAB product's Natural Stretch Oil. It's our #1 seller.

What's next for your store?
Brand new lines and unique designs for our plus size moms. I think they deserve some sexiness too!

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use?
EMAB Stretch Oil and Postpartum Tea are a huge hit among the green moms in Hollywood such as super-star, Gwyneth Paltrow.

Can you tell us about any celebrity clients and what they have ordered?
Gwyneth Paltrow has ordered bottles of Stretch Oil during baby Moses' pregnancy and many unnamed A-Listers have received our tanks and we hope to see them spotted soon!

Exclusively for CBB Readers: Get $10 off your order of any size when you enter the code CELEBRITY at the checkout at Bellee Maternity.

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Have you shopped at either Bellee Maternity or Bellee Baby? What did YOU think?

If you have any suggestions for shops or on line stores that you would like to see profiled, please email them to danielleATcelebrity-babies.com.

Ask a Shopkeeper: BeanNewYork.com

We spoke to Johanna of BeanNewYork a great site run by mother and daughter who carry everything baby related.

What inspired you to start your shop?
As mother and daughter, we shared stories of friends having babies – mine (Johanna) with firstborns and Gail’s with grandchildren. The baby boutique idea kind of grew as we sought out the perfect gifts.

How did you come up with your store's name?
The name Bean is a kind of universal endearment – and it’s a sweet symbol of nature & growth. Bean New York caters to the littlest ones – from newborn to 24 months, and we sell clothing and shoes exclusively.

How long have you been in business? Do you have a physical store as well?
We are presently online only, at one year of age, but as a Bean grows…who knows?

What categories do you cover?
Having worked for a contemporary women’s designer in NYC for years, I have been immersed in the trends, the materials and the business of fashion world. My mother has an antiques and vintage clothing background, so our sensibility is a rare combination of today’s latest style and yesterday’s classic good taste.

Who is your ideal customer?
Our ideal customer wants clothes that reflect the wonder of babies themselves – in all their sweet, smiling glory!

What age range do you cater to?
In general we attract a lot of young parents as well as gift-givers who want something unique and special.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about? Which trends are a hit with your customers?
We have been excited abut the reversible trend this year – brands like Right Bank Babies and Innies n’ Outies look great and are incredibly practical. We love Right Bank’s reversible dress and reversible romper – they come in beautiful, summery fabric combinations, and this has made them a big hit with our customers as well! Another trend that we love is quirky screen printed onesies and t- shirts. We especially love Ferdinand’s onesies and Milo in Maine’s beachy tees.

Tell us about your favorite pieces this season. Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry -- how did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
We carry so many great collections that it’s tough to choose just 3! We recently introduced Tea Collection, which has been a big hit for Spring – especially the boy’s separates and dresses with matching diaper covers. Another favorite is Ferdinand – their adorable onesies are hard to keep in stock because they make such fun presents. For summer, there is nothing cuter than NM Bird’s swimwear. Other top sellers include Egg by Susan Lazar for luxurious fabrics and sophisticated yet sweet designs – this line is extremely popular for gifting. We also consistently sell out of Babylegs and Trumpette socks in a big range of styles and colors.

What’s next for your store?
We plan to introduce some new lines for Fall and we will continue to offer the beautiful products and great customer service we’ve become known for. We continue to offer free gift wrapping, which is a big perk for busy people! Keep checking back for new products and categories. We like to carry all seasons at Bean – how many times have you tried to find that bathing suit for a January vacation, or wanted to give a baby gift for the future? Our Gift Registry is a large part of our business, and some customers are registering for their baby’s birthdays as well!

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use? Can you tell us about any celebrity clients and what they have ordered?
Bean has caught the eye of the entertainment industry, and gifts ordered from us have generated more buzz. Gwen Stefani’s little Kingston was spotted in Johnnies Socks in our first month – and thanks to CBB’s posting, those little socks are on lots of tiny feet! Little EDAs furry booties have been seen on Apple Martin and Matilda Ledger, and Leni Klum is seen all over town in Right Bank’s reversible dresses. We are in process of putting a press link on the website for customers to see “who’s wearing what”!

Exclusively for CBB Readers: Enter the code cbbean1 to receive 15% off.

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Have you shopped at Bean New York? What did YOU think?

If you have suggestions for stores you would like to see profiled please email them to danielleATcelebrity-babies.com.

Ask a Shopkeeper: Due Maternity

We spoke with Due Maternity owner Shannon DiPadova about her shop which carries one of the largest selections of trend-setting maternity fashion and gear we've seen.

What inspired you to start your shop?
When I was pregnant 8 1/2 years ago with my first child, I was surprised to find how little maternity clothing was offered in our area. I shopped the whole state and the only things I could find were very, very casual tees and tunics. There were no blouses, no suits; nothing that showed even a hint of fashion so the bug bit to look into what else was out there.

How long have you been in business?
This Labor Day will be 7 years.

How did you come up with your store's name?
I wanted something unique and different. I actually went through several names and discovered that store already existed with the same name.

Do you have a physical store as well?
Yes, we have five locations- two in Atlanta, one in Austin, one in Santa Barbara, and one in San Francisco.

What categories do you cover?
We sell better casual, career and weekend maternity clothing. We have also gone heavy into diaper bags. I love bags, most women do, and the diaper bags just keep getting better and better. Baby slings and newborn baby accessories have also become a specialty.

Can you sum up your store's style and sensibility in one sentence?
Fun and functional maternity clothing for todays busy mom and mom to be.

Who is your ideal customer?
My ideal customer is the woman who loves to get ready each day. Whether it's a fabulous soft tee shirt and jeans or a beautiful blouse and slacks. She likes to get dressed.

What age range do you cater to?
25-40.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about?
Luxury soft tees, that fit like a dream. Whether they are novelty or basic we sell tons of tees. Especially our tees from Pure T.

Which trends are a hit with your customers?
Bermuda shorts have really come into their own. We have the best fitting Bermuda short by Duet Designs that is cuffed with a stretchy bengaline panel. They look fabulous on all sizes and heights.

Can you tell us about your favorite pieces for this season?
I actually own this one, no baby coming just love it. It's the 2 in 1 cotton voile skirt/ deres by Japanese Weekend. This thing is simple and looks fabulous with nearly anything. Wear it as a skirt or dress over your swimsuit and you are perfectly covered. Or pair it with a great tee, it is the easiest piece in the store.

Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry -- how did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
My favorite 3 brands would have to be Pure T, Olian, and Japanese Weekend. I like clothing that is simple. I want my customer to be able to put an outfit together without much fuss, and these companies use amazing fabrics and prints that just look great on the body.

What are your top selling brands and products?
Our novelty tees are huge; Pure T, Samson Martin, and 2 Chix have some of the best. We also sell tons of jeans. We currently have 15 different styles of jeans in stock, so there is a fit and style for nearly everyone.

What's next for your store?
We were going to expand and double the size of brick and morter this year. But that was put on hold, so maybe soon we'll have more space.

What is the average order total?
I'd say about $125, it really varies because we may have a day of newly pregnant women and they opt for a Bellaband the next may be a series of women who have to completely change their wardrobe.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/ use? 
Oh my, we carry the Paige Premium Denim that Tori Spelling loved, Maternal America dresses that are seen on the covers of all of the pregnancy magazines, 2 Chix tees; I think every pregnant celebrity had a least one of those, Storksak made famous by Angelina Jolie and Diapees & Wipees, which everyone should own.

Exclusively for CBB Readers: Save 15% off your entire purchase when you enter cbb15 at checkout (expires 12/31/07)

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Have you shopped at Due Maternity? What do YOU think?

If you have any suggestions for shops we should profile, email them to danielleATcelebrity-babies.com.

Ask a Shopkeeper: The Silly Wagon

We spoke with The Silly Wagon co-owner Whitney Wright about her brand new shop.

What inspired you to start your shop?
I had always wanted to open my own shop, but with my husbands frequent relocations, the reality of a shop just wasn't possible, then when I had 2 babies in 2 years, I knew the dream was going to have to wait! I finally met my partner Vered and we knew we had a match made in heaven! We decided to open an on-line shop that made the customer feel like they were in a great little shop they loved, where the shopkeeper knew their kids names, birthdays and sizes, a place that you wanted to drop by all the time just to see whats new and say hi.

How long have you been in business? 
We have been open for just over a week!! And the response has been overwhelming!

How did you come up with your store's name?
As a child I came up with the cute phrase while playing with her 2 favorite Aunts and the name stuck. Kinda like a Silly Goose, a Silly Wagon is a fun, off-beat individual who has a style that they alone define! If you wear a tutu to the park, or play the banjo while donning a colander on your head or even just need to wear your new shoes to bed.... you may just be a Silly Wagon, too!

Do you have a physical store as well?
Not yet, but who knows where The Silly Wagon may show up next.

What categories do you cover?
We carry children's apparel, from European designers like Oilily and Shilav to American favorites like Made U Look and Baby Nay and even hard to find Indie and Custom designers. We also carry jewelry for Moms and kids, really fantastic art, unique gifts and toys, as well as hand painted furniture. As we say, we are a modern general store, you just never know what you might find.

Sum up your store's style and sensibility in one sentence.
The Silly Wagon embraces childhood and feels that children today should get to remain kids as long as possible, but in the most stylish way.

Who is your ideal customer?
Our favorite customers are those women and children who do not necessarily follow the trends but like to blaze their own individual paths that just so happen to be incredibly stylish and always ahead of the crowd.

What age range do you cater to?
Our children's apparel lines run from newborn to 4-8 years (depending on the line). Our womens line is going to slowly grow to include jeans, t-shirts, jewelry and handbags.

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about?
We are so in love with Oilily, so it came as a huge surprise and honor to be chosen to be one of their very first on-line retailers. Oilily fans around the world are going to cheer about this news! We also just adore the buttery-soft jersey cotton of Made U Look. The have such a fun and whimsical approach to fashion. (Oilily diaper bag pictured.)

Which trends are a hit with your customers?
Everyone is in love with the Rainbow dress from Made U Look. But our biggest seller has been the Rocket t-shirt that was seen on Pax Jolie-Pitt recently. We have sold out of it twice already! But we do have a few sizes left and even a new, not yet seen Rocket Hoodie.

Tell us about your favorite pieces this season.
I love our Wonder Boy distressed silver leather belt and their cool button down shirts for boys. Plus, they have fantastic jeans, too (a staple in every boys wardrobe) and for girls I am going to have to go with Baby Nay. They have a new designer on board so this season, they have a fun new twist on some favorites.

Which are your three favorite brands you carry and why did you decide to offer them?
We just love Oilily, Shilav and Mish Mish. If you are looking for a fun, quirky vibe, you can never go wrong with the Euro look.

What are your top selling brands and products?
Made U Look has flown off the shelves! The Rocket t-shirt, Rainbow and Peanuts dresses (pictured) are all huge hits with moms and their kids. I'm pretty sure that our Oilily diaper bags are going to disappear quickly, too.

What's next for your store?
Wow... we are just trying to catch our breath after all the support we have received already in this first couple of weeks. We absolutely can't wait to get all of our major brands in for Fall. We are also looking to find more fabulous Indie designer's for the shop, as our clients are just now being introduced to a whole new market of uber-cool and totally different looks with these small independent designers.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use?
We have the Rocket t-shirt worn by Pax Jolie-Pitt! It doesn't get much cooler than that! Plus we will also have Mish Mish this fall, worn by David Ritchie, Madonna's new son! We also carry Appaman which is worn by Julia Roberts' son Finn Moder, Apple Martin, Gywneth Paltrow's daughter and most recently Mariska Hargitay's little cutie, August Hermann! We even have The Silverspoon Baby layette line worn by Tori Spelling's little guy, Liam Aaron! Plus, our Made U Look women's line of t-shirts is a big favorite with young Hollywood stars like Jessica Simpson.

Exclusively for CBB Readers: Save 10% on your entire order when you use coupon code CBB10.

Have you shopped at the Silly Wagon?  What do YOU think? Are you a Silly Wagon?

If you have any suggestions for shops we should profile, email danielleATcelebrity-babies.com.

Introducing Ask a Shopkeeper

We love boutiques, but there are so many out there - how do you know who carries the best lines and the best pieces and the styles you like?  Here's the Celebrity Baby Blog to the rescue! Introducing our new series, Ask a Shopkeeper.  Every week we will profile a great independent online boutique and offer you an exclusive coupon code to use at their shop so you can see for yourself what we like about them.

Our first profile is My Little Ducks, a fabulous boutique to caters to boys and moms of boys.

Future shops we'll profile include Bean New York, The Silly Wagon, Due Maternity, Duck Duck Goose Boutique, Belly Dance Maternity and Belly Dance Baby.

If you have any suggestions for shops we should profile or if you'd like to submit your shop for a profile, leave a comment below.

Ask a Shopkeeper: My Little Ducks

For our inaugural Ask a Shopkeeper feature, we talked to My Little Ducks owner, Michelle Cowan. My Little Ducks is a boys boutique that carries 44 brands.

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What inspired you to start your shop? How long have you been in business?  How did you come up with your store's name? Do you have a physical store as well? What categories do you cover? 
We have been in business since early 2005.  I was inspired to start the shop after the birth of my second son and was bored with the selection of boys clothing in the stores I shopped at.  Once I came up with the idea, everything moved very quickly and my website was live within 3 months.  We don't have a physical store at this time--working from my home office allows me to stay home with my 2 boys (4 1/2 and almost 3), but it is a possibility for the future.  We carry clothing, shoes, accessories and a selection of toys & gifts for boys ranging from newborn to age 10.  We also have a large selection of bags for moms and dads that can be used for baby and beyond.

Sum up your store's style and sensibility in one sentence. Who is your ideal customer? What age range do you cater to? 
My Little Ducks offers boys a large selection of age appropriate clothing & accessories that ranges from trendy to traditional.  We offer sizes from newborn to 10.  Our ideal customer is a busy mom (aren't we all, though?), grandma, or aunt to one or more boys who can appreciate that it can be just as much fun to shop for their little guys as it is for girls. (pediped Collin shoes, pictured right)

What are the hot trends this season you're excited about? Which trends are a hit with your customers? Tell us about your favorite pieces this season. 
The pirate trend seems to still be going strong this summer, the Charlie Rocket Pirate Ship polo was one of our best sellers (now on sale for $24.99). Retro & vintage-style graphics are also big-- JB Original Vintage & Tiny Bubbas had some great tees this season that the kids & moms really loved.

Pick 3 of your favorite brands you carry - How did you decide to offer these 3 brands?
Hard to limit it to 3... Wes & Willy (pictured right), Tiny Bubbas, Charlie Rocket, JB Original Vintage & Mulberribush -- it's what I dress my own kids in!!!  And my new favorite bags are from Ramalama.

What are your top selling brands and products? 
See Kai Run shoes, Small Paul Tees, Charlie Rocket tees & jeans, Automoblox cars

What's next for your store?
A larger selection in the bigger boys sizes, more gift items.

What products do you carry that celebrity babies and parents have/use?
Diaper bags:  Storksak, Ramalama (pictured left), Fleurville, Skip*Hop, Haiku. 
Clothes:  Inky Dink Tees, Tea Collection, Small Paul
Shoes: See Kai Run shoes, pediped shoes

Can you tell us about any celebrity clients and what they have ordered?
Britney Spears was gifted a velour Zutano set from us when her first baby was born.

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Exclusively for CBB Readers: Save 15% off any purchase when you use coupon code CBB15 at My Little Ducks plus shipping is free on all orders over $75.

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Have you shopped at My Little Ducks?