To Expand, or To Not Expand, That is THE Question...

Recently, you may have noticed a hole in the wall.

Well, not literally, but figuratively, there is a hole in the wall. Or, rather, a space. An empty space. A space that once was the Candy Bouquet. When Jack moved his store to another location, we started getting a lot of questions about whether or not we knew if anyone was moving in... then we started getting questions like, "Are you going to move in?

The truth is, we have been thinking for a while about expanding into the space next door. Jack told us last Fall that they would be moving to a new location at the end of the year. And in the interim, we've talked to some of our regular customers about what they'd like to see or, rather, if they'd like to see us expand. The overwhelming response has been "yes!"

So, at once, we are excited and daunted by the possibilities. If we do this thing, what exactly will we do? More kids clothes? More maternity? Used baby gear? What about used toys? And once we decide, how will we do it? Many, many questions to be answered.

Meanwhile, we are working diligently to figure out how to support this endeavor because, although the desire and opportunity has presented itself, the wherewithal to do it has not. So as we peruse our options as to how to get this thing done we appreciate all the feedback we can get! Let us know your thoughts via email from our "Contact Us" link from our website or at the bottom of this blog!

Get Out the Vote!

It doesn't feel like it's been that long since we were nominated for Best Children's Clothing Store on SFGate.com.
We were honored and humbled by the win, and are ever-grateful for the support of our fans and customers.

But, lo and behold, here we are again... and at the risk of sounding self-aggrandizing, I am posting the link here, in the hopes that the relatively few of you out there that read our blog, will take a few moments to go the link and vote for us. (You have to register with the Baylist to vote, but it's quick and easy and you won't get spam - just don't forget to verify your email or it won't count....)

Should we win this round, we would have the unprecedented honor of being voted the Best Children's Clothing Store three years running. But, more importantly, and the main reason for this shameless self-promotion, is that the business who acquires the most votes, will win $500 to designate to the charity or non-profit organization of their choice. Our choice is an organization that we have been working with for over a year called Loved Twice. You can read more about our relationship with them and their founder, Lisa Klein, here.

So, thanks in advance, for your support of GROVE STREET kids and in our supporting a very worthy cause.

Here comes the sun....

Here comes the sun do do do do
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's alright.

Little darlin'
It's been a long, cold, lonely winter...

er... has it? Seemingly, no, it hasn't! What's with the 70º weather in January?
Last I checked, it is still winter, isn't it?
I am beginning to think that we are switching hemispheres, after the cold, lonely summer we had last year, and now this...


We've gotten more than a few customers coming in, as a result, looking for warm weather clothing. Short sleeves, shorts, swimsuits... swimsuits? Okay, okay. Those looking for swimsuits in January are preparing for various trips to warmer climates over the upcoming Presidents' Week (otherwise known as Ski Week and for good reason). But more than a few customers have also started bringing in short sleeves, shorts and swimsuits for resale and, whereas, we have started transitioning into buying for Spring (ie lighter layers, Easter dresses, etc.) we are still hoping to see a bit of that cold, maybe not so lonely winter before the end of February. We still have a store full of long-sleeved shirts, long pants and jackets, not to mention ski gear for those last minute shoppers that find the snow-bib that bought last March on sale at REI actually doesn't fit their 5. y.o. that had a growth spirt just last week...

It's That Time of Year...

Originally published at this same time last year under "Cleaning Out Your Closets?" this post offers our best advice for a successful selling trip to GROVE STREET kids. The first couple weeks of January have proven to be the time we experience most people bringing in items for selling, as opposed to trade and/or buying. As a business, we can only "buy" so much before our budget for the week, let alone the month, is already gone! So please read on, and here's to a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2011 for all!

It's that time of year. Some folks are über organized and get their closets cleared in time for the holidays, in order to make room for all the new stuff to come. Most people wait, however, until after the holidays have past to do it. GROVE STREET kids has been hit hard this week with the fruits of their labor - which is great, it allows us to peruse the gamut of styles, sizes and seasons that make their way through our doors. However, some folks walk away disappointed when they take the time and expend their energy hauling multiple bags and/or boxes and still leave with multiple bags and/or boxes.

So we thought we'd offer some tips for making your selling experience at GROVE STREET kids the most successful, for everyone involved:

1. Check our website first: www.grovestreetkids.com. We do our very best to keep it updated as to the particulars of what season we are looking at and buying, what sizes we are in need of and accepting, and what we are not accepting. In addition, there is helpful information like, our buying hours and our trading and drop-off policies.

2. We wash everything (with the exception of new items with tags still attached) before it is placed on the floor for sale, whether or not you wash it before bringing it in. However, we do not purchase items, purposefully, with stains, tears, missing buttons etc. Items with stains (only) that are of the size and season we are in need of, will be purchased for a $1 selling price. This is because, if we can't get the stain out, we send it straight away to our $1 bins. What this means for you: the better condition your items are in, the better price you will obtain for them.

3. If you decide to bring in your child(ren)'s wardrobe from the age of 2 until 7, you will be asked to drop the items off (be sure and read our drop off policy!), as to allow the buyer to peruse them at her convenience. In addition, you will likely receive a volume price for your items. We simply do not have the capacity to purchase everything from everybody. It is in your best interest to bring in items periodically instead of all at once.

4. Call ahead to make sure the buyer is in. Like most people, and especially people with young children, life's little emergencies sometimes arise and the buyer is not always available at the specified buying times. If you call and you don't get to speak to a live person, please leave a message. It is our policy not to answer the phone whilst we are helping or assisting our customers in the store. If you leave a message, we will call you back.

5. Please don't take the "rejection" of your children's clothing personally! Items are chosen primarily on two factors: supply and demand. We often don't buy certain items of clothing that we personally like, simply because they don't sell. On the flip side we do buy certain items simply because there is the demand for them (can anybody say "sweatpants"?) As a general rule, GROVE STREET kids doesn't buy "character" items, however, there are simply some characters (ie. Hello Kitty or Thomas the Tank Engine) that would just be poor judgement not to buy, as they do sell, in almost any condition.

We hope these tips help you to sort things out and make your selling and/or trading experience at GROVE STREET kids to be the most successful it can be. We certainly do appreciate your business!

What to be for Halloween, A hobo or a bride? A witch or scary goblin, Its not easy to decide.

Halloween is undoubtedly the favorite time of year at GROVE STREET kids. The windows are particularly fun to decorate and the folks that are drawn in by them are so excited to see what awaits beyond our store front displays. GROVE STREET kids likes to offer a wide range of costumes but, as well, bits and bobs so that the creative soul (pun intended!) has the opportunity to come to life! Here's a look at costumes past, both traditional and unorthodox:

Back in 20 minutes

Back when my husband and I first opened GROVE STREET kids, there were many days that I wouldn't have a customer for hours at a time in the shop. I used to sit in the back and watch episodes of previous seasons of L O S T so I could be caught up with the current season! Thankfully, those days are long gone and we are so grateful for our steady stream of customers, especially in this continually uncertain economic climate.

Some days are so busy, however, that I can often go without taking any sort of break until long after Buying Hours are over (2pm). Most days I don't actually take a break - I just grab a bite here and there between laundry loads, tagging & steaming, or other such mundane tasks that are a necessity to running my own business. But on those few crazy, chaotic days where I don't get to nibble in between things, I do find it necessary to bring the dollar bins inside, lock the doors and hang my "Back in 20 minutes" sign up so I can take a break and eat my lunch uninterrupted.

I never thought this would be an issue for anyone. In fact, I figured it was commonplace for small businesses. A small business owner, working by him or herself, must need to close up at some point in the day, right - to eat a bite, or use the bathroom? I remember when I first considered renting this store, I went to the only business that was functioning in the building at the time, the Candy Bouquet, to ask the owner, Jack, about renting in this building. But when I arrived, there was a sign on the door saying "Back in 20 mintues." No problem, I thought, I will come back in a half hour or maybe on another day.

So after opening GSK I promptly made our branded version of the sign, adding a "Sorry for the inconvenience!" I don't think I have used this sign more than once a week, if even that, since we opened, and rarely do I take the full twenty minutes says I will be gone. Most of the time it hasn't been an issue. But for some, unfortunately, they make no bones about just how much of inconvenience it's been. And some take it to the extreme and post it on Yelp. But that's another blog. Lol.

Upon my last experience of being handed my head on a platter after closing for 15 minutes one day, I was prompted to ask around (other business owners, primarily) how best to deal with this situation. I realize we are not going to be able to please everyone, all the time, but I certainly don't want our customers leaving our store disgruntled if I can help it. The solution I came up with was to offer a discount to folks who are inconvenienced by arriving at a time when I have temporarily closed. Who doesn't like a discount? So our new "Back in 20 Minutes!" sign has a tear-off coupon that can be redeemed for a same-day discount off their nominal purchase upon their return. I expect that, once word gets out, people will actually look forward to arriving when I have closed to eat my lunch!

Hooked on Chinook

Chinook?

What the...? Most of you are probably wondering... The Chinook Book is the wonderful, one-of-kind resource for supporting local, sustainable businesses (including yours truly, GROVE STREET kids) formally known to the general public as the EcoMetro Guide.

GSK jumped on the EcoMetro Guide Bandwagon in 2009, just after it's 2008 debut in the Bay Area. Our first exposure to it was when it was brought to our kid's school as a fundraising promotion. Like the Entertainment Books but way better, because these are places you actually already shop at, like GSK.

Chinook Book is a coupon book, a directory, a source of ideas and inspiration. It’s your guide to living well and having fun in the East Bay metro region. You can save hundreds of dollars while exploring the community and supporting those local, sustainable businesses. Over 300 valuable coupons make this the largest book yet. Businesses with coupons include retail, grocery, dining, entertainment, travel, garden and home adding up to savings of over $3,000. All products and services appearing in Chinook Book meet specific environmental and community criteria. We are proud to be one of those businesses. Come by and pick up the 2011 copy today at GROVE STREET kids.