Business Profile – Children’s Orchard
by Jennifer Evans
(Updated: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 6:08 PM PDT)
Little pink dresses, miniature flip flops with tiny board shorts and rash guards to match make it hard for anyone not to shop inside Children’s Orchard of Manhattan Beach. However, unlike most retail stores, a shopping spree inside this boutique-style secondhand children’s clothing store won’t break the bank.
Twin sisters Cindy Kehagiaras and Carrie Rosenblum, and their mother, Carol Mintz, shopped at Children’s Orchard long before the three decided to became the new owners a couple of months ago.
Kehagiaras and Rosenblum, both mothers of toddlers and businesswomen, said when they discovered Children’s Orchard more than a year ago, they were so relieved that they didn’t have to spend more than they wanted to for clothes that their young children would grow out of so quickly.
“Children’s clothes and shoes can be so expensive, and it’s such a bummer because sometimes they will only wear something once or twice before they grow out of it,” Kehagiaras said. “I remember when I first found Children’s Orchard and I walked in and saw this really cute shirt from the GAP and I knew it retailed for $24 but I ended up buying it for $6. It was like, Eureka! I was so happy that I had found a place where I could find good quality, cute clothes for my son and not worry about what it cost.”
Keeping up with the same philosophy of offering gently used clothes at an inexpensive price while enhancing the appearance of the shop, Kehagiaras, who is a graduate of the Fashion Institute, explained that Children’s Orchard, a franchise that has been in Manhattan Beach for 10 years, has only enhanced inventory and made some aesthetic changes to the shop.
Besides shopping for clothes, customers are also welcome to sell their clothes. They can bring a maximum of two shopping bags of clothes, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during which Children’s Orchard offers either a price for the clothing or a store credit. However, a store credit is worth 50 percent more than the cash. “For example, if the clothing is valued at $20, the seller can either have $20 cash or $30 store credit,” Kehagiaras said.
Shopping is also made easy at Children’s Orchard with its categorized merchandise. Brands such as Baby Dior, Jack and Jill, Ralph Lauren or Baby Lulu are categorized as “A.” “B” brands include Baby Gap and Gymboree, and “C” brands include Old Navy or Carters.
Currently, the highest priced clothing item in the store is a child’s leather bomber-style jacket priced at $25. But on average, the clothing is within a $6 to $12 price range.
Besides the clothing, Children’s Orchard also carries gently used strollers, cribs, high chairs, gliders and car seats as well as other baby furniture. The store is currently featuring a “Quinnie” stroller, which would typically retail for $500 to $700, but Children’s Orchard is selling it for $240.
“It’s really a win/win for everyone because when your child is grown out of these things, it’s nice that you can make some money from it and know that it will be sold at a fair price to someone who really wants it.”
Next week, Children’s Orchard will celebrate its grand opening and offer several promotions throughout the week.
Children’s Orchard is located at located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach. For more information, call (310) 546-8823.