Little Kids Specialty Shop finds a new home
Posted Jan 21, 2010 By Marla Shook-Johnson
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EMC Business - The Little Kids Specialty Shop (LKSS) will have a new home when it reopens in February.
Marla Shook-Johnson, Smiths Falls EMC
Vickie Dickson, owner of the town's three Little Specialty Shops, poses amidst the various collection at the Little Specialty Shop Home Edition, Jan. 15. Work is being done in the loft of the Main Street location to house the Little Kids Specialty Shop. As such, the LSSHE has moved to the first floor. The shop, which opened last August and was located on Beckwith Street, will be joining the two other LSSs in early February.
After opening its doors for the first time last August on Beckwith Street, the store will now be featured with its Little Specialty siblings, just around the corner. The Little Specialty Shop's (LSS), 14 Main Street West loft has been gutted over the past few weeks and work is under way to transform what was the Little Specialty Shop Home Edition (LSSHE) into the children's outlet. Once the LKSS has reopened, all stores under the "Little Specialty" name, will be under one roof.
With LKSS, the plan was first to test the market to see if there was a demand, and to move within a year depending on the results. Store owner, Vickie Dickson explained there is definitely a market in the community. The decision to renovate the LSS store and move LKSS over was the logical choice.
It's a move, she outlined, that will benefit consignors, customers and store staff.
For customers, it is one-stop shopping under one roof. For consignors, they can now drop off their items to the one store location instead of having to choose which location to attend.
"It's one-stop shopping and dropping off," Dickson said.
Another benefit to all three stores being under one roof - consignors' and customers' accounts are being amalgamated, allowing the rewards to accumulate more quickly.
The move will make life easier on store staff as well, making the decision an entirely positive one.
The renovations taking place in the loft, have included sanding back the floor to the original flooring. A task which has seen 10 layers of flooring uncovered.
"It (LKSS) will be nice and bright with lots of windows," Dickson said with a smile, noting the children's store will be painted a bright yellow.
Those with items to consign for the children's store are asked to bring them to LSS now (please contact the store at the number below for more information).
"We'd like to open full (of items)," she said the store is taking spring and summer items at the moment.
In the new location, Dickson explained, LKSS will be expanding with new lines of infant and children's products. Specific items shoppers will find include quality clothing for infants to size 10, baby equipment, select toys, books and DVDs, maternity clothing, nursing bras, children's gift ideas, accessories and more, all in a wide variety of brands.
The new outlet will also feature a "Rest Area", a place for "nursing moms, for changing babies and resting grandmothers."
And to go along with the new look, website redevelopment is currently under way. The website will feature computerized inventory, and consignors will have the opportunity to log on and check their account balances online.
Having owned Little Specialty Shop since 2001, in March of 2008 the LSSHE opened in the loft of the 14 Main St. W. location.
For the past three years, she explained in a previous interview, the store has seen a "significant increase" every month as customers both new and familiar continue to frequent the business.
The LSS, as the website states, "is where women and their homes get dressed." Both consigned and new fashions for women and juniors, footwear, accessories as well as undergarments are all featured. With the changes at the LSS, Dickson explained, the store will "go into accessories even more." She also has a trip to New York planned for February to scope out new products.
The LSSHE, now located on the first floor of LSS, features furnishings and home décor, from antique to modern. The store will now be taking smaller furniture and home accent pieces, "and Vickie's back is very thankful," she laughed, noting previously it was often rigorous to get larger furniture items up to the second floor.
Dickson was named Business Person of the Year - 2007 in Smiths Falls.
Hours for the store are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. To reach the store by phone call 613-283-8142 or visit www.consignlss.com.
