Having worked in retail for the majority of my adult life, I throughly enjoy the art of shopping - browsing the mall, looking at all the displays, and hunting the sales. This meant, though, that most of my buying power was being taken up by the big fish in the pond. It’s only recently that I have fallen in love with shopping small, meaning small shops or businesses. Since having Lola, I have found myself gravitating to more and more small shops. Maybe it was the endless hours stuck in a chair with nothing to do but scroll the internet that helped me find these small shop gems, either way I am enjoying my new found ways of shopping!
Now with the pandemic happening, all non essential businesses are closed - big and small. While all businesses need our support, the smalls ones need it the most. I figured that there was never a time more appropriate for me to share what small brands I have been loving. What’s great is these shops are geared to online shopping so we can support from the comfort of our homes (seeing as how we can’t leave them any way)!
As most moms can attest, there’s no more room in your shopping cart for anything but things for your baby - virtual or otherwise! As such, most of the shops or businesses I will be highlighting in this particular post pertains to things I have purchased for Lola. However, this is also only a sample of small businesses that I enjoy so if you would like to see more of what I like, give me a follow on Instagram to stay up to date!
Bend & Snap
One of the first gifts I was given for Lola, well before she was born, was a pineapple bow from my sister in law. I instantly fell in love with the cute pattern, soft nylon band, and how well made it was. I have since purchased a few more bows and recently a Mommy & Me matching scrunchy and bow. If you’re a boy mom, never fear because they have bow ties for the little men in your lives!
If you’re a mom who loves to go all out on the holiday themes, Bend & Snap has a collection of accessories for each holiday. They have a wide variety of glitter, vegan leather, clips, pig tail sets, and bows in different sizes.
Bend & Snap’s Instagram is the best place to see what’s coming up next from patterns to new bow or clip designs. They ship out of Cornwall, Ontario and is run by mom boss Chelsea.
La Piccola Speciality Children’s Clothing
If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I love a good Facebook Auction - its where I have purchased a lot of Lola’s recent wardrobe. This is where I found Lisa’s small shop La Piccola. She is an Instagram based speciality clothing business and she has the CUTEST stuff! La Piccola is the first place I think of if I need something for a holiday like Valentine’s day or Christmas. My favourite ruffle butt pants are a La Piccola find and are the most complimented piece in Lola’s wardrobe.
La Piccola has also been a great place to find unique gifts for my family and friends' new additions. I have found Baby Shark themed clothing for one nephew who can’t get enough and a superhero jumper for another who's daddy loves Mavel!
Lisa is located in Calgary with a bin system for those who are local. If you live outside of Calgary, you can pay for her to ship it out to you. Overall, I love that I can find fun and unique pieces for Lola’s wardrobe that I am going to love to pass along as she grows out of them.
Peek-a-Boo
I am a sucker for Mommy & Me matching sets - and if you are too you’re going to LOVE Peek-a-Boo! This small shop specializes in hats with removable pompoms in children’s and adult sizes. They recently expanded their range to include the cutest take-home outfits and toddler sized sweater dresses.
Lola and I love our Peek-a-Boo toques that not only kept our noggins warm but kept us looking like a true pair. When I picked these out I was sure my husband would not want to be a part of our matching ridiculousness, but I was wrong! You best believe I will be purchasing a new set for all three of us next winter. Lastly, these hats really made our outdoor family photoshoot pop - they are a great idea to have on hand for occasions such as this.
Hey Mini + Co
This is a relatively new find for me but you best believe that I will be purchasing more items from this small shop. Based in Toronto, Hey Mini + Co is run by two moms who wanted to create a children’s line that was affordable but would stand the test of time. This hoodie romper is hands down my new favourite piece in Lola’s wardrobe. It’s so soft and cozy - and seeing as how it seems to be the longest winter ever here in Calgary, I am confident we will get some good wear out of this.
The shipping was so fast and the team are so friendly. They frequently participate in markets - virtually now - so make sure to follow them on instagram in order to stay up to date on any sales happening!
Knotty Design Co
While this shop isn’t a baby clothing and accessory shop it has made it into my favs! I found this small shop on Etsy when looking for a fun way to personalize our Easter baskets this year. The bunny tags are so sweet and will be a great item to have year over year. But this shop doesn’t stop there!
This small business is a side hustle for Brittany but you wouldn’t be able to tell! From the baby milestone cards, key chains, and door mats, this is small shop that specializes in laser cut and engraved home decor and gifts! While we are currently renting a small condo, I cannot wait for when we purchase a house so that we can outfit it with items from Knotty Design Co.
Of course, the first way to support small businesses that comes to mind is to purchase goods or services. However, there are many ways you can support! You can leave reviews on Google or websites; like, share, and comment on social media posts; purchase gift cards; reschedule cancelled appointments when we can; and lastly ask how you can best support them during this time.
I know we're all spending a little more time scrolling the internet and filling our virtual carts. We might as well be supporting our small shops while we do this!