Business of the Week: hip-kid, Chappaqua
Raising awareness and spreading positivity are the goals behind a new children’s boutique in Chappaqua called hip-kid.
The 2,000-square-foot space is sure to turn some heads with its white brick walls, pipe and wood displays and exposed ductwork. But this is not just a place where you’ll find unique toys and accessories as well as edgy, aesthetically pleasing clothes for children ages 0-12.
Every item in the store is made with either a charitable cause in mind or the products being sold are organic, animal-free or fairly traded.
Owner Trish Kallman has always dreamed of owning her own clothing store. “Before I was an art director and graphic designer, I worked in stores,” said Kallman, the mother of three boys ages 12, 15 and 20. “I loved the day-to-day interaction, the creativity in fashion and the opportunity to help people put things together.”
Coupled with her dedication to helping others, Kallman, a Chappaqua resident, wanted to create a store that highlighted the work of artisans who are lovingly creating products and are raising money for great causes at the same time.
Haitibabi is just one example. Kallman carries the company’s blankets and hats, all made by Haitian moms, who were trained by Haitibabi to become highly skilled artisans. The wages they earned helped to reunite them with their children who had been living in orphanages, creating a better life for all of the families involved.
Another company that Kallman loves is Chaboukie, created by a Los Angeles couple. Customers who buy one of the brand’s brightly colored toddler and baby leggings or any of the other trendy items at hip-kids can be sure that another item will be given to a needy child in need in L.A.’s most impoverished neighborhoods.
Other clothing brands she’s been drawn to include the earthy and whimsical Neve/Hawk line, whose manufacturers strive to keep the arts in public schools, L’ovedbaby and Tilly Whistle, the maker of handmade baby booties and other children’s shoes.
Additional brands that Kallman hopes will raise social consciousness among her customers include the Eco-Kids line of natural art supplies, such as the eco-build a block set, all-natural play dough, eco-finger paints and eco-crayons; the Uncle Goose sustainable toys, which makes the classic ABC blocks as well as blocks in several languages, including Braille; the Idea Box collection of toys, which inspires creativity in child’s play and so much more.
Before launching hip-kid, Kallman said she spent a lot of time researching various brands. Her current product line represents the causes she feels most passionate about, she said. “Whether they are philanthropic, all-organic, animal-free or fair trade, I personally connected to each of them.”
A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, Kallman has also managed to find products that are one-of-a-kind, like the jewelry made from sea glass and created by Rubbish Revival, a one-woman business based in Massachusetts; the knitted baby rattles that are handmade in China and the Red Matryoshka-like Russian doll bobby pin sets.
In an effort to continue paying it forward, Kallman has established a “Giving Wall” near the checkout counter. After each purchase, customers, including children, are encouraged to place a red token in a mason jar representing one of four highlighted charities displayed on the wall.
Every quarter, Kallman intends to tally up the tokens and donate a percentage of her profits to those organizations as well as a rotating selection of others.
Kallman’s intention is also to make hip-kid a relaxing place for local moms to shop. “I aimed to fill the void that I noticed when I had three young boys in tow,” said Kallman, referring to the many trips she took to children’s stores in New York City that were lacking in facilities like changing tables and water coolers.
hip-kid has both, and also intends to offer additional mom-friendly services such as walk-in activities and workshops for kids in a soon-to-be created “hip-kid lounge.” An open space at the back of the store will also offer kid-related classes, events and pop-up shops.
hip-kid is located at 77 Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua. It is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays by customer request. For more information, email info@hip-kid.com or visit the hip-kid Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/hip-kid/1522438711342498 for the latest on upcoming events and in-store promotions.
Colette Connolly is a copywriter and p.r. expert. She owns Connolly Communications, which is based in Bronxville, New York. Colette specializes in providing content-rich, SEO-optimized press releases, articles, newsletters, brochures, and customer success stories.
