ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW.....c

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I've Always Wanted to . . .
Know How to Personalize My Home While Keeping Resale in Mind

I've always wanted to know how shopping at specialty children's boutique can be affordable. Is it a myth or a fact that clothes in children's boutiques are too expensive? Is there more overall value in higher quality items, better wear and tear, perhaps a higher resale value, or that special heirloom dress and priceless piece that can be used for generations to come?

“Shopping at a specialty store is worth every penny because the key word is special,” says Cheryl Ross, owner of Khloe's Kloset in Naperville. “Boutique buyers make sure they are purchasing high quality pieces, not high in quantity pieces.” Ross opened a specialty boutique for her children because, as a mom herself, she wanted them to look great for their special events like their first photo, the Daddy-Daughter Dance, and recitals. Kim Fuller also opened her Glen Ellyn store, MandEms, when her two girls were very young and she was frustrated by the lack of stylish and quality clothing for them. Her girls are now growing up and the store is growing with them to address current needs of girls, teens and women. “Our apparel is a perfect balance between price and quality and exceeds the price expectation for the fashion and style,” Fuller says. “MandEm’s carries a large assortment of baby gifts, and we find grandparents and new parents will tear up when they pick up a beautiful vintage keepsake book or personalized ceramic cross that are not available anywhere else and expresses their heartfelt feelings.”

Seems the unique nature of the items in these specialty shops can be worth their weight in gold. Posh Kids ETC. is a new children’s boutique that recently opened in Downers Grove, catering to the resale market of high-end clothes and dresses. Store owner Melynda Onusaitis found personal value in name brands like Mini Moden, Hanna Anderson, and Matilda Jane and realized that paying more upfront also means receiving more when reselling clothes that your children have out grown. “Lower quality brands did not last or faded after the first wash, and I was not able to resell them,” Onusaitis said. “This is why shopping at a specialty boutique is worth every penny. Any mother will tell you purchasing a pair of shorts for $3.00 will never last as long as purchasing a pair of Mini Boden shorts for $38; then you can turn around and resell them.”

From one-of-a-kind items to long-term durability and potential resale value, shopping smart includes shopping children boutiques stores. -Kristen Kucharski