As someone married to an entrepreneur (my husband started his marketing firm at the age of 16), I always admired the drive and dedication that business owners bring to their work. Adding kids to the mix just increases that admiration! I thought it would be fun to sit down with “parent-preneurs” to find out how they got started, and what tips for success they have.
My first conversation was with Pam Feldman, the new owner of Kids Planet, 210 6th Street in downtown Royal Oak (sidenote: it's dangerously close to Baskin Robbins!) Pam is a mom to three kids, aged 10, 3 and 18 months. Although she has long entertained the idea of opening a resale shop, Pam spent many years working in the medical field and juggling job and family -- something that became particularly challenging once her oldest was in school and the challenges of coordinating pickup/dropoff and activities increased. After the birth of her youngest, Feldman became determined to find an opportunity that would allow her to be independent and involve her children in her job. She spent a year attending small business seminars, researching business planning, and understanding financing options, ultimately developing a business plan for a maternity/infant resale shop.
While searching for store fixtures on Craigslist, Feldman came across what would end up being the key to making her dream a reality: an existing resale shop with fixtures, inventory and established consigners, located in a great part of Royal Oak, was for sale! Pam reached out to the then-current Kids Planet owners and conversations quickly followed, culminating in Feldman walking into the store earlier this summer, key in hand, ready to re-launch the Kids Planet brand.
She spent the summer hard at work, often bringing her two youngest along, and taking time in the evenings to work on redecorating, inventory and an image for the shop. “There was this quote online that said ‘miracles happen when you give more energy to your dreams than to your fears,’” Feldman told me, “and that has really inspired me. I always wanted to do this, but once I actually sat down and started working on it, everything came together.”
The previous Kids Planet owners focused mostly on resale of children’s clothes, an element Feldman definitely intends to retain. She is adding the resale of “gear” -- carriers, strollers, etc. -- to the floor. Joining the resale items are new products that combine eco-chic and affordability, such as childrens’ dishes from Replay. Replay uses BPA-free recycled milk jugs and manufactures its products in the USA. Two 8-oz sippy cups cost just $7.50 at Kids Planet, a set of 3 plates runs $7, and a set of bowls is $5.50. Kids Planet also features a “Parent Corner” where parents can find natural baby products using natural fabrics, and the toy area at Kids Planet boasts a diverse selection of wooden toys for young children.
Feldman’s advice to other would-be “parent-preneurs?” “You need to have family support, and support from your spouse. It’s definitely a lot of work -- it’s just like having a kid. People come by and visit and bring meals the first few weeks, and everything is new and exciting, but then it becomes part of your life and a daily responsibility.”
Kids Planet is located at 210 6th Street between Main St. and Washington Ave. in downtown Royal Oak. Open 10-5 Tues-Fri and 12-5 Sat and Sun. Closed Mondays. Contact them at 248.325.6023.
Karen lives in Royal Oak with her husband, two kids, one dog and two cats. She is the local publisher of Macaroni Kid, a newsletter that keeps parents informed of the latest events for families and kids.
