Posted 10:38 pm Sunday, August 05, 2012
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Fickle Baby owners support companies that are charitable
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Kimberly Kennedy and Lindsey Ferris want their new business, Fickle Baby, to represent "mom-based" children clothing lines that give back to those in need.
Fickle Baby will be one of several stores based on similar principles in Tyler's newest shopping center -- The Market - still under construction on Old Jacksonville Highway.
Their children's clothing store will support lines that donate part of their profits to charitable organizations will carry merchandise made by companies that use recycled materials. They will offer various price points - from high end to more affordable clothing, Mrs. Kennedy said.
The women met two years ago through their children, who are best friends and attend Kids Kaleidoscope at Pollard United Methodist Church.
"We both wanted to build a business of our own," Mrs. Kennedy said, adding that they wanted to start a mom-based business that carries lines that give back.
Mrs. Ferris, 30, is a stay-at-home mother to her two daughters, Reese, 3, and Liesel, 10 months. She and her husband, Jeff, have been married for five years.
She grew up in Tyler, earned a political science degree from Texas State University while working as manager at Gymboree and was in education sales at the Apple Corp. headquarters in Austin before moving back to Tyler more than six years ago.
Mrs. Kennedy, 33, grew up in Shreveport, La., and earned a double business major in marketing and human resources from Baylor University. She has worked as a pharmaceutical representative for six years. After she and her husband of seven years, Brandon, married, they moved to Tyler from Houston to be close to their families - hers in Shreveport and his in Crockett. Her husband was in the oil and gas industry and now is an internal auditor for Brookshire Grocery Co. They have a 3-year-old daughter, Zoey.
Mrs. Kennedy said they will carry 60 lines of children's clothing to meet peoples' different styles.
Some of the brands they will offer include Swanky Baby Vintage, which she said will be new to Tyler; Joey Folie Shoes, a mom-based company out of Houston that uses recycled and organic materials; Mustard Pie for girls; and Tom & Drew, a boy's clothing company that gives some of its proceeds to rescuing bulldogs. They will also carry Fox Paws, a mom-based shoe business out of Utah; Demo Baby, created by a mother looking for button-down collared shirts for boys; and Piggy Paint, a safe nail polish for children and a mom-based business.
Fickle Baby will also be a place where children can play while their mom's shop, she said.
Mrs. Kennedy said she felt like the shopping center, across from FRESH by Brookshire's, was a good fit for them. Their neighbors in The Market will also have similar businesses. Moss is an organic florist focused on fair trade and local flowers; Sweet Hope Café and Cake Shop will be a fair trade bakery/restaurant that will provide a place for mothers to have lunch at a place where their children can play, she said. Identity Med Spa and Salon in Lindale will also open another location there, she added.
They are shooting for Aug. 23, as their opening date, provided everything goes as planned with construction
Mrs. Kennedy said music will be pumped throughout the center, to give community choirs and others a chance to sing for the public, and an old water pump will offer a cool drink for customer's pets.
Patti Mehling is the owner of the center and designed it based after a town in Germany, with each shop painted a different bright color. Vignettes will be set up throughout the center for people to take outdoor photography, Mrs. Kennedy said.
Fickle Baby will partner with local photographer Rose Bailey, who will be offering outdoor fall portraits in October.
They are also partnering with Stacie Walker, who paints and repurposes antique furniture. She said they will use her work for their counter and play area and will also sell it to customers.
