Have you been to Greenwich Ave’s newest one-stop shop for kids? The Piccolina Shop, located at 82 Greenwich Ave, has a curated collection of clothes, accessories, toys, books, and more for kids of all ages. So if you need a birthday gift, quarantine activity, etc. at the last minute, Piccolina is a great resource! This week’s Meet a Mom interview features Lena, Alejandra and Janice—the moms behind The Piccolina Shop!
The Piccolina Shop is currently having a 15 percent off sale—use code SWEET15!
Can you please share a bit about yourselves, including where you live and your kids names/ages?
Lena: I have 3 daughters, Giuliana (8 years old), Francesca (5 years old) and Angelina (16 months old). I’m from Riverdale, NY and currently reside in Oceanside, NY.
Alejandra: I have one son, Pablo (9 years old) and live here in Greenwich!
Janicet: I have four sons and one granddaughter—Justin (23 years old), Michael (17 years old), Christopher (16 years old) and Tyler (10 years old), and granddaughter Alaïa (11 months old).
What were you doing before opening this adorable shop?
Previous to opening the store, we all worked at another local baby & toddler store on the Avenue, giggle. After giggle closed, the three of us went to work at JoJo Maman Bebe. When JoJo closed their doors, we decided to put our dream of having our own little shop into motion. That’s when The Piccolina Shop was born.
Amazing! Your website says that your store is “community-based”. What does this mean?
To The Piccolina Shop, community-based means that the local market drives our business decisions. We listen to the needs and wants of our customers. We note all product and brand requests. Essentially, we listen to what’s going on in the community and respond. It is the most important business driver for us. Our goal is to be a destination on Greenwich Avenue for all things baby & toddler.
How do you curate your unique inventory?
We have 8 children between the 3 of us and over 20 years experience in the infant and toddler industry. We know what works, what’s needed, and what doesn’t work. We sell exactly that, things that work for today’s new parent. We also take into consideration ensuring our products are safe for little ones and keep the environment clean and healthy.
What is your idea of a perfect “school outfit”?
We love our bamboo clothing options. Whether it’s Kyte Baby, Angel Dear, Posh Peanut or Little Sleepies – there is something for everyone. Bamboo has so many benefits – for the little ones and also for the environment. Firstly, we love bamboo it is so incredibly soft. In addition to that, the fabric is breathable, for comfort in any temperature, and absorbs & evaporates humidity better than any other fabric available.
Bamboo, technically a grass rather than a tree, is one of the most sustainable resources on earth, textile or otherwise. Growing up to a yard in a single day, it never requires replanting due to its vast, interconnected root network. Not only does it not require replanting, but it also doesn’t require tractors, fertilizers, or pesticides.
Following harvesting, it’s converted into fabric. This fabric, called rayon, is incredibly soft, statistically breathes better than cotton, and is hypoallergenic. This makes it perfect for babies, especially when considering overheating and sensitive skin.
The benefits of using bamboo begin with it being the most sustainable and versatile resource on the planet, as we’ve mentioned. It’s the fastest growing plant in the world, and quickly adapts to different climates. Not only is it earth-friendly, but it is also an environmentally intelligent choice because bamboo minimizes CO2 and generates 35% more oxygen than trees.
Sounds great! And do you have a few must-haves for winter?
Definitely the 7AM Warmmuffs Blanket 212 Evolution Footmuff to keep your hands and little one toasty while strolling on the Avenue and the Muddle Puddles 3 in 1 scampsuit. Here are the links:
https://thepiccolinashop.com/products/blanket-212-evolution-black-plush?_pos=2&_sid=c1d1d2736&_ss=r
https://thepiccolinashop.com/products/warmmuffs-black-plush?_pos=5&_sid=c1d1d2736&_ss=r
What can people expect when they visit your store? Including COVID precautions?
Customers can except to find a safe haven – that also includes nut-free snacks and bottled water for kids and adults alike! Upon entering, we ask customers to sanitize their hands at our touchless sanitizing station. We also have COVID social distance reminders throughout the floor of the store. We also sanitize the store and touchpoints throughout the day. We also have contactless pay. We have curbside pickup and free assembly on all gear!
What is next for the business?
Right now, we are focusing on growing the business to meet the needs of our customers. When we opened, we started with only two gear vendors – UPPAbaby and Babyzen. Now, in addition to those two vendors, we also sell Doona and Nuna. We have expanded other categories too. We’ve added an in-home category that features the UPPAbaby bassinet stand and Nuna SENA Aire and COVE Aire. We’ve also added new toys to the assortment, including scooters from Scoot and Ride, who design high-quality, earth-friendly products for children that are free from PVC and designed to be easily repaired with a long lifespan,. Each scooter is made from eco-friendly or recycled materials. Scoot & Ride goes above and beyond to reduce their carbon footprint, even focusing on minimal packaging and scheduling the most direct transportation routes possible.
We would also love to add a few more little shops across the NY/CT area.
How has the Greenwich community supported you?
Not only has support we have received from our local customers been so amazing, we have also had such amazing support from The Greenwich Chambers of Commerce, Greenwich Moms and other local businesses. There is a reason we chose Greenwich for our first store. It truly embodies the community-based principles we feel are so important to make our business successful.
We love to support local businesses. Can you please share your fave places in Greenwich to:
Grab coffee – CFCF Coffee Bar
Go for date night – Tony’s @ the J House
Eat dinner as a family – Miku (our fav lunch spot as a team too!)
Have fun as a family – Stroll the Avenue
