Petit Green celebrates two-year anniversary

Business Profiles — By Melanie McIntyre on August 16, 2011 at 8:00 am

Columbus-based retailer Petit Green is hosting an in-store event today at noon in honor of its second anniversary.

Located at Polaris Fashion Place, Petit Green offers merchandise for babies and children that are made with non-toxic materials and have minimal environmental impact. Products include strollers, car seats, bedding, toys, and clothing. Additionally, Petit Green is the exclusive Central Ohio retailer for high-end brands Oeuf, Little Marc Jacobs, and Petit Bateau.

“We’ll be offering door prizes throughout the day, as well as a chance to win larger items, like a stroller and car seat,” says Petit Green Founder and Owner Cherie Hinson. “We’re thrilled to have Angela Pace as a special guest at 3:30 p.m. to read one of my favorite books, Buckeyes A to Z by Mark Walter. We’ll also have a juice bar for kids, Mommy and Daddy cocktails, a balloon artist from 5 to 7 p.m., and other surprises.”

Hinson’s children, Hunter and Riley, served as inspiration for the 1,400-square-foot store.

“Like so many mothers, I started researching the safety of the products used by my kids and was surpised by what I learned. I discovered my personal standards for safety, quality, and environmental impact were much higher than those of any government agency. I believed other parents shared my desire to provide healthy and high-quality merchandise for their babies and toddlers and started Petit Green.”

Hinson and her staff also provide free delivery and product assembly for several items in the store.

“Our customers love the fact that we’ll assemble their Bugaboo stroller for them and teach them how to operate it safely,” she says. “We receive more compliments and positive feedback on our amazing team members than anything else.”

Further, Petit Green offers interior design services.

“I have a background in real estate development and sales −another reason for opening the store, I think sales is in my DNA− and have had the pleasure of working on many residential and commercial projects,” she says. “I developed a strong personal design aesthetic, clearly evident in the store, and am so flattered that others like it and ask for my help with their nurseries and kids’ rooms.”

It also doesn’t hurt that all the store’s associates have degrees in either merchandising or design.

Launched three years ago, Petit Green’s website offers most of the merchandise found in the store, along with larger pieces of furniture. Ecommerce currently accounts for less than 20 percent of annual sales, but it’s an area where Hinson sees growth potential as more and more shoppers are turning to the Web.

The site also features a gift registry.

To learn more about Petit Green, visit PetitGreenBaby.com.

Author Bio: Melanie McIntyre:
Melanie McIntyre has served as editorial director of The Metropreneur since its launch in 2010. She previously worked as a staff writer for a business and legal newspaper, where she wrote more than 500 stories about finance and real estate and development in Central Ohio. Since 2008, Melanie has worked on a freelance basis for several local entities, including Columbus Underground, where she is a featured writer. She also blogs about fashion, style, and pop culture at Thoroughly Modern Melly. Melanie is a graduate of The Ohio State University, lives in the Short North, and enjoys reading and running.