appraised & approved
Petite ChOu ChOu A children’s shoe store has finally come to Wilton Center! Following in the “footsteps” of their women’s store, Chou Chou, (now celebrating its 12th year) Kathy and Katie Sanford have opened Petite Chou Chou, an exciting new boutique children’s shoe store located just a few steps from its mother flagship in Wilton center. The idea of bringing the ingenuity, style and fashion of Chou Chou to the younger set had been brewing for many years in the mind of Kathy Sanford. “We have such a loyal following of customers in Wilton, and they would often speak of the lack of a good children’s shoe store in town, ” Kathy says. Katie adds that most parents have been left to shop online – which, in her opinion, is “great for convenience, but doesn’t provide the personal touch we pride ourselves on at Chou Chou.” And the team behind Petite Chou Chou wants to fit the feet of your whole family – “It’s a little bit like the TV show “Cheers” – you shop where everybody knows your name,” Katie says. Their goal is an emphasis on great fitting, fashionable shoes in a fun setting that’s an enjoyable experience for all. Petite Chou Chou will carry shoes for all occasions, catering to children from birth to tween. For boys, the selection ranges from Keen water shoes to Sperry kathy anD katie sanforD Top Siders to Cole Haan dress shoes, with plenty of sneakers like Saucony and Tsukihoshi. Katie also notes that Petite Chou Chou will carry certain styles – like boat shoes and dress loafers – in men’s sizes, “to save our customers an extra trip to the mall.” And for girls, Petite Chou Chou will showcase everything from Italian brands like Geox, Primigi and Naturino to Lelli Kelly, Stride Rite, and Skechers. Having raised four girls of her own, Kathy has plenty of experience with the shopping mentality of mothers and their daughters. “Many of the older girls want to dress like their moms and big sisters, but their parents want them to wear shoes that are age appropriate,” Kathy laughs. “Petite Chou Chou offers just the solution: fun wedges from Kors and Stuart Weitzman, pint-sized Jack Rogers and Havaianas, and jeweled Steve Madden sandals so they can keep up with current trends!” The new boutique will also be stocked with fun accessories – from charm bracelets to sparkly hair bows to sunglasses and even beach tunics that match the ones sold across the street at Chou Chou. And, with
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most accessories priced under twenty dollars, “It’s a great place to shop for affordable birthday presents,” Kathy says. Another important aspect of this new business is the emphasis on fit – Petite Chou Chou employs experienced salespeople who will find the perfect shoe, whether your child has a narrow or wide foot, or needs a camp or communion shoe. If Chou Chou is “a tempting experience,” Petite Chou Chou is “a happy experience.” You know things are different from your average children’s shoe store when you first walk into the new space, designed by Wiltonite Jane Melani of Jane Schapiro Interiors. Jane has created an incredibly cheerful environment that speaks to children and their parents alike. “I wanted to create a special and visually pleasing interior for everyone who sets foot inside Petite Chou Chou – reminiscent of a beach getaway that would deliver the happy carefree feeling of being on vacation all year round.” Customers love the cheery blue and white walls with palm trees, flat screen TV playing children’s shows and movies, bright green movable seating, toys, bean bag chairs and smiling faces of professional staff. Petite Chou Chou hopes to attract customers not only from Wilton, but from all over Fairfield County and even neighboring New York towns. “Wilton is growing, and we want to fuel that growth – there are tons of kids here, and their feet are always growing – we want to grow with them.” Kathy Sanford explains. “At the end of the day, we want to feel that our customers’ needs have not only been met, but exceeded.” Katie adds, “We offer a loyalty program and will send out a newsletter a few times a year, highlighting new and exciting product. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter (@petitechouchou1) as we enjoy interacting with our customers that way.” Petite Chou Chou offers a flexible return policy and free shipping, and is open seven days a week to accommodate working parents. It is obvious that Kathy and Katie love their customers, adults and children alike. We are sure their customers will love the fun, happy experience shopping at their new store, Petite Chou Chou. 5 River Road, Wilton CT. www.shopchouchou.com. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-5. -by Arian Modansky
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