Funky Frog Sells Gently Used Children's Clothing

The Funky Frog, Children's Resale Boutique owner Renee Perkins says the store offers high-quality, very gently used boys and girls clothing and shoes at reasonable prices.

Perkins recently submitted information about the business through the Small Business Spotlight.

Here are her answers.

What does your business offer? 

The Funky Frog, Children's Resale Boutique offers high-quality, very gently (sometimes NEVER used) boys and girls clothing and shoes at reasonable prices. Our clothes and shoes go through a daily discount as they age in the store. So there are always hundreds of things at 25% and 50%. We carry one of the largest selection of boutique, high-end brands including Mini Boden, Hannah Andresson, Burrbery, Juicy Couture, Kelly's Kids, Olive Juice, The North Face, etc. The sizes range from newborn to 16. We also consign a large quantity of toys, books and baby gear. The Funky Frog frequently liquidate for stores/businesses, which adds NEW, never-used inventory that is great for gift giving. We do consignment by appointment to help people reduce clutter, recoup money and recycle perfectly good children's items. We also have local hand-crafters who provide hair accessories and a few other items. 

What's your most popular product or service? 

Of course the amazing, unique merchandise that changes daily. Our consignors are very loyal and appreciative of our store and the service we provide by selling their items. We also have a VERY active Facebook which provides a great service to the Frog Fans. We post photos and information on the newly arrived big things and Fans can place 24-hour holds so they can review the item in person. They don't have to come in daily to see what is new and they don't miss out on great deals. Our Facebook is also VERY community based so we share out local happenings - many Fans find out about things via our page. 

What's a fact about your business that most customers probably don't know?

We are VERY community-oriented - we hold numerous drives each year - currently we have gathered over 5,500 diapers for the Detroit Area Diaper Bank's Fall Diaper Drive (this is our third year supporting them). These allow our customers to find a great way to use their open packs of diapers that they are done with and support people in our community who are in need. That is just one of the many drives we have done in the past 4 yours. This year Renee hosted 6 Raising Rochester Community Raised-Organic Gardens also. Renee is also a very supportive of local and small businesses. Practically every Saturday The Funky Frog hosts small businesses in the store to help them build their awareness, increase their sales, help our customers meet other business owners and find new products - we hold free demo classes for children from instructors, trunk shows from businesses like Matilda Jane, Tastefully Simple, Stella & Dot, etc. We partner with local businesses to add value to our customers - such as local photographers doing fundraiser FREE mini-photo sessions for the holidays with a donation of a gift for the Rochester Area Neighborhood House. In the past we have had in a local church to do weekly puppet/story-time and craft with parents and kids, a former pottery business did free children's pottery activity to make a gift for Father's Day. We have partnered with local experts who come in for free presentations on health, birthing, child rearing, etc. 

When was the business founded?

April 2007, I purchased the store after working for the two consecutive, former owners on July 1, 2009

How did your business come to be? 

The business had been a children's resale shop for many years under the name Children's Tree House and an employee of CTH reopened under the name The Funky Frog in the spring of 2007 after CTH closed.

Why did you choose the area you did?

I was a stay-at-home mom looking to return to work on a part-time basis and began as a store employee and stayed on when the first FF owner sold the business. I helped move the store to Downtown Rochester (121 E. Third Street) and then bought it. It fit into my current lifestyle as a mother. I could relate to the consignors need to clean out their homes of perfectly good clothing and making some money. I could relate to the customer who were looking for great deals in the tough economic times and wishing to be more "green". I had about 18 years in marketing and a degree in Merchandise Management so I have been able to apply a lot of my education and experience to this small business. 

Contact information:

Web: http://thefunkyfrogonline.com/

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