Memoirs of Summer 2008 at Charlipop Kids

April 29, 2009

ENJOY!!
Thanks to all the Charlipop Models of Summer 2008. We are currently sending out Winter 2009 garments to be photographed. To be a part of the Charlipop models, read more here: http://www.charlipopkids.com.au/pages/CPK-Model.html

Shoes that all girls need!

April 25, 2009

My creative juices were flowing tonight when I took the photos for the next range of Ouch sandals and slip on shoes! So I thought I’d show them off!! They are all now listed under this category: http://www.charlipopkids.com.au/categories/Charlipop-Kids-Designer/Browse-by-Type/Girls-Types/Girls-Shoes/ 

Here are the photos I took. Note I only altered the background of these – the actual shoes are true-to-life in colour!

Plus one more pair to come soon!!

Blog & Win at CPK Blog!

April 22, 2009

Blog and win!! You could be a Charlipop Blog Winner. Simply write you own blog post featuring a Charlipop brand or product and the best entries throughout this week will be published and win you $20 in store credit!  Entries to win the store credit are open until Thursday 12pm 30th April. You are still able to submit blog entries after the close date as we always welcome customer feedback and participation.

Simply enter by emailing blog@charlipopkids.com.au complete with your name, email address, and blog article.  You don’t need to be able to actually post the blog entry to win, all you need to do is send me the email as above, and write the blog content in the email (with links to appropriate photos or products). To find out the link of a particular photo or product, simply right click and go to properties, and copy/paste the web address of that photo or product. Then I can easily find it! Easy as pie : -)

Happy blogging!

Essential Child: Interview

April 22, 2009

Charlipop has been privelaged to be interviewed by Essential Child, the new magazine being distribued in the mid-North coat region. I thought the interview might be of interest to my fellow Charlipop followers, as it shares a little of who I am and how we came to be. Be inspired!

Here is a copy of the ad, below is a copy of unedited interview questions and answers (with a few more details) in text version if you can’t easily read the image copy:

 Original Unedited Questions & Answers

 

Age (do you mind?)? 33 for the second year in a row (I honestly thought I was already 33 last year so got a nice surprise when I stopped guessing, and calculated how old I really was)

 

Location? Coffs Coast – we recently moved to Coffs from the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne, to join family who live here. So far, loving it – particularly the storm shows as my husband and I are avid storm watchers. I think we moved to the right place for it!

 

Charlipop Kids seems like a unique online store concept. Tell us about it: what do you do; how do you do it; how long have you been doing it for, etc? That’s a lot of questions!! I am an online retailer of the most delectable children’s clothing in the world! Originally 3 stores, we have now combined to be a Charlipop Kids World, selling Designer, Preloved (with a high preference to designer) and Treasures – a store where you will never pay full retail! Some of the popular brands I stock in my feature Designer store are Ouch, Run Scotty Run, Alphabet, Me Too, Room 7, Krickets, Ecoboo & many more! I have a particular drawing to bright and colourful clothing!  Charlipop Kids Designer first started in August 2007, with Preloved in November 2007 and Treasures in 2008. We became a Charlipop Kids World only recently in 2009 with a jazzy new website and shopping cart. And how do I do it? All by myself!! This will be the year however to grow, grow, grow! I am now at a point where I can barely keep up with all that is required, so I may just be needing staff in the mid-North coast sometime in the future! Keep your eyes peeled!

  

What inspired you to start Charlipop Kids? I started as a hobby selling preloved on ebay, to support with a bit of extra cash being a stay-at-home Mum. It was so successful and with ebay costs sky-rocketing, I figured I might as well start my own online store. Little did I know it would grow to be the size it is today with many thousands of clothing items at any one time!! I began buying some stock from a shop that had closed down. This gave me a good sampling of brands particularly designer, and from there I sourced the brands I most wanted to sell in my own store. Owning a business is a much larger task than I ever imagined though!  Specifically however, what inspired me? It was actually a today-tonight program about other stay at home mums who had become business women from their own home. And I figured why not – I could do that! And so I did!

 

What did you do before Charlipops? Did your past career/s or experience lead you to where you are today? I’m a bit of a liquorice allsorts! I am actually a Primary School Teacher who was studying Masters of Education while on family leave. I have taught grades 3,4, 5 and computers/learning technologies. However early on I wanted to be a graphic designer, and have also worked substantially in the photographic industry (in photo labs and the like) and have spent time working in retail and as a nanny. Strangely all these experiences (graphics, photography, computers, teaching, working with kids) has benefited what I do now – as running an online business is extremely multi-faceted, as you need to be able to know how to take good quality photographs, use online multi-media, know about retail and of course have a passion for fashion!

 

Can you tell me about your family? Who lives in your house? I am married to Bryan – you will often find him volunteering for the SES and RFS around Coffs. I have 2 daughters. Charlotte aged 4.5 who attends pre-school this year, and Poppy aged 2.5 who is a stay at home kid with me! Both prove to be invaluable helping in my business, as they’ll both quickly tell me what they love or don’t love (‘eww that’s for boys’),  give me business inspiration (‘Mum you should sell clothes for the Mummy’s too’) and help packing (‘help hang Mummy’). It was my daughter’s Charli and Poppy that together formed the name ‘Charlipop Kids’!

 

Hectic household or tranquil abode? Somewhere in the middle, though heading more towards hectic simply because of what the business entails.  Still trying to find that balance!

 

How do you manage your workload around parenthood? Still working that one out! It has been much easier this year now that Charli is at pre-school. Kids needs come first and I make sure there are a certain number of activities I take the children to. Every Friday we go without fail to Tabatinga play centre in Coffs – it gives me one full morning where it is just the girls and I, with no other distractions. I usually send my newsletter out on a Thursday night, turn off the computer for ¾ of the day and enjoy time with them. I also do the majority if work at nights once the girls are asleep!

 

What would you do with an extra $50,000? Personally or for the business? Personally, we’d use that for a house deposit and re-enter the property market! For the business, I’d definitely open my own store in Coffs  Harbour – but not a typical retail more a distribution centre where people can pop in casually to buy clothing as well.

 

What is your long-term career goal? Where can you see yourself in the future? I have so many things I still want to do!! Of course grow Charlipop Kids into a much larger store as said above. But I also have other desires – I would love to be a children’s author one day and re-ignite my passion for art and photography. Not sure whether I will go back to teaching. I am definitely though no. 1 a Mummy-preneur so I am sure I will no doubt find other business ventures to pursue!

 

 

What’s your idea of a perfect day? Body-boarding from morning til night. I have always loved the surf, which is another reason we have moved here by the coast. I grew up in NSW and lived in Grafton for a while – and my Dad used to take us body-boarding and swimming almost every weekend. It was a little hard to surf in the Dandenong Ranges! But body-boarding for a day – takes me a way! One day I’ll learn to surf too, and then my perfect day will be surfing from morning til night!

 

What is a piece of advice you often heed? Or alternatively, what’s the number one piece of advice you give to others? Just do it! If you have an idea you believe can work, don’t sit around planning it for 12 months because sure as you know, someone else will! I’m not a time waster. When I said I was going to start my own business, there was nothing stopping me especially any lack of experience or knowledge – all that you can learn along the way! Can’t isn’t a word in my dictionary! However I’m still to take heed of all the advice about relaxing and all that entails. 

 

Any favourite quotes? Anything Seth Godin say! He is my business guru and inspiration! Be a purple cow. Read www.sethgodin.com

 

Who inspires you the most? Actually, other WAHMs (Work at Home Mums) because I know first-hand what a huge commitment it is to both work and be a mum at the same time. My Opa was also a source of my inspiration. I have fond memories of touring Melbourne Theatre Company as a child where he was the stage director and artist, photographer and designer of many sets for live theatre performances. He taught me to love computers as to the end, he self-taught everything about the IT world. I loved his ‘I-can-do’ attitude and helped me believe that ‘I-can-do-to’. J

 

 Until next time! xx Kat

You like them? Me Too!!

April 21, 2009

I’d like to spend a few moments showcasing some of my favourite brand and pieces of – Me Too! Danish designed, they are known for the bright colours. So here is my commentary of favourite listings:

Me Too Elo Baby Short Sleeved Ribbed Bodysuit with Frog Prince Design

This bodysuit really speaks for itself!! Sweet and innocent, this frog prince print design really is charming! I probably like it, as our wedding cake featured a frog that looked exactly like this on a simple white round cake, as I had found my prince. It was a long standing joke actually, because I had previously dated a guy with the last name ‘Prince’, one with the last name ‘Wright’ and both turned out to be completely wrong. So we joked after that I was always looking for my handsome prince, but I had to kiss a few frogs to find him. Okay enough of that one!! Anyway, the print really appeals to me and I think it would look ultra cute on a bubs.

 

Me Too Brianna Mini Denim Pini Dress Pleated SKirt, Floral Print Fabric & Embroidered Design

To me this dress portrays a modern princess, particularly with the gorgeous pleats and colourful floral print fabric pieces throughout the skirt.  The following tights would compliment perfectly:

         

In fact anything bright would suit beautifully!!

 

 

 

 

Me Too Alpha Blue & Red Crochet-Knit Cardigan with Stripes at Back & Butterflies Design

It is no secret that I LOVE colour! In fact not just on children, but I own a colourful knit cardigan (a little worn now but its still in my wardrobe) and if you spot colour walking through Park Beach Plaza at Coffs Harbour, it is probably my daughters!! This cardigan also  has the most gorgeous butterflies design (see below) and what I love most about Me Too, is there are no rules! This colour goes with that colour. Stripes on the back, multi colours everywhere! Here is the pic of the flowers:

 

ME TOO Dena Bam Green Short-Sleeved Top with Oceanic Print, Embroidered Design & Diamontes

For the older girl, you really can’t go past this adorable tee. Not only is the colour bold and pretty, the print is exquisite and unlike I have seen – with an ocean theme it also includes applique design. It is a soft stretchy cotton that in washing, I am certain will keep its shape well. The beading is just gorgeous, as you can see in this closeup:

The colours are actually bolder than shown in the pics here, pretty much the boldness of the following modelled photo (thanks to www.amandakeeysphotography.com/blog)

 

Until next time! xx Kat

Me Too 30% off Sale!

April 21, 2009

 

 

This is one sale you really won’t want to miss!! A huge selected range of Summer Me Too, including newly listed styles are now at 30% off the RRP for a limited time only. If you haven’t sampled the Me Too as yet, and you love bright cheerful colours, then you have met your match!

I’ll be back soon to show off some of my favourite in the range so stay tuned!!

The girl on the homepage…

April 19, 2009

The question on everyone’s lips…. ‘Will I be getting in the outfit the girl in red on the Charlipop homepage is wearing?’

This one:

This is of the new season Winter 2009 Krickets range.  The range is Enchanted Forest. And yes I’ll be getting a lot of this range in – it was actually my favourite range of the season the bold colours and oriental print is absolutely stunning!  The remaining Krickets range *should* be with me by the end of April, or early May.

In the meantime, you can drool over all the ranges coming at www.lyndonkids.com

This year Krickets will be in stock up to a size 4 only. However future seasons will feature the older sizes.

xx Kat

Sizing

April 18, 2009

Q. Could you tell me if i would need to buy a size larger than usual for my little cherub granddaughter. She will be wearing Fred Bare Sz 2X for this winter (for the length), but can still fit her Sz 1 Fred shorts around the waist. She was 2 on New Years Day and is long in the torso, slim, and average length in the legs.

A. In all sizing I usually tend to go for at least the size the child usually fits, or even the next size up. I personally always try and buy slightly larger knowing it is always better to have a garment that is slighty too large, than too small.  It is true that a lot of the European brands such as Alphabet & IKKS, tend to be on the smaller fit size.

Here is a rough guide of the sizing of some of the popular brands in the designer store:

Absorba: Pretty true-to-aussie sizing

Alphabet: Most on the smaller sizing

3 Pommes: Definitely smaller sizing than usual

Cakewalk: Smaller sizing than usual

Ouch: Pretty standard sizing, sometimes slightly smaller for girls but always good-bigger sizing for boys

Room Seven: Actually larger than usual sizing – I find these quite generous fits

Ecoboo:  Pretty standard sizing

Coolibah: Standard sizing except some of the dresses are quite a slim fit particularly those with fitted top bodice

Freckles:  Standard sizing

Krickets: Most standard but some designs can be a smaller fit – I’d opt for slightly larger size if in doubt

Me Too: Slightly larger fit than usual particularly in length. I found a lot of the dresses and pants are quite large for fit size

Run SR: Pretty standard sizing

 

I hope that helps a little! Feel free to contact me any time with a specific sizing question. Know that I always accept refunds and exchanges if your sizing is not quite right. Here is my specific response to the question above: Oooh hard one! I am always tempted to go the slight extra size up, because an item is always better if it is larger, than smaller. She sounds just like the build of my Poppy- who is 2.5 years and mid height but really slim. I buy her from my shop usually the size 2 now, because the dresses and tops need to be longer for her torso (as with your grandaughter). Anything above a size 2, would be way too big for Poppy though – I have looked at 3’s but they would swim on her. So I would imagine a size 2 might be the best go for her.  

Until next time xx Kat

An offer to dance about!

April 16, 2009

Here’s an offer you just won’t be able to resist this week at your favourite kids clothing store: www.charlipopkids.com.au

Blog Update News

April 15, 2009

No you’re not imaging things! The Charlipop Blog is having a makeover. We will be with you shortly with the most stunning blog you will find, with all the hot Charlipop gossip! Stay tuned and bookmark www.charlipopkids.com.au/blog