Whimsy and wonder at The Spotted Rabbit
With Jennifer Page and Emily Blakidis, it is a case of opposites attract. Best friends since Grade 9, Page and Blakidis say they have workshopped countless business ideas during their long friendship, sometimes over a glass of wine, but since the inspiration struck to open a children’s store in Creemore only two months ago all things have aligned to make it come to fruition.
A vacancy in Page’s Caroline Street West building and a career change prompt for Blakidis, who was hoping to find a way to move to Creemore from Hamilton, made for perfect timing.
“We had no choice but to act on it,” said Blakidis.
The long-time friends opened The Spotted Rabbit Children’s Store this month. The name was chosen to convey the whimsical and fun aesthetic of a UK boutique, the shelves stocked with games, puzzles, books, musical instruments and dress-up clothing.
“We can always find fun in any project,” said Page. “It has been a pinnacle of our 25-year friendship.”
Having worked together in corporate sales at a tech start-up, Page and Blakidis knew what each one would bring to the partnership. Page would be the one to make data-driven decisions and manage the spreadsheets, while Blakidis takes on a project with a morefeeling-forward approach.
“We are both creative people,” said Page. “We have learned to work together and we have learned from our differences.”
Page, being a mother of two young children, did a lot of the local research and found that the community was in need of a children’s store.
The store has an intentional focus on low-tech toys that encourage building and creative play.
One corner is dedicated to a craft table, smeared with paint, where a series of craft and art workshops will be held for children and adults. An arts major and self described theatre kid, Blakidis, who is a welder by trade, is planning to use paint, glue, clay, and textiles during a range of age appropriate workshops.
“Art has been something that has been important to me,” said Blakidis. “At this stage of my life I am excited to share it.”
Their goal is to create a hub for parents and children, a place where people can meet and form a community. For example, on the first Friday of each month there will be a mom social at 9 a.m., supporting the mental health of parents by affording them some time to do something for themselves.
At the core of the business philosophy is to provide a selection of highly curated seasonal pre-loved clothing.
The Spotted Rabbit Children’s Store may purchase quality used clothing for youth 0-12 at a 25 per cent buy-out rate, and will take certain types of donations. To inquire about a sale, contact the store at thespottedrabbitcreemore@ gmail.com or via the Instagram page.
Regular store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
