Colorado Retailers

Little Mountain Outfitter (*)

Since 2005, Dan Nichols has been at the helm of Little Mountain Outfitters, selling activewear and lifestyle apparel to Boulder residents. As a destination for outdoor activity gear, Nichols makes it easy for parents to prepare for the elements by carrying a number of takedown lines. Of making the transition from management to ownership, Nichols says he tries to view the business objectively and interact directly with customers to hear what they are saying, both with their words and their wallets.

Poppy (~)

For the past five years, Karen Ott has worked the floor of her downtown Boulder boutique on a daily basis, getting to know her international tourist clientele. She believes that cash flow and inventory must be managed every single day, a lesson that she has taken to heart in the tough economy. Although many of her customers are transient, she wins them over with customer service by offering to wrap and mail any purchase and by maintaining a unique selection of gifts equally suitable for both boys and girls.

Real Baby (#)

Hilary Horan and her husband, John, opened Real Baby to cater to the modern urban parent. In order to simplify the process of shopping for a new child, the store features a registry and alerts customers with product updates when stock is replenished. Over the past couple of years, Horan’s close contact with her customers has led her to cut back on fashion items in lieu of simpler clothing that sells steadily.

Infants/Toddlers

* The North Face: pink microfleece water-repellent jacket and pants sets
* Patagonia: high-pile fuzzy fleece Synchilla buntings
~ Pink Chicken: colorful bohemian dresses with matching striped leggings
~ Kit + Lili: cream organic cotton short-sleeve one-pieces with a red cartoon owl print and bright yellow piping
# New Skool: black one-pieces with a trompe l’oeil white headphone graphic
# Rock-a-Bye Tees: white short-sleeve tees featuring album covers from The Ramones and Bruce Springsteen
# Mad Sky: ribbed cotton floral short-sleeve skirted one-pieces
# Appaman: boys’ black cotton corduroy biker jackets with silver piping, zipper details and fur collars
# Urban Smalls: orange short-sleeve cotton bodysuits with white piping and “It was the dog” message

Girls 4 to 6X

* The North Face: pink fleece pullovers
* Life Is Good: ribbed cotton sleepwear sets in pink floral print

Boys 4 to 7

* Billabong: kelly green glow-in-the-dark Tyrannosaurus Rex short-sleeve tees
* Quiksilver: cotton blend navy blue zipper hoodies with white logo screenprint
* Spyder: black long-sleeve shirts with zip mock turtleneck and red logo screenprint

Girls 7 to 14

* Billabong: gray and black long-sleeve tees with multicolor owl screenprint
* The North Face: water-repellent microfleece pullovers in blue
* Patagonia: reversible pink floral insulated jackets

Boys 8 to 20

* Volcom: cotton blend Highwear hoodies with detachable hoods and screenprinted sunglasses
* Quiksilver: blue short-sleeve tees with a multicolored paint-splatter screenprint

Accessories/Gifts

* Keen: pink Mary Janes with gray soles and metal buckle closures
* Merrell: brown hiking shoes with pink trim
* Obermeyer: girls’ multicolor striped knit hats with fleece lining
* JJ Cole: plush Bundle Me stroller cozies with soft shearling lining
* SmartWool: merino wool roll-bottom hat and mitten sets in green, gray and buttercup yellow stripes
~ Goody Goody: red ladybug infant shoes with Velcro closures and appliqué details
~ Match: handmade Italian lead-free pewter frames
~ Blabla: handmade knit monkey rattles
~ Margareta Horn Designs: cerulean and sky blue striped sweetpea knit hats with peapod tassel decoration
~ Beba Bean: camouflage cotton flannel Pee-pee Teepee diaper accessories
~ Roberta Roller Rabbit: woodblock-print baby quilts
~ Serena & Lily: multicolor embroidered Market slings
# Angel Dear: cashmere ring rattles and pastel animal-themed blankies
# Rachel Weissman: vintage fabric barrettes with rhinestone and cupcake embellishments
# Converse: chocolate canvas Chuck Taylor slip-ons
# Rileyroos: cherry leather Velcro Mary Janes with white contrast stitching
# Robeez: beige organic canvas soft-sole infant shoes with green leather dump truck graphics
# Baby Banz: sunset orange Adventure BanZ infant sunglasses with neoprene wraparound straps
# Vulli: natural rubber Sophie Giraffe teething toys
# 3 Green Moms: reusable cotton dishwasher-safe lunch bags
# Bébé au Lait: brown cotton nursing covers with terrycloth pocket detail and multicolored floral pattern
# Cloud B: Sleep Sheep plush featuring four soothing soundtracks

—Roxanne Fequiere