Pictou County children’s store opens second location in Bible Hill
A Pictou County entrepreneur has opened a second business in the Truro area.
Lesley Otter, owner of Bubble Tree Children’s Boutique in Stellarton, recently established a store in Bible Hill, giving parents a new place to find clothing for their young ones.
Otter decided to open the second location after people from the Colchester area began shopping at the Pictou County store. “I had a lot of people travelling from Truro,” said Otter.
The store offers used children’s clothing for all sizes, from newborn to youth-16, as well as toys, books, maternity clothing and even playpens, high chairs and other baby equipment.
All of the store’s products are given to the store by parents who no longer need it, who then get a percentage of money or in-store credit once their items sell.
“It’s great for people, because they get to bring their stuff in that is no longer needed by them,” said Otter. “They can get 30 per cent cash back when their stuff sells, or they can get 50 per cent store credit. A lot of people do the store credit, because they always need the next size up for their kids. It’s a good way to trade up.”
The inspiration for Bubble Tree came from Otter’s time in Halifax.
“I started doing research into what was available here for children’s consignment and found there wasn’t a whole lot for children’s clothes, especially not like this store.”
Originally from Pictou, Otter lived in Halifax when her children were born, and found the city had plenty of consignment stores for kids, but when she moved back home, the story was different.
After she moved home to Pictou County, she realized there was no time like the present to start her own business.
“When I moved back, there wasn’t anything like those shops there. I felt it was lacking in options, so I decided to bring a shop of my own to Pictou County.”
Otter has already had plenty of customers in the Bible Hill shop’s first few days. “It’s been great so far,” she said. “I can tell word is already getting around, because customers are coming back in and their family members and friends are coming in too after hearing about it from them.”