The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Fashion for the little ones
Peanut and Tot expands online market, opens store in downtown Boyertown
BOYERTOWN » Growing from Etsy to a brick and mortar location, Peanut and Tot of Boyertown offers unique outfits for babies and toddlers.
The company, which stated online in 2011 opened a storefront location June 2 at 600 E. Philadelphia Ave. in Boyertown.
Peanut and Tot started when owner Danni Balasa was unable to find a good birthday outfit for her daughter.
The company was born out of necessity.
“We were living on a budget,” Balasa said. “Everything was really cute but too expensive.”
So Balasa got to work. She bought materials, watched numerous YouTube videos and made her daughter’s outfit herself, she said.
“I definitely think it’s important for all girls to learn how to sew … It’s something you could always fall back on,” said Balasa, who learned to sew in a home economics course but had originally pursed a career in communications.
Peanut and Tot focused on outfits for little girls to wear for their first birthday.
“My passion is making unique outfits for kids,” Balasa said. “Every girl, I think even adults, want to have that one piece that makes them feel like a princess.”
It wasn’t long before family and friends wanted their own outfits for their children, too.
And so Peanut and Tot changed from just taking Facebook orders to an online market in 2013. It started as an Etsy page — a page Balasa said she will continue to operate in addition to the store.
The name Peanut and Tot was inspired by Balasa’s own children.
“My first daughter, when I was pregnant with her, my husband and I called her ‘Tater Tot,’” Balasa said, adding that they called their second child “Peanut.”
Balasa and her husband Jason combined the names to create the name of the store. The name, coincidentally, also represents their clientele — babies (peanuts) and toddlers (tots) — according to Balasa.
“Our little ones try every new creation on before we list it to the shop. If it doesn’t pass their quality standards it doesn’t leave our warehouse,” states the website, which has some photos of Balasa’s children and other local Boyertown babies modeling her creations.
As the online business grew, the need for additional space became obvious when Balasa — now the mother of three daughters — realized there was “no space” in the back of their house to continue the business.
Initially, the couple planned to use the space as a warehouse location, but changed their mind, opening it as a storefront instead.
“We were discussing how cool it would be,” Balasa said. “I think Boyertown needed something.”
The store is different from the website, according to Balasa and includes outfits for boys in sizes new- born to 5T. Girls’ sizes are available from newborn to size 8.
“It’s fun to see which (outfits) they picked out and twirl around,” Balasa said.
Balasa is also creating events at the store. Upcoming events include a Fourth of July Cupcake Bake July 1, a Unicorn Tea Party July 15 and a headband creating event. The date for that event has not yet been announced. A Princess Tea Party was held June 23.
In addition, Balasa said the venue can be rented for birthday parties.
Peanut and Tot is open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information visit www.peanutandtot. com, www.etsy.com/shop/ Peanutandtot?ref=shop_ sugg and www.facebook. com/PeanutandTot/ Email business story ideas to business editor/ writer drovins@21stcenturymedia.com