Mall’s Little People Is Retailer Of The Year
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A Kaneohe retailer known for handcrafted educational toys has been named Retailer of the Year by the Retail Merchants of Hawaii.
It was an unexpected honor, according to Pat Perreira, co-owner of Little People at Windward Mall.
“I was surprised we won because we never win anything,” she said, laughing. “You know you just work every day and it’s a nice honor to be stopped and get a pat on the back. It’s a great honor because they are our peers, it’s industry recognition.”
Perreira opened the first Little People store with her sister Laurie in the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel back in 1991. She said the store’s success comes from its involvement with local vendors, whom she calls “momtrepeneurs.”
“We have been cultivating a group of local moms who make baby accessories and we’ve done really well with their things,” she said. “We’re able to talk to our resources one on one, and have some input on the direction of their lines.”
While stores like hers are disappearing under the pressure of large Mainland retailers, Perreira said Little People has found a niche that serves the vendor and the customer as much as the store owners. “First of all, you have to find these moms and then you have to nurture them along in business, and I don’t think a big store will do that. They just buy en mass. They wouldn’t take the time to do that and don’t have the flexibility to cater to the local community.”
The brightly lit and colorful store has been a must stop for families since it opened at the mall in 2007. There are plenty of interactive displays to draw the smallest of keiki, and the parents are happy knowing they are supporting local merchants.
“The parents love things that are different, and they love supporting the local market. Once we tell them these are made by local moms, they love the idea.”
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