Supporting Mompreneurs: Why I Shop Local

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woman in store Providence Moms Blog

Ever had an idea and a passion but weren’t sure where to start? Lisa Gomes is an impressive example of what happens when you just go for it. A preschool teacher for over twenty years, Lisa started to get the itch to branch out into a new adventure a couple of years ago although she knew she wanted to continue to work with children and families. The result is Kiddos, her gorgeous new store on Mendon Road in Cumberland. “I’ve always been drawn to stores that catered to children,” is her reasoning, and that’s just what she’s created with Kiddos.

I’m a big fan of finding hidden gems to shop locally, and I love the vibe that small businesses can provide for their customers.   Kiddos is warm and welcoming to children and parents alike, just like Lisa. When you walk in the door of the store, you’re greeted with numerous sample toys just begging to be played with, a curated selection of items for sale, and quiet kids music playing in the background. Visiting Lisa’s store is the exact opposite of visiting a big box store: she hand selects each and every toy and book in her store. After a warm greeting, she helps each child who walks through the door during my visit select just the right toy for them. She also encourages all her little visitors to play with the available materials. “Kids learn best through play, I have a strong belief in that.” 

The setup of the store is more early childhood classroom than crowded toy aisle. That makes sense since Lisa’s goal is to be a community resource in addition to a store. As a long time resident of the area, she saw a need for a certain kind of support for families of young children. “I want families to feel good about having a local toy store they can go to and find products the staff is educated about, read books with their children, create a work of art,  or just simply play,” she says. As a resident of a nearby town, I have to agree that all the fun stuff for little ones seems to be located in Warwick or south, and as we all know, that’s quite the haul for a Rhode Islander.

Between offering Zumba, yoga, and music and movement classes to scheduling free story times to help encourage reading in young kids, I am really impressed with what she’s been able to create. Lisa is a single mom, and I wanted to know how she was able to pull this whole thing off. She says that it was truly a family project, with her 17-year-old son, 12-year-old daughter, and parents all integral parts of her achievement. Her parents gave rides and attended school programs, her kids stocked her shelves, and her son even dressed up as Curious George for her grand opening! Kiddos is truly a family affair, created with love and passion for the entire community.