Local childrens consignment store marks milestone anniversary
Its been said that mixing business and family is never a good idea.
But apparently, Gresham residents and sisters Cari Floyd and Lori Mosher didnt get that memo.
We spent so much time together that we decided we needed to do something constructive, said Floyd, owner of All About Kids Inc. in downtown Gresham. It was a risk because we had no idea what we were doing and we had no retail experience. But it worked.
For nearly 15 years, All About Kids has lived up to its name for both new moms and nanas, offering high-quality resale clothing, infant and toddler furniture and toys. It has weathered economic ups and downs, but never wavered from its original premise to provide superior service to both consumers and consignors.
Raised in Boring, Floyd, 46, had been a coordinator for area holiday craft bazaars when Mosher suggested opening a childrens consignment shop. On May 14, 1998, the pair launched All About Kids on a shoestring budget in a stripmall on Northeast 119th Avenue and Glisan Street in Portland. Despite the concept of consignment clothing stores being novel at the time, the sisters found support among the young families in the neighborhood and the store thrived.
In 2007, All About Kids opened a second location on Main Avenue in the storefront formerly home to longtime downtown anchor, Toy Bear. It made sense, Floyd said, to move into the Gresham market since the customer and consignor base already existed.
When we came in here, we already had a following from Corbett, Gresham, Boring, she said. We knew we were going to be OK. But that space was so big and we had to reduce our overhead, so we moved here (across the street) in 2009.
After Mosher stepped away from the business in 2002 to pursue other employment, Floyd became sole owner of the two stores. But business began to decline as the national economy sagged, a troubling trend particularly at the flagship store in Northeast Portland.
We had the same number of customers, but they werent spending as much, Floyd said. We had consignors bringing items in, but they wouldnt shop with us. They needed their $8 check to put gas in their car. At the end of the day, money is money. And if you need bread and milk, thats going to win over kids clothes every time.
Floyd closed the Portland store in 2011, throwing her efforts into rebuilding her clientele in Gresham. She admits to being detail oriented all the hangers have to face the same way and works personally with the nearly 3,000 consignors currently on the books to balance a fair price point for all parties. And a recent surprise visit by an agent with the Consumer Products Safety Commission, validated what she calls her high standards for the items she accepts. 
I had never had an agent come through the store before, Floyd said. They were looking for toys and equipment that had missing pieces or had been recalled. We passed with flying colors. I take those things very seriously because the safety of children is important. It doesnt matter if youre a mom or grandma when you come here, the items are safe, age appropriate and working.
As sole proprietor of a small business, Floyd said weathering the economic ups and downs of the last few years has required endurance and perseverance. What has allowed her to rock it and move forward, she said, is almost 15 years of support by loyal customers and consignors.
Im on my second generation of customers, she said. Weve had a couple babies recently, and now those moms who shopped in her for their kids are shopping for their grandkids. Thats pretty cool.
All About Kids Inc.
Where: 121 N. Main Ave., Gresham
What: High-quality childrens resale clothing, infant and toddler furniture, toys and books; consignments are accepted any time, but items must be clean and free of holes, stains or missing buttons or closures; All About Kids carries preemie to size 7-8 for boys and preemie to size 10-12 for girls.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Info: Call 503-492-3400 or visit All About Kids Inc. on Facebook.