The other week, before the kids broke up we got an invite to the opening of the new Kiddicare store in Aintree. I was really intrigued to go as i had only ever ordered online from kiddicare and had always been pretty impressed by their service so was interested to see what their store would shape up like. It is pretty close to me as well so wasn’t too far to go for the kids.
If you have ever shopped with Kiddicare online you will know that they stock a VAST amount of baby and child equipment. Well the store doesn’t disappoint in that area either, it is MAHOOOSIVE. A whopping 41,000ft² with over 3,500 brilliant baby products.
We went on a little tour around the store, looking a the extensive range of car seats that you can try out and get dedicated advice on. Then we stopped at the toy area, which is a new area that Kiddicare are getting into. Ever mindful of their small shoppers there is a little play area, with playhouse, a slide, train table and assorted ride on items for the kids to try. We stayed there for a while!!
Personally I really appreciate this. When my son was little there was a store near us that had a similar area that kids could play with the toys, its gone now but it was such a place of refuge for me on days when we had to get out of the house. I was heavily pregnant but with a little boy desperate to burn off some energy and so i used to go often for him to play with the trains. Kiddicare have taken it a step further and included a funky little bench which i can see many a weary mama sitting on while their little one explores the toys.
My two little girls swiftly took possession of some little red wheely bugs and were happy to zip in and out of the aisles keeping up.
A couple of things i was really impressed with:
1. The buggy MOT area – this is available for customers to bring their buggy in and get them given a once over and lets face it the amount of money most of us spend on buggies now. They need to be looked after. This is available for any buggy, bought from any retailer.
2. The try before you buy buggy area. All the buggies are available for you to try out. I dont think i have ever seen so many buggies in my life. I was having serious buggy envy and we are a no longer in the market for buggy shopping although our Phil and Ted probably needs a little visit to the MOT area!! 😉
3. The V.I.B or very important baby area which is a free personal shopper service for mums and dads to be to go and try out products, start a list, make some of those big decisions and sit in a comfy chair and browse the online catalogue..then go check it out IRL! Perfect for those first time mums when your head is still spinning from the fact that such a small person needs so much stuff!
4. The free gift wrap. Your little one been invited to a party and you have forgotten a gift? you can go into kiddicare, buy a gift and wrap it at a large desk near the tills which is brimming with cute wrapping paper. Sorted.
I was especially impressed with the community ethos of the whole of the Kiddicare team. They have in store a large, colourful and comfy event room which aims to encourage community groups such as NCT, baby ballet, yoga etc meet together there. It is free to hire and from the looks of the schedule of events for each day is very popular.
Of course, couldn’t forget the fact that there is an instore Starbucks with a play area for the kids, a lovely plush feeding area for mums and dads!. They seem to have thought of just about everything!
We had a lovely hour in the community room with Time for Ted, a musical play and learn fun group which my girls seriously got into especially the bubbles!!
Of course after all that dancing it was time for drink and a snack and the lovely spacious Starbucks. What a lovely morning, it was just a shame i had to rush back to collect my kids from school and didn’t get to go on a proper spending spree! I will be going back soon!!