THE family games room of a Carramar home doubles as a warehouse for Bernice and Sean Greenacre, who have turned a love of quality children’s clothes into a successful online business.
Fourteen months after launching The Bee’s Knees Kids, they are celebrating winning the title of Australian online retailer of the year in the 2010 Kids Fashion Review Style Awards.
“We were very excited and surprised, as we were up against so many great boutique sites,” Ms Greenacre said.
The idea for the business began when, after her second child was born, she realised she loved baby clothes but preferred the convenience of shopping online.
Researching different labels, she identified a “huge untapped market here in WA” and decided to try juggling a home-based business with caring for Eli (4) and Eva (2).
“There was a lot to learn and we had maybe one sale in four weeks, but you have to start somewhere,” Ms Greenacre said.
“We investigated what did and didn’t work with advertising and the business started to grow, with 150 orders last month.”
The couple has since added established online retailer Vintage Kid to the fold, and has a deal with a South African chain store in the works.
Ms Greenacre manages both businesses, helped during busy periods by her sister-in-law and after-hours by her husband Sean, who works full-time at Lake Joondalup Baptist College.
“I did not want to work for someone else anymore and now I don’t have to, which is very nice,” she said.
“It can get very busy, especially when new season stock comes in, but is rewarding and means I can be home with the kids.”