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This article appeared in ‘The Australian’ newspaper a week or so ago and it contains some encouraging news for all in the kids and baby retail sector.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that things are looking good for independent retailers in the baby and children’s retail industry. This can now be backed up by data from independent research house IbisWorld, which found that parents spend a whopping $1.14 billion on clothing their children. The best news for small to medium enterprises is that the majority of this is spent at small independent stores and those supplying to them. IbisWorld research found that the children’s market is highly fragmented with only 30% being spent at big department stores like Target, Myer, Kmart and David Jones. Even the relatively big independents like Pumpkin Patch, Baby Bunting and OshKosh have only 1-2% of the market each.

Here is the article in full if you are interested: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25520314-5018019,00.html

It’s encouraging to see that there is at least one sector where smaller, niche business can not only survive but continue to thrive despite difficult economic times.