When Carol Mintz retired in 2008, she and her daughters wanted to operate a family business. The threesome had deep experience in marketing, public relations, advertising and retail merchandising, and the daughters were new moms.  

That combination led them to the Children's Orchard store in Manhattan Beach, and the trio set about energizing and transforming the store, turning it into a South Bay children's shopping magnet as its new owners.

Today, Carol Mintz, Carrie Rosenblum and Cindy Kehagiaras (The C’s) are proud to have doubled store sales and customer counts, attracted thousands and thousands of social media followers, forged deep links to local schools and charities, and built a reputation for great children’s shopping.

To celebrate their five years of store ownership, Children's Orchard is offering $25 gift cards through the Beach Cities VIP program and an event this Sunday, March 15 with 50% off all resale clothing, plus crafts activities with UrbanSitters and a bounce house. 

Children’s Orchard sells quality resale merchandise at 70%-90% below retail prices and buys excellent-condition children’s clothes, toys, books and equipment for store credit or cash on the spot. Clothing (newborn to size 12) includes outerwear, play clothes, shoes and accessories. Furniture and equipment includes cribs and cradles, changing tables, bassinets, strollers, baby swings and high chairs. There are hundreds of toys and books.

Children's Orchard Manhattan Beach focuses on quality upscale-resale merchandise in great condition with popular brands like J Crew, UPPAbaby, BOB Strollers, Gymboree, Janie and Jack, Nordstrom, Ralph Lauren, Splendid, True Religion, Luna Luna, REI, Fisher Price, Little Tikes, Playskool and more. 

At its highly visible corner on Sepulveda Boulevard a block away from Marine Avenue, the little store always has a mighty presence. Passersby can see strollers and signs on the storefront sidewalk. Turn the corner and there's free parking behind the store and alongside it.

Before buying this store, Carol spent nearly 40 years in newspaper ad sales and management and was senior vice president of a national newspaper advertising firm. Cindy Kehagiaras has a merchandise marketing degree, sold newspaper advertising on Rodeo Drive, became west coast ad manager for Women’s Wear Daily and manager of the Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine. Carrie has expertise in local and grassroots marketing as marketing manager of Wild Oats LA stores and running the 2001 Salt Lake City Olympics Committee Western States Torch Relay promotion for Chevrolet that involved hundreds of dealerships, mayors and athletes. 

When scouting businesses five years ago, they parlayed their marketing, merchandising and management experience, new-mom revelations and bargain-shopping passions into Children’s Orchard. They all live near the Manhattan Beach store -- Carol in Playa Vista, Cindy in Hermosa Beach and Carrie in Westchester. You'll find them in the store more often than not.

Applying their past marketing knowledge, the threesome built strong social media platforms and followers, forged a rewards program and reached out to target customers: nearby moms who like to save money, are social media savvy and have kids who are 2 to 8 years old.

When they're unable to buy from customers, the store is able to offer to donate clothes, toys and equipment to the Exceptional Children’s Foundation in Culver City donating clothes, toys and equipment they’re unable to buy from customers, offering tax receipts to customers.  

They also donate bins of shoes to school-children in Haiti through Links Inc. in Harbor City, and support local school fundraising events with donations and silent auction items.   

Children's Orchard also won the Waste Management 2014 Green Business Award for excellence in green business practices.

During March, they welcome everyone to enjoy fifth anniversary festivities at Children's Orchard Manhattan Beach, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.; (310) 546-8823.