‘Local Etsy’ store in Kennewick offers custom children’s items

A Kennewick children’s

boutique is striving to make its mark with handcrafted and custom items,

offering what Pipsqueaks owner Lisa Steele lovingly refers to as “fluff.”

“I’m not one that

carries gear, like cribs. It’s really just the fun, finer things of life,” she

said.

Steele originally

opened Pipsqueaks in 2011 on Vista Way in Kennewick before moving across town

to 1408 N. Louisiana St., near Costco, in summer 2018.

“We were hoping to be

more centrally located and pick up a broader clientele,” she said.

Steele brought her

experience in handcrafting children’s clothing and accessories. Before opening

the store, she held trunk shows, hosted booths at bazaars and sold items online

through eBay.

When she first opened

Pipsqueaks, Steele only sold items handcrafted by herself or her friends, but

she began bringing in local vendors and started featuring some store-bought

items.

Nearly a decade later,

Steele said, “I have been going back to my roots and doing more handmade items

rather than store-purchased items. We’ve realized even in the 10 years I’ve

been in business, tastes have changed. It’s a different feel and you have to be

constantly aware of what people are asking for and reinventing yourself and

keeping with the times.”

Steele said Pipsqueaks

has become known as the “local Etsy,” offering a website that serves as a

marketplace for mostly handmade, handcrafted and vintage items.

The store hosts a

number of different lines, including Maisy Daisy, Steele’s line for girls

that’s named for her daughter. She also has a line for boys called Deaks the

Lion, with a portion of sales benefiting charity.

Other vendors are

featured in the store, including the Boho Baby line, created by one of Steele’s

four employees. Vendors can sell their wares on consignment with Steele, who

only features brand new merchandise. Having their products featured in a store

without the hassle of marketing or selling on their own can be a benefit to

those who are just starting out, or creating items as a side job.

Many items are

custom-made for themed parties, baptisms or other events.

“People can trust that

what they’re going to get is what they’re going to get, in a timely manner and

well made, that’s different and unique. We’re very much about quality and

products that will hold up to wear and tear for kids, besides being

fashionable,” Steele said.

Due to the uniqueness

of the products, the inventory is always changing. “Nobody wants to see

yesteryears stuff. You’ve got to jump on it while it’s here,” Steele said.

Pipsqueaks wants to

grow its online presence even more in the coming year, as it sees online sales

as its biggest competitor, following the closure of a number of local retail

stores in the past year.

Girls’ clothing at

Pipsqueaks usually tops out at size 10, and for boys, it’s size 6. Steele said

she strives to keep an accessible price point, with nothing in the boutique

over $70. Relocating next to TWIST also has helped drive new business; the

neighboring women’s clothing store caters to a more mature female clientele.

“Our customers are

about 40 percent young moms and 40 percent grandmas. Who has the money?

Grandmas,” Steele joked.

As a mother of five and

a grandma herself, Steele sees her store as a way to connect with customers she

considers part of the Pipsqueaks family.

“I’ve always considered

this business like my ministry, the way I can connect or serve the community

instead of doing it from home,” she said.

It’s open 10 a.m. to 6

p.m. Monday to Friday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; and closed on Sundays.

Pipsqueaks: 1408 N. Louisiana St.,

Ste. 106, Kennewick; 509-628-5603; pipsqueaks.org; Facebook, Instagram.