Slim Prices for Ladies in Waiting
Three women entrepreneurs have just opened a shop with a rather unusual setup, aimed at the mother-to-be. All three women maintain part- or full-time jobs elsewhere, and with the help of a part-time employee, have managed to buy inventory, set up a new retail operation and serve their customers.
Their talents are combined in Parent Pending. Sarah Pollak, who has been in maternity retail for 10 years, holds a part-time job in that field. Barbara Laudan, whose experience is in marketing and sales, and Marilyn Lawrence, production manager for an apparel manufacturer, still work full time at their jobs and devote weekends and time after work to the new venture. Parent Pending has been open about two months.
The management’s combined experience has enlisted some excellent name manufacturers for the store’s inventory. The labels we found are not easy to uncover at discounted prices. Belle France, Isis, Katherine & Co., Magdalena, Oliver Pease, Dax & Coe, Susan Allen, St. Simon and Athena are on the racks, and the discounts run anywhere from 25% to 75% below retail.
A sport two-piece outfit from Zoe Harrison is doing well, Laudan says. The straight skirt and short-sleeved trapeze top in blue or coral retails for $98, but Parent Pending’s tag reads $66.95. From Katherine & Co. there’s a colorful baby-doll dress, royal blue trimmed with fuchsia, at $65.95, down from $88 retail.
For dressy occasions, we liked an off-white capped-sleeve dress with a matching coat trimmed in seed pearls and rhinestones with the Isis label. At other maternity boutiques it might cost $148.95, but here you will pay only $109.
My favorite is from Zoe Harrison; a linen and cotton blend in navy with military touches of gold braid in the au courant long shorts with jacket and a blazing white T. Enough to make any lady-in-waiting feel especially chic and a good buy at $156 instead of the $208 retail.
A good selection of maternity swimsuits from Susan Allen and Oliver Pease were marked at $39.95; they retail from $55 to $60 elsewhere.
The key to the hefty discounts offered here is in-season buying. The owners often buy up end lots from California manufacturers.
This is a cozy and charming shop with a comfortable seating area for husbands. Courtesy alterations as well as ample parking in the rear set the mood for the kind of service these women believe their customers deserve.
Parent Pending, 1008 1/2 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena 91030, (818) 441-9692. Visa, MasterCard. Hours: 10:30 am. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
