In the past three years, Little Trends Boutique has gone from a small online operation, where its co-owners would load up their kids in their cars and deliver clothing orders to customers, to a rapidly growing business with multiple employees and seasonal family-friendly events at its South Green Valley Road storefront.
Sisters-in-law Laura Espindola and Araceli Gonzalez celebrated their business’ two-year anniversary of its retail storefront at 1052 South Green Valley Road in Watsonville at the end of November, and are now inviting families to a day of holiday activities with a Candy Cane Lane Christmas Pop-Up on Sunday from 10am to 2:30pm.
The event will include photos with Santa Claus, a bounce house, Christmas-themed story time and music, and more.
“The last two years have been a journey,” Espindola said. “The community has been so supportive of our business and we are so appreciative of that.”
Little Trends Boutique offers clothing for infants to 8 years old, shoes, bath items, books (English, Spanish and bilingual) and more. Products range from more affordable brands to high-end, much of it natural or organic, with proceeds supporting causes that the co-owners are passionate about.
The shop also supplies items for new and expecting mothers, and is also working on expanding its offerings for fathers.
Espindola said it is important for the owners to support other businesses. To that end, they have expanded their vendor list, and frequently host pop-ups to allow other small businesses to sell their items.
“We have so many consistent local customers who have been the reason why our business is growing,” she said. “We do what we can to promote other businesses.”
Hiring staff from Watsonville, as well as keeping the business here, is also important to the Watsonville natives.
“We really want to make sure what we’re doing and how we’re growing is benefitting the town itself,” Espindola said.
Little Trends Boutique launched online in mid-2020, and due to growing demand, leased a space for two months on East Lake Avenue to gauge interest in a retail location.
The reception was so strong that Espindola and Gonzalez immediately began searching for a permanent location, eventually finding their spot on South Green Valley Road.
In addition to online orders and its Watsonville store, Little Trends Boutique also has a location inside the Circle Family Center at 245 Sea Ridge Road in Aptos.
“We are really appreciative of all the support we get,” Espindola said. “We want to grow and bring more events to the community, and help other businesses grow.”
For information and hours, visit littletrendsboutique.com, call 536.5070 or find @littletrendsllc on social media.
