Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessie Menken.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When my daughter, Lily, was born 20 years ago my husband and I were new to Philly. I was surprised how isolating it was to be a new mom, in my head I thought it would be sort of like having a dog and I would just meet people around the neighborhood. I started connecting with a group of other new moms and we met at a local coffee shop from time to time.
I can remember the day I had the idea for a parenting center; I was on my hands and knees in the coffee shop’s bathroom changing a blowout diaper and I realized how much place can matter, space matters.
I also recognized the need for a local shop and thus the idea for Ali’s Wagon was hatched. We opened the week of Lily’s first birthday in our spot on Fairmount Ave. About two thirds of the store was retail space and our back room was a Parenting Center where we held classes and support groups for expectant and new parents. The Parenting Center gave our store a real heart and it has been amazing to watch families grow and see those first Parenting Center babies become our customers before they fly off to college and their own next steps. The store has really been around for a full lifetime.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our first year far exceeded expectations and then the recession of 2007 hit. I was almost dues with our second child and we actually decided to quit with how the income steadily dropped and neighborhood support was just overwhelming. So many moms reached out who had met their mom friends at Ali’s Wagon, and one went a step further by offering to become a donor of sorts to get us through the slump. This neighborhood supporter ended up essentially paying me a salary for several years and by that time we had recovered and could hold our own.
Another bump was opening a second store just a few blocks away to branch out to larger housewares and I just couldn’t get our established customer base to walk just three blocks. We closed after a year at which time the Parenting Center had run it’s course and we changed the back space to be inventory as well. By that time more people had started similar programming so I felt like there were other options for new parents. The lesson learned was that there is a magic at Ali’s Wagon I couldn’t recreate!
COVID, of course, was a hard time for all small businesses. We ran one whole holiday season doing shopping by appointment only and the neighborhood really showed up for us!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a small, woman owned business that has been open for 19 years. Our inventory is sourced as locally and domestically as possible, we also seek fair trade companies when ordering outside the US. We believe in brands that give back to their communities and to the artisans that make their products. We are a small shop that has something for everybody! We really have the best gifts for babies just being born through every other stage of life! Our Philly selection is particularly excellent, if we say so ourselves! We pride ourselves on our customer service and we love helping folks to find just the right gift!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Our store is named for my childhood friend, Allison, who passed away just before Lily was born.
Pricing:
- all budgets can find great stuff in our store!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aliswagon.com
- Instagram: @aliswagon
- Facebook: @aliswagon
