We met Anca Huizenga in the alleys of Dot to Dot London, where she’s browsing the collections for her freshly opened children’s e-store Pluk&Paloma. A few weeks later, we are in touch again to learn more about her store and to get fresh comments about what she found at the shows.
When did you start Pluk&Paloma?
I officially started the business in October 2016. After 4 months of work & selecting brands to carry, the site opened on February 10, 2017, so it’s all very new & exciting!
Is that just you or do you have a business partner?
I’m doing it alone for right now. If the business grows quickly I will hire an intern or staff member. And there’s always my dog, Pluk, after whom the shop was named! Sadly, she’s not very good at packing & buying. She just likes to chase her tennis ball around the office. I’m open to possible collaborations.
How did the idea come to you and what were you doing before that?
I had just gotten my degree in English Language & Culture from the University of Leiden and was figuring out my next step. A friend of mine was pregnant last summer and she pointed me to an online shop for baby clothes that was for sale. That site was sold quickly, but if I’d bought it I would have changed everything. So I decided to start from scratch and do everything exactly how I wanted it. I love clothing, design, interior styling & kids, so this seemed like a perfect fit for me. So far it’s the greatest job ever!
Where are you based?
I live in The Hague, the Netherlands, but my apartment is too small to keep the inventory at home. So I have an office space in Leidschendam, 20 minutes away, where I keep my inventory and pack the orders.
How many brands do you carry?
At the moment I carry around 36 brands. I’m looking to switch out some of the Korean brands for some smaller and more responsible European, American & Australian brands. My idea for the shop is to stock beautifully made, lesser known, brands (Otti, Jax & Hedley, Wild Hearts Wonder, Ministitches, Ahoy Amigo, Childhoods Clothing), in combination with a few higher end showstoppers, such as MarMar Copenhagen, Maileg, GRO, Sways & Repose.Ams. On my wishlist are Donsje, Little Unicorn, Pehr & Fiona Walker.
What shows did you visit and what are the 3 brands you had a crush on?
I visited Market at kleine fabriek, Dot to Dot, CIFF Kids & ShowUp. I was supposed to go to Playtime Paris, as well, but sadly had to cancel due to the launch of the website and the amount of work that still had to be done. This was my first time visiting the shows, so it was all very new to me. I loved so many of the brands I saw, it’s hard to pick just 3 favorites! At Dot to Dot my favorites were Jax & Hedley (the quality of the fabric is amazing & the designs are so stylish) & Wild Hearts Wonder. I think WHW’s wallpapers are going to be a big hit in the rich neighborhoods of Amsterdam. Also, Otti is so special and Lotte is such a nice girl. I talked with Owl & Dog Playbooks about a possible collaboration to do the books in Dutch, so that would be amazing. At CIFF I placed an order with Bonheur du Jour Paris for AW17, their clothes are so romantic and feminine, but with a cool kick.
Did you find everything you wanted or do you thing there are articles missing on the market? If so in which category and what?
I find it difficult to find good & stylish things for boys. Some brands like Jax & Hedley do great gender-neutral stuff. I loved Nixnut at kleine fabriek. They make beautiful basics for the littlest ones, especially boys. They’re really valuable in a market geared towards girls. I’m still looking for some great mocs & shoes, I’m hoping for a deal with Donsje Amsterdam and later on with Angulus.
A selection from Pluk&Paloma
Gamcha Felt Balls, 20€
Gamcha Bowling Set, 32€
Marta Abad Blay Print, 40€
Gamcha felt blocks 42€Growling Pants, 42€
Organic muslin cloth, Cam Cam Copenhagen, 6€
Anca Huizenga
Florence Rolando
Launched in London in early 2009 by Florence Rolando (journalist, co-founder of Bubble Trade Shows) Pirouette Blog has been a reference in the industry since 2009 with its combined business and consumer view of the children’s market. A fantastic resource for children’s fashion, design, trends and culture, it aims to support creativity and talent but it also does this by talking about life, family, culture and health.
Florence is an international leader in the industry (8 years as a Milk Collaborator, contributor to Naif Magazine in Spain, co-founder of Bubble Trade Shows in New York and London).
Now Florence runs Energy Therapy Porto @enrgy_therapy_porto
Subscribe to Pirouette's monthly Newsletter.
You might also like
November 10, 2014
Piùpiùchick store, Porto
Portuguese label Piùpiùchick just opened a store in Foz, the authentic and chic Porto neighbourhood by the sea. It's no surprise that the label was created by an architect, an engineer and a designer…
October 21, 2014
New : Etiquette Store, Amsterdam
Launched in the US, label Etiquette has roots in Europe, as well as an office in Amsterdam - where they decided to open their first flagship store this month. The beautiful space that focuses on…
September 17, 2013
New Kids store in Paris!
New in Paris! Centre Commercial Kids, a 90 sqm space dedicated to children from 0 to 14. The store features a selection of beautiful childrenswear, accessories and toys that combine local…
April 23, 2013
In conversation with Jenn, Store Owner, NY
Mother of Amina and Camille, owner of children's store www.babesta.com, Jennifer Cattaui was also, until very recently, Chief Editor at Earnshaws Magazine. A tax lawyer by profession, Jenn took a…
April 2, 2012
Etoile, new store in London
Freshly opened, Etoile is a children's store located in the cool area of Islington, a few steps from The Little Angel Theater (well known by all mothers in town). What's on display at Etoile ? A…
September 21, 2010
Interview of a store owner : Dominique – Les petits Chapelais, NY
. Dominique Simonneaux is French, and a former professional modern dancer. She moved to New York to follow an exchange student program with Merce Cunningham. When she became a mother, she started…
June 24, 2010
Interview of a Chalkboard (Shanghai) Store Owner Anita Wang
Anita Da Silva (Yan Yun Wang if you call her by her Chinese name), is the founder of Chalkboard, the first Shanghai based children's store selling Western designers. Her assortment includes…
June 18, 2010
Wowo's new store in Paris
French brand Wowo just opened a store in Le Marais, Paris. Small but very cute, this boutique is a nice complement to its neighbors of giant size Bonton and Merci. I lived in that street for many…
May 5, 2010
e-store owner/blogger interview
E-store founder, blogger, mother of Fanny (4) and Sander (8), Carina Schott lives in Rhode Island. She tells Pirouette how Nonchalant Mom started, what's in her mind, what's makes her happy and…