Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Hutkins.
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?
Here at The Little STL, we believe in the magic of childhood. As three moms, we know that playtime is just as important as work time, and that every child deserves to have a space where they can truly be themselves. Our start was truly kismet as we separately dreamed of starting a children’s business and happened to come together at the right place and the right time. A small space in Webster Groves came available for sublease via a mutual friend (and original founder) and The Little was born.
We’ve curated a selection of unique and intentional products that celebrate the joy of childhood.
Our vision is a world where every child is cherished, and imagination is cultivated. We believe that by creating a space of warmth and curiosity, we can help parents and kids alike discover special items that enhance their lives and play. Our mission is to inspire and delight our customers with a carefully selected assortment of gifts, toys, and apparel that encourages creativity, exploration and wonder.
When you shop at The Little STL, you’re not just buying a toy. You’re creating moments of discovery and joy for the children in your life. Join us on our mission to celebrate childhood and inspire imagination, one special toy at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The Little has been a labor of love from the beginning. We opened our doors in June 2023 in a small side space next to Lark Skin Co (now Off Elm) in Webster Groves with the hope that we could be a haven for families looking to provide their kids with something different than you could get at mass market. Our goal was and is to feature screen free/wifi free options that foster creativity and imagination in the children in our community. With three owners, there are always time challenges that can make it difficult to execute our big ideas but we work well together and with a year under our belts are starting to learn how to dream big but also actionable. We were very fortunate to secure our current location in Old Orchard, Webster Groves last May and are loving being a part of the community of businesses there. The walkability of the area affords us great traffic in store and we have started to build a great report with new and returning customers! Overall we have been very lucky to have the success we’ve had so far thanks to a little luck and a lot of hard work. However, like any small business, we’ve felt the economic pains we all feel as consumers and are constantly working to curate new brands, experiences, and benefits that keep customers coming back.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Little ?
We are a mom-run, neighborhood toy shop in Webster Groves, specializing in heirloom, quality toys! We pride ourselves in carrying the highest quality gifting for ages 0-12. Our fan favorites include wooden pretend play, a curated library of children’s books, high-end dress-up for both boys and girls and outdoor fun for the whole family. One of our most charming options are our heirloom cake toppers. Our customer service is of utmost importance from the moment you walk in our store. We provide knowledgable insight on curating the perfect purchase, and thoughtfully wrap it up for no additional charge!
Owners Mallory Galbreath, Hannah Hutkins and Kaki St. Eve come from varying career backgrounds but all share a love of childhood and making each moment special. Collectively we have nine children between us ages 3 months to 8. We are absolutely in the throes of motherhood, which gives us a unique perspective in curating our store. We are our own clients!
What (we hope) sets us apart from others is our dedication to quality. Our business was started on the idea that children’s childhoods are sacred times of creation and play. We were tired of the online/big box shopping experience and quality. We set out to find brands that not only encourage imaginative play, but can also we relied on for multiple years and kiddos.
We are SO proud of how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. This idea came about at a quiet dinner in February 2023 and we opened May 2023. We are on our second location after initially popping up and we are now in our permanent location in Old Orchard at 8143 Big Bend Blvd. We have created a loyal following that we hope to continue to grow. Our customers know when they come to us they have quality, expertise and experience waiting for them.
We hope when people seek us out they are excited to find one of a kind gifting that they won’t find anywhere else. We pride ourselves on having unique offerings that can make your shopping experience seamless. We offer gift registries, online (same-day) orders, gift cards, shipping and free gift wrap. Our goal is to make it a one stop shop!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
This is a great question! Currently, our time is extremely thin but intentional. I love to read on my Kindle and keep it with me at all times. I would love to say it is filled with self betterment, but I truly take my reading time as time to relax. Podcasts are also a huge time to take a mental break. We love Dr. Becky: Good Inside for mom support and How I Built This with Guy Raz. My favorite work related book is Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One by Emily Heyward. I think the biggest take away from the content you engage with is that it brings you joy and pushes you forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thelittlestl.com
- Instagram: @thelittlestl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Little-St-Louis-100091574416320/
