New York City’s leading baby boutique, The Carriage Suite, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary with a special day dedicated to community appreciation.
Held on Aug, 27, the event, known officially as “Community Appreciation Day,” drew over 200 guests; spanning across the entire block, the celebration offered free food and entertainment, such as music, kids games and a fashion show, to all the attendees.
On “Community Appreciation Day,” guests were also given the opportunity to take advantage of discounts on products such as the store’s custom strollers, walkers and clothing amongst others.
Serving as a celebration of the company’s instant success, the all-day event was also a way to give back to the community that has already shown The Carriage Suite love and support, according to founders Robin Bullock and Patricia Karizma Bivens.
“We just want to appreciate those for allowing us in this community because this community on the East side is a very close-knit community that do things for each other and support us,” said Bivens. “We remember those little things that they did for us and we just want to open up our doors and let them know that we’re here for the community as well whatever it may be.”
With “Community Appreciation Day ” already set to become an annual event held by the store, Bivens’ and Bullocks’ The Carriage Suite also helps give back to the community by offering vendors a part of their platform as well. Along with using social media, the store offers vendors to display their products, such as Mommy & Me clothing, swimwear and organic health items, in their in-door pop-up shops.
Founded in 2021, The Carriage Suite, the place where “love and light begin” according to the company’s slogan, is the product of a shared dream and a deep connection between Bullock and Bivens. While the two had unknowingly initially crossed paths while singing for the choir at Bullock’s father’s church, the two women eventually went their own ways with Bullock going on to join the police academy and Bivens founding her own daycare and nonprofit.
They eventually reconnected in 2005 and, as they continued to gain more experience in childcare and community organizing as well as law enforcement with Bivens eventually becoming a chaplain, the pair decided to combine their experience with their passion for business and strollers.
“You know, I started watching her children and, you know, we should just talk, you know? We used to sit down and have deep conversations about this business we wanted to try especially with the strollers and we just decided to put it on paper,” said Bivens.
Following a minor setback in finding a brick-and-mortar building as a result of COVID-19, the pair finally settled on an Upper East side location, finding instant success with hundreds showing out to celebrate their grand opening.
“Sometimes we pinch ourselves even now when we think about it because everything we spoke about and wrote out actually came to be. Sometimes it’s still not real to us that we do have this store and we’re making the moves that we’re making,” she added.
