After a few months as a stay-at-home mom, Stephanie Bennett got antsy. As a former full-time professional, she wanted more in her adult life than daytime television, so she started to think about opening her own business.
"I’d always dream up different businesses and even go so far as to start a business plan, but I never had the time to really think a business idea through until now," says Bennett. "This time, I thought it through over and over and over, and ran the numbers over and over and over, and it worked.
"And so, The Funky Frog was born."
The Funky Frog -- a children’s consignment shop with a "green" twist and an emphasis on locally created items -- will open in August at 6241 S. 27th St., inside the Emporium Square.
"I want to start making the South Side a cool and fun place to shop and hang with the kids," says Bennett, who is a member of the OnMilwaukee.com "Parent Posse."
The Funky Frog will provide new and gently used clothes (sizes newborn to 6), toys and gear that promote sustainability, affordable style and / or embraces local designers. The shop’s tag line is: "Children’s consignment, local design & earth friendly pieces."
Bennett plans to stay away from Target and Wal-Mart clothing, and instead will stock brands like Janie & Jack, Baby Gap, Nordstrom, Appaman, Charlie Rocket, Clausen, Trumpette, Robeez, Hanna Andersen and Tea and Ralph Lauren. All of her clothing will be less than five years’ old.
"The Funky Frog will appeal to the label conscious shopper and make the hunt for those good items much easier," she says.
The shop will also carry a large selection of wooden, sustainable toys from companies like Green Toys, Inc., Bajo Toys USA and other gently used toys taken in on consignment. Bennett doesn’t plan to sell licensed toys embossed with cartoon characters.
Plus, the Funky Frog will feature locally designed children’s apparel and baby gifts, such as dresses, baby blankets, bibs, fun tutus and personalized capes.
The Funky Frog will feature a free "Book Swamp" that allows children to trade their over-read books for "new" ones.
"It’s an old fashioned book swap that will manage itself and hopefully be a quick fix for a new story," says Bennett. "No more worrying about library overdue fees, or due dates or having to fork out $10 for a new book."
Originally, Bennett says she planned to open Aug. 15, but that her contractor is ahead of schedule and she may open early.
Bennett, who is married to a Milwaukee County fire fighter, is the mother of two children: Abigail, 4, and Sullivan, 8 months. She credits "Grandma’s" support, the flexibility of her husband’s work schedule and the easy going-ness of her baby as reasons why her dream is coming to fruition.
"First, I mastered typing at the computer and breastfeeding at the same time," says Bennett. "Now, I am doing this whole thing with Sullivan attached to my hip in a native sling. I'm grateful he's a baby willing to hang."
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
