Little Alaskan, Big Impact
A children’s store for trendy finds and gently loved items
The Little Alaskan boutique is family-owned and operated in Kenai, Alaska. Founded on the idea that children’s clothing can be trendy, comfortable, and affordable, Little Alaskan strives for the intentional curation of unique toys, coveted baby items, meaningful accessories, and high-quality clothing from newborn to size 10. From day-to-day clothing, special occasions, and gifts, Little Alaskan offers pieces and toys created by local artists and vendors alike. Handmade clothing items compliment the secondhand selections, allowing you to choose both locally made and like-new clothing for your little Alaskan; enjoy 60-70% off the retail price of secondhand items and enjoy supporting local with uniquely Alaskan pieces.
Owners Shelby and Mike Oden are a strong team running a beautiful storefront and raising two children, Briar and Boone, the namesake of the first business they began in 2018, Briar&Boone. Since their market days, they realized the need for a local children’s clothing store and got to work to locate the perfect retail space and open the doors for their community. Just two years later, Shelby runs the store, buys the clothing, and enjoys sewing dresses, bibs, blankets, and loveys through their exclusive Briar&Boone Handmade line. Not only are the Odens proud to be contributing to their community, but they are also pleased to be able to hire locally while providing excellent customer service.
In working with Kenai Peninsula Center Director and Business Advisor on the launch process Shelby shared, “The Alaska Small Business Development Center gave us the knowledge and confidence to leap from a home-based business to a retail store. Cliff was invaluable in our small business journey. He helped us interpret studies and statistics to determine if our business made sense in our area. Without that, we never would have opened!”
Cliff in turn shared Shelby’s entrepreneurial drive, “Shelby has done a fantastic job bringing a big city business to our small community. The store is very well done, from decor to organization, and the product lines are fantastic. Little Alaskan already has over 1,700 followers on Facebook and has become an important part of the children’s clothing industry on the Peninsula. This is a business I’m anticipating to grow.”
Little Alaskan is located at 10809 Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai. For those not local to the Kenai area, seamless online shopping experiences and swift shipping are waiting for you at https://little-alaskan.com/. You can also keep with the store and new items on Facebook and Instagram.
Don’t forget, after you shop, tag @littelalaskanstore, and hashtag #littlealaskaninthewild to share your favorite finds and outfitting styles from Little Alaskan!
