Meet Bon Tot – Edinburgh’s Modern Kids Store!

Edinburgh is brimming with independent retailers who are proud to show off their artisan, handmade and often-bespoke products! This month, we’re very excited to share one business in particular with you, Bon Tot. Bon Tot is a charming independent children’s shop run by husband and wife duo, Kristina and Graham (with help from their adorable daughter Clemence and French Bulldog Frisco. You’ll find Bon Tot on one of Stockbridge’s best streets, St Stephen street – a haven of independent shops. Bon Tot stocks a carefully edited collection of design-led children’s clothing and toys sourced from small brands around the globe.

We’ve got in touch with the lovely owner Kris to ask her a few questions about her wonderful business, Bon Tot. Also, it gets even better, Kris is very kindly giving away an adorable BigStuffed penguin (worth £70), so make sure you scroll down to the bottom to find out how to enter the competition! Might be the perfect present to hide away for the little one’s Christmas.

1. For readers who haven’t heard of Bon Tot, could you tell us a bit about your business and how it started?

Sure! The whole idea for the business came about when we found out we were going to become parents. We became a new kind of consumer then; we were constantly looking for baby products that suited our personal style and values – something we’d never done before! We quickly realised that Edinburgh really needed a modern kids shop. My background is in small business, Graham’s is in design so it was a good fit.

We focus on modern colour palettes, creative toys, the best materials possible, transparent manufacturing, and an in-store experience that is fun for kids but suits adults.

2. Your store is filled with wonderful items. How do you select what you sell?

Ahh thank you! Well, we work really hard to find products that aren’t available anywhere else in the city. I love to research, dig around, get from a to b to c, so that helps. There is a lot out there, so it isn’t hard to find really special things that hit all of our requirements. And of course everything is based on my personal style – I am always my own customer!

3. What does a typical working day look like for you?

Due to our hours, I do school drop off every morning. So CC, Frisco and I walk the two blocks along the beach to school then I catch a bus into town (we live in Portobello). Ok, so most days I am in the shop on St Stephens Street. I spend a lot of time talking with our brands and also developing a relationship with new brands (who are nearly always run by 1-4 people so we usually are speaking directly with owners. It makes it so personal and creates a lot of understanding and often friendship between us.) I like being the face of the business so being with our customers is what I like doing the most. We have quite a few extra projects going on so I am always working on something fun!

4. What are your top 3 best sellers at the moment?

Oh my gosh, good question! Ok so..

1. Bamboo toothbrushes

2. French muslins (we have the most amazing selection of colours in the softest cotton ever)

3. Kids suitcases

5. What does the rest of 2018 hold in store for Bon Tot?

We have a wonderful collaboration coming out with our neighbours Golden Hare Books, I am bringing in even more Vintage (and also branding it as we are growing this part of our business), we are releasing a new colour of our STAFF sweatshirts which have been a huge success for us, and – I’m not just saying this – the best ever Christmas selection! We have worked so so hard to bring in the very best this year. I can’t wait.

6. What would a perfect day in Edinburgh entail?

Ohhh, so for sure it would start with coffees on the beach while CC and Frisco have a play and run around. Then we would head to The Skylark here in Portobello for breakfast. Next up I’d like to get my nails freshened up at Beauty by Victoria (another great shop neighbour!) while CC and Graham fed ducks in Inverleith park. Family lunch at Civerinos, quick dessert at Mary’s Milk Bar, drop CC at her grandma’s then head out for dinner at El Cartel and drinks at old favourite Bramble (owned by yet another lovely neighbour!).

COMPETITION TIME

Win an adorable BigStuffed Penguin (worth £70)!

The competition runs from noon on Monday the 8th of October until midnight on Sunday the 14th of October 2018. The giveaway is open to everybody over 18 in the UK. We will pick the winner within 24 hours after the competition has ended and contact the lucky person through the social media platform they have used to enter the giveaway. This promotion is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

To be in with a chance to win choose from the options below:

1. Like Bon Tot & Dickins Facebook pages and share the competition post on Dickins Facebook page.

2. Follow Bon Tot & Dickins on Twitter and retweet one of the competition tweets on the Dickins Twitter account.

3. Follow Bon Tot & Dickins on Instagram and tag a friend on the competition post on the Dickins Instagram account.

Make sure you follow us on social media so you don’t miss out on our monthly giveaways!

GOOD LUCK!!