Bethany children's store is fixture for grandmoms, moms
Betsy Clark is a firm believer in timing.
She opened her Bethany Beach children’s boutique Pitter Patter on Pennsylvania Avenue five years after she had opened the successful boutique Japanesque.
She had just become a mother, and suddenly space for the store became available. The timing was just right.
While Clark worked downstairs in her two stores, her daughter, Sarah, would play upstairs with her baby sitter. In the store, you could hear the pitter patter of her daughter’s feet upstairs. She decided that is what the store’s name should be: Pitter Patter. The sign out front of the store has Sarah’s feet imprinted upon it.
Clark’s daughter, Sarah, grew up. She is now 25 years old and so is Pitter Patter. Japanesque, which began in a garage apartment, is 30 years old.
“They are all milestones,” Clark said, as she helped a customer in Pitter Patter.
It is no little milestone for a small business such as Clark’s to survive 25 years.
According to the Small Business Administration, only about half of all small business endure during their first five years. About one-third last beyond a decade.
Clark said she believes part of her success is due to her philosophy about timing. Although she opened both of her businesses in a tourist town, where business is based on the seasons, she is a strong believer in staying open year round. The reason: You never know when your customers are going to show up.
Many of Clark’s customers come from Baltimore or Washington, D.C., she doesn’t want to disappointment them if they’ve come down for the day, and her store isn’t open.
“I can’t tell you how many people thank us for being open,” she said.
Kristie Maravalli, executive director of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, said Clark is a bit of a pioneer. Most businesses did not stay open year-round 25 years ago. Bethany Beach just didn’t have the year-round base.
“Betsy has been a great small business owner in Bethany,” Maravalli said. “She realizes the importance of staying open year round. It really cultivates her client base and it provides great customer service.”
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That’s good for Pitter Patter and its customers, but it is also good for Bethany Beach.
Bethany Beach strives to be a year-round community, Maravalli said, and Clark has helped with her commitment and consistency with her business.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 1,140 people live in Bethany. Most are over the age of 65. The demographics of the town are not lost upon Clark.
“We are a grandmother’s store,” she said.
However, Clark has built a loyal customer base in which three generations will shop at her store. The store has anything a grandmother, mother or child could want, though. Flip-flops, bathing suits, clothes for the 6 year old and under crowd, and, of course, toys.
Pitter Patter has lots and lots of toys, such as castles by Melissa & Doug and garages for little boys. Plenty of items to keep young ones busy when it’s too rainy to visit the beach.
The store also makes each of its white bags personalized with its logo, tissue paper and ribbon.
“We’re not a cookie-cutter shop,” Clark said.
Clark said there are days when she doesn’t have a customer, but then that one customer will show up and will make the day. When you have enough of those good days, it can make all the difference. She also knows that summer will come and so will the people.
“Every summer is a good summer,” Clark said.