Junior Kids Store

After more than two decades of new families through the doors, Junior Kids Store on George Street is a Palmerston North favourite for baby and children’s gifts, clothing, toys and more.

Owner-operator Jo started the business back in 2003 with her own little one-year-old in tow. “The store is my middle child, and my two human children grew up amongst it”, she says. Since then, it’s grown and expanded alongside plenty of local families too. They take pride in their place in the community: some of their earliest customers are now returning as grandparents, both to purchase new gifts and to keep the team updated about their new family news. 

Their range is both functional and sentimental. You’ll find everything busy parents need, from baby essentials to special occasion outfits, footwear, books, soft toys, puzzles, keepsakes and more. They’ve got plenty of clever little things to make everyday family life a little easier. They are known especially for their wooden, classic toys that last, the kind many of us remember fondly from our own childhoods. The miniature Maileg range (classic dollhouses, furniture and accessories) is another favourite, often charming customers with their beautifully intricate details.

There’s a lovely sense of shared knowledge in the store. It’s heartwarming to hear staff and customers swapping advice, recommending products to each other and talking through what’s worked for their own kids. The team know the stock inside and out, and are always happy to make a recommendation when you need a thoughtful gift for a baby shower, birthday party or first visit with a new arrival. “I’ve lost count of the number of new baby photos I have seen, but it never gets old,” says Jo. “Seeing the joy on a customer's face as they talk about their new family member is a privilege.”