Laney and Sy

Laney and Sy is one of the only children’s-specific boutiques in Central MN and is a truly special place. Owned by Emma Johnson, the store is named after her two kids, who you’ll frequently see in their shop in Sauk Rapids. “We really have fun with the business, and it’s truly family-run. Everything we do and offer is tailored for children, and our space is entirely kid-friendly. We want parents and grandparents to be able to enjoy their shopping experience and to create something special when they stop in,” shared Emma.

“Laney and Sy – my littles – are who are featured in our content, too. I pride the shop on having items you won't find at Target, Amazon, or other big-box stores. We’re really choosy about what we bring in so that every item is special.”

While Laney and Sy is Emma’s full-time gig, she still works at the birthing unit at the St. Cloud hospital. “I’m a casual employee there and have two employees at the store who are also nurses in the Birthing Unit. I grew up in St. Cloud and currently live in Sauk Rapids. I think this area has a lot of potential for small businesses to grow. Not only is it great for small businesses, but it’s such a wonderful place for families. This area has multiple parks that my kids and I can walk to, which we love! We enjoy visiting the local bakery after school and getting out and about. We always try to support local businesses because we know how important they are to our community,” said Emma.

“We have a few local businesses that also have inventory in our store. We sell Townline Candle Co.’s all-natural soy candles that are amazing. We carry a mom-and-baby line from Klean Home Living, and we also carry fun woodcrafted plaques from Pine Designs by Steph. We have also used Birch + Honey Photography for all of our photography. Collaborating with fellow local business owners is important to me; we can all help each other succeed!” 

“Opening my first location was so exciting and helped me learn a lot. When we moved locations at the beginning of November, I was able to pull together everything I’ve learned and shape the shop into what I envisioned. Bringing on new employees was a game-changer, allowing me to step back from the day-to-day tasks and focus on the business as a whole and its success. We plan to continue to expand our inventory and make Laney and Sy a great children’s shopping destination in the area.” 

“Starting a new business is never easy, but getting some traction in the community and getting our name out there is helping. We are so grateful to our customers, especially those who keep coming back time and time again. I feel like I’ve gained new friends in fellow business owners, too. I’ve worked to have a goal-oriented mentality and stay driven. It’s really been awesome to collaborate with so many women-owned businesses and create friends that way!”

“We just really appreciate every order we get, either online or from an in-store purchase. Big brands like Walmart aren’t going to do a happy dance from your purchase, but I sure will! Supporting local makes an impact. We appreciate all customers and anyone who helps spread the word about our shop. The patronage from our community is so appreciated, and sharing your experience or tagging us your little one in a photo helps so much.”

You can visit the Laney and Sy website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to learn more.

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