A New Arrival - Bebénique offers distinctive apparel, accessories and gifts for luxe infants and tots

Infant e-boutique launches luxury brand designed for the growing specialty childrens apparel market and bulging Latino population

(PRWEB) June 12, 2004 -- When Yvette Bibbens and Iliana Romero first began shopping for baby clothing for their children and those of family and friends, they were surprised at how difficult and time-consuming it was to find distinctive high-quality childrens clothing and accessories.

The sisters saw a business opportunity that combined their appreciation for fine childrens clothing, extensive business experience and Latino heritage. Hence, Bebénique was born.

Bebénique, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is dedicated to providing distinctive, high quality apparel, accessories, and gifts to infants and toddlers aged newborn to three. The companys website, bebenique.com, which launched April 1, 2004, offers visitors a good selection of American, European, and Latin American baby clothing and accessories.

When we would shop all the usual baby stores and websites, we found everything was mass-made," says Romero. Id buy a dress for my daughter and see it on half a dozen other babies and three billboards before we got home. Meanwhile, family in Puerto Rico had sent us these exquisitely handmade, heirloom linen outfits, and every time our children wore them, people would stop us on the street and ask where they could buy them. Unfortunately, we had to tell them that they werent readily available in the U.S." We saw the need to market beautiful outfits that couple style, elegance, and tradition to English and Spanish-speaking customers through a well-thought-out, easy-to-navigate website," says Bibbens, who earned an MBA from Loyola University Chicago, and whose experience launching a software company serves her well as Chief Operations Officer.

We were inspired to start this business because it was a business opportunity in an area that was personally important to us. First, we strongly believe that the high-end childrens clothing segment is an underserved market. Secondly, being Hispanic, we feel there are very few online retailers that target this segment of the population, one which has tremendous purchasing power. And most important, starting this business would enable us to spend more time with our families," says Romero, a Fordham University MBA, former investment banker, and President of the company.

As one of the first luxury childrens clothing websites to target the thriving Latino market, the company expects to launch its Spanish website during the fourth quarter of 2004, enabling both English and Spanish-speaking consumers to shop at bebenique.com.

According to a recent study by HispanTelligence, the U.S. Hispanic purchasing power has increased to nearly $700 billion and is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2010. From 2002 to 2020, personal consumption spending by Hispanics is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 9.1 percent, which exceeds the national growth rate of 6 percent.

In addition to offering high-end infant apparel from around the world, such as hand-made knits, elegant nursery furnishings, and unique keepsake items, the companys website (www.bebenique.com) will also feature gift services which include a baby registry for parents and thoughtfully assembled gift sets with themes like Take Me Home" and Playtime Assortment" making it easy for doting family and friends to send a special gift.

We wanted to make shopping at Bebénique as personal as the experience of helping friends and loved ones welcome a new life," says Bibbens. Its important to us to provide unique, beautiful pieces to all consumers; its a reflection of our philosophy that every child should have clothing and accessories as precious and unique as their spirit."

'Precious Things for the Cherished Baby
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