to the former Church Street location of Karl's Department Store, in the Boyle Building.

Co-owner Carol Bromby said that the new location, which opened this week, has a third more floor space than the old premises of 13 years.

"We'd been looking to move for some time,'' she said, "but couldn't find anything in town. Then building owner BELCO sold the building and we were forced to move. Luckily, this space came up. It is just over 4,000 square feet, while our old location was just under three thousand square feet.

"This lay-out is also more conducive to our business, because of the wide-open space. We have more room for baby items.'' The company closed out its Reid Street presence with a "blow-out'' sale that ended with 75 percent discounts.

The family-owned business includes Ms Bromby's sister, Jackie Rodill and mother Harriet Kenien as co-owners.

The re-location meant the business required an additional employee, bringing to seven the number of full time staff, and four part-time employees. The store is also now open for an additional half hour in the morning and half hour in the evening.

Ms Bromby said after moving a quantity of goods to the new location and with new merchandise arriving, a decision was taken to clear as many of the remaining items as possible. She said, "We do have a few new lines, including considerably more merchandise for infants. We wanted to do more for parents with newborns, apart from toys. There seems to be a boom in new-borns and pregnancies.

"We had always sold some baby items, but we feel that the added space will give us a better opportunity to complete the line.

"And of course, the baby registry, much like a wedding registry, is becoming a big thing. So we wanted to be set up for that, so that people attending baby showers could have an easier time of it.

"It is also easier for parents who often end up with ten of the same items.''