Sparkle & Junebug

“Having kids is a big change; I learned patience and structure. It changed me for the better," muses Sparkle and Junebug owner Jocelyn Chang as she bounces her son Nara on her knee and surveys her shop. “In here, parents share a lot about their struggles. That makes an instant connection between us.”

Staff members at the charming West Broadway kids' boutique are known for their helpfulness and patience. “We love kids.” Jocelyn adds exuberantly. Sparkle and Junebug’s philosophy goes beyond selling, offering personable service combined with a comfortable shopping environment and experience for all ages.

The Kitsilano store boasts a spacious interior and an open-concept layout that allows strollers and wheelchairs to move around freely. The store is decorated with a sparkling chandelier, decorative origami accents and custom handmade shelve. Calming accent colours are used throughout the space to create a welcoming retail environment.

“We pride ourselves on the overall feeling that we give to our customers,” says Jocelyn of the shop’s unique ambiance. “This is how we are different from other kids’ stores, or even adult ones.”

Before opening Sparkle and Junebug with her husband in 2013, Jocelyn previously worked in Human Resources. When she started having children, her focus shifted away from corporate politics. And by the time the second of three kids (Mia, Reed and Nara) arrived, she and her husband knew they wanted their own business so that they could spend time with kids and other parents.