Local businesses plan event after Modern Baby Expo postponed

La Boutique for Kids and Smart Momma are teaming up for a special event this Saturday after organizers of the  Modern Baby Expo decided to move the event from this weekend to March.

The expo, which was scheduled to start Saturday at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, was to feature toys, clothes, gear and information for new and expectant parents. Organizers emailed exhibitors earlier this month to let them know that it would be postponed because they had not been able to reach their "vendor participation goal," according to the email.

That decision left some businesses in the lurch. Among them was La Boutique for Kids, a mom-owned Triangle business which hosts home parties featuring children's clothing. Alex Tutwiler, the owner, had ordered extra holiday inventory and, as I'd written about earlier, planned one of her fashion shows for the event. Smart Momma, another mom-owned business and full-service baby store with furniture, car seats, toys and more for young kids, is one of the event's sponsors.

So, as Tutwiler tells me, to make the best out of a bad situation, the two are working together to host a special event at Smart Momma, which recently moved to much bigger digs at 8601 Glenwood Ave. in north Raleigh across from Carmax. The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

La Boutique will be holding its winter clearance sale with clothing marked down 40 percent to 90 percent off retail. It's holiday fashion show is set for 11 a.m. featuring 20 local kids. There will be free face painting from noon to 2 p.m. by Phoebe & Tillie's Princess Parties.

Tutwiler, a birth doula, will share information on ways to sooth a crying or colicky baby at 1 p.m. And Heather Burns, owner of Smart Momma, will demonstrate different baby carrier options and how to use each one of them at 1:30 p.m.

There also will be a drawing for a couple of prizes and some more activities. And they've shared the coupon below with me. So be sure to bring this with you if you go.