When her 11-year-old daughter, Lydia, asked why there wasn’t a kid-friendly store in Occoquan, Sarah Hitchcock Burzio knew that needed to change.
“Lydia kept saying, ‘There isn’t a store for me in town.’ So I said, ‘Well, let’s create one.’”
That was the start of Tiny Supply Co., an educational supply store in the Riverwalk Shops of Occoquan. Open seven days a week, it is “A Shop for Clever Kids” that sells environmentally friendly heirloom toys and craft projects.
Burzio, the owner and chief creative officer, already owns Hitchcock Paper Co., a boutique stationery store, and Hitchcock Creative, a graphic design company. Hitchcock Paper Co. had a small kid’s section that customers loved.
“It was definitely easier to open my second store, after having the first store for five-and-a-half years,” Burzio says. “I felt like we knew what we did wrong the first time, and so that part has been really great.”
Since its official opening on June 8, Tiny Supply Co. has received a lot of support from the Occoquan community and small businesses. Burzio says since many mothers work in town, their kids of all ages can come and visit the store.
“We wanted to have a place that was comfortable for moms, dads, or babysitters to come and let their kids take a moment, read a book, and look around — a place for them to play while they shop,” Burzio says.
Tiny Supply Co. sells educational and science-based toys, but also has a healthy book section and sticker wall. The toys, aimed at kids who are interested in STEM, art, and reading, are designed to be passed on.
“We’re big on having brands in the store you can’t find everywhere else,” Burzio says. “Especially in this area, you can go to a ton of big-box stores or shop online. And here, kids want something different.”
At the far side of the store is a play area featuring a couch, a rocking llama, and a table where kids can test out products including Magna-Tiles and train sets. A play-and-pretend section promotes imagination and learning with DIY kits, books, and wood toys.
Although merging her brands was a busy process, Burzio said it was fun and rewarding. Just six weeks after receiving the store space, Tiny Supply Co. was ready for customers with a full-time shop manager and several college employees.
“We never had to close downstairs. Sometimes it’s hard to juggle three businesses, but I just have a great staff,” Burzio says.
Burzio hopes to offer story time and playtime activities in the shop, along with book signings with local authors. She continues to promote the in-store registry, where kids can create a wish list by researching in-store or online.
“In Occoquan, the balance of clientele, the locals, and the tourists — we get a lot of foot traffic,” she says. “I like the community small business vibe. It’s just a really supportive, creative group of people.”
125 Mill St., Occoquan
Feature image by Mallory Evans
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