Becky Leffler, owner of sweet ivy in the Galleria Edina, opened her third store, Littles by sweet ivy this past May. To Becky’s delight, Littles, an adult loungewear and baby store, has seen much success in the last few months, prompting her to reflect on her entrepreneurial journey. From what once started as a creative outlet, Becky’s stores have grown more than she ever imagined.
Let’s travel along with Becky as she dives deeper into her history.
“In 2016, after dedicating 35 years to commercial real estate, I found myself yearning for a creative outlet – a way to bring my passion for unique products and personal connection to life.”
The vision was clear: Becky wanted to open a quaint boutique that resonated with her love for beautiful items, one that felt as comforting as a vacation in her favorite place, Marco Island, Florida.
“During my trips to Marco, I would relish the sensory delights of the gift shops,” she explains. “The intoxicating aromas, vivid colors, and exquisite products inspired me. One particular line I loved purchasing was the Spartina 449 bags — which are a charming blend of leather and linen.”
With her entrepreneurial spirit aflame, Becky took the plunge and founded her first boutique, Sweet Nautical, about eight years ago.
The journey wasn’t without its challenges; “I dove headfirst into the retail world with minimal experience, operating out of 900 square feet.” But with an unwavering belief in her vision and a foundation in business, Becky’s love for unique products began to shine through, attracting customers and driving sales.
As her first boutique flourished, Becky was able to move into a larger space on Excelsior, where Sweet Nautical stayed until 2022. That year, a turn of fate nudged Becky toward the Edina Galleria, where her supporters encouraged her to explore a new store opportunity.
“To my delight, everything that I had curated stood out amid the more established names, prompting me to seize the moment.”
It was a leap of faith, and that July, just three months since being offered the space, sweet ivy was born – perfectly embodying Becky’s dream of creativity and style.
The name itself, a transition from the original “Sweet Nautical,” was born out of a desire to soften the brand’s identity and align it with the feminine, chic direction Becky aspired to reach.
Now in its second year, sweet ivy offers an impressive selection of apparel, shoes and jewelry, including Spartina 449’s bags, which has been a real full circle moment for Becky.
“Spartina was a small brand when I found them all those years ago, so I feel like we have grown together.” Sweet ivy also carries Barefoot Dreams and Elegant Baby, two very popular brands among its customers.
“The luxurious feel of Barefoot Dreams – known for its soft, durable loungewear – coupled with our baby department, captured the hearts of shoppers. These two lines were only 25% of sweet ivy’s merchandise, but yet they did 50% of my sales.”
As demand grew for more baby items and a larger Barefoot section, Becky recognized the potential for a store solely dedicated to them, leading to the opening of Littles by sweet ivy on May 6 of this year.
“Our customers are loving Littles,” she says. “We carry the largest selection of Barefoot Dream in the state, offering sizes from infant to adult. We also sell a home line, special toys made to spark creativity, children’s books and other sought after lines that moms love.”
Becky attributes the success of Littles and her other endeavors to all the amazing women who have helped her along the way.
“I’ve had great employees and partners from the start. My daughter, Abbey, ended up being my biggest sales rep for different brands after she graduated college in 2022. My daughter-in-law, Dana, has been managing my stores with me since Excelsior. I also have a team of five gals who work at sweet ivy and Littles. They inspire me every day because they are just the best people around.”
Now as Becky looks toward the future of her stores, she’s excited for what is to come and grateful for what has already been.
“We are constantly growing and I couldn’t be more proud.”
1 W 69th St. | shopsweetivy.com
“Our customers are loving Littles."