I am newly enamored of the reality show the Shark Tank, in which entrepreneurs pitch a panel of investors in hopes that someone will buy-in and help them get to the next level of riches galore.
Although I've only seen one episode, I have read a bit about it, and, in my reading, came across a store in New Jersey, Wee Can Shop, "a gift shop-where children shop for the ones they love." Wee Can made a recent appearance on the Thank. The Wee Can Shop is:
...a town where children can push kid-sized shopping carts along a cobblestone path and discover different store fronts such as Mom's Kitchen and Pop's Garage...In order to keep the gifts a surprise from loved ones, the Sit-A-Bit Diner was created where grown-ups can sit-a-bit while a personal shopper helps young shoppers pick out the perfect gift. If that was not enough, now the kids get to pay, gift bag and fill out their very own gift tag so presents stay top secret!
Well, I'm all in favor of having kids think about someone else, other than themselves. I like when the kids I love make things for me. And I like when the kids I love buy things for me - especially if they use their own money and pick it out themselves. (Note to niece Molly: the scarf you gave me last Christmas is the best scarf ever.)
But what happens when that wee shopper pushing his or her kid-sized shopping cart into Pop's Garage spots the 5 Pack Holiday assortment of car costumes? And the personal shopper realizes that the wee shopper doesn't have the $99.95 to spend on that five pack of car costumes.
Does the personal shopper steer the wee shopper to a more appropriately priced present for the loved one. Or does the personal shopper head to the Sit-A-Bit diner and let the loved one know that the wee shopper has his or her wee and loving heart set on showing his or her love by getting the loved one the car costume five pack?
Car costumer you might ask? "Sorry" the Wee Can Shop folks tell me "our images are copyright."
But I did find much the same thing on the Aubuchon Hardware web site, and they're not quite as persnickety about downloads, so here's a look-see at a car costume. In fact, Aubuchon appears to have four out of the five car costumes in the wee 
pack. It has the Eastern Bunny, Black Bat, Fourth of July, and St. Patrick's Day, and lacks only the Red Nosed Reindeer. Aubuchon's does, however, carry several other Christmas related costumes - elf, tree, candy cane - and, while the wee shopper may not want to accept any substitutes, in point of fact, each of the car costumes on Aubuchon's costs $12.99 each, which, times five costumes, makes it $65 for a build-your own five-pack. Now, even with shipping and handling, the wee shopper should be able to see that it makes more sense to buy online.
Not that I want to talk someone out of supporting a brick-and-mortar store. Especially one with cobbled streets for wee shoppers.
Anyway, intrigued by Wee Can Shop, I did a bit more metaphorical window-shopping.
Under gifts for Mom and Grandma, the wee shopper can select from a dazzling array. I couldn't bring myself to click beyond page 1, but on that page, the only gifts under $10 ($9.99) were a chocolate cream pie scented candle and a set of coasters, both $9.99. Most of the gifts were pricey little bracelets and bags made out of recycled candy wrappers and soda flip tops.
But the one thing that really caught my eye on this page was the Birthday Tree, something of an advent calendar that lets Mom or Grandma count down to her Special Day.
The Birthday Box by Artist: Annie Schickel. What a great idea! Count down to your Birthday,start 14 days before by opening the numbered draws to reveal a Birthday related ornament to hang on your Birthday Tree, which is conveniently stored in the box as well! After 14 days, your Birthday Tree will be fully decorated, just in time for your Birthday! So unique! Use it over and over again. Kids will love this count down box too! You can even fill it with extra goodies
But, wait, would Mom or Grandma (especially Grandma) really want to be reminded that her birthday's in 14 days? Or would the wee shopper - and I'm not going to use the word 'narcissist' here; no way - think this was a good idea? Which is, more or less, implied by that "Kids will love this count down box too." ("Too"?)
Me, me, me, me, me.
Wee, wee, wee, wee, wee.
Twee, twee, twee, twee, twee.
Now I realize that, in the current era, a large part of our citizen responsibility - a sacred duty, as it were, far more important than voting and posting vicious anonymous comments on web sites that rely on the repeated use of the words "impeach", "fascist", and "socialist". But do we really have to start inculcating children so young in the glories of shopping? (God, it was a lot easier being a wee shopper when you could take your $2 to Woolworth's and buy gifts for everyone in your family. Plus, if you were my five-year old brother Tom, have enough left over to buy yourself some Play-Doh.)
And, yes, Wee Can Shop does have some stuff for under $5 - gotta say I love the sock monkey key covers - but, and I know I'm repeating myself here - hey, I even used cut and paste - but do we really have to start inculcating children so young in the glories of shopping?
But, Doh! I almost forgot the best part about Wee Can Shop: you can have your kid's birthday party there. Only $300 for up to 12 kids - which includes $5 to spend with the personal shopper in We Can Shop itself. (Additional kids only $17.50 each. Don't you just love a bah-gain?)
Okay, it's not as bad as those birthday parties where the little girls put on make up and hooker outfits and pose for suggestive photographs. But doesn't this make you nostalgic for Musical Chairs and Pin the Tail on the Donkey?
Oh, and the Shark Tanks read on Wee Can Shop? Apparently, it was "No You Can't." Blessedly, they didn't see the enormous commercial potential in this idea.
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