April's Fine Baby Apparel

Just search on-line for a Communion dress and it looks like there are some outstanding values. But there are many downsides and risks.

You and your little girl will have fun going to the racks and looking at all the dresses. You can both pick out the ones you like and she can try them on. Maybe her grandma or her Godmother will be there too.There is nothing like seeing the look on your little girl's face when she sees herself in the store mirror with a beautiful dress on that she loves. Picking out the headpiece is also fun. You can compare all the different ones that can match your dress perfectly.  You can match the other accesories too. At April's Fine Baby Apparel she even gets a free cross when you buy a dress. These are memories that will last forever. Years later, when walking through Bellmore Village, she will say, "remember when we bought my Communion dress at April's, mom?"

If you buy on-line you are never sure of the reputation of the vendor. Maybe the dress is used. Or it may be slightly yellowed. You may not notice the yellow until you see the dress next to a fresh dress on Communion day. You can't touch the dress, or smell the newness. While you might find a good value, It can be a bit of a gamble. Also, the best manufacturers don't permit on-line sellers to undercut retail stores. These manufacturers often will list retailers that sell their products.

What about buying on an auction site? Most likely the dress will be used. Even if they say it has tags you can't be sure it is new.  The seller may own a tagging gun and tags. Even if it is new you don't know how the dress was stored. It could be in a private home with smokers, pet smells or even cooking odors.

There are some other good things about shopping locally. Your local stores are the ones that support local organizations, like PTAs, Girl Scouts etc. They are also the ones that sponsor community free events. In Bellmore Village, the merchants sponsor an Easter Parade, a Halloween Parade and a Christmas Tree lighting, all with free give-aways for the kids. Plus, local sales taxes support your town and help lower your property taxes.