THE BUZZ

Business pivot

Blue Bird Children’s Boutique opens on Third Ave., a transition from the owner’s previous business

Christine Geimer thinks on the fly as a parent and

this adaptivity also applies to her business life.

Since March the mother of four has overseen the Blue Bird Children’s Boutique on N. 3rd Ave in Wausau after shifting from her photography studio which was in the same location previously. Health issues related to migraines meant Geimer’s Captured Memories Photography could not produce edits to work in as efficient a manner as before and so she looked for something with familiarity, less work likely to induce pain and still a healthy level of surprise and challenge.

“With the mall closing I realized there was not a lot available for children which provides unique styles and organic materials,” she said. “I am still trying to get my name out there as a place bettering Wausau with fun children’s things and am doing this all on my own right now.”

▲ Soap advertising “Frothy the Beer Man” rests on a shelf at the Blue Bird Children’s Boutique in Wausau. The space is predominantly for children, but also features fun products like these in order to enhance appeal for other members of a family who may come in looking to make a purchase. ▲ Blue Bird Children’s Boutique owner Christine Geimer sorts product at her location on N. 3rd Ave in Wausau. The store opened in March after Geimer saw an opportunity for it and had begun winding down her photography business due to some health issues. (Evan Pretzer)

Products available in her space include the Pete and Lucy line of baby, boys’ and girls’ clothes, homemade hair bows, bamboo washcloths and baby blankets. There are also vendors from River Falls and, curiously, soap parodying a Christmas character with a “Frothy the Beer Man” name.

Geimer added in response to questions about this the point of its inclusion was strategic appeal.

“This was if a grandparent comes in due to a new baby they can also get something for dad or something for mom,” Geimer said. “I do not think I have ever seen anything similar elsewhere and I hope it sets me apart. I also carry candles and some wax melts for families. This does not necessarily have to be geared completely towards children. There are family benefits here, too.”

Plans for the future include a bigger space and bumping up the stock for boys to be more equal than the present 80:20 split with girls’ items. Geimer also wants to have an online storefront and for those who may come in person to shop, a chance to feel safe and among a kindred spirit.

“I want breastfeeding moms to be able to sit down and relax with their newborn,” she said. “They should not have to worry. This is a welcome spot which knows how overwhelming things can be. I try to make it as easy as possible. Kids want to touch things, grab them and say ‘mine, mine, mine.’ I am still going, still growing and it has been kind of scary, but I am not letting it stop me. The response has been amazing and I am thankful everyone who comes in loves this.”

The Blue Bird Children’s Boutique is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, 1-5 p.m. Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Friday and will have posts on its Facebook page if they are open each Saturday.

More information can be found by calling 715–679–1050.

Evan J. Pretzer is a contributor to City Pages. He can be reached at evan.pretzer@protonmail.com.

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From the Attorney’s Desk

by Jason Krautkramer, J.D.

ECKERT & KRAUTKRAMER, LLC

325 N. 1st Ave., Suite 1 • Wausau,630 N. 4th St., Wausau, WI 54403 WI 715-842-0907 • jason@eckertlawllc.com

What is a Tangled Title?

If you are currently living in a property that you inherited but the deed has not been transferred into your name, you may be surprised to learn that, under the law, you are technically not the owner. This legal situation is known as “tangled title. ”

Titles can often get tangled in the intrafamily transfer of homeownership. A tangled title most commonly occurs when the person whose name is on the deed passes away and a surviving relative continues living in the home. For example, you have been living with your aging mother and caring for her. She dies and you stay in the home. Until your name is on the deed, the home is not legally your property. You are now dealing with a tangled title.

A tangled title places you in legal limbo, making it harder to do some things and impossible to do others. Next week I’ll discuss how to untangle a tangled title.