Looking to do some holiday shopping for the little ones in your life? Katie Mac’s is ready to help. With a wide selection of unique clothing and gifts, this children’s boutique and consignment store should be able to satisfy that shopping list.

Stepping through the doors of Katie Mac’s is like walking into a trendy and beautifully decorated nursery. And owner Peggy Gutzwiller is making sure the store comes across as a true family affair. The decorative themes of the shop, from fairies to horses, were inspired by her grandchildren, as was the name – Katie Mac is a nickname she gave her eldest grandchild. And it doesn’t end there – two of Gutzwiller’s daughters, her son-in-law and husband all help out with various aspects of the business, as well as the grandkids, who pitch in as willing models or walking advertisements, donning many of the fashions from the store.

“All of our clothes are kid tested – if it doesn’t hold up to Alex, then we don’t carry it,” said Gutzwiller, referring to her energetic two-year-old grandson Alexander. “Our clothing is made of quality material and is very durable.”

And Gutzwiller certainly has an eye for clothing. The shop is filled with racks and displays of outfits that draw countless remarks of, “How cute!” from shoppers all day long. Gutzwiller, who says she has frequented children’s shops from Singapore to England, decided it was time to open her own store a little closer to home.

Katie Mac’s opened just last month in the Middle Creek Commons shopping center at the intersection of Highways 42 and 50.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and it seemed like a good time,” said Gutzwiller. “The economy is getting better and the location was a good fit.”

Gutzwiller, who lives in Buies Creek, was clued in to the open retail space by her daughter Lisa Hopkins, who lives just down the road in the Chadbourne subdivision.

Hopkins, who has three children of her own, two of them very young, was thrilled to be able to take part in her mother’s new venture.

“With two very little ones, it’s just not convenient for her to drive to Raleigh or Cary to go shopping for children’s clothing,” said Gutzwiller.

Hopkins now comes into the shop two or three times a week with her children in tow.

“It’s such a good selection of fine articles of clothing,” she said. “How can you not want to check it out? You can even bring the kids and feel comfortable letting them play while you take your time and browse. I’d shop here even if my family wasn’t involved.”

Katie Mac’s carries clothing, handmade soaps, baby layettes, shower gifts, room decorations and more. There are also handmade hair bows available for sale made by a local stay-at-home-mom, who can craft custom orders as well. The same goes for several local artists who have their work on display throughout the store.

The store can also put together gift baskets for baby showers. Or, expectant moms can come in and make a wish list of items they want, and the store will gather those items together and put them on display for quick and easy shopping for their friends and family.

The brands that Katie Mac’s carries include Magnolia Baby, The Bailey Boys, Peaches ‘n Cream and Mulberry Street. They’ll also begin carrying Sarah Louise in the spring. And if you want your little one to represent your favorite local team, Katie Mac’s carries outfits representing NC State, UNC, Duke and ECU. The store carries clothing from newborn up to size eight and will be adding more sizes in the future. Right now, the store is stocked with many Christmas outfits, but the clothing will change with the seasons. They also do monogramming to help personalize any outfit or gift, and the first monogram for a customer is free.

“We want people to be able to see the quality of the work, and we also want to show our appreciation for their business,” said Gutzwiller.

The store also regularly shows their appreciation for a special set of shoppers. The first Wednesday of every month is Grandparents’ Day. Any grandparent who shows off a picture of their grandchildren will receive 10 percent off their purchases. And every day is discount day for military families, who will receive 10 percent off with a military ID.

“My husband is retired military, and this is just a way for us to show our appreciation for what they do,” said Gutzwiller.

Another way to get discounted items is by shopping the consignment portion of the store. Gutzwiller is very selective about the consignment items they carry, selecting only top name brands in excellent condition.

For Hopkins, the consignment area of the store is an added bonus.

“I like that it’s a mixture of consignment and new, so depending on my budget for that day, I can pick either or,” she said.

The consignment area carries mostly clothing, footwear and toys, but there are occasionally bigger items such as baby equipment or furniture for sale as well. Those who wish to consign their items with Katie Mac’s must do so by appointment.

And if you’re looking for a further bargain, be sure to check out the store for some post-Thanksgiving shopping on Nov. 27 and 28, when fall items will be 20 percent off.

Katie Mac’s is open Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Through the month of December, the store will also be open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about Katie Mac’s or its consignment policies, contact the store at 661-2993 or check them out on Facebook.