About Us
Our Story
CHILDREN'S WORLD UNIFORM SUPPLY HAS BEEN SERVING SW FLORIDA SINCE 1964!
Children’s World has been an iconic retail store in Sarasota, Florida, since its opening in 1964. Initially, the store specialized in selling and renting cribs and cradles before expanding to include children’s dress clothes and shoes. Providing old-fashioned, personalized customer service remains a hallmark of the store to this day. Over the years, the product offerings grew to include toys, Boy Scout supplies, and school uniforms, along with services like embroidery, t-shirt printing, and promotional products.
Originally located at the corner of Bahia Vista and U.S. 41, Children’s World relocated in 2008 to its current address at 4525 Bee Ridge Road. This new location is larger and more convenient, especially with I-75 just 1.75 miles away. The expansion allowed for a significantly larger toy department, and a U.S. Post Office Contract Unit was also opened. Additionally, gifts were introduced to provide options for adults. School uniforms have become the largest part of Children’s World’s business and continue to grow. A separate division called Business World Promo Supply was established to cater to businesses with promotional products and uniforms, and it operates within Children’s World.
Although it has been years since Children’s World sold cribs, cradles, shoes, or Boy Scout supplies, the store continues to offer school uniforms, toys, gifts, embroidery, t-shirt printing, promotional products, and U.S. Postal services.
At Children’s World, we are committed to “supporting the community that supports us.” To that end, we collaborate with several local non-profits to assist them in achieving their missions. Our largest annual project is Toys for Tots, which you can learn more about here. Additionally, we strive to be environmentally conscious by recycling and conserving energy. Over the years, Children’s World has received numerous awards for customer service, community involvement, conservation, and more.
We invite you to visit us and experience our dedicated, old-fashioned customer service as we assist you with any of our offerings.
Questions and Answers
HERE ARE SOME OF THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can someone at Children's World help me select the right items?
At Children’s World, we believe in providing old fashioned, personal customer service to help you select the right uniforms, get the best sizing, and even select the best toy or gift. Come in and let us help you.
When was Children's World started?
Children’s World was celebrating 50 years serving our customers in 2014. We opened our store in 1964.
When did Children's World start selling school uniforms?
1983, when one of the local school asked the store to take over their uniform program. Growing every year since then, Children’s World is now the largest uniform supplier in the area.
When did Children's World start working with The Scouts?
1982, when the former Sunnyland Council Office in Sarasota was consolidated into the Southwest Florida Council in Fort Myers. Children’s World started selling Boy Scout supplies and handling all of the leader’s advancement needs at that time, so local scouters didn’t have to drive to Fort Myers.
What makes Children's World the better choice for your embroidery project?
Here is just one reason. There are three different types of embroidery thread: rayon, polyester and metallic. Rayon is the industry standard, as it shines beautifully, but, it also has a downside. Have you ever seen a shirt with an embroidered logo that appears to have the color washed out of it? That would be a rayon logo that has been worn a lot, laundered heavily, or bleached. Rayon does not hold up to any of these conditions. The second type of thread is polyester, which is almost as shiny but has none of the wear problems that rayon does. This is the type of thread we use. Embroiderers don’t usually like to work with it, because it is harder to sew with, but for us, the results are worth the extra effort. The last type of thread is metallic, which has actual metal fiber woven into it and is really just for special effects or showy designs.
What should you know when you consider a vendor to meet your uniform needs?
Here are some questions to ask:
HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN AROUND?
Children’s World has been around for almost 50 years.
WILL YOU HAVE YOUR UNIFORMS FOR START OF SCHOOL?
Children’s World has items in stock all year round.
HOW LONG WILL YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR REORDERS?
We are fully stock and ready to meet your needs today.
IS THE QUALITY CONSISTENT?
Children’s World only buys from manufacturers of the highest quality.
NEVER WORRY WITH CHILDREN’S WORLD, WE MADE IT EASY!
What color shirt is best to wear out in the sun?
Modern polyester performance shirts are the best at blocking UV.
Why women's dress shirts button on the opposite side of men's?
In Medieval times, women didn’t usually dress themselves. They usually had handmaids help them. Therefore, the dressmakers designed garments so the buttons were in the proper position for the handmaids dressing the women, not the women themselves.
Do business uniforms make a difference?
A survey of consumers by Modern Uniforms sound that they trusted employees more who were in uniform, than those who were not. They also found that 64% expected to receive better service because of the uniform.
You can shop for business uniforms through our Business World arm. click here
Do Promotional Products generate more sales?
Research done by Baylor University indicated that salespeople who gave promotional products to their customers received 22% more referrals than those who didn’t use a promotional product.
You can shop for promotional products through our Business World arm. click here
Do Promotional Products increase customer satisfaction?
A survey by Wayne State University found that customers who received a promotional product with a “Thank You” letter were 43% more satisfied with the company than those who received the letter alone.
You can shop for promotional products through our Business World arm. click here
What are taped seams?
Taped seams are a high-quality feature that puts a small fabric “tape” at the seams, where the sewing is done. This tape leaves the inside of the fabric with a smooth finish, instead of just sewing the two pieces of fabric together, and leaving two rough edges of fabric where the seam has been sewn together on the inside, against the person wearing the item.
Are all plastic bottles bad?
No. Look for bottles that do not contain PBA. In addition, there are many plastic bottles now that are biodegradable and/or made out of recycled materials.
What is Teflon SR?
Teflon SR is Dupont’s Teflon Stain Release, which is a fabric process that helps prevents stains from setting in a fabric.
What the term ``ounces`` of fabric refer to?
Ounces of fabric refers to the weight of one yard of fabric, not the weight of a particular item.
What crop uses the most amount of pesticides?
Cotton. Up to 25% more pesticides are used in growing cotton than any other crop.
Are there career opportunities at Children's World?
Check out our CAREERS AT CHILDREN’S WORLD page for more information.
Christopher DALLAS Fira
2 days ago
Place sucks I drove hour to be told they don’t take cash.
Rose LaCorte
2 weeks ago
Children’s world is my absolute favorite place to shop for toys and uniforms. They have an amazing selection and all the staff, is absolutely amazing, special shout out to Terri, who always is so patient and kind and helps me pick the perfect thing each time. Please shop local first, I’m sure whatever thing you are searching for in regards to your little ones is most likely there.
Pam Hawn
2 weeks ago
As a local non profit leader I cannot say enough good about Tim & Cynthia w/ Business / Childrens World. They have been partners of Hope 4 Communities for 18 years. They do everything branded from shirts, coffee mugs, pens, bracelets, water bottles, canopy tents, banners, etc. They truly make us look fabulous & professional. Thank you Tim & Cynthia for all you do for your community.
Cameron Pratt
2 weeks ago
They make our school uniforms. But $60 plus for two cheap youth shirts PLUS $13 for local shipping is absolutely insane. Or pickup for free yes. But still what a joke.
kathy white
3 weeks ago
We are Real Estate Agents and have purchased promotional products from Children's World for the past five years. We are always late in giving them my order. Tim and Cynthia make sure that everything is delivered on time and there to help us with the mailing. The products are such high quality, the service is outstanding! The most important thing is our clients love what we give them. We recommend them for any promo gifts you may need. They have a HUGE assortment of products to choose from. You won't be disappointed!
Marissa Lipsett
3 weeks ago
All time favorite post office. Staff is always so kind and helpful - especially today, thank you so much Kaylee for your help! 100% will always recommend.
Dayron Hidalgo-Gato
1 month ago
Service is awesome! Katherine is always smiling and doing her job very well and quickly.
Pete H
1 month ago
I’ve been shipping packages here for years. They’re always friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient.
Justin Connor
2 months ago
Welp wasted over $200. Clothes started ripping at the seam after 1 week. Even had a button come off. Unfortunately my kids removed the tags to wear them to school. Wife called the store and spoke with Carrie who told her the situation and that there weren't tags plus they've been washed once. Carrie told us to come in and that they used a new manufacturer(or somethingof the sort) and there might have been a quality issue. Drove from Venice to exchange and spoke to Carrie directly (who claimed to be the manager) who had no recollection of the conversation with my wife. Looked at me like I had 5 heads for trying to return their clothes. Said even if they did take them back, they would'nt be able to resell them. We'll yes.. they're ripped at the seams. You couldn't resell them anyway. Even tried accusing me of trying to return donated clothes and saying they have been used more than what I'm telling her... 1. Never even knew there was donated clothes we could've grabbed. Would've been nice to save $248. 2. It's been exactly a week of use. We purchased them 8/7. You printed my receipt. Terrible customer service, terrible quality, terrible return policy. Be careful purchasing from this store.
Update: after my child's principal reached out to assist with this issue, childrens world replaced the shirts and corrected the issue. Thank you
Children's World has received many awards for their business operations
Congratulations to ASTRA member Tim Holliday, MASI, CMR, and Cynthia Holliday, CMR, of Children’s World. Tim is the first candidate to receive the Certified Master Retailer (CMR) designation and now Cynthia has also received this designation.
Certified Master Retailer status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development for
independent toy retailers. To complete the program, Tim completed 40 hours of coursework covering topics
including Business & Finance, Merchandising, Marketing and Technology and passed a comprehensive exam.
Congratulations, Tim and Cynthia!
Children’s World Uniform Supply is Leading the Way Through Play (ASTRA) by providing quality products that help children have fun, achieve success and lead happy, healthy lives.
Discover even more that we do
SHOP LOCALLY
…support your local independent merchants like Children’s World! Independent We Stand and the 3/50 Project.Local Businesses Support Local Communities! You can help, by thinking about where you spend your money. The next time you go shopping, will you be buying from a big-box store or a mega internet company? Or will you support the locally owned and operated business that helps pay for schools, roads and more in your community?
You must be logged in to post a comment.