About Us

The Store

Shima (pronounced shee-ma) opened in 2008 so families could shop locally, share resources and create a community. We are two mamas, four kids, two daddies, a pair of Subarus, one bouncy dog named Buster and bunches of local families.

In Navajo, Shima means 'mother'. It is sweet, simple and embodies the love we have for our families, community and the world. A mother is a source of joy and happiness; a nourisher, nurturer, provider, healer, comforter, creator and so much more. We keep these many roles in mind when making decisions on which brands we carry, what events we host, what causes we donate to and how we, as a store, interact with our customers.

The Mamas

Libbie Pike is a Doula and massage therapist whose daughters join her at the store to model Ergos and swipe credit cards. She loves to quilt, knit and make mud pies with her two daughters. Her husband drives a VW camper van. Libbie is currently the vice president of Berkshire Nursing Families, an amazing local organization that provides free lactation consultations and help for local breastfeeding families.

Suzy Helme is an illustrator, seamstress, knitter and generally a crafty lady. She has a BFA in graphic design, an amazing and handy husband and two awesome young sons. She sits on the board of Berkshire Nursing Families, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Main Street Stage and City's Human Services Commision. You can see her many designs and creations, including FocoLoco which has been around since 2004, at Shima and other fine retailers.

We share a love for  good quality, natural materials, craftsmanship and good stewardship.

Workshops-

We host monthly in store events for FREE, including Cloth Diaper Workshops, Baby wearing workshops, Birth Circles and Moms' Night Out(everyone pays for themselves) Please check the calendar of events for exact dates and events.

Lending Library-

We have a steadily growing lending library. Free to anyone with a local ID to borrow from.

Sling Rental Program-

For just $5  local(within 30miles) residents can rent one of our loaner slings/carriers  for 2 weeks to give it a little test drive before deciding which(if any) kind of carrier works best for their family. If they decide to purchase one from us the $5 rental fee can be deducted from the final purchase price.