Yellowknife (Jan 05/05) - It's a little booth with big value.

Inside Karen's General Store there's a new business offering maternity and baby clothes. Named Mommy and Me by owner Lorraine Gagnon, the business offers both new and second-hand items.

The business started up near the beginning of November, said Gagnon, and business has been kicking along.

"I'm on maternity leave right now from the government. There's a real need. It's hard to find maternity clothes here," said Gagnon, later clarifying that Wal-Mart offers maternity clothes.

"I don't know of any other stores that sell it," she said.

Some of the clothing brand names being offered by Mommy and Me include Thyme Maternity, Motherhood, Mother-To-Be, Old Navy, In Due Time, as well as Shirley K and more.

"My stuff is all new or second-hand and the second-hand goods are in very good condition," she said.

Some of the other businesses now renting space at Karen's General Store include Country Cottage Crafts; Another Realm, selling collectibles; From Scratch, which offers fresh baking; Art by Dean Robertson, including original artwork depicting Northern life and wildlife; Karen's Knickknacks, another memorabilia and collectable company; Bohemian Garden, selling hand-made jewelry; as well as another jewelry company, Jewelry Hong Mei.