GiGi Childrenswear

Pink and sparkly sets make this diva collection shine.

Looking around on Facebook recently, I click on GiGi Childrenswear –I just love anything with the word “gigi” in it- and am thrilled to see this frilly girl’s collection is inspired by Gigi, “the little girl we all know and love. A spunky girl with a great personality. She represents a world where everything is whimsical, vibrantly colored and covered with sparkle.” Indeed!

And that’s what GiGi Childrenswear is all about –rhinestones, sparkle print tops, to twirl skirts and girly glam.

My daughter has several GiGi outfits. She loves wearing them. The clothing is top quality, well-made, uniquely one-of-a-kind … and did I mention beautiful? I know that when my daughter wears a GiGi outfit she will look fabulous.

-Deborah Scharff, customer

Launched in 2009 and recently featured on keekoo.com, Paula is currently taking orders her Spring 2013 line. Email her at paula@gigichildrenswear.com.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Do you keekoo?

Here’s your invitation! An online shopping experience that specializes in must-haves for new moms and moms-to-be … all at amazing prices.

Launched in 2011, keekoo is an online store featuring all of the latest and greatest brands that moms and moms-to-be need for their growing family, at up to 80% off. The keekoo team hand-selects the most fabulous maternity, beauty, nursing, baby apparel, gifts, accessories and newborn gear just for you.

keekoo is dedicated to all of the great moms and grandmoms out there … keep up the great work!

Exclusive Sales Events. keekoo offers fabulous new merchandise each day, through exclusive sales events that last only 24 to 72 hours. The retailer works with brand partners to offer limited amounts of the most special and in-demand items specifically designed for the new mommy and her little one. Each event is first-come, first-served, and members are encouraged to visit daily for all this awesomeness!

Members Only. Membership to keekoo.com is by invitation only. Registration is easy and it’s free, too –so read more for your special invite!

Baby Talk for Cookie. When one of keekoo’s founders was a little boy, he used to ask his mommy for a “keekoo,” his baby word for a cookie. His family loves to share this story, and the word “keekoo” became the perfect child-like expression of this company’s mission. Whether you’re a mom, mom-to-be, grandmother or auntie-gift-giver, keekoo helps you save money shopping.

Special Invite to Join keekoo from Children’s Retail Today

Every Children’s Retail Today reader who clicks www.keekoo.com/invite/ChildrensRetailToday and signs up as a member gets a $10 Instant Credit on your first purchase of $50 or More! Remember, only members enjoy daily sales with savings of up to 80%. You have a chance to invite your friends to join, too.

ON SALE Today!

The Grandparent Gift Co. – sweet sentiments on beautiful keepsakes. When founder Teri Harrison wrote her first poem, grandmothers and mothers started brushing away tears, and Teri knew her words had touched their hearts. These beautiful one-of-a-kind gifts will surely touch you in the same special way.

ON SALE Friday, January 18!

Razzleberry Kids – deliciously girly crib shoes, diaper covers and legwarmers for those chunky, squeezable little legs. Frilly and whimsical, animal prints and ruffles, ribbons and sports themes adorn these super-cute newborn accessories.

AFG Baby Furniture – the perfect foundation for your nursery. Since 1986, AFG’s luxurious yet affordable convertible cribs, changing tables and gliders have been available in a variety of styles and finishes and meet the highest quality and safety standards. FREE SHIPPING

Gypsy Kids – with a focus on easy-wear, easy-care quality clothing, this collection is inspired by colorful countries from around the world. Attention to detail, classic styling, exclusive prints and beautiful, pure cotton and linen fabrics are the foundations of the range and will make your little wanderer a standout in style.

Look for the KISS. Select merchandise receives a keekoo KISS, which stands for “Keekoo Inspected Seal of Support” and means keekoo thinks moms and babies will love the product as much as they do!

Become a keekoo member today!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

The Colorful Whimsy of Zutano

The artful quality of a designer’s mind is expressed through the details of a finely made product.

Holding a magnifying glass over the intensely personal process of clothing design is often as satisfying as wearing the clothing itself. All the layers of a designer’s personality seem to wrap warmly around the work of creating a garment, just as the garment softly embraces the little one who wears it. A connection is made that simply feels good, an understanding that breathes, “Ahhhhhhh …”

Since 1989, Vermont-based Zutano has made this connection, as one of the industry’s leaders in market innovation and customer relations. “We decided that there was a gap in the market for well-made, reasonably priced basics,” co-founder Michael Belenky tells me recently. “We wanted the clothes to be for baby, with simple clean lines that they could wear day-in-day-out, and still have a fashion twist.” The Zutano look quickly evolved into baby’s first expression of style, as co-founder and head designer Uli Belenky’s designs help shape their uniqueness, something they will continue to explore for the rest of their lives.

As we expand our world, our innovative and exuberant approach to design is evident in every category we enter, from clothing and accessories to plush toys, socks, shoes, bedding and home.

Crazy for Color. “I live in a rainbow of my own making. I’m crazy for color,” Uli says. “I look at the global palette and if I like it, I’ll use it for print ideas.” Uli is also known for producing her own fabrics, where color is key. So is her reputation for sourcing only the highest quality interlock cotton fabrics and natural fiber blends.

ZUTANOBLUE Target® Collaboration. For instance, Zutano’s exclusive collection for Target captures Uli’s artistic spirit and bright, whimsical prints in clothing, hosiery and children’s bedding, with traditional craftsmanship of quality and comfort, part of Zutano’s signature style. Available at selected stores and on Target.com since last April, ZUTANOBLUE features limited patterns, body styles and sizing in the layette category. “I hardly think about trends at all. I like to produce clothes for people who are interested in design and fashion rather than trends.” Growing up in Germany and influenced by the Bauhaus design philosophy, Uli thinks of clothes as architecture. “I love the clear clean lines of German design and the casual practical way of American fashion. It is totally the philosophy of my look to mix both these cultures.”

For a company where the very name means “so and so” in Spanish, there’s nothing so-so about the attention paid to the details of running Zutano. Seeking connections that reward, nurturing relationships between people, celebrating individuality and painting the world with color.

That’s how Uli and Michael designed it.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Beautiful Girl

Celebrated women’s health and wellness expert Dr. Christiane Northrup writes a children’s book.

Christiane Northrup, M.D. understands what she calls the unity of body, mind and spirit. This visionary pioneer in women’s health and wellness helps empower women to tune in to their innate wisdom and transform their health. Author of several best-selling books including Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause and Mother-Daughter Wisdom, Dr. Northrup is poised to influence the youngest of girls with her first children’s book, Beautiful Girl: Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body.

To be born a girl is a very special thing and carries with it magical gifts that must be recognized and nurtured.

Written with writer mom Kristina Tracy, Beautiful Girl uses empowering words and illustrations created by Aurlie Blanz to teach little girls how their bodies are perfect just the way they are. According to publisher Hay House, Dr. Northrup believes that reading and discussing this book with your girls can help them to appreciate the importance of treating themselves with gentle care, and how life changes are just a part of growing up –and that these realizations can have positive benefits that can last throughout their lives.

Special Offer – Special Event! To celebrate the release of Beautiful Girl, pre-order or purchase the book and you’ll automatically be enrolled in Dr. Northrup’s upcoming two-hour live online event, Feeling Beautiful, premiering January 24, 2013. Watch Dr. Northrup’s special message below:

Now, this is a special opportunity!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Baby K’tan Baby Carriers

Get 20% off all Baby K’tan Baby Carriers through January 15.

Florida-based Baby K’tan makes an innovative baby carrier design made soft cotton that the company says is “an ideal blend of a sling, wrap and carrier, providing the positions and benefits of all three.” The Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is a ready-to-wear wrap able to carry children aged infant to three years in a variety of ways.

No Other Carrier Like It. Lightweight and compact, the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is made entirely of soft, breathable 100% cotton knit fabric strong enough to hold a child weighing eight to 35 pounds. The unique double-loop design has an adjustable back support band for extra comfort on the shoulders.

Founded in 2005, Baby K’tan, LLC is the brainchild of two families raising children with special needs. Longtime friends the Chesals and the Wernicks wanted to bond as happily as possible with their children while providing an environment suitable enough for the very best in their development. So, the experiment began, resulting in Michal Chesal and Isaac Wernick designing this versatile carrier that’s easy to use, with no wrapping, buckles, snaps, rings or hardware. They also find that the patent pending design is ideal for premature babies and babies with special needs.

GET 20% OFF ALL BABY K’TAN BABY CARRIERS
Shop www.babyktan.com and enter coupon code 20GIFT at checkout
valid January 10-15, 2013

A percentage of proceeds from all sales is donated to the American Heart Association and the National Down Syndrome Society. Baby K’tan, LLC supports a number of other organizations and charities, too!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

blabla Kids of Virginia Highlands

The very best in knit dolls, clothing and décor – made by hand, created with love.

Florence Wetterwald designs with simple poetry and vibrant style, and her popular children’s line of soft, bright, knitted playthings and clothing for kids is called blabla. The soft blabla things are handmade by artisans in Peru; with childlike wonder, the mobiles and “dream rings” –as well as rattles, paper goods such as sweet birthday cards and backpacks- support Florence’s belief that children are driven by their senses and imagination. blabla has been bringing happiness to children all over the world since 2001.

Our soft little creations are crafted with skill and thoughtful details, which make each one precious and unique …with the ancestral knowledge of our knitters, we have given life to a collection of well-loved characters who look contemporary, yet feel like old friends.

Located in Atlanta’s trendy Virginia Highlands neighborhood, blabla’s flagship store also houses a design studio where Florence and friends are committed to fair trade and sustainability. “Our mission,” they say, “is to continue to inspire joy and laughter.”

Wholesale and online shopping also available.

Another Rachel Florio PR client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Marie Puce – Children’s Fashion from Paris

Winter is the season of the imagination – what better time to get inspired by the sweet and breezy colors of spring?

True to the brand’s joyful colorful style, Marie Puce plays with Liberty of London’s sweet, fresh colors for a bright and cheerful Spring/Summer 2013 collection for the whole family – for girls and boys ages three months to 18 years. Here are a few details:

Pastel Pink by Liberty Glenjade sets the tone and brings a softness, accentuated with hints of fuchsia and coral
Shades of green –emerald, absinthe and sea foam- evoke a breath of fresh air and energy
The summer blues –royal, sky, azure and teal- inspire dreaminess
This season’s baby collection plays off vintage designs, made in soft colors and comfortable style.

Simple Couture Style. The Spring/Summer 2013 collection reflects the label’s spirit of couture design –simple, clean lines that reveal complex shapes and sophisticated details.

Quality is our top priority and we select only the best of fabrics, such as authentic Liberty of London prints. Our prices remain very accessible.

Since 2003, the sister-owners of Marie Puce Paris have been creating exclusive designs that are manufactured in France. Available in the Paris boutique and online. Marie Puce also enjoys stocking private hostess sales.

– Photographer for Marie Puce: Olivia Baumgartner. Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Stella & Stevie and the Mack & Co label

We have our feet on the ground with five kids, three dogs and two husbands between us … but our eyes up to the sky looking for the next great thing.

Penny Crivelli and Gerri Mack are best-friend-entrepreneurs (BFE’s?) who founded Crivelli Mack in 2005. The two make contemporary canvas totes, crossbody travel tags and cosmetic cases, as well as fleece jackets and hats plus faux fur coats and hats for children under the Stella & Stevie and the Mack & Co label.

Currently, Penny runs the corporate office from the San Francisco Bay area, while Earnie-Award winning designer Gerri dreams up childrenswear styles at her studio alongside a lake in the Ozarks.

Made in the USA. The company’s design sensibility focuses on fun, feminine, colorful and unique products. The bags come in bright colors and neutral prints, great for laptops, baby stuff, knitting supplies, exercise gear or just everyday items. The children’s outerwear is cut and sewn right here in the United States.

Established by the original designer of Ali Mac in Minneapolis, MN, Mack & Co started in 1993 has been recognized in the marketplace for outstanding design.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Funnybone Toys – the Art of Card Games

This Colorado-based company is the brainchild of people who are passionate about how we connect through play and how good design plays into that connection.

Making a color splash in the world of game-making, Funnybone Toys™ launched three fun and thought-provoking card games in 2012. Visually stunning works of art, Array™, CUBU™ and Spectrix™ engage game players and store-owners alike with vibrant color and stunning graphics.

Our games use good design to stimulate creativity and give your brain a workout.

Funnybone card games are designed to be enjoyed by players ages eight to adult –and everyone seems to learn something by playing with them, regardless of age. Younger players can develop an appreciation of color and hue –and older players want to keep them in a place where they will be seen by everyone -because they are meant to be played!

Good Design. This winter, the company is introducing Disruptus™, a game described as “designed to open every mind.” Funnybone Toys can be found in specialty toy and game stores, museum stores, book stores, gift stores and resorts throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, with projected growth in Latin America this year.

Funnybone Toys is created as a true combination of form, function and beautiful, minimalist design, and the design team -headed by a renowned TED Conference presenter on type and design- wants people to actually see, enjoy and appreciate the art in their games.

President Julien Sharp is passionate about the success of U.S. small businesses and their collective power to provide jobs. Once a cruise director and entertainer, Julien intends to build close relationships with small businesses as extensions to the core members of the Funnybone Toys team. She is a recognized expert; her book How to Design and Launch an Online Networking Business was published in 2009.

In the future, Funnybone Toys may include a line of active/outdoor toys, medical- and human body-related toys and games, and games that focus on increasing cognitive functions and/or manual dexterity. I can’t wait!

Another KidStuff PR client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

2013

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Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!