Lilikin&Friends

Meet three plush toy friends from Canada who’d like to get to know you, too.

Lilikin, The Melancholy Grey Kitten; Mollycoddle, The Ultra-Dainty Albino Bunny; and Eleven, The Small-for-his-Age Monkey are plush toy friends born from the mind of creative toy designer Kimberley Cleland. Together, they make up the Lilikin&Friends line of top quality plush toys made with cotton fabrics that are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). They’re stuffed with eco-conscious recycled polypropylene fibers, and have been tested and approved as safe for even the youngest of children.

Whether you’re happy, sad, or just plain confused, your new friends understand and will stay by your side. They can turn frowns upside down, and make smiles shine even brighter!

The company that makes Lilikin and his friends is about three years old, according to Kimberly, who says that not only are parents buying them for their school-age kids and as shower gifts, but adults are buying them for themselves or as gifts for their own friends.

No matter your age, you can get to know Lilikin, Mollycoddle and Eleven online or on Facebook –where all the top quality plush toys meet, of course. In fact –each one of them has their own Facebook page where fans can friend them personally (Lilikin also has a blog!).

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!

Geared for Imagination’s New Toy

A new toy from the land of LEGO has a simple shape with endless possibility for play.

Three-year-old toy company Geared for Imagination introduces Plus-Plus, a new construction toy that’s simple enough for a young children to make flat 2-D mosaics, yet able to grow with their imaginations, allowing them to create elaborate 3-D structures.

Designed and manufactured in Denmark –the country where the LEGO toy company was originally founded- Plus-Plus is also fun and addictive for adults, too. Playthings magazine recently selected Plus-Plus as a Toy of the Week! Sets are available in 100, 300, 600 and 1,200 pieces.

Through a network of retail outlets around the United States, including gift shops, toy stores, museum shops and many more types of retailers, we strive to deliver the kinds of products that we want our kids to play with.

Founded by two Ryan Hamilton and Bret Faber, Geared for Imagination creates and distributes top notch stuff for kids and what they call ‘”kidults.”

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!

Design a YooHoo & Friends Contest

For the first time ever, fans of the best selling plush toy line YooHoo & Friends have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to help manufacturer Aurora World design the next YooHoo.

The online contest, hosted on the official YooHoo & Friends Facebook page, asks contestants to download a predesigned template of line art. Then, either by hand drawing or using a computer program such as Photoshop, contestants can design their entries for consideration in an all-new YooHoo dinosaur line to hit stores in April 2013.

Aurora’s judges will review all entries and determine a grand prize winner. The winning design will be made into a special edition YooHoo to début at the industry trade show Toy Fair in 2013.

With over 22 million sold, YooHoo fans expect a lot of enthusiasm for this contest! For more information, please visit YooHoo & Friends on the official Facebook page at http://facebook.com/yoohoofanpage.

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!

Nancy Rosenzweig Joins Scandinavian Child

The company that brings you the Beaba, líllébaby and Svan brands has a new president.

As children’s shop owners and retailers gear up for several high profile trade shows this month, you may enjoy hearing about this industry news. North Carolina-based Scandinavian Child (SCI), a juvenile products company known for innovative lines of functional and stylish children’s products, appoints Nancy Rosenzweig as CEO and president. Nancy brings more than two decades of experience at the forefront of business growth for companies such as Ikea North America, Toms of Maine, Bright Horizons, Zip Car and The Natural Dentist.

This is an exciting time at Scandinavian Child. We are moving the company forward, establishing ourselves as a significant player in several key juvenile categories. We are committed to keeping the great design that SCI has become recognized for and keeping social responsibility at the forefront of everything we do.

Brenda Berg, founder of Scandinavian Child remains with the company as an owner, director and advisor. As a leading expert and advocate for juvenile product safety, Brenda will ensure SCI continues to stay ahead of the curve as a most trusted brand for parents and retailers. She is a current board member of All Baby & Child (ABC) and a post Chair of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA).

“I have always had a passion for companies that benefit children,” Nancy says. “Scandinavian Child continues to present a wonderful opportunity to make a positive impact on the quality of life and well being of children and families through our commitment to design, functionality and – most important – safety.” Built on the company philosophy “Childhood Without Compromise,” all SCI products meet the company’s criteria of innovative design, usefulness and safety.

Nancy recently appointed Brandi Royal Washington as marketing director to direct all marketing and communications for SCI and its brands. Brandi joins the company after eight years with advertising agency Brogan & Partners and five years running her own consultancy, BRANDilly Marketing + Creative, where she specialized in branding growth-phase businesses.

In addition, SCI has partnered with Marson Management, LLC and its team of seven sales reps to service territories in the United States and Canada:

Caroline Larkin – DE/NY/NJ/PA & New England
Pete Cohen – Mid Atlantic & Southeast
Rob Greenberg – Midwest
Dan Zielke/Jennifer Fasold – Northwest & Western Canada
Pam Brown – Southwest & Eastern Canada
Alison Bates – Major Retailers
Alison Bates/Pam Brown – Southern U.S.

“I’ve worked as a consultant with SCI for the past two years and I am excited to expand our involvement and confident we will be an integral part of their growth,” says Alison Bates, Marson’s founder and president, which is representing SCI’s Svan and Beaba brands. Say hello to the new sales rep team at the All Baby and Child Expo in Louisville, KY, October 14-17. SCI will be located in the Modern Child Section at Booth #4039

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!

Bluebird Blanket

This new line of American-made blankets and throws for style-conscious moms delights with eco-friendly sophistication.

Bluebird Blanket is a line of super soft, eco-friendly baby blankets that feature kid-friendly themes children can grow with and sophisticated colors that easily complement any family’s décor -in the nursery and throughout the rest of the home.

The Bluebird Blanket collection includes three styles, with additional introductions planned throughout the year. The Animal blanket wrangles a menagerie of creatures big and small, including rhinos, giraffes, turtles, elephants and owls. The inviting color combinations include beige and cream, pink and gray, and dark linen and orange spice. The Transportation blanket is every boy’s dream with trucks, cars, bikes, scooters and road signs in gold on navy. Bold chevron stripes in linen and milk and navy and milk combinations promise a smooth transition from the nursery to the big kid room and beyond.

Made in the USA. “Bluebird Blanket is proudly manufactured in the U.S. We’re thrilled to support the American textile industry and keep Americans working,” says owner Brenda Anderson. “Plus, manufacturing here allows us to have greater control over quality and deliveries. It also allows us to have superior speed to market with new products that reflect current market trends.”

The blankets are made from 74% pre-consumer recycled cotton fibers. Each is generously sized, measuring 31″ by 42″ They are mid weight and washer and dryer safe.

Débuts at ABC Kids Expo. Children’s shop owners and retailers get a chance to see the Bluebird Blanket line up close and personal by visiting booth #2746 at the ABC Kids Expo October 14-17. You may recognize the name Brenda Anderson – her company, Bluebird Sales & Distribution, represents the Mum 2 Mum brand, selling and marketing its whole juvenile products range. Bluebrid Blanket is her own brand.

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!

Sneak Peek at New Collection from Mixed Up Clothing

Mixed Up Clothing débuts Global Citizens collection at ENK Children’s Club.

Sonia Kang is exhibiting at her first children’s trade show October 21-23 in New York City! The owner and creative executive of Mixed Up Clothing –a wonderfully colorful and trendy line of clothes for kids- is introducing her brand at ENK Children’s Club at booth #1825 with a Spring/Summer 2013 collection called Global Citizens. Here’s a sneak peek!

Friendship Through Fabrics. Founded in 2007, the multi-ethnic children’s clothing line based in California is inspired by the textiles, cultures and people of the world, to develop friendships through fabrics. Sonia infuses diverse styles with cultural twists, blending materials and designs from all corners of the world.

My inspiration for this collection continues to be the mission of Mixed Up Clothing: to showcase and celebrate different cultures utilizing fabrics from all over the world. Not everyone gets to travel outside the country so each garment includes a little story to teach kids where the fabric is from. When we learn about the diversity around us, we can begin to accept one another and find unity in our differences.

For those interested, ENK Children’s Club is one of today’s premiere trade shows covering the entire market in children’s clothing, infant and fashion accessories, including layette items and footwear for newborn to pre-teen. Held four times a year in New York City in January, March, August and October, buyers and boutique owners can make appointments to view Mixed Up Clothing’s collection by make emailing zenia@mixedupclothing.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!

Brooklyn, NY-based Kalulu Débuts This Month

A vibrant new children’s wear collection inspired by the colors and traditions of East Africa.

Retailers and children’s stores will have a first look at the colorful, contemporary Kalulu children’s wear line at the ENK Children’s Club trade show later this month –and you’re getting a sneak peek right now!

Kalulu is about expressing the joy and fun of childhood, and the kikoy fabric -with its endless color combinations- captures that spirit. Plus, ‘Kalulu’ is fun to say!

Made in the USA. The new Kalulu is a comfortable and sophisticated collection that stands out from the crowd with unconventional color combinations and distinctive border prints. The line is made entirely from the East African fabric called kikoy cloth, a bold cotton fabric traditionally worn by men in the region as sarongs. From school to parties to family gatherings, the easy-to-wear clothes are both age-appropriate and eye-catching for girls and boys sizes 2T to 10. Each piece makes a bold statement but also easily mixes and matches with any existing wardrobe.

“It also allows children to stand out and express their individuality,” says founder Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham. “The ancient looming process makes it a highly durable material that gets softer with each wash, so kids can live in it and pass it down without wearing it out.”

Kalulu, which means “hare” in East African languages (like a rabbit), takes its name from the clever yet mischievous creature that often starred in the folklore that Milbert remembers from her childhood in Kenya. For her, these stories and the kikoy are interwoven since she was often listening to one while wrapped in the other. Now, the mother of three sons shares both traditions with children everywhere. “The cloth provides a sense of place,” she says, “picking up on the earthy hues found on safari as well as the beachy tones borrowed from a day on the East African coast.”

After earning degrees from Cornell and Georgetown University, Milbert spent her career in finance. The launch of Kalulu brings her life full-circle, tying into her East African roots and connecting her with her grandmother and great grandmother, who were both seamstresses.

The Spring /Summer’13 Kalulu collection features tunic dresses and tops, hooded tanks, ruffled tanks, slim-fit jeans, shorts and skorts for girls. Boy’s wear includes tunic tops, button-down shirts, hooded tops, Capris and safari shorts.

Ask for it by name at your favorite kid’s shops!

Thank you, Caletha Crawford, for introducing me to Kalulu! 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!

tokidoki x Ju-Ju-Be Collection

Popular diaper bag company collaborates with pop culture brand on a new collection now available.

Ju-Ju-Be™ diaper bags combine technology and style into the hottest, fashionable, fun bags around. Now, the company partners with pop culture brand tokidoki on a brand new collection now available in stores. Stand-out features of the tokidoki x Ju-Ju-Be collection include exclusive trims, embossed linings and co-branded pull zippers on items made from antimicrobial, Teflon®-treated fabric to reduce odor and help prevent stains. The machine washable collections also has ergonomically-curved straps, memory foam changing pads, plenty of compartments for organization, insulated bottle pockets for climate control and all-metal hardware.

Tokidoki translates as ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.

Launched in 2005 and known for its fun features, the definitive Ju-Ju-Be Super-Smart bag has the outstanding quality and detail Ju-Ju-Be is known for, including crumb drains and mommy pockets. The collection features tokidoki’s signature urban prints, Iconic and TD Dreams, in 11 unique styles of backpacks, wristlets, totes and messenger bags that appeal to consumers of all ages.

The sought-after global lifestyle brand tokidoki® is the vision of Italian artist Simone Legno and his partners, Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold. Since débuting in 2005, tokidoki has amassed a cult-like following for its larger-than-life characters and megawatt partnerships with iconic brands Hello Kitty, Karl Lagerfeld, LeSportsac, Barbie, Onitsuka Tiger, Marvel and others.

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!

Need a Gift? Shop Sila Boutique

This online retailer sells eye candy finds for girls, boys, moms, homes and more.

Nicole Griffin is the trend maker behind Sila Boutique, the newest go-to gifting site catering to “the posh tot and their hip mom.”

Nicole draws from her own fashion sense – and her experience working in the fashion industry in New York and London, to create a selection that’s both tasteful and distinctive.

I dedicate this shopping experience to all those women seeking that chic and original gift idea.

The inspiration for Sila Boutique -both in name and in style- comes from Nicole’s daughters Sienna and Lila (pictured here).

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!