The All-New Bitty Birdie Boutique

A smart way to shop for brands you love, this new e-commerce site works with both children’s specialty stores and “Fashionista Moms” all over the world to bring you favorite designers for a fraction of retail.

Tiffany Cornelius is founder of the all-new Bitty Birdie Boutique, a place where you can shop for top-of-the-line American and European boutique children’s clothing brands. Tiffany has curated a wonderful assortment of both brand new and gently used designer favorites, some offered at up of 60% off.

Retail therapy without the guilt. In the past, Tiffany has spent hard earned dollars on a boutique wardrobe for her two children, and after they outgrew their clothes, she struggled to find a way to earn back money for boutique items. “I’ll never forget collecting a $19 check for a basket of high-end children’s items,” she says. “That’s when I realized there was definitely a need to create a marketplace to buy/sell high-end children’s clothing.”

With over eight years of experience running franchised stores, Tiffany also had friends in the boutique retail market that were struggling financially. Sometimes forced to sell high-end merchandise at significantly marked down prices, they were not earning the highest profit on these new items.

Ninety-five percent of boutiques across America do not have an e-commerce store. Fashionista Mommies earn 50% of the sale on pre-loved items and boutiques and vendors earn 60% on new with tags items at Bitty Birdie Boutique.

Bitty Birdie Boutique accepts new and gently used clothing from all seasons everyday, because they ship around the world. And we’re talking brands like Brands Catimini, Lilly Pulitzer, Burberry, Mini Boden, Matilda Jane, Deux Par Deux, Lili Gaufrette, Livie & Luca, Papo d’ Anjo and so much more. Tiffany says, “Buy the brands you love, but on the flip side, sell the boutique brands you no longer need.”

Very great idea!

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!

A New Bib for the Modern Tot

Just four months old, Wee Drool has already won several industry awards, including the Creative Child Magazine Top Choice Product Award for 2012.

The word “drool” has got to be the newest “It” word for people dreaming up new products for kids. I think it’s got that certain appeal –part adorable, part icky … and all in good fun.

This -and more- is what appeals to Kelly Yaep -a California-based mom of three very drooly boys- and her new company. She makes Wee Drool T-Bibs, waterproof bibs designed to look like hip t-shirts. Made from a blend of bamboo viscose and organic cotton, Kelly’s T-Bibs are not only adorable and fun, they’re quite soft and comfortable, soak-proof and stylish, of course. “Our hip modern prints make for a stylish cover up solution that is inspiring a new generation to drool in style,” Kelly tells me.

T-bib = comfort + less rash = happy baby and less laundry = even happier moms!

Kelly designed the Wee Drool T-Bib to look and feel like it was part of a child’s outfit, instead of sticking out like a drooly mess. Especially appealing to the fashion conscious kid.

Made in the USA. They’re also designed for the eco-minded parent. The company is committed to producing superior quality products using low impact dyes, water-based inks and recycled paper hang tags –right here in America. You go, girl!

“The T-Bib makes for a stylish cover-up solution that is inspiring a new generation to drool in style,” Kelly says. “Wee are a nation of Drool … Become a part of the revolution!”

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!

Nohi Kids for a Vibrant Fall/Winter Season

Popular eco-friendly brand delights once more with bright colors and playful, bold graphics.

Drawing inspiration from children’s artwork and experimenting with graphic design, founder Janel Jones has created a vibrant Fall/Winter 2012 collection for babies and children using a mix of certified organic cotton, bamboo fiber and a touch of spandex.

The newest Nohi Kids collection features fresh prints and color combinations, including whales, disco dots, pears and geckos- all with a touch of whimsy.

We create comfortable, high quality, and eco-friendly clothes that appeal to both kids and their parents. We are the favorite dress or tee shirt that your child won’t take off. And, we want to be sure that our clothes are durable enough so that you can pass them down to the next lucky kid.

The expanded Nohi Baby collection débuts rompers and newbie gowns in addition to classic bodysuits, yoga pants and reversible blankets. Bestsellers, including their signature Hoots owl print, are back as well as new favorites- multi-colored whales, Mack trucks and flocks of birds- perfect for tiny newcomers.

For bigger kids, Nohi débuts a playful wrap-around gecko graphic long-sleeved tee, skateboard and motorcycle tees for little daredevils, and a drum tee. Pear print and disco dot print sash dresses are also new for fall, available in sizes 12-18 months to 7/8. Solid and print leggings are designed to complement these dresses as well as mix and match with the entire collection.

Janel explains that in the Maori language, nohi nohi means, “to be small.” In Japan, the popular national holiday Kodomo Nohi is a day to celebrate children. And in Hawaiian, nohi means “brightly colored and vivid.” She says, “So, I suppose a Nohi Kid is a bright, vivacious little thing just oozing with personality!” Indeed.

The environmentally friendly line uses low-impact, water based inks for printing and is CPSIA compliant. “We have a very personal relationship with our manufacturer,” Janel says. “We chose to work with them because of their integrity and meticulous attention to detail. And, most importantly, they maintain a social accountability standard that ensures workplace safety, fair working hours and decent wages, no discrimination and no child labor.”

The company is committed to doing its part to improve the lives of children. A portion of sales from the Fall/Winter 2012 collection will be donated to the Caine’s Arcade Imagination Foundation, dedicated to finding and fostering creativity and entrepreneurship in kids. The Nohi Kids fall collection is available in stores now and at www.nohikids.com.

Thank you, Adrienne Dorsey of Magnolia PR for introducing me to Nohi Kids!

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!

Lily & Momo – Stylish Accessories

What little girl wouldn’t want to accessorize her cute outfit with a stylish owl handbag? Thanks to new company Lily & Momo, she can!

Atlanta, GA-based Lily & Momo specializes in high-quality, handmade accessories for children. The extensive collection of fanciful barrettes, headbands, bows and hair clips –from animals to flowers to stars, rainbows and crowns- are packaged to please using recycled paper and other environmentally friendly materials. There’s even a variety of “clip keepers” to choose from. The embellishments are handcrafted from soft felt in vibrant colors and the working part of the clip is made to stay securely in the hair.

And the kid-sized purses and handbags are a stand-out … in owl, turtle, fish and flower designs that are sure to delight.

I was looking for fun hair accessories for my daughter and found that the market was missing whimsical hair clips for girls. So I developed one -a hip, fashionable line of hair accessories.

Named after her daughter Lily and her son Miles (Momo is his nickname), Sharon Miller and her husband Evan launched the company about one year ago, and Sharon tells me that it’s captured the imagination of the children’s marketplace, growing extremely fast. An adorable addition, I agree! The product design and materials used are safety tested to ensure the highest quality, made with love and care. Available at Nordstrom and children’s shops from Alaska to Connecticut, Canada to South Korea, 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!

Golly Gee-pers Game Teaches Manners

Award-winning games teach children table manners in a fun, delicious way.

A while back, Staci Ericson discovered –through an honest parent and good friend- that her daughter’s table manners left a little to be desired. “I went home and quickly drew some silly sketches with captions and corresponding thumbs-up or thumbs-down illustrations, put them inside zip lock sandwich bags,” she says.

We’ve got kids’ manners in a bag.

Since then, Staci has taken her card game idea to market. Golly Gee-pers mealtime games encourage good table manners, incorporating honest feedback and accountability. Staci and her team research, develop and test fun ways to teach manners to children, with the help of local pediatric groups. “I was able to survey parents, grandparents and caregivers and later put the game through a series of focus groups,” she says. “My goal was not to simply get the game on the market but to provide a useful tool that would address table manners in the moment they occur.”

Honored as Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Socially Responsible Products for 2011 and one of Dr. Toy’s 100 Best New Products for Children 2011, Golly Gee-pers Table Manners Cards not only teach kids proper etiquette, the entire process really enhances the mealtime experience –for everyone. Here’s a video:

New Products in 2012. Staci plans to introduce a few more products under the Golly Gee-pers brand sometime this year. Don’t Pick Your Nose and Other Jazzy Manners Songs helps parents teach their kids social skills in addition to introducing them to light jazz music. Toddlers at the Table is a flap book designed specifically for new diners. We’re looking forward to these releases.

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! Thank you Rachel Florio PR for introducing me to Golly Gee-pers!

Sammi & David Débuts New Collection

With all the zeal you’d expect, an up-and-coming company débuts a collection just as vibrant and eclectic as the wonderful life that inspired it.

Rebecca Gold and Shana Cutler became instant BF’s over cowboy boots. The two knew from the first grade that they were destined to make a lasting impression on the world of fashion.

Their signature Love Jay Girls apparel line has won over many-a-fashionista, and now, they’re poised to set trends again with Sammi & David, their “fearlessly-expressive” brand that celebrates a child’s spontaneity. “In truth, we care about these girls because we once were these girls,” they say.

Designed specifically for a girl’s tween years, the new line embraces individuality with fashion forward panache, bridging the ‘girly-girl’-one-day, ‘rocker-chick’-the-next vibe. The collection features sweet and sassy designs, made from ultra-comfortable materials like bamboo fleece and knit jersey to edgier fabrics such as pleather and distressed leopard.

‘Sammi’ is for your daintiest moods. ‘David’ represents that edgy alter ego that wants to come out and play. Sammi & David strives to offer the freedom to choose not who she wants to be, but rather express the beautiful young lady she already is.

Los Angeles, CA-based Felicia’s LLC is dedicated to producing its growing product line with high-quality materials and detailed construction. In early August, Sammi & David is introducing the Spring/Summer 2013 collection of tops, bottoms, dresses and outerwear to the children’s retail industry at the Playtime New York trade show. See it soon in stores!

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!

A Little Bit of Italy for Your Nursery

Italy’s fastest growing nursery brand, with its wide variety of babycare products, is now available in the United States.

Well-known distributor Kastel International has been named U.S. distributor for Parma, Italy-based Mebby/Medel Group, a company with a longstanding reputation as a trusted medical device manufacturer, spanning over 40 years. Their innovative Mebby babycare products are known to be safe and respectful to the environment, catering to the needs of today’s parents –and include products for breast and bottle feeding, teething and bath time.

Kastel is launching Mebby in the U.S. with two products. Mebby Jelly Baby, a memory foam changing mat, is the first-ever changing mat made from soft memory foam and ergonomically shaped to fit baby. The PVC-free changing mat is 100% waterproof, anti-bacterial, Latex-Free and hypoallergenic. The mat grips to a changing table or dresser without having to attach it, stays at room temperature for warm comfort for baby and can be easily wiped clean. Jelly Baby can be used on its own or with its separately available terry backed machine washable liners.

The Mebby Bath Toy Store, a cleverly designed bath toy storage solution to help keep baby’s bath toys tidy and clean. Compact and attractive, its two-piece system for drying bath toys uses nested buckets in gentle pastel colors. The inner bucket has drain-holes in the bottom, and the outer bucket catches the water running through. A wide opening at the top keeps air circulating through, avoiding the breeding of nasty mold.

Jelly Baby and Bath Toy Store are both ingenious products -not to mention affordable and stylish- that moms will love for everyday use. We are thrilled to add Mebby to the growing Kastel portfolio of distinctive juvenile goods brands.

–Stellario D’Urso, president, Kastel International

Founded in 1996 by Stellario, the Kastel team of seasoned marketing industry veterans uses their global experience to launch domestic and European-based brands. The company’s portfolio also includes Netherlands-based Mutsy, makers of strollers, Spain-based Babyhome, an award-winning collection of baby gear, Jahgoo, a collection of baby/toddler bathroom essentials such as potties and step stools and BabyZoo, fun and smart designed sleep aids for young children.

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! Thank you, Hilary Abbott, for introducing me to Mebby!

Hadley Stilwell – Made for Moms by Moms

The maker of well-tailored clothes for nursing moms and beyond was awarded the prestigious 2011 Eileen Fisher Business Grant for Entrepreneurs.

Seattle, WA-based HadleyStilwell has a vision. In February 2009, founder and designer Holli Harris set out to give breastfeeding mothers pulled-together, fashionable wardrobe pieces that allow for ease of breastfeeding or pumping. She’s also captured the imagination of women entrepreneurs, too.

I want to minimize the challenge of committing to breastfeeding, especially for mothers returning to work.

The company, named after Holli’s daughter, participated in Eileen Fisher’s 3rd annual Inspiring Women Event, which took place in May at the Eileen Fisher retail store in downtown Seattle. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with three Seattle area entrepreneurs as well as executives from Eileen Fisher, finding out how these local women have been able to turn their passions into successful, socially responsible businesses. In addition to HadleyStilwell, Mama K’s Play Clay, a maker of all-natural play dough with hints of aromatherapy to calm while encouraging creativity, and Ricicli, maker of handmade, one-of-a-kind upcycled clothing for babies and children, were also honored.

“Eileen Fisher is a business leader and role model for all women,” Holli says. “My business is all about merging functionality with style to support the most natural, and empowering, thing ever – breastfeeding. Working with Eileen Fisher inspires me to keep the focus on business values and giving back as we grow, just as Eileen Fisher has done.”

Holli is always poised to launch new pieces, such as a maxi dress and tunic-length top, to her versatile and popular Jet Set Collection. Yet even as she expands the HadleyStilwell collection, she always looks for ways to give back. She is a director on the board of Chindex International, the only private healthcare network of clinics and hospitals in China. She is also the chair of Washington CASH, a non-profit microfinance organization that provides business training, a supportive community and microloans that enable low-income individuals to achieve self-sufficiency through their own small business ideas. In addition, Holli donates 5% of every HadleyStilwell purchase to Best for Babes, an award-winning organization dedicated to helping moms beat the “Booby Traps” to breastfeeding – the cultural and institutional barriers that prevent moms from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals.

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!

Stuck on You – Primary Sponsor of the Organized Mom Awards 2012

It all started when I innocently created some labels for my son. With word spreading rapidly through the school community, orders started coming in and Stuck on You was born.

-Carrie Felton, owner of Stuck on You

Carrie’s innocent label-creating began in Australia circa 1995, and since then, Stuck On You has grown to be the most recognized name labels company in Australia, offering products in hundreds of countries worldwide, with offices in many regions, including the USA.

Our labels are tough, they have been tested by kids all over the world. Our success has come from word of mouth. Apart from great quality, our products are great fun; they are loved by mums, dads, kids and schools alike.

Looking for labels and more? All of the products from Stuck on You are created out of necessity to make life easier for moms –and their kids. The clever design team is constantly coming up with new designs that your kids will love. And the Stuck on You product line continues to expand with drink bottles, learning books, canvases, height charts, backpacks, lunch boxes, library bags, personalized clothing and more. Carrie and her company have a passion and love for all things organized -she just loves to create time to do the fun things in life, like spending time with family and friends, cooking and entertaining. That’s why Stuck on You is the primary sponsor of the Organized Mom Awards 2012.

Stuck on You USA. Name labels, school labels and personalized gifts can all be created by you on the Stuck on You USA product previewer before you buy. Stuck on You labels are designed to stick and stay stuck.

Stuck for a gift idea? The company ships anywhere in the United States. Choose from the enormous collection of name labels, kids labels, school labels, clothing labels, iron on labels, bag tags, luggage tags, lunchboxes, drink bottles, kids clothing, stationery, wall art and more, then start personalizing with color, design, nearly anything your heart desires- to create your very own personalized Stuck On You USA product. “We love a bargain and we know our customers do too,” Carrie says. “Keep an eye out on our latest offers online for bargains, specials and brand new products.”

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!

Introducing Rayil – Inventive, Beautiful, Versatile

A sneak peek at a unique line of childrenswear that blends traditional Indian silhouettes with Western styling.

Aruna Hatti calls herself the Maharani of Possibilities – a magical moniker for the talented, creative mind behind Gnaana, her successful project that offers engaging toys and more to educate young children about South Asian cultures, languages and history. “Whether they are listening to a gush of water or evaluating the squishability of peas, children are learning from what is around them,” she says –so true to the nature of a child’s life.

Now, Aruna is collaborating with New Delhi fashion designer Moutushi Sarkar on Rayil, a new division of her U.S.-based Gnaana Company, LLC. In the spirit of knowledge and learning –the meaning of the Sanskrit word, gnaana- Rayil’s designs use traditional Indian textiles complemented by subtle details and clean lines.

The pureness of the natural fabrics and the tradition of the techniques make this a timeless collection. Along with the beauty and high quality of the textiles, we are careful to provide practicality through silks and cottons that can withstand multiple washings and wear.

Great Value. Versatility is a key aspect of this collection, which includes many pieces offered in both silk or cotton, and can be mixed and matched for dressy and everyday looks. Moutushi Sarkar, a graduate of India’s prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology, specializes in experimenting with innovative silhouettes. She has designed for such global brands as Urban Outfitters, Rene Derhy and Derhy-Kids, Miss Selfridge and Esprit.

Bridging East and West. More than 300 types of fabrics are available in India alone, and each season, the designs for Rayil -which means train in the Tamil language- travel throughout the continent, drawing inspiration from local fabrics and techniques found there. For instance, the Spring ’13 collection features Benarasi silk from the Benaras region in Uttar Pradesh, Chanderi silk from the Chanderi region in Madhya Pradesh, Karishma cotton from Tamil Nadu as well as cotton Khadi, a fabric popularized by Gandhi.

Coming Soon. Rayil’s silhouettes lend a contemporary Western spin on traditional Indian styles, bridging East and West. For girls, you’ll find scalloped-edge circle skirts; sweeping, layered maxi skirts; paper bag-waist woven leggings; delicately trimmed wrap tops; pin-tucked tank tops; and draped A-line and pleated tunic-style dresses. Decorative accessories like ombré scarves and pompom stoles and reversible capes are ladylike toppers. For boys, these exquisite fabrics are used on easy-to-wear tunics and pants.

Available in sizes 2-8, each piece is carefully constructed to provide visual interest through texture, color and print mixing.

Thank you, Caletha Crawford, for introducing me to Rayil – and to Gnaana!

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!