Custom Tricycle for Charity

Visiting Playtime New York? In town for ENK Children’s Club?

On Saturday July 31, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund‘s 13th annual Super Saturday takes place at Nova’s Ark Project in Water Mill, NY. Exclusive preview shopping begins at 12 noon and continue to 6 PM. This famous one-of-a-kind designer garage sale features a kids’ carnival, gourmet dining and exciting activities galore.

This year, Blindmice has designed a custom tricycle with Giant and is putting it on display – and it’s for sale! Catie Foster of Catiedid Sales, Inc. in the California Market Center in Los Angeles, CA tells HCRSourcebook the custom tricycle is offered for a $500 donation at their retail partner Baby Shock in Westhampton, NY today through Friday, or at the Baby Shock booth on Super Saturday. Along with the tricycle, Blindmice has socks for sale, partnered with goods also sold by Baby Chai, Lucky Jade Products, Knuckleheads, Hula Mula and Jannuzzi Clothing.

“Any product not sold at the event will be donated to Little Threads Foundation to help foster kids,” says Catie. Little Threads is the brainchild of Knuckleheads’ Melissa Nash.

Super Saturday 12 raised nearly $3.4 million! The money was used to support the mission of OCRF, which is the formulation of early diagnostic treatment programs and research toward the ultimate conquest of ovarian cancer.

-Janet Muniz

Wonder!

Click on the current HUDSON’S cover on our website home page to view the electronic version of the July issue!

Marketed as “the first-of-its-kind children’s retailer,” Wonder is set to open its flagship store this November, providing the world’s largest collection of young children’s products and services under one roof. Based in Deerfield, IL, the 135,000-square-foot store focuses on children ages birth to seven and offers a wide assortment of brand name, value-priced children’s basics and consumables that includes everything from apparel and shoes to toys, electronics and furniture, as well as unique, high-quality specialty and boutique merchandise.

Wonder founder and chairman is entrepreneur and father of two Shane Christensen, who developed the concept upon recognizing a hole in the marketplace. Tired of having to travel to multiple destinations to meet his family’s daily needs, he evaluated the current children’s retail environment and found that the existing model was fragmented throughout a variety of retails channels – boutiques, specialty chains, mass merchants, and play and party. His solution is to create a single destination and one-stop shopping solution for all of a parent’s needs.

Focused on something the new company calls a Passion for Parents™ philosophy, Wonder also features a 21,000 square-foot indoor park as well as party areas and a restaurant, coffee bar and bakery allowing kids to play while parents shop – and enjoy some adult time, too. Admission to Wonder’s play area is based on a membership model. Wonder currently employs seven people; management is hoping to launch 19 stores in the next five years.

Taking an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach to the flagship store’s development, Wonder is renovating an existing big box retail space using recycled and repurposed materials and fixtures, hiring Gensler to design the store’s interior and exterior, with the goal to create a retail icon that can become a case study for a cost-effective and sustainable design.

The vision of Wonder has attracted a talented group of former c-suite retail executives including Bill Colaianni, former Walmart chief marketing and merchandising officer for Central America, and former president and chief executive officer of VTech Industries Rick Mazursky.

“I’m truly excited by the Wonder concept,” Bill says, who is now Wonder’s president and CEO. “It’s a great opportunity for me to use 35 years of consumer marketing, retail and general management experience from some of the world’s biggest companies to build something new and exciting.”

Bill also mentions that he thinks it’s an ideal time to launch the new children’s retail concept because spending on children in this age group is largely “recession-proof” – plus, the state of the commercial real estate market allows for acquiring great properties at very reasonable prices.

Visit WonderWarehouse.com and watch a video of a recent CNBC story about the new company’s progress.

-Janet Muniz

BabyHawk

Creative Mom Develops Custom Baby Carrier That Fills Many Needs

Recently featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune, BabyHawk is a multi-million dollar business run by Robyn Collar, who designed a baby carrier that has simplified her life – and now, helps other moms as well. “My kids were born with some severe birth defects,” Robyn tells writer Nina Garin. “Both were in diapers and my son had some bonding issues to the point where I couldn’t put him down even just to change my daughter’s diaper. I needed to find a solution, quick.”

She couldn’t afford to buy something off the rack, so she developed the BabyHawk Oh SNAP, inspired by the traditional Chinese mei tai style that can hold a baby both in front and on a parent’s back. At first she sold them on eBay and then in 2005, she started BabyHawk.com and recruited her mother to help with the business.

Today, Robyn makes BabyHawk slings from a spacious Oceanside, CA warehouse and has eight employees, including her mother, some sewers and a customer service representative based in Indiana. She sells in more than 200 retail stores and has expanded her product line to include the BabyHawk Mei Tai and BabyHawk Hoodies, a soft and warm lining/head covering to add to the Babyhawk Mei Tai. Customers can also design their own BabyHawk products, too.

It’s all been a learning experience for Robyn, who dropped out of high school because she never really fit in and became a teen mom. “People have to find their niche and go with it,” she says. “A lot of people don’t realize their potential. It just takes a push, and my extra push was having kids who were disabled. None of this would have happened otherwise.”

-Janet Muniz

Baby Potential

Every baby has the potential to be whatever he or she wants to be.

Start here. Grow far. HCRSourceBook thinks this company tagline says it all! San Antonio, TX-based Baby Potential was founded in 2008 by Dacia Napier, M.D., a full-time radiologist and mother of two, and Allison Zeller, a philanthropist and mother of three. It’s a line of infant and toddler apparel featuring colorful career patches. The company’s core mission is to affect change by nurturing education through social marketing and community outreach.

“We think that access to education is something that America – with all its strength, should be able to provide its children through the joint cooperation of the public and private sector,” Dacia says. “Everyone has something to contribute. It is every individual’s obligation to help each other achieve it.”

Featuring classic styling and tailoring, one-pieces and t-shirts are made of 100% fine cotton, combed for softness and comfort, are durable and won’t fade or shrink. The Baby Potential signature, though, are the 12 different silk-screened career patches: Artist, Chef, Philanthropist – even Rancher – in addition to Teacher, Doctor and of course, Rocket Scientist among other career options adorn them and they coordinate with pants, skorts, bibs and burp cloths. The products are gender-neutral and available in six contemporary colors. Double-needle stitch detail reinforce the seams and shoulders are form-fitting. The one-pieces have a three-button style closure with premium snaps. Continue reading →

Kids Fashion from Europe

An HCRSourcebook first – video!

Three fun European children’s brands presented their new Spring Summer 2011 collections at several major European trade shows including Pitti Bimbo in Florence, Italy and FIMI in Valencia, Spain.

Tutto Piccolo. This new collection inspires visions of a romantic evening in Italy’s coastal town of Portofino in the 50’s, when elegance, sophistication and innovation defines the Italian lifestyle – in red, white and blue! Watch the fun frolic!

Cri Cri. In addition to presenting its new brand image, this collection incorporates classic shades of beige combined with pink and blue, dressing babies in soft, tender pieces.

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Baby. Designed with unique tenderness and enormous creativity, this collection is full of color and contrasts.

-Janet Muniz

Enchanted Enfant Returns

Paula Franco joins the Enchanted Enfant team as newly appointed sales director.

News from a much beloved children’s brand: luxury line Enchanted Enfant returns to market!

Designer and founder Michele Brulé recently took some time away to mourn the loss of her mother to breast cancer, and now she’s back with a collection for spring summer 2011 inspired by historical works of art, vintage Parisian photographs and images of her mom as a child.

The Printemps 2011 Collection could be her strongest to date, emanating the signature romantic elegance that Enchanted Enfant has made its trademark. The Joséphine dress is a dreamy confection of silk chiffon with delicately ruffled cap sleeves, smocked empire waist and a sprinkling of jewel-like metallic trimmed rosettes available in plum, putty and blush.

Michele tells HCRSourceBook she is extending the brand with Couturier Collection, truly special, special occasion wear. Notable pieces include the stunning L’Opéra gown and Place Vendôme dress with glistening metallic lace trim and the must have Estelle Italian brocade coat, named after her six-year-old daughter and muse.

The Essentiels Collection is also extending the brand, chic easy pieces for everyday wear offered at a moderate price point for broader distribution. Key pieces include the Rue Cler pima cotton pointelle smocked top and legging, the raffia wide brimmed floppy sun hat and silk rosette headband.

What’s more, Michele and Enchanted Enfant is donating a portion of all sales from the Printemps 2011 Collection to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the first and only National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children .

View the collection at the next edition of ENK Children’s Club August 1 – 3.

-Janet Muniz

Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp

This summer during the Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp, families can spend time together at a very affordable price – absolutely FREE.

The Bass Pro event continues through Sunday, July 11 at 54 Bass Pro Shops across the U.S., including two stores in Canada (others run through July 18). Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 2pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5pm, kids get to enjoy free crafts like coloring their own backpack, painting a wiggle fish, designing their own birdhouse, making a camping photo frame, creating plaster animal tracks and making a leather key chain for Father’s Day.

The whole family can learn the basics of hiking, camping and fishing. Other workshops include bird watching, archery, animal identification and plants & insects. New this year: families can learn important summer safety travel tips for their pets. Kids can earn a collectable pin for every workshop completed. Plus families can take part in the time-honored tradition of making campfire s’mores, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 5-6pm – all while supplies last.

“This is our way of helping families enjoy affordable, fun activities together and create lifelong memories,” president Jim Hagale tells HCRSourceBook. “Bass Pro Shops is committed to helping adults and children put away their laptops, video games and cell phones this summer – and head outdoors.” Customers can pick up the FREE Summer Guide booklet full of different outdoor activities and tips, ideas and product checklists to help make the most of summer outdoor adventure.

Plus, the HUGE Ultimate Outdoor Giveaway includes more than $74,500 in prizes! Five winners drawn nationally receive special packages including a Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge Vacation Package. And one lucky GRAND PRIZE winner receives a complete outdoor package worth more than $60,000, including a Barna Log Cabin, an Arctic Cat® Prowler™ UTV, Tracker® Pro Team™ 175TXW fishing boat and an ASCEND™ kayak. See store or visit ESPNradio.com for more details and to register.

Get your summer on!

-Janet Muniz

Kalencom Aids in Oil Spill Relief

Lifestyle company Kalencom is an active supporter of the city of New Orleans, its home for over 35 years. Back in April, when word reached the company and its division Hadaki of the devastation of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Louisana’s wetlands and animal life, it put in place a plan to raise money for Audubon Nature Institute which is coordinating the sea turtle marine mammal rehabilitation.

During the month of June, Kalencom and Hadaki are donating 10% of all sales to Audubon Nature Institute. “Our company is no stranger to devastation, having lost an entire warehouse as a result of Hurricane Katrina,” owner Monica Kalozdi tells us. “We made the decision to return and rebuild our business in New Orleans because our ties to the city and state are extremely strong. It breaks our heart to see so much of our natural resources and animal life in jeopardy as a result of the oil spill, and we hope our June program will have an impact on saving the wildlife.”

Due to the timing of the spill, sea turtles are gravely affected as this is the time of year when they migrate to Mexican beaches to nest. Kalencom/Hadaki’s donation directly supports the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program. “We are grateful for companies such as Kalencom – through their generosity, we will be able to accelerate our efforts in this region and hopefully succeed in helping local animals through the Audubon Aquatic Center with assessment and treatment,” says Laurie Conkerton, senior vice president for development, Audubon Nature Institute.

Kalencom is best known for their line of diaper bags that can double as totes for mom. The bags incorporate intricate detailing, high quality and affordable pricing. The Hadaki line features a wide variety of accessories such as small wristlets, wallets and zip cases to messenger bags, backpacks and duffels for teens, tweens and young professionals. Recently the company revamped its production, and now all products are manufactured in an eco-friendly manner and are free of Phthalates, AZO, DEHP, DBP, BOP and other harmful chemicals.

Consumers can support Kalencom’s efforts during June by visiting www.hadakishop.com to purchase Hadaki products and by purchasing Kalencom at any store or etailer such as www.rosenberryrooms.com and www.luvmybag.com. For more information on Audubon Nature Institute, visit www.auduboninstitute.org.

-Janet Muniz

June Flower Girls

Pegeen Announces Newly Expanded Jr. Bridesmaid Collection

Ah… to be a June bride – is nothing compared to being a June flower girl! Since 1982, Pegeen has created beautiful dresses in sizes for infants and girls, including plus sizes – and a Couture collection The company specializes in flower girl and special occasion dresses, offering shoppers several options for customization.

Ideal for weddings, bat mitzvahs, First Communions, holidays and other special occasions, shoppers can make each dress uniquely their own by choosing from over 200 different colors and customizing to short sleeves or tank style, adding a sweetheart neckline, flowers or a sash – the combinations are endless.

Pegeen has recently expanded their Junior Bridesmaid collection with five new styles in sizes 6X to 16 and plus size, featuring elegant, long dress styles, some with spaghetti straps and signature silk flowers.

Virtually every Pegeen dress is available in plus size, offering fuller-figured children stylish choices. Pegeen sends their customers a bodice made of muslin via U.S. mail in advance, to use in determining a flattering fit.

Pegeen dresses and ring bearer suits are sold exclusively online at www.pegeen.com. Shoppers receive free expert advice when they call or chat with Pegeen, where the company’s designers themselves answer questions and take the guesswork out of ordering dresses online.

Special note: Pegeen would be happy to participate in special contests, giveaways and other promotional opportunities!

-Janet Muniz

DIY Design

I first learned about Boston, MA-based FashionPlaytes on ABC World News. CEO Sarah McIlroy is interviewed in a story about jobs returning to the marketplace. At the time, she hired two of the start-up internet company’s temp employees full time. Yay!

Sarah and her daughter Maddie

Sarah designed her own clothes as a young girl, learning from her mom. “On occasion, we’d stay up almost all night selecting embellishments and making the outfit ‘just right,” she says. Now, her personal passion is her business.

“I’d like to offer girls the chance to create something unique and build their confidence and self-esteem in the process,” Sarah says. “Our business offers tween girls an opportunity to design clothing and have it produced to wear, at a reasonable price.”

DIY designers use the Fashion Playtes online designer sketchbook to select, customize and accessorize their own clothes. Design instructions are illustrated – and narrated – quite a nice addition! After placing the order, the custom-made threads are beautifully boxed and delivered in about three weeks’ time.

Sarah designed Fashion Playtes as a collaboration between parents and daughters, so moms and dads can be sure their fashionista has a safe place to express her creativity.

Design on!

-Janet Muniz