Announcements

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Bestaroo


Bestaroo’s new holiday collection is here!

Bestaroo‘s new winter wonderland-themed mommy & me pajamas give back all profits to the Canines for Disabled Kids scholarship fund, which provides scholarships of up to $5,000 to children 18 and under who are receiving service dogs. Your purchase will help to increase independence for children with disabilities and their families by supporting the creation of child-canine service teams. The scholarships offset the cost of dogs for kids with physical or psychological disabilities. One hundred percent of the donated funds will go toward scholarships, which are rewarded quarterly to children across the country.

The happy snowmen and snowflakes print pictures here is designed by six-year-old Isla, winner of their recent drawing competition.

Known for the “yummiest, softest, most cozy fabric to touch baby’s skin,” Bestaroo’s buttery-soft pajamas are made of the breathable and sustainable fabric, Tencel Modal).  Baby loungewear for newborns up to 24 months retails for $28 while women’s styles retail for $48. Available online at www.bestaroo.com.

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DockATot


Award winning invention releases three new cover patterns in the United States.

DockATot is a simple, elegant solution for multitasking parents who need a safe spot for their little ones anywhere, anytime. The unique shape and design of DockATot allows baby to comfortably chill, play, rest, snuggle, log in tummy time and get diaper changes.

Designed in Sweden in 2006, made in Europe and launched in the U.S. in 2015, DockATot baby docking stations provide the ideal hygienic microclimate for babies, with a feel that mimics the womb. All materials used are sourced from top-quality suppliers, tested and proven free of harmful substances.

The company makes the DockATot in two sizes and are lightweight, portable and created with traveling in mind, with rail-like sides for safe, sweet dreams for children transitioning into a bigger bed:

  • Deluxe+ – the ultimate docking station for babies’ ages 0-8 months old or 5-22 lbs.
  • Grand– provides a snug spot for little ones ages 9 to 36 months

In January 2019, three of DockATot’s stylish new cover prints will be available to consumers for the first time. For a modern touch, DockATot is launching two Buffalo Plaid styles in natural and charcoal, as well as a new Black Marble addition to the Stone collection. Far from décor du jour, Buffalo Plaid and Stone are contemporary designs that exude a sense of luxury and will stand the test of time. The new styles were recently unveiled at the Kind + Jugend Show in Germany and will be available at fine retail stores nationwide and on DockATot.com.

“Love and luxury have been exhaustively incorporated in the design process, with my own children in mind.”

Founder Lisa Furuland Kotsianis was inspired to create something new in the baby and children’s industry when my first son was born. “We believe that every baby deserves to be surrounded in a comfortable environment every day of their lives,” she says. “There is simply nothing else like it on the market that allows mothers to feed, soothe and bond with their baby.”

Thanks to the perfect marriage of style and functionality, DockATotⓇ has become increasingly in demand by parents around the world and has won many awards, including the prestigious British Junior Design Award, “Best Of” The Bump and “Most Registered Product 2017” from Babylist.

Dos & Don’ts for Donating Children’s Goods to Hurricane Victims


A message from Gary C. Smith, President and CEO of NAEIR, the largest gifts-in-kind organization in America.

One of the great things about American children’s retail and manufacturing companies is that when disaster strikes, many of us want to help. Our response is often a powerful urge to rush what we think will be helpful supplies straight to the disaster zone.

Think twice! Very often, such supplies do more harm to good. In the chaotic aftermath of a storm or flood, goods are often left to go to waste. For example, we recently learned that more than a year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, 10 trailers full of rotting, rodent-infested donations were discovered in a parking lot,

Worse yet, these spontaneous donations can clog up valuable staging space and transportation zones, hampering relief efforts of those on the ground. After Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras, cargo planes carrying life-saving supplies were unable to land because the runways were covered with boxes of useless winter clothing donations.

This is such a wide-spread problem, relief workers have dubbed it “the disaster after the disaster.”

However, companies can truly make a difference for victims of disasters. Here are two things you can do that will make the right kind of difference:

  • Make a financial contribution to a reputable not-for-profit that specializes in disaster relief and has a proven track record of delivering aid. That way, your donated funds can be used to purchases what’s needed most – often food, water and medicine.
  • If you have goods you’d like to give, don’t ship them to the disaster site: donate them to a national gifts-in-kind organization. These are 501c3 nonprofits that accept corporate product donations (aka “gifts-in kind”), then redistribute them to qualified nonprofits upon request. They have a process in place for delivering goods into the hands of those who are primed to receive them, after confirming they’re qualified nonprofits.

For corporate donors, joining a gifts-in-kind organization is simple and free (generally, you simply complete an online form). Once your company is accepted, you can donate at any time.

How it works: you provide the organization with an inventory of your donation, and once it’s approved, ship it to a designated location. The organization takes it from there.

In addition to corporate-wide gratification, there are compelling business benefits here. Product donations are tax deductible. In fact, if your firm is a C Corp, it’s eligible for a tax deduction up to twice the cost of the merchandise you donate, thanks to a little-known section of tax code, IRC Section 170(e)(3).

Gifts-in-kind donating is also an easy way to keep inventory current and warehouses in order, since overstocks, out-of-season merchandise and even returns are accepted. In addition, your organization will advise you what specific charities requested and received your goods – providing some good news to share with employees and customers.

In short, it’s a great thing when America’s corporate citizens want to help victims of natural disasters, as well as those in need year-round. But to be truly helpful, it has to be done right.

About National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources

Galesburg, Illinois-based NAEIR, National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources  has received donations of excess inventory from more than 8,000 U.S. corporations and redistributed more than $3 billion in products to non-profits and schools.

The gifts-in-kind organization provides FREE merchandise year-round, including clothing, office, maintenance and janitorial supplies, paper goods, plus much more. Learn more by visiting naeir.org. Gary C. Smith may be reached at 800-562-0955.

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My Singing Monsters


Get ready for plush toys, home décor, collectibles and electronics accessories!

My Singing Monsters is a beloved, critically acclaimed game on the App Store and Google Play, with more than 70 million players worldwide. The free-to-play family-friendly title explores rich and intriguing worlds as players engage in discovery, creativity and delight by breeding and feeding Singing Monsters to build unique melodies.

My Singing Monsters is produced by mobile gaming company Big Blue Bubble. For more than 10 years, Big Blue Bubble has been creating fun, innovative, engaging and award-winning games that inspire creativity and encourage people of all ages to embrace their playful side. Big Blue Bubble’s commitment has earned the studio recognition from prestigious organizations around the world, including awards from Deloitte, BAFTA and IGN for economic growth, people’s choice and editor’s choice, respectively. My Singing Monsters.is the studio’s top-grossing flagship franchise.

Big Blue Bubble, partnering with Vancouver, Canada-based multimedia entertainment company Wind Sun Sky and The Walking Dead producer Skybound Entertainment, has licensed the My Singing Monsters gaming app property to FanWraps Inc. to produce a line of automotive, home décor, collectibles and consumer electronic accessories.

In addition, the troika has also licensed My Singing Monsters to Commonwealth Toys to produce a complete line of plush toys in all sizes for the global market.

Everyone involved is thrilled.

“With their strong fan-centric pop culture licenses, we know FanWraps will deliver quality products for our brand,” says Catherine Winder, CEO of Wind Sun Sky and producer of the game’s animated series. “We’re also excited to bring our plush toy program to life for our fans and collectors by working with Commonwealth Toys.” Catherine is known for her work at LucasFilm and on The Angry Birds Movie.

My Singing Monsters has a significant library of user-generated content with over 150 Million views on YouTube, which gives FanWraps a large audience to reach with collectibles. An automotive wrap and decal company at its inception, FanWraps has moved into the consumer electronics, home décor and collectibles market, producing a wide variety of product types customized by a licensed property and specializing in new category development.

“We’ve been keeping our eye on this property for a while and see incredible retail toy and collectible potential for both the game and future animated series,” says Alec Kessler, Executive Vice President of Commonwealth. “This brand has an enormous following and massive fan engagement.” Commonwealth Toy’s portfolio includes properties such as Angry Birds, Sponge Bob, JoJo Siwa, Paw Patrol, Fingerlings, Smooshy Mushy and many more.

The first FanWraps merchandise will be introduced for the 2018 holidays while the first Commonwealth Toys characters will also roll out in time for the 2018 holidays, offered through e-commerce and at select retailers. The plush toy line will continue to build a collection of characters in a variety of sizes with plans to incorporate the musical abilities of the monsters.

These deals are brokered by Alita Friedman, CEO of Alita’s Brand Bar, and licensing agency for the My Singing Monsters franchise.

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UglyDolls Movie


Singing sensation Kelly Clarkson is voicing Moxy, the lead Uglydoll in the new animated feature film, UglyDolls.

Kelly is also performing original songs for the movie as well as Pitbull, who is also part of the voice cast. The film tells the story of Moxy and her Uglydoll friends “as they confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing because who you truly are is what matters most.” Wow, that’s a mouthful … and describes what many children face in their lives every day.

Robert Simonds’ global next-generation media company STX Entertainment is producing the film and STXtv also has the dual role of studio and producer for the UglyDolls animated kids series streaming exclusively on Hulu. STX is moving beyond traditional platform-driven content to creating talent-driven entertainment with a mission “to unlock the value of the direct connection stars have with their fans through the development, financing, production, marketing and distribution of film, television, VR, digital video, music and live entertainment content.” Wow, another mouthful.

Created as a plush toy line by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, the Uglydoll brand quickly gained a cult following around the world. The first hand-sewn plush character, Wage, came to life in 2001. In 2006, Uglydoll is named Toy of the Year by the Toy Industry Association. Uglydoll characters are distinct for their endearing “ugliness,” in a wonderful “uglyverse” where differences are celebrated and embraced.

Their company, Pretty Ugly, LLC is having quite the year. Earlier in 2018, Hasbro signs on as global master toy licensee, Walmart signs on to give Uglydoll its highest level of retail support and White Space Entertainment, global master licensing agent for STX Entertainment, selects Jay Franco as key licensing partner for the UglyDolls brand. Under the licensing agreement, Jay Franco will have rights to a variety of home products, including bedding, bath, pillow, beach and more.

“We are thrilled to be working with STX and White Space on UglyDolls, to develop products that elevate their message of positivity, friendship, uniqueness and self-empowerment aimed at inspiring young people to follow their dreams and never be afraid to be themselves,” Elisha Gordon, VP of Licensing at Jay Franco and Sons, says.

Next year looks beautiful for Uglydolls everywhere. The UglyDolls franchise is set to kick off with the animated feature film slated for a May 10, 2019 release via STXfilms, with additional UglyDolls projects in the works across STX’s multiple divisions, including STXtelevision, STXdigital and STXsurreal.

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CURATE @ Children’s Club


Children’s Club débuts CURATE, an elevated showcase for global children’s wear collections.

Children’s Club returns to New York’s Jacob Javits Center August 5-7 with a selection of the best children’s brands in the market across newborn to age 12, layette items, fashion accessories, footwear, toys and gifts.

This August, the show débuts a new destination that highlights the most elevated children’s collections from the SS’19 season, re-imagines the show floor to offer a new perspective of the kidswear marketplace and will serve as the destination for retailers to engage with the most innovative designers in children’s fashion.

“Our mission for 2018/2019 is to build the momentum behind the children’s wear market and unify the children’s community on both a domestic and global scale. The launch of CURATE is the first step in developing more aspirational neighborhoods that continue our mission to reimagine the children’s market,” VP and Brand Director Shawn Hazan says. “The area will offer our retailers a platform for exploration, discovery and networking with an elevated selection of well-merchandised brands. We’re launching Curate with over 45 internationally-inspired collections, an unprecedented representation for Children’s Club.”

A “neighborhood” at the entrance to the show, the new CURATE @ Children’s Club features as well-known brands from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Romania, United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, The U.S., Canada and Turkey: 3 Pommes, KENZO, Lil’ Lemons by For Love and Lemons, Petite Coco and Tartine et Chocolat. In addition, actress and lifestyle expert Haylie Duff will also be at the show with brand, Little Moon Society.

More new things at the August edition of Children’s Club:

FRESH @ Children’s Club – In response to retailer request, Children’s Club is proud to feature over 100 new, emerging and never seen before collections at market.

The Classroom @ Children’s Club – In response to conversations with both brands and buyers, Children’s Club launches The Classroom, an ongoing educational experience designed to address hot topic items impacting the children’s retail community.

UBM Fashion and Children’s Club

In June 2018, UBM Fashion combined with Informa PLC to form UBM Fashion, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B event organizer in the world. Children’s Club, the international exhibition featuring every category of children’s clothing from newborn to age 12, layette items, fashion accessories, footwear, toys and gifts, is now organized by UBM Fashion.

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Get Up and Go!


pediped® collaborates with The Nik Naks to encourage summer adventures for kids.

This summer, award-winning children’s footwear brand pediped® is collaborating with The Nik Naks on an original song and music video that encourages kids to enjoy summer adventures.

The original song “Get Up and Go” follows the adventures of two friends as they take a trip guided by their own imaginations. Equipped with pediped’s shoes from the Adventure Line, they are prepared to explore any terrain, from distant planets to their own backyard. The music inspires children to stay active and explore the world around them. The water-safe, rugged and machine-washable shoes in pediped’s Adventure Line, which has 11 new styles for 2018, are ready to go wherever exploring feet can take them.

The full “Get Up and Go” video can be viewed on www.pediped.com/theniknaks and the song or full album can be downloaded on TheNikNaks.com. Purchase of the album includes a credit on pediped.com equivalent to the cost.

Las Vegas-based musicians Sam Lemos and Jean-Francois are the duo The Nik Naks, the band that imagined this music-based multimedia project appealing to both parents and their children. As dedicated fathers, their combined passion for both music and family life inspired them to expand into the world of kids’ music. Both Sam and Jean-Francois are songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and professional musicians. Their professional credits include playing with Boyz II Men, Cirque Du Soleil, Matt Goss and Noel Gallagher. They are also involved in many original projects in the burgeoning Las Vegas music scene.

The pediped® Spring/Summer 2018 Adventure Line is now available for purchase online at www.pediped.com and in select retail stores.

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RockEase


Introducing the First Portable Rocking Chair Solution 

Now available for pre-order, RockEase is the first compact, easy-to-use and portable rocking chair solution that quickly converts any standard four-legged chair into a rocking chair. Taking an average of 90 seconds to install, RockEase is the perfect solution for parents needing easy access to a rocking option at home and while traveling.

The lightweight yet sturdy RockEase easily slips into a standard diaper bag or large purse, making it ideal for homes where space is at a premium and for families on the go. Soothing, nursing and rocking children while visiting grandparents and extended family is a breeze with RockEase.

While many baby gliders can cost thousands, RockEase is a budget-conscious solution for families and businesses -including hospitals, doctor’s offices, hotels and more- seeking a rocking option for guests.

Founder and mother of two Jenna Zielbauer creates RockEase after she struggles with traveling and overnight visits where a rocking chair is not readily available. Rocking is an integral part of her first daughter’s bedtime, soothing and bonding routines that very quickly becomes a necessity. When her second child is born, she suffers from postpartum depression and anxiety. Rocking is the only solution that helps her emotional wellbeing when dealing with her son’s consistent crying bouts throughout the day. After extensive research resulting in no real solutions, Jenna decides to fill the “traveling rocking chair” void with RockEase.

Weighing approximately five pounds and measuring 36-inches long when assembled, RockEase is made of heavy-duty, neutral-colored plastic material that holds a maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds. Safety-tested and patent-pending, RockEase accommodates any standard four-legged chair without additional equipment or adaptors. No extra tools needed.

How It Works

Grab RockEase from your closet, diaper bag or luggage, simply slide the rails together and secure to a chair using finger-friendly safety knobs. Staying at a hotel where a four-legged chair may not be readily available? Call the front desk and kindly ask for a dining or banquet chair to be brought to your room. RockEase can be assembled and installed in as little as 60 seconds, so you’ll be rocking in no time.

To learn more about RockEase and pre-ordering, visit www.rockease.com

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Talula Little


Namaste – A yoga-loving organic baby wear company.

Talula Little is an ethically motivated, family run business that just introduced the first of its GOTS-certified organic cotton baby wear – a fun collection of bandana dibble bibs that features adorable yoga-inspired illustrations and graphics. In fact, the company’s mission is to make beautifully handcrafted baby clothes that are comfortable and fun to wear.

“Our first project combines all the things we love the most – practicality, a holistic lifestyle and ethical mindfulness,” Lisa and Aviv tell us. “We are so excited that we couldn’t help ourselves and have included some poses inspired by our own little yoga baby!”

Every time you purchase a Talula Little product, you are supporting the production of organic clothing, encouraging its growth and actively contributing to a better and more sustainable world. That’s because Lisa and Aviv buy directly from co-op organic farmers in India in full compliance with Global Fair Trade practices.

“We have a toddler girl and everything we do is to empower her future. We firmly believe in organic production. It is so vital to the sustainability of our planet and for the next generation.”

Lisa and Aviv also believe that a healthy and positive lifestyle is the key to living well. Through practicing and teaching yoga, sensible eating and being mindful to use ethically sourced products wherever possible, they aspire to be extremely conscious in how they manage their daily lives – even as new parents.

“We all strive to give our little miracle-bundles only the best we can in life. However, this is often quite expensive and inevitably out of reach for some. Of course, there are countless cheap and cheerful baby products out there to cater for struggling parents. But in our experience, cheap and cheerful comes with a cost of its own – inferior quality and longevity sacrificed for price and profit.”

Lisa and Aviv dreamed about contributing to the community in some way and raising their own bundle of joy gave them the push to finally grow “a small business baby,” Talula Little. “We are so proud to say that our products are not only fun and comfortable to wear, they are ideal for a baby’s soft, delicate and developing skin, especially Eczema sufferers.”

New collections coming soon.

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Cooee Kids


An exciting and new, 100% certified cotton clothing line for kids.

When Anna Hesemenn and Naomi Wells meet while living in Uganda, they enjoy a mutual admiration and curiosity for the fabulous cotton available in this African country. Together with Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA), they create a company that makes children’s clothes with respect to the planet, the environment, the development and empowerment of people, and the fabulous raw materials they use. With social responsibility and good ethics at its core, their company ensures the entire production process supports the Ugandan people who make the clothes – from the farmers to the seamstresses.

Cooee is a new, sustainable kids clothing brand that makes beautiful everyday clothes for children ages two through seven. All garments are made exclusively from 100% CmiA-Certified African cotton grown and produced in Uganda. Anna and Naomi – who still live in Uganda – personally ensure the integrity of the field-to-fashion production line, working closely with artisans to make a positive impact. Cooee Kids also features unique hand-drawn print designs that engage a child’s imagination.

“We are both hugely excited to launch our first Spring Summer collection,” Naomi says. “It’s a dream come true for us. We care about our planet and how we leave it for future generations. Parents across the globe care more and more about where their children’s clothes come from and we are one of a handful of brands that can guarantee their fabrics provenance. We manage the entire production process first-hand and ensure every single garment meets our stringent measures.”

Cooee Kids’ SS18 collection of dresses, skirts, t-shirts and shorts brings to life things that make kids smile. The girl’s hero piece is the sky-blue monkey love dress that features a montage of monkeys printed around the neckline. Boys can choose a from a t-shirt printed with a mischievous crocodile on a bicycle, to a surfing monster catching a big wave.

Cotton Made in Africa (CMIA) is an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) that helps smallholder cotton farmers improve living conditions in Africa for both themselves and their children. Child labor, dangerous pesticides and genetically modified cotton are strictly forbidden. Smallholder farmers get a fair and timely payment and are trained in modern, efficient and sustainable cotton farming practices. This helps the farmers to generate higher yields and incomes.

Anna and Naomi introduced their first Cooee Kids collection to the UK and German children’s markets in early March. When will it be available in the States? Ask them, right here.