Happy Birthday to Us!

Just five years ago, HUDSON’S Childrenswear Review was a newborn! It’s fun to look back, and realize just how this this labor of love started …

I met Tom Hudson and Margaret Mobius in La Jolla, CA several months before our first publishing deadline. We enjoyed several strong Starbuck’s coffees together outside on the terrace, talking about their dream of a comprehensive, high-quality, fun publication the celebrates all things kid.

Now, we’re Celebrating 5 Years of covering one of the most tightly-knit, camaraderie-driven industries that succeeds today. We love the children’s wear business – it nourishes us, keeps us inspired … it’s like family. And as Tom says, “these past five years with HUDSON’S have been my most rewarding.”

Since that twinkle in their eye, HUDSON’S has made downtown Long Beach, CA home, added key staff members, traveled to trade shows and markets all over the country, published more than 40 issues of beautiful pictures, well-written words covering every aspect of the children’s wear market – and more. We’re growing just like children grow. And enjoying every minute of it.

It’s gratifying to know that our pages continue to be filled with so many new and wonderful collections, accessories and footwear – products that make life a little more comfortable, stylish and enjoyable not just for kids, but for parents, too.

And the news about the industry – and business in general – continues to encourage success. Here’s to another great year of moving forward.

“HUDSON’S would not be possible without the support of retailers, designers, manufacturers and sales reps, the folks who manage trade shows, the direction of all our staff and the loyalty of our readers, supporters and friends,” Tom says. “To you, I give my greatest thanks.”

Tom speaks for all of us here at HUDSON’S … our heartfelt thanks for a fantastic birthday!

-Janet Muniz

Season’s Greetings!

The staff of HUDSON’S sends best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season to everyone! Thanks to all for your unwavering support in 2009…

Let’s make 2010 our most successful year ever!

The HUDSON’S main office is closed Friday, December 25 through Sunday, January 3.

Cheers, everyone!

-Tom Hudson, Margaret Mobius, Mychele Medina, Janet Muniz , Patrician Anaya, Courtney Yagerman, Warren Kaufman, Ron Yates and the rest of the HUDSON’S staff!

Enter to Win NAPPA

Want 3 million parents to see and read about your product?

Start planning today, as the deadline for the prestigious National Parenting Publications Awards Parenting Resources competition is January 15, 2010.

Product categories include:

-maternity and postpartum clothing and gear

-baby and toddler equipment

-labor- and time-saving gadgets

-safety and childproofing products

-how-to parenting books, DVDs, CDs, websites, magazines and newsletters

-health and skin care

-nutrition and fitness

…and more

Early entries may be selected as a NAPPA Entry of the Week!

With the goal of helping parents make the best choices for their families, NAPPA manager Barbara Smith Decker tells us that this competition is one of the oldest and best known among independent awards programs, which determines winners through a highly selective process, including:

(1) specialty judges with expertise in the fields they judge,

(2) product evaluators and

(3) family testers who provide practical field evaluations.

NAPPA Gold winners are guaranteed:

-print feature coverage in the June, 2010 issues of 30 or more regional parenting magazines that cover the top metro markets across the nation.

Gold and Honors winners are guaranteed:

– a full year of prominent coverage on the NAPPA pages of Parenthood.com, which receives a quarter-million unique visitors each month.

There is also the opportunity for entrants to request feedback from judges and testers, which can be most helpful in product development and positioning. Save 50% on feedback from NAPPA judges and parent testers now!

-Download entry forms at Parenthood.com/NAPPA_entry_forms.php

-email NAPPA@Parenthood.com or Barbara.Decker@Parenthood.com

-call NAPPA at 617-284-1413 or 617-522-1515 x224

NAPPA also has a new street address: 51 Morgan Drive, Suite 11, Norwood, MA 02062-5021; Fax: 617-522-1694

Good luck!

-Janet Muniz

Quiksilver Kicks Off Anniversary Celebration

This weekend, lifestyle brand Quiksilver arrives in Paris for a gala opening to the company’s 40th Anniversary festivities.

The Grand Palais, Paris. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Two days of skateboarding, music, art and fashion at the historic Grand Palais culminate on Saturday night with The Quiksilver Tony Hawk Show, followed by a concert with Dead By Sunrise – Chester Bennington of Linkin Park with his newest band – and a late night with DJ Mix Master Mike.

CEO Bob McKnight is understandably excited. “It is amazing to think that we have been at this for over four decades,” he says. With the help of our athletes, we’re proud to have built Quiksilver into a global company that helps define a lifestyle and culture around the world.”

For the last 109 years, the Grand Palais has held boxing competitions and horse racing. Now, its first ever inside action sports event features the largest vert ramp ever built in Europe and an immense street course open to skaters of all ages and skill levels – free of charge. A Street Contest Invitational features a prize purse of 20,000 Euros.

While in Paris, Quiksilver is paying tribute to 40 years by bringing together its top global team in surf, skate and snow, including Kelly Slater, Todd Richards, Travis Rice, Danny Garcia, Alex Olson, Jérémy Florès, Mathieu Crépel, Robby Naish and Roxy’s Kassia Meador, Lisa Andersen and Torah Bright. The Tony Hawk Show is bringing friends such as skaters Andy MacDonald, Kevin Staab, Sandro Dias, Jean Postec, Sergie Ventura, Jesse Fristch and four of the biggest names in international skateboarding: Christian Hosoi, Daniel Cardone, Javier Mendizabal and Omar Hassan.

Be sure to look for Todd Richard’s event coverage, Paris exploits and special interviews with athletes and artists alike for Tod Cast on Quiksilver.com.

Renowned graffiti artist André is transforming giant ramps into unique art, giving the public the exceptional opportunity to watch him at work. Quiksilver has also assembled a 40-year fashion retrospective inside the venue.

If you’re jetting to Paris for the weekend, entrance is free to the public for the daytime events. You can purchase tickets online for Saturday night’s performance. But if you can’t make the trip, watch The Quiksilver Tony Hawk Show live on QuiksilverLive.com.

OooLaLa!

-Janet Muniz

New Rep Announcements

We’ve heard the news from many brands about new representation all across the country and Canada. Here’s a list of just a few:

Donald Sutton of Dallas, TX-based Brentwood Sales signs on to represent Wee Squeak covering the Southwest U. S. Danielle Fyfe and Danielle Elizabeth Designs partners with Kids At Home for sales in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Carolina Baby Company, a manufacturer’s rep group based in the Southeast, partners with the original Tummy Tub, designed in the Netherlands to ease the transition of a newborn from the mother’s womb.

Cindy Deloach joins Gossip Girl as Midwest sales representative for the Gossip Girl and Hula Star swimwear brands. Cindy is the VP of sales at Martha Foster Group based in the Dallas Market Center, an organization run by women representing women’s and children’s products with over 30 years of experience in the children’s wear market.

San Francisco-based Velvet & Tweed partners with the Paperdoll Style showroom in the California Market Center, to represent the line in the Western U. S. Owner/designer Tina Schreiber is now introducing her fourth Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

Two more showrooms sign on to represent LamanBlu in the South and Southwest: Button Up! and Lace and Denim. Another Colorado-based company, ANNA’S Preemie, adds Steve and Cynthia Ecton to handle representation of the brand in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Memphis and the Mobile area.

Made in the USA brand Bunny and Bee adds new reps Alejandra Keenan, handling Florida and Puerto Rico, Lisa Brookover in Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina and Ginger Baby’s Janelle O’Donnell and Shonna Johnson to serve Western Canada. Los Angeles, CA-based Rock Candy Kids is the new representative for another Made in the USA brand Bobinette in California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Hawaii.

See Kai Run grows with the addition of new sales reps in the Eastern and Midwest regions of the U. S., adding 13 new states in all. Washington D.C.-based Shari Lehrer represents the brand in Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Kristine Prugh and her sales associate Gillian Fincher are covering Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

-Janet Muniz

Moving Day

hudson_logo

Happy July, everyone!

This week, HUDSON’S is moving our main office suite at 235 East Broadway in Long Beach, CA a few floors down to suite 624.

We’re taking our phone and fax numbers with us, so you can continue to stay in touch! And especially if you’re in town, you’re welcome to visit … after we settle in.

Here’s all our contact info:

HUDSON’S Childrenswear Review
235 East Broadway, Suite 624
Long Beach, CA 90802
p 562.436.6400 f 562.436.6449

Enjoy Independence Day! See you at the shows-

-Janet Muniz