Be a Chatfan of Chatman

Cheerful, emotive figure helps make computer time more fun, productive and safe.

Atlanta, GA-based Penny Black Digital, in partnership with Israel-based Rondyo Ltd., introduces Chatman, the first and only artificially intelligent computer friend designed to make online chat sessions, web surfing, games and homework more fun, creative -and safe. This cool, smart and funny friend sits by a child’s computer and interacts with them.

Bright Yellow and Boisterous. For kids ages six to12, Chatman talks, moves eyes, hands and ears, and has a unique animated LED mouth. Just like a friend, Chatman understands language, context and mood, and expresses emotions, recognizing over 15,000 words, with 2,000 movements and 30 moods.

No Stranger Danger. In addition to providing education and fun, Chatman also filters words and web content based on parental controls helping to keep children safe on the Internet. Chatman allows peace of mind for parents by working with and filtering a child’s online conversations on Facebook®, Skype™ and MSN® Messenger. Chatman alerts when inappropriate web searches are attempted.

The internet can be both social and isolating at the same time. That’s one of the reasons Chatman is available -to provide kids with a friendly emotive companion while they spend time online. Chatman has plenty of functionality, but integrates solid parental controls and creates a safe zone that keeps your child safe online, too.

-recent product review

Boom Boom. Chatman received an exclusive invitation to participate in the 2012 Oscars Boom Boom Room celebrity gifting suite as one of the hottest must-have parenting products. Chatman was created and developed by Rondyo co-founders Joseph Levy and Doron Frenkel. Chatman’s migration to America follows its successful debut in Israel in 2010.

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!

World’s Finest Fashion Aprons – for Mother’s Day

I love the aprons of D-Lux 57 – and you know beautiful aprons are all the rage.

This cheeky, cheery company offers a variety of apron styles in gorgeous cotton prints that are Made in the USA, designed for “the modern day June Clever.” Founder/designer Cynthia Berman caters to everyone – women, tween cooks, like cooks (4-6x) –even Mother/Daughter cooks- with several collections of “kitchen-wear,” beautifully made from incredible textiles.

Just because you wear a D-Lux 57 apron, doesn’t mean you’re a good cook. It doesn’t mean you have to cook. It does mean that you look good when you tie one on!

Recently launched is the new Designer Series Aprons, featuring designer Paula Prass among others. “I chose the very talented Paula Prass and her new Botanika Collection to be our first featured designer,” Cynthia says. “I wanted to welcome her recent move to southern California where D-Lux 57 aprons are lovingly stitched in the sunny state of swaying palm trees and sandy beaches. Paula is an artist with a flair for bold interior design statements while her unique style is a well balanced mix of clever simplicity and detailed beauty.”

D-Lux 57 also offers the Original Keepsake Collection Aprons, vintage styled aprons that are fully lined and packaged in a matching keepsake envelope.

Cynthia moved to Los Angeles, CA USA from Canada in the 1980’s to begin a lifelong dream of making her mark in the apparel industry. The inspiration for D-Lux 57 came one night while she and her daughter were cooking together (Cynthia loves to cook). Memories came flooding back when Cynthia spotted her daughter wearing an apron bought many years earlier at Harrods in London, England – vivid moments of baking bread with her aunt and the colorful quilts so artfully created by her grandmother. That’s when she decided to create this line of aprons designed to touch the lives of people in a nostalgic way. “Hopefully they can become ‘comfort food’ for you, too,” she says.

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!

The Beauty of Simply Lana

As a special Mother’s Day promotion, enjoy free shipping with any purchase of Simply Lana towels between now and May 13.

Amanda Sayler recently introduced me to Simply Lana, a line of beautiful, large round towels made with a unique buttoned loop, for easy hanging on almost anything. As sales manager, she’s been keeping me up-to-date on all their celebrity likes, too – such as chef Paula Dean, actor Patricia Arquette and super-mom Giada De Laurentiis, who uses the Little Chick towel in her daughter Jade’s playroom.

“Our towels make a perfect baby shower gift for the mom to be,” Amanda says. “The soft cotton terry is gentle on a baby’s skin, and our unique button loop will make sure the towels never fall down staying clean for your baby.” Made from durable, high-quality100% cotton terry with cotton trim, Simply Lana towels feature contrasting color combos and embroidered embellishments that appeal to everyone. “Because the towel drapes in soft folds, you can dry your hands on one bit, then turn it to get to the next dry section, so it’s always ready for you.”

The towels are super-versatile, stay in place (so stay cleaner) and will be loved and used by adults and children, cooks and golfers, moms and tennis players – everyone you can think of!

Growing up in the former Soviet Union, Lana Hall enjoyed the practical, analytic side of life. Earning several degrees in the medical field, she immigrated to the U.S. in 1994 –and that’s when she received a unique gift from a friend back in Russia: a circular kitchen towel, suspended from a center loop, so it could be hung on a cabinet knob or on a hook. Her scientist mind kept thinking of new ways to make it better –bigger, more absorbent, colorful, even more practical- so, she set about customizing the design, until Simply Lana was born. Her doctor husband –and all of her friends- simply love it!

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!

Chicken Rhythm, Crazy Fun

Meet Malvina Buonocore and Aliki Visser. These two ladies run a company in Belgium called Chicken Rhythm.

We’re spunky.
We like to laugh.
We’ve been friends for years.
Our kids go to the same school.
We see each other practically every day.
If we don’t, we’re on the phone.
We go on vacation together.
If we could, we’d be living together.

Now, these two are just the kind of ladies I’d like to meet. For years, the “Chicas” at Chicken Rhythm have been keeping me up to date with news of all the fabulous iron-on patches, fun children’s t-shirts and backpacks that these girls produce. They’re all pretty special, sporting unique, custom designs by artists – because Chicken Rhythm has a thing for art, in all its forms –especially bringing art to the people, both big and small.

Malvina and Aliki started the company in 2008 and work with a slew of talented illustrators, graphic designers, comic book artists or others such as Geertjan Tillmans, Sam De Buysscher, Marijn Dionys, Jan Werkt, Sabien Clement, Jan Truyens, Philip Paquet and Reinardus. The Chicas find ways to apply their designs to things they never thought possible.

What’s more, Malvina and Aliki are moms, too –so they produce products that can survive the wear and tear of both children … “and washing machines.” Available online for shoppers in the USA.

Crazy fun. Can’t you tell just by looking at them?

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!

The Gracious Style of Isabel Garreton

Adorn your daughters, nieces and granddaughters in the gracious style of beautiful clothes that reflect both the innocence and beauty of little girls.

The Isabel Garreton® collection is designed with comfort in mind, featuring elegant special occasion dresses, coats and Christening outfits designed for movement, growth and -of course- twirling. With sparkles sewn into fabrics that allow precious skin to breathe, cheeks to glow and small treasures to stay safe in hidden pockets, little girls feel as special as they look.

A line of handmade dolls are lovably soft and quite unique- kids create a customized version online, where they may select skin color, hairstyle, smile, clothing and name.

Isabel Garreton also offers lovely accessories for big girls, too –and recently launched Itsatwist, a collection of flexible hand-woven fabric pieces that can be worn as a scarf, wrap, top or anything else you can imagine. Quite fetching, I’d say!

My company brings timeless style, unique craftsmanship and extraordinary materials from Chile to your closet.

-Isabel Garreton

For over twenty years, Isabel’s company has provided a dignified work opportunity for disadvantaged women from her native country of Chile. All of the proceeds from the collection of women’s accessories, children’s clothing and handmade dolls go back to the women who created them. By teaching women time-honored skills like weaving and embroidery and employing them at her company, Isabel has provided them with a chance for happier and healthier lives.

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!

Subscription Programs Transform into Fashionable Trend

Monthly subscription programs are a popular way for members to shop products and services at a significant savings.

Everyone loves to be part of something exclusive, which is another way subscription programs have become so popular. From diaper services to high-end shopping clubs, who doesn’t enjoy a customized experience?

Naomi Catalina found this out when she was six months pregnant. While preparing for the birth, she quickly became an expert on not only the best of baby essentials, but what makes a great shower gift, too. Her own baby showers were so special to her that she simply had to act on the special-ness. “I was left with an overwhelming feeling of wanting to make my own contribution to this special time in a woman’s life,” she says.

Wordsation strives to curate artwork from artists who share in our excitement for creating designer baby fashion for your tiny treasure.

Naomi co-founded Wordsation, a recently launched and totally inspired way of offering baby fashion. “We find artists from around the world to create original artwork for our decorated baby apparel,” she says. “We feature new designs every month, available individually or as a year-long subscription as baby grows.”

The exclusive designs adorn one-piece rompers made from 100% cotton rib knit with three reinforced snap closures. Artists with an eye for child-friendly design are selected to take these ordinary clothes and make them extraordinary.

The Wordsation Subscription. Perfect as baby gifts, the Wordsation subscription delivers their exclusive apparel over the course of the first year of baby’s life, decorated with original designs from talented artists Katherine Streeter, Annie Wilkinson, Joel Nakamura and others – how’s that for ooh’s and aah’s? Thank you, Rachel Florio PR, for introducing me to Wordsation.

Members of subscription programs not only enjoy exclusive products, they can do so at huge savings, too. This past March 1, I introduced you to popular children’s accessories brand Itzy Bitzy Designs’ Klippie Klub, a kit-of-the-month subscription program where members receive a themed kit containing exclusive, newly released hair clips- and enjoy a 70% savings off retail.

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!

Mermaid Magic

Finally, the first full day of spring is here! What better way to celebrate than to shop for unique finds?

I’ve recently discovered The Spirit of Mermaids, a beautiful accessory line created by Virginia Beach, VA designer Ashley Gillies. The unique starfish barrettes and Bohemian style leather headbands with beads are inspired by the mysteries of the deep blue ocean.

Natural is beautiful, and there is nothing more natural than real starfish.

“The accessories I make embody girls who live for sunny days and salt on their skin,” Ashley says. “My leather beaded headbands can be worn as headbands or necklaces. I wear them both ways. My line of jewelry is laid back and carefree.” Pinned directly to clothing or hats, her creations can be worn year round to truly show off a beachy personality.

Right now, folks who live in the Virginia Beach, VA area can purchase The Spirit of Mermaids merchandise directly from Ashley (email her at thespiritofmermaids@yahoo.com), who plans to offer the line online as well as in stores. Stay tuned!

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!

AnnieWear Inspires Animal Lovers to Give Back

Pamela Pinta and Laurene Parletore have taken their passion and turned it into a reality.

“AnnieWear is an online gift store that gives back,” Pam tells me. “We donate part of the proceeds from every item sold to animal rescues nationwide.” AnnieWear offers animal-themed products for newborns, infants, toddlers and kids up to size 7, as well as things that appeal to moms.

Named after Laurene’s adopted dog Annie and inspired by nephew Roland, who was born around the time Annie was adopted, AnnieWear has already donated to Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue (where Annie is from), Liberty Humane Society (where Pam volunteers), Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, Purrs and Pooches, and The East Coast Maine Coon Rescue (where Pam was just elected to the Board of Directors).

Pam and Laurene are cousins who are both passionate animal lovers and avid shoppers with completely different styles and tastes. Pam loves all animals and adopts cats. Laurene loves all animals and adopts dogs. Neither are moms to humans, but they dearly love their nephews and try to influence their lives in a positive way.

Laurene says, “We cater to people looking for a unique gift for a special occasion, something that will make their gift stand out and their gift recipient appreciative.”

The pair began by creating their own product lines: the Life Line and the Annie Line. Both offer 100% ring-spun combed cotton one-pieces and t-shirts in traditional and contemporary colors for boys or girls. The Annie Line products features Annie’s picture, along with her trademark “So Stinkin’ Cute” graphic.

AnnieWear also includes popular brands such as Aden + Anais, Bibi & Mimi, Hatley, Kalencom, Kicky Pants, San Diego Hat Company, Vincent and many more.

AnnieWear products perform double duty for you: Unique gifts sure to be a hit that also help animals in need.

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!

Zomsters Brings Friendly Monsters to Life

Mom-owned Zomsters sustainable children’s fashion and museum-quality art collections are invading kids closets and rooms nationwide.

Leap Year Zaniness! Zomsters is based in Snoqualmie, WA (just up the mountain from me!) and offers a full line of earth-friendly art and clothing designed for kids featuring zany characters called Zomsters. Meet Wally, Harold, Stanley and the growing family of friendly characters here!

Zomsters are designed to make kids smile and to spark their imaginations. We create characters rich with unique traits, interests and backgrounds to teach kids about far-off cultures and places, and about career choices that aren’t as common.

-founder/designer Ronda Bergman

Ronda also designs to create awareness about how making small green changes in our lives can make big differences in the world. The company is committed to sustainable business practices, choosing environmentally-conscious materials like organic cotton, recycled paper and recycled aluminum cans. Zomsters minimizes its impact by using water-based, azo-free inks for non-toxic printing and selecting local manufacturers and suppliers to reduce shipping and materials waste.

Parents choose from a plethora of adorable products including one-pieces, knot hats, toddler tees … art blocks, cards and prints, water bottles and more. Coming soon: coloring pages, wall papers and more.

This Leap Year, find your inner Zomster and spread the word! Available online and select retail locations. Also wholesale.

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!

Cupcake Pajamas from The Baby Bunch

You’re probably familiar with The Baby Bunch, one of Martha Stewart’s favs.

I’ve been a fan of The Baby Bunch ever since I first saw the lovely gift bouquets full of soft baby essentials. The thoughtful packaging just seems to enhance the elegant contents within.

The Baby Bunch combines practicality with presentation. We wanted to create a gift that was attractive yet useful and offers everything a baby needs to get the best possible start in life.”

-founders Bryony Boxer and Simon Martin

If you haven’t seen these cute little morsels of baby happiness, here’s your chance. The company is now serving Cupcake Pajamas in pink for girls and blue for boys. Each box contains a 100% cotton top and matching striped bottom rolled to look like cupcakes, suitable for a child 12-18 months or up to 22 lbs. (remove the decorative elements before putting clothing on child). Each box is tied with a ribbon and bears a gift tag.