UV 50+ Ultra-hip SwimZip

Swim shirts with SPF 50+ and a full length zipper make sun protection so easy for parents and kids.

The beauty of SwimZip, the new sun protection brand from founder and president Betsy Johnson, is that this cute and fashionable swimwear is so easy to get on and off, it’s no longer a hassle to get the very best in sun protection for your child. And this beauty battles a beast: those super-harmful UV rays.

SwimZip is an easy-on, easy-off UV 50+ protective swim shirt for children, featuring a full front zipper, no-pinch zipper flap, sewn-in protective collar, tagless neck and flat seams for comfort. Oh, and did I forget to mention that SwimZip’s material is chlorine resistant? It is.

My #1 goal is to keep children safe from the sun by getting a SwimZip into every child’s household around the world!

The new 2012 collection is inspired by Betsy’s honeymoon last summer. “My husband and I vacationed on the island Moorea, right off Tahiti,” she tells me. “We spent hours on the beach, snorkeling and kayaking around the lagoon. I fell in love with the rich colors of the green trees and mountains, the multicolored blues of water, the reds and purples of the coral reef. I knew that the new SwimZip colors would have to be as rich and powerful as the colors I saw on our honeymoon.” And indeed, they are.

Swimwear All Day Long. Betsy also decided to include matching bottoms for 2012. “I knew parents loved having matching bottoms and tops for swimsuits, so I’ve made SwimZip a swimwear outfit kids can wear all day long.”

When Betsy was 26, she was diagnosed with skin cancer, after years of playing outdoors while growing up in Kansas. “Just one significant sunburn as a child can have long term effects,” she says. “I wish I would have listened to my Mom back then and lathered up with sunscreen.” Now, Betsy has made it a priority to educate children and parents about the dangers of UV rays. She offers information about UV awareness on the SwimZip website, too.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. The original idea for SwimZip swimwear came with a complaint. Yep – Betsy’s brother was always complaining his daughter Maryella hated taking on and off her swim shirt just as much as she hated having sunscreen applied to her body. So … “With a pair of scissors, I cut Maryella’s swim shirt down the front and fastened it back together with safety pins,” she says. “All of a sudden, the shirt was a breeze to take on and off. In fact, Maryella could do it herself.” (Cool name, don’t you think?) Thanks, bro – for inspiring Betsy to turn those safety pins into easy-peasie zippers.

SwimZip perfectly blends my loves of fashion, function, health, and 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!

The Magic of Pippen Lane

Over a decade ago, Anna Beth Goodman envisioned a child’s emporium inspired by what she calls “the whimsy of youth,” right in her hometown on New Orleans, LA.

Today, as one of the premiere shopping destinations in this unique city’s Garden District, Pippen Lane offers cosmopolitan and traditional Southern styles -including Lylian heirloom dresses- as well as exquisitely selected European fashion, gifts, toys and nursery décor for little boys, girls and babies.

Earlier this year, Anna Beth introduced her own signature clothing label featuring fashion-forward, bold designs. The Pippen Lane Collection débuted in January and pays homage to the Big Easy with fresh and whimsical prints intertwined with classic, wearable styles available in sizes newborn to size 10.

All of my collections may not always have a direct New Orleans reference, but you can always count on the city giving me the ultimate inspiration.

-Anna Beth Goodman, wife of actor John Goodman and mom of Molly Evangeline

The Spring/Summer collection features styles inspired by unique New Orleans neighborhoods, streets and wildlife- including Garden District Floral, Arabella, Peacock Feather and Fancy Bird. Signature layettes feature the iconic fleur-de-lis, as well as bee, crown and bear embroidery on footies, polo shortalls, skirted one-pieces and blankets. For older children, Pippen Lane features rompers, capris, shorts, tunics and ruffled tees in lively patterns including carnival beads and vibrant florals.

The Pippen Lane Collection is available at the retail store, located at 2929 Magazine Street, and online. Wholesale is also available.

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!

Friendship Bracelets – BFF’s and More

The award-winning My Friendship Bracelet Maker® by Choose Friendship Company has been flying off the shelves lately.

The friendship bracelet – an international symbol of camaraderie – is a wonderful reminder to youngsters that they can count on their best friends no matter what, especially in this era of bullying and hurtful words. Invented for his granddaughters by David Crorey, a retired auto industry exec, the portable My Friendship Bracelet Maker helps kids make their own designs neatly and with ease.

Michigan-based Choose Friendship Company has established quarterly campaigns encouraging support networks between kids across the country. For instance, they collaborated with Mad Habit Media to launch an anti-bully, pro-friendship campaign revolving around the song/video, Inside Out, sung by Michigan teen Marisa Nahas – and proceeds from the song’s sales are donated to non-profit organizations that support this cause.

Because children carry burdens often overlooked or misunderstood by others, we want them to feel welcomed into their own exclusive club. Our mission is to let them know they’re not alone; not only are others living with the same fear and uncertainty, but that these special children are loved and supported by a larger community.

-Julie Crorey, mom to the granddaughters

This year, Choose Friendship also introduces two new craft kits. The My Friendship Bracelet Maker Traveler™ is great for backpacks and carry-ons and the nifty slide-out storage drawer features 20 pre-cut Prism® embroidery threads in 10 different colors. With The Image Bracelet Maker™, kids can express their favorite likes of the moment on their wrist – just like Pinterest! It uses photos, magazine pictures, internet images or the included art starter sheets to assemble bracelets that are totally unique and awesome.

Choose Friendship is not only the craft kit family business’ new name (the company was once known as Crorey Creations) but also its mantra. The joy of the product line is its ability to engage impressionable kids of the importance of friends and self-expression. Plus, it’s gone global in two short years. QVC sold out its entire load of more than 55,000 kits during the 4th quarter, 2011. National and specialty retailers alike had to restock their shelves in-store and online. My Friendship Bracelet Maker® and My Ribbon Barrette Maker® have earned kudos from Tillywig Toy Awards, Parents’ Choice, Dr. Toy, Creative Child Magazine, NAPPA Awards and Brilliant Sky.

Log on to ChooseFriendship.com for instructional videos, charitable causes, store locations, to watch Inside Out and more. The Friendship Bracelet Blog is authored by the inventor’s granddaughter.

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!

Funnel + Flip + Nipple = Flipple

Meet Flipple, made with American ingenuity by a mother of invention.

Imagine being able to convert any bottled water product into a baby bottle. Couldn’t that just make your day?

Leave the baby bottles at home…on purpose! Flipple is an adapter with a thread design that attaches to 99% of standard bottled water products, so parents can easily add formula and other liquid, thus solving the problem of forgetting baby bottles at home. Flipple creates a secure connection between bottle neck and baby’s favorite standard nipple with no leaks, too.

Made in the USA. BPA-free, Flipple is a safe, fast and convenient way to feed a baby on the go with no clean up. “Mothers will quickly see the high standards used when putting together this product and it is backed with a 100% guarantee,” says creator Linda Lewis, who quit her full-time job of 30 years to fulfill the great American dream of running her own business.

It has been a true adventure getting Flipple to where it is today. It began with cutting, gluing and measuring at the kitchen table to get a very ugly prototype, but it worked!

Based in Galesburg, IL USA Linda’s family-owned Flipple Company provides top quality products that parents will learn to trust, value and need. In addition, she’s on a mission to prove that production can be sourced in the USA at a competitive price, thus getting Americans back to work. Flipple is the first example: All production tooling is made in the St. Louis area.

Great Gift Idea. The versatile Flipple can be used in all sorts of ways:

As a kitchen funnel
Re-use bottles while camping
Fertilize indoor plants
As a garage funnel

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 New Must-Have Bike Gizmo

The longer, warmer days of spring herald in bike season, and every hot-rodder is going to want this.

For kids who love to pedal, the hottest way to personalize their wheels is the Kool Rider, a clip-on accessory that mimics the sound of a speeding motorbike. The card and clothespin trick of old has morphed into a very sophisticated blend of performance polymers from DuPont. The results are irresistible -the flappers hit the bicycle spokes, producing a sound similar to those made by motorbikes. According to the company, the clamp force and spring action remain intact no matter the weather or season.

It’s so easy to put on and sounds great.

-Randy, San Diego CA

Kool Rider co-founders Howard McClurd and Troy Spencer have been friends since they were five-year-old boys. “We offer kids everywhere this clip-on accessory that’s a cinch to put on and truly durable. We tested the Kool Rider on one bike for 250 miles and it barely had a scratch!”

All my friends have it and we have our own bike club.

-Daniel, Dallas TX

For a bigger sound, clip on two. Ideal for girls as well as boys ages six and older, this clever add-on makes a two-wheeler go from ho-hum to at vroom with the authentic sounds of a motorbike. Each Kool Rider box includes one quick clip-on unit, plus kids receive the extra-customization option of long-lasting, colorful stickers, which are included. Simple to use -just clip the single unit on each wheel. To maximize that “Big Motor Sound,” simply clip on two!

Made in the USA. The New Jersey-based company utilizes developmentally disabled adults to assemble the units and packaging before shipping to retailers. Howard and Troy say that by working with DuPont, the unique and special select blend of high performance polymers produces a pleasing, accurate sound and tone. A smaller Little Kool Rider for beginner-type bikes is in the works for later this year.

Bought my son a Kool Rider and I can’t get him off his bike!

-Emily, Jacksonville FL

Continue reading →

Squishable Socks That Entertain

How does a former surf apparel executive start a baby clothing company? He is inspired by his twins … and the recent earthquake in Japan.

In their search for fun, practical clothing for their twins Kai and Lily, Matthew Sanders –former chief executive officer and president of Volcom Japan- and his wife Kanako are inspired by the Japanese aesthetic known as “kawaii”, which means “cute.” After the Japanese earthquake in 2011, they return to Southern California USA and set out to create a children’s apparel brand that appeals first to babies and toddlers.

Socks that entertain? The result is pipopipo (pronounced pee-po pee-po), a baby and toddler apparel and accessory company that designs age-appropriate clothes for children ages five and under that is fun to wear and practical to buy. The collection features signature pipopipo friends –whimsical characters that are fun, adventurous and kawaii– representing all that is good about being a kid.

Available this fall. pipopipo launches with a collection of eco-friendly infant sock sets, featuring 3-D faces designed to be touched and squished. Packaged in an eco-friendly, reusable bamboo box, the socks are rayon, made from sustainable bamboo, nylon, spandex and polyester. They’re also mold-, mildew- and odor-resistant, moisture wicking and thermal regulating, and non-slip, featuring Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)-safe silicone on the bottom. And … they’re machine washable!

We believe in adventure, fun and blurring the lines between the real and imaginary. We’re always looking for new pals to play with. Won’t you come join us?

-pipopipo friends

Online fun. The company’s website, www.pipopipoclothing.com, is an interactive entertainment destination featuring storytelling and age-appropriate content for children five and under.

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!

TANE organics introduces T2

Three-year-old TANE organics launches T2, a beautiful organic line for preemies.

TANE organics, a children’s luxury brand known for beautifully designed pieces made from the purest materials, is launching a capsule collection of essentials for preemies. The T2 collection is a natural extension of TANE’s dedication to providing clothing that is pesticide free, hence limiting newborns and toddlers exposure to toxins. It’s being débuted for wholesale partners at ENK Children’s Club, going on in New York right now, and will soon be available in stores.

Designer Sheree Lee uses 100% certified organic cotton to create the TANE organics collection for newborns up to two years. Signature silhouettes, colors, fabrics, stitches and the easily coordinated designs are what distinguish this modern collection.

The health benefits of offering organic cotton clothing for preemies is tremendous. After spending time with twin nephews, born as preemies, my natural instinct was wanting to envelope and dress them in the purest materials.

-Sheree Lee

The new T2 collection is available in two sizes: 0, fitting 3-5 lbs, and size 1, fitting 5-8 lbs, in just four simple shapes, and modern neutral colors.

TANE, which means seed in Japanese, takes inspiration from the kimono shape. The emphasis on design with thoughtful construction and details provide comfortable fit while maintaining performance through time and play.

Company folks blog that they can’t wait to share the new inspiration, colors, textures and shapes of the Fall/Winter TANE collection. “The new collection is already getting a lot of buzz, especially with the launch of T2, using the purest organic cotton.”

Sheree and her New York City-based company believe the customers are as important as those who crafted the garments. The connection with Peruvian artisans supported by fair trade practices echoes TANE organics’ commitment to the planet and its people. Every purchase supports the vision of a cleaner, kinder earth with positive production footprints.

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!

It’s Love at First Sight – Pink Pewter

Pink Pewter’s newest collection -It’s Love at First Sight- includes new stretch bands, bracelets and jewelry.

Four years ago, hair stylist Mireya Villarreal decides to start a company that makes hair accessories from her own creative point of view, to complement a variety of haircuts and personalities. “We struggled to think of a business name for weeks and weeks,” she tells me, adding that the word ‘pink’ had to be part of it. “We must have gone through 10 sheets of paper writing down ideas. During this process, my daughter -about six years old at the time- kept coming into the room asking if she could use the computer, pronouncing it ‘pewter.'” So, there it is -the aha moment that inspires the name Pink Pewter.

Today, Mireya designs beautiful hair accessories and more. The company’s newest collection -It’s Love at First Sight- includes new stretch bands, bracelets and jewelry. “We provide high style without the high price,” designing wearable things for children “without losing sight of the timelessness and innocence that makes children’s fashion unforgettable.” The new scarf collection for fall can be worn in so many ways that the wearer can personalize the look based on their own style. “It screams ‘Pink Pewter,'” Mireya says. “We only stand behind a design that we truly believe in and aligns with our consumer base perfectly.”

Celebrity Driven and Loving It. Knowing who the fans are is something the company works passionately on, staying on top of the latest fashion trends and fleshing out the Pink Pewter persona as youthful and invigorated. Pink Pewter is known as a celebrity driven brand, frequently participating in event sponsorship and charity red carpet events. “We go to the events ourselves and interact with the stars and their fans on a personal level,” Mireya explains. “People relate to celebrities and align themselves with the values of their favorite role models, which drives credibility to our brand.”

Our brand is expanding into accessories such as belts, scarves, bracelets and jewelry to complete the experience. The key is to have each item complement the other -accessorize an accessory if you will.

Coming Soon. Look for a new tween/teen apparel line that includes trendy shirts and contemporary dresses!

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!