XOLO

Who says shoes have to match?

XOLO Shoes is changing footwear fashion one mismatched shoe at a time. The company celebrates a child’s unique personality with unusual shoe designs where the left and right shoes in a pair are not exactly the same.

The mismatched fabrics feature fun, colorful patterns –and the shoes look adorable because each shoe complements the other perfectly with coordinating designs and colors.

Pam Val is the creative mind behind Humble, TX-based XOLO. Owner of Pam Grace Creations, she is already successful in the baby and children’s bedding industry, and has a passion for children’s design. Her motto: Why not let kids express themselves not just in their room decor, but also in their clothing and accessories?

Kids are often told ‘no’ when they attempt to express themselves creatively. I want to give parents a chance to tell their children ‘yes!’

Back to School Deal. XOLO Shoes makes going back to school fun and stylish. Both girls and boys can really express themselves creatively with two different shoe styles -lace-up and slip on- backpacks and rain boots. The company also has NCAA college-licensed shoes for Mom and older kids, including team colors from LSU, Georgia, Florida and Auburn, with more to come.

Check out XOLO’s back to school deal good until October 31, 2013.

Another ChicExecs client! 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 Magical Mrs. Iptweet and Me

Mayfield Media launches an Etsy Shop of original fine art and kids lit by Barbara Mayfield.

Barbara Mayfield is a child’s treasure. A gifted artist, painter, performer and children’s author/illustrator who not only does improv, “the biggest surprise in a life full of surprises has been becoming a professional puppeteer,” she says. Through her company Mayfield Media, Barbara’s work “engages, inspires, encourages and educates audiences through humor, hilarity and riveting stories not to be forgotten” – not the least of which is her award-winning children’s story, The Magical Mrs. Iptweet and Me.

Reading Mrs. Iptweet gave me the same feeling as having the sweetest, most imaginative grandmother in the world.

-Jillian Brasch, fan

The first in a series of pre-teen fiction, The Magical Mrs. Iptweet and Me tells the story of Prudence Fish Hornby, a nine-and-a-half-year-old with a curious name and a broken heart. All of life looks dull and sad and hopeless to Prudy, until a certain artist-gardener-Parade Specialist moves into 406 Durham Street –that would be Mrs. Iptweet. The enchanting, whimsical, funny story is Barbara’s first, which she also illustrated, published by Santa Fe, NM-based Azro Press, and winner of several industry awards, including the 2009 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Barbara lives in Santa Fe and studied writing with esteemed children’s author and teacher Jennifer Owings Dewey. She’s working on several more Iptweet stories, planning e-books. “Mrs. Iptweet, in Book 2, will be very interested in star-gazing and astronomy,” she tells her Facebook fans.

A graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Barbara recently opened a shop on Etsy.com, where fans can buy her original artwork and her children’s literature.

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!

Elephants on the Wall

Do you ever look at the walls in your house and think, “What can I do with this blank canvas?” Award-winning designer Patti Newton does, too.

Patti is creator of Elephants on the Wall, a company that designs paint-by-number wall murals. Now, you can transform your blank walls into magical worlds full of swashbuckling pirates, safari adventures, princess parties and more, by creating life-size illustrations yourself. You’ll be thrilled with the results.

Fun, Easy and Rewarding. Patti’s specially designed system has only has three steps: 1) tape the transfer paper to the back of the pattern paper and attach it to the wall; 2) trace the design and then remove the paper; 3) start painting. With paint-by-number wall murals you can 1) reuse it as many times as you like; 2) reverse the image to fit perfectly in your space; 3) repeat the image -or just part of it- to get the desired effect.

Great for expectant moms, your kids’ rooms and even for yourself, Patti has over 175 mural designs to choose from, including customized designs. Crafty types will love the challenge and those with no artistic experience will find it easy and rewarding. This just in: Elephants on the Wall was honored as the 2012 Kid Product of the Year by Creative Child magazine!

Made in the USA. Elephants on the Wall combines all of Patti’s passions – graphic design, themed environments, lots of color and love of sharing her talents with others. As a designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, she created themed signage and graphics that’s seen all around the world. Once an instructor at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, she’s also created five floats for the City of La Cañada Flintridge that were presented in the Tournament of Roses Parade. There’s nothing you can’t hand-paint on the wall, with Patti’s help – from sports to sea treasures, jungle landscapes to geometric beauty -even the occasional elephant!

Another ChicExecs PR client! 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!

WallCandy Arts

A favorite of Children’s Retail Today, WallCandy Arts is Made in the USA.

WallCandy Arts is the company behind WallCandy -removable, repositionable and reusable wall stickers and wall art. The brainchild of Allison Krongard, mom to Lilly and Brandon, WallCandy lets adults –and kids- create a unique atmosphere in any room with patented decorative products made with you in mind.

WallCandy Arts is the ultimate commitment-free décor for any room.

Peel and Stick. Anyone decorating with WallCandy can do so easily and effortlessly, leaving no marks on the walls. Made in the USA of non-toxic materials, WallCandy’s special adhesive allows you to remove and reposition the design over and over again.

Allison’s first WallCandy client was actually a friend’s three-year-old named Max –who turned out to be one tough customer. Just as soon as Allison had pulled together the inspiration, swatches and paint chips to suit his dinosaur obsession, he changed his mind, wanting his room filled with spaceships! The experience became the ultimate idea-maker: “If kids’ imaginations grow as fast as their bodies, why not create a décor element that’s easy to change and easy to apply?” Allison shares online.

That was back in 2002. Now, Allison is the patented inventor of removable, reusable and repositionable chalkboard wall decals, too –and the WallCandy product line has expanded to include removable wallpaper, wall decals, instant wallpaper, patented peel and stick chalkboard, party decorating celebration kits, seasonal decal designs and more.

In January, WallCandy Arts partnered with lifestyle brand French Bull to create a new collection of wall decals, reinventing them with a fresh and contemporary look. The collection is designed to inspire a child’s imagination while adding pizzazz to a nursery or playroom.

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!

Finn + Emma’s Organic Picks for the Nursery

Planning a planet-friendly nursery is now effortless, thanks to Finn + Emma’s organic collection.

Green Gift Ready. From bedding to rattle booties, nursery products from Finn + Emma use 100% certified organic cotton, natural fibers including wool, and fresh designs- think scooters, stripes and flowers to outfit nurseries the green way -without toxic chemicals or synthetic materials- simply.

Finn + Emma’s soft organic cotton nap sacs make naptime a breeze with snaps at the bottom for quick diaper changes. The comfy cotton fill provides extra padding for a peaceful slumber.

Babies love to cuddle up to a soft blanket, made from 100% organic interlock cotton. Finn + Emma offers crib sets with and without bumpers to complement nursery decor and coordinate with their blankets and nap sacs. Made in Peru, the bedding sets feature a 100% organic cotton interlock fitted crib sheet and poplin crib skirt.

We live in the balance of stylish and sustainable, whimsical and sophisticated, classic and contemporary.

With fresh prints, modern colors and heirloom quality construction, Finn + Emma is creating a new world for what they call “the organically grown baby” -adorable, wearable, remarkable designs made from organic cotton that virtually wipe boring designs and toxic chemicals off the face of the planet!

Another Magnolia PR client! 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!

Introducing ZozoBugBaby

Using bold, bright designs and mixing prints in nontraditional ways, ZozoBugBaby is all about creative freedom and mix-and-match style.

ZozoBugBaby is a vibrant, artsy brand of children’s clothing, bedding and accessories created by fine artist Julie Martin.

“Here, we live life in color, so … Dress Happy!” The Spring/Summer 2012 Imagine collection includes vintage silhouettes inspired by the innocent designs of the ’50s and ’60s paired with the signature ZozoBugBaby look -tiered dresses and skirts in funky prints, knit leggings and more structured, woven dresses.

I juxtapose girly ruffles with clean lines, as well as pairing knits with wovens. Stripes and polka dots can be found pretty much year-round in my line.

-Julie, who’s also mom to two girls

ZozoBugBaby clothing is available in 6-12 months to size 10. In addition to clothing, the line offers one-of-a-kind, colorful bedding sets for boys and girls, including optional, complimentary name appliqué on bedspread or pillow. Patchwork throw blankets may also be personalized for free and are backed in supersoft minky.

Unique! ZozoBugBaby teepees are made of sturdy cotton and available in cascading ruffles, draped styles or a more structured form. Custom-made to customer specifications.

And check out the cool sewing patterns, too!

Get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products! Contact me today!

Safe Sleeptime for Babies

HALO Innovations is a unique resource for parents, offering solutions to help baby sleep more safely.

A trusted name in safe sleep for baby for more than 15 years, the company has introduced a new nursery set that enables parents to easily create an attractive and safe sleep environment for baby which supports a new recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

Newer crib standards…have obviated the need for crib bumpers. Because of the potential for suffocation, entrapment and strangulation and lack of evidence to support that bumper pads or similar products that attach to crib slats or sides prevent injury in young infants, the AAP does not recommend their use.

The new HALO Safe Sleep Crib Set™ includes five coordinating pieces: a HALO SleepSack wearable blanket, SleepSack Swaddle, both in 100% cotton; two coordinating crib sheets in soft cotton jersey; and a matching crib skirt. The new Set is available in six patterns in pink, blue and neutral color tones; baby’s sleepwear features adorable, highly embellished appliqué detailing.

We applaud the AAP for recognizing that bumpers can be a potential threat to a sleeping baby and support their efforts in any way possible. Too often parents ‘overdress’ the crib with a quilt and bumpers, both of which can pose a breathing threat for baby.

–Bill Schmid, a SIDS dad and founder

Minneapolis, MN-based HALO Innovations is dedicated to developing products that set new standards for the safety and improved health of sleeping infants. HALO® branded products are used in hundreds of hospitals nationwide in well baby care, NICU’s and in take home programs to help new parents practice Safe Sleep for Baby at home.

If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

VegasKids

New Show on HUDSON’S Calendar!

On August 1-5, World Market Center Las Vegas presents an exciting new trade show that brings the full spectrum of kid’s markets together for one super-convenient, opportunity-packed event.

Following a successful launch last summer, Vegas Kids débuts in an expanded section of World Market Center, centrally located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. With easy access to Interstate 15 and US Highway 95, it is adjacent to Las Vegas Premium Outlets® on Grand Central Parkway.

Vegas Kids brings together buyers and sellers from the juvenile industry and features nursery and youth furniture plus accessories. Held in conjunction with Las Vegas Market and Gift + Home, Vegas Kids offers unique programming, resources and special events all geared to equip your business for what’s ahead. Attendees can expect to source fresh, innovative products as well as find a confluence of new opportunities to help them differentiate their stores, add new revenue streams and increase sales.

“Juvenile continues to be a hot market for retailers,” says WMCLV president and CEO Robert Maricich, “and we are pleased to offer it once again as a destination at Las Vegas Market, along with relevant programming that helps retailers uncover new ways to market to this sector.”

World Market Center Las Vegas is a dynamic new showcase for the home and hospitality contract furnishings industry in Las Vegas, the fastest-growing home furnishings market in the country. When fully completed, the venue will have more than 12 million square feet of state-of-the-art exhibit space in eight buildings on 57 contiguous acres. All segments of the industry will be together on one mega-campus, making it the largest, most comprehensive, most accessible showroom and convention complex in the industry.

Expanded plans for Vegas Kids include seminars by industry experts to share their knowledge and experience with market attendees. Learn more about increasing green strategies in your business, staying ahead of the latest in industry trends and discovering the best in design. Enjoy a host of opportunities to network and have fun, like complimentary receptions and special exhibits. A full calendar of networking receptions and week-long exhibits is in development.

The World Market Center’s WMCommunity is an online resource that provides a whole new way for buyers and sellers to connect. Creating an online profile allows you to register for upcoming shows, update your contact information, receive key market news, find more exhibitors and popular products, build your calendar and schedule meetings with exhibitors. Find them on Facebook, too.

-Janet Muniz

Carousel Designs

A unique interactive design tool for expectant parents to design and decorate the nursery.

From its start as a small family business in 1988, Carousel Designs has grown to become an award-winning national online retailer and trusted brand of premium baby bedding, twin bedding and home décor. Jonathan Hartley continues the family tradition of ownership as CEO with his business partner, president Allan Sicat. The two dads of young children are both graduates of the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY, are U.S. Army veterans- and take special pride that all Carousel Designs baby bedding products are Made in the USA.

In addition to offering custom baby bedding, Carousel Designs offers more than 100 pre-designed crib bedding collections, ranging from classic themes to more modern, sophisticated designs. Mini/portable crib, cradle, toddler, twin and full/queen bedding is also available along with coordinating nursery décor including lighting, furniture, rugs, musical mobiles, pillows, diaper stackers, wall art, draperies, rocking chair pads and valances.

Carousel Designs is the only baby bedding company that allows parents to design their own crib bedding, see it online, and choose other elements of the nursery to preview the room before making a purchase. The company recently launched version 3.0 of its popular Nursery Designer®, a unique interactive design tool offering expectant parents more options than ever before for designing and decorating their nursery. Customers can mix and match fabrics and component styles, change the color of the nursery walls, choose a crib finish and pick flooring to design a virtual nursery. An expanded range of crib colors and flooring options are offered with Nursery Designer® Version 3.0, allowing customers to experience a more accurate visualization of their nursery.

“For more than two decades, Carousel Designs has been committed to providing expectant parents with products that create a stylish and nurturing environment for their babies,” Allan says. “No matter what their style or skill level, Nursery Designer® will give parents endless possibilities to make their dream nursery a reality at an affordable price.”

As they anticipated fatherhood, both Jonathan and Allan were inspired by how their wives enjoyed spending time in the design studio, playing with fabrics and creating custom bedding for their nursery. They knew if they could create the same experience online- not only the ability to design the perfect bedding but also to visualize a nursery before making a purchase -they could offer real value to their customers and more importantly, make sure that every mom gets exactly what she wants. With combined experience in technology, ecommerce, business operations and finance, they set out to make sure that Carousel Designs provided expectant moms with the absolute best experience in decorating baby’s first room.