children’s retail blogs

Love Letter from Good For Your Girls


So nice! Especially for Valentine’s Day!

Dear Children’s Retail Today,

I have to tell you the amazing thing that happened writing this e-mail.

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. Call me a big mush (because I am) but I think we should celebrate it once a month. Life gets so crazy that we sometimes forget it’s the little things that matter.

Because Friday is Valentine’s Day, I wanted to send you an e-mail to let you know just how much I appreciate that you have helped me spread the word about Good For You Girls in the past. What happened left me humble and so appreciative. You see, I don’t have a fancy PR firm or a Social Media specialist. It’s just me compiling my lists of contacts and let’s just say it has been a while since I updated it. So Friday I set out to go through every single e-mail. Your words of encouragement and appreciation for my little company blew me away.

Keeping a company afloat can be tough, the hours are long, and many times you feel like you’re absolutely insane for trying. But your kind words made me feel so loved I can’t even begin to tell you. So what started out as a love letter to you actually felt like I was receiving an enormous, and much needed hug.
So thank you from the bottom of my heart! Good For You Girls has been my passion for the last five years and it’s folks like you that have helped bring awareness to our mission to keep girls away from chemicals and give moms a company they can trust.

Help me spread the love and feel free to share the following promotion with your followers if you can.

Thank you again for all the love letters.
Best!
Kim

Kim Grustas, Good For You Girls Natural Skincare

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Pink Pewter Purseline Collection


The popular accessories brand just launched a new line of stunning handbags due for delivery in May.

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Pink Pewter, the brand synonymous with high-fashion accessories that are fun, edgy and favorites of fashion-savvy girls and women all over creation, has just launched a new, gorgeous couture collection of handbags! Trendy as ever- beautifully jeweled clutches suitable for a range of looks, from runway elegance to casual nights out with your friends … each piece also complements Pink Pewter’s signature design and style.

012314_PinkPewter_02Retailers and Buyers – Handbags can only be purchased by phone (888-214-5678) or by contacting your sales rep.(sales@pinkpewter.com). Visit Pink Pewter at upcoming markets at the Dallas Market Center, International Gift Show, Atlanta Apparel, Stylemax, and ATS.

  • 012314_PinkPewter_03Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

pediped®


The Nevada-based footwear company plans to open 20 retail boutiques within the next three to five years.

Award-winning children’s brand pediped® is also an American favorite- known for exceptional quality and comfort, the distinctive styling has made it fastest growing children’s footwear brand in the United States. The company is also known for its philanthropic efforts; in 2012, pediped was awarded the coveted Earnie Award for Company for Good for their philanthropy efforts of nearly $2 million.

012114_pediped_websitepediped® footwear is currently sold in over 2,500 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide with more than 140 designs for boys and girls available, including the signature lines Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and FLEX®. In an effort to solidify its global recognition as the gold standard in children’s footwear, the company plans the opening of 20 retail stores within the next three to five years, providing an ideal setting for parents looking to gain more access to the endless styles and benefits of the popular footwear.

We are working hard to give our international customers direct access to the endless benefits of pediped®. We will continue to look at these markets and are excited to open more doors both domestic and international.

-pediped founder Angela Edgeworth

In addition to celebrating the opening branded boutiques in Las Vegas, pediped has opened stand-alone retail stores and in-store boutiques in Shanghai and Beijing, China, expanding to the Czech Republic with stores in Prague and Brno, through a partnership with Nohel Group®.

  • Another Hilary Abbott Communications, Inc. client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

The Lillie Pad


011514_TheLilliePad_WinterHatDelightful crochet and handmade treasure.

Owner, maker, designer and curator Amanda Lillie describes her business, The Lillie Pad as, “A great spot for handmade gifts!” And it is just that. Amanda and occasional assistant Julie Feicht offer clothes, afghans, crochet and knit accessories for babies. Amanda also sells patterns, so you can make select styles yourself.

011514_TheLilliePad_CabbagePatchHatFashion and Function. Handmade treasures from The Lillie Pad are not only adorable –take a look at the hat fashioned after a Cabbage Patch doll,  the gorgeous snowflake details on the winter hat or the regal crown for little boys- the hats will keep kids warm. And we know what a wild winter season it has been!

For over ten years, Amanda’s been knitting. But it wasn’t until she learned to crochet from a missionary in Spain that she found her calling. Now, she crochets with crochet hooks that have been passed down for generations –both her grandparents and great-grandparents crocheted:

011514_TheLilliePad_CrownThose crochet hooks are my dearest possessions, connecting me to my past and reminding me to carry on crafts and traditions that are decreasing in popularity in our rapidly expanding age of technology.

-Amanda Lillie

011514_TheLilliePad_logoIn 2011, Amanda started selling her handmade items on Etsy. Even though crochet is her craft of choice, she also likes sewing, knitting and beading. Indeed, The Lillie Pad is a great spot for handmade gifts!

Hong Kong Trade Development Council News


More than 106,000 buyers attend 4 major trade shows to start the new year.

011414_HKTDC_01A New Record. Nearly 2,900 exhibitors took part in four shows, which opened on January 6: the HKTDC Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, Hong Kong International Stationery Fair and HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show. Over 106,000 buyers attended the show, an increase of 5% over the previous year.

Happy Birthday! The Toy Fair, the largest of its kind in Asia and second-largest in the world, celebrated 40 years with two new areas of business,  this year. Smart-Tech Toys and Therapy Toys. Here’s a video:

Emerging Markets. “Most Toy Fair buyers came from the Chinese mainland, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the United States,” says Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) deputy executive director Benjamin Chau. “Participation from emerging markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East grew significantly; mature markets like the United Kingdom, Canada and Korea also recorded good increases.”

011414_HKTDC_02The HKTDC organized more than 160 buying missions counting nearly 10,000 buyers to the four fairs. Among them were major importers and distributors, including the US’s Toys “R” Us, Japan’s Tokyu Hands, Korea’s CJO Shopping, Russia’s Brainy Brats, the mainland’s yhd.com and JD.COM, and Thailand’s The Mall Group.

Mr. Chau says that the HKTDC would step up its promotional efforts in emerging markets, inviting more local buyers to Hong Kong to help Hong Kong companies capture new market opportunities.

011414_HKTDC_04Small Orders, Big Business. The Small-Order Zone was once again set up at the Toy Fair, as well as the Baby Products and Stationery fairs. Some 110 showcases displayed products, which were available in quantities from 20 to 1,000 pieces. Nearly 7,000 buyers visited the zone during the four-day-fair period, generating over 16,000 business connections.

Response to the Smart-Tech Toys zone was strong. One of the zone’s exhibitors, Roam & Wander Ltd, presented TuTu, a rabbit powered by an iPhone app. Marketing Manager Casper Chen says that TuTu was popular among buyers. The product was awarded this year’s “Best of the Fair: Electronic & Remote Control Toys,” at the Hong Kong Toys and Baby Products Awards.

Quality Buyers. Ken Lo, general manager of educational toy maker Eastcolight, says fair traffic was strong. “The quality of buyers and demand were high,” he says. Mr. Lo expects his company’s sales to go up some 5% this year.

011414_HKTDC_03Suitable Suppliers. Sebastian Wetzel, CFO of Babyloop, a German online shopping site specializing in baby products, says he had found suitable suppliers at the Baby Products Fair. “We plan to buy a variety of products at the fair, including baby bibs, diapers and sleeping bags. We target to place US$80,000-US$100,000 in on-site orders.”

Russia’s Begemott, with 88 outlets in the country, sells baby toys and games and owns nine brands. The company’s project manager, Evstratova Xenia, says she found the scale of the fair impressive, adding that she had found two quality suppliers through the fair’s business-matching service, and was pleased with the outcome.

The Toy Fair, the Baby Products Fair and the International Licensing Show are organized by the HKTDC, while the Stationery Fair ia organized by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

Uglydoll


010914_UglyDoll_03Celebrating who you are inside and out is the new beautiful.

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim founded their company, Pretty Ugly, LLC in 2001-and the rest is, well, pretty ugly!

The team started creating Uglydolls -Wage, Babo, OX, Ice-Bat and their Uglydoll pals- who express themselves through laughs, tears, love, adventure and also candy (they tell me).

010914_UglyDoll_02In the Uglydoll universe, “ugly” means unique and different. And that’s just what these dolls are – unique and different, garnering a ton of awards from the 2006 Toy of the Year, Oppenheim Best Toy, Fat Brain Toy Award, Learning Express Toy Award, Creative Child Toy Award to Parent’s Choice Best Toy.

010914_UglyDoll_01The New Jersey-based online store,  http://www.uglydolls.com sells a plethora of ugly merchandise, including comic books, UGLYDOLL PLUSH, Action Figures & FUNKO Vinyl, Apparel, Ceramics, Citizens of the Uglyverse™, HELLO KITTY & Limited Releases, Tin Toys, Uglybuddies, Uglypillow™, MIMOBOT®, UNIVERSAL MONSTERS, Watches and more.

All of it is so ugly, it’s adorable!

 

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Comfort & Joy for the Holidays


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Oil & Water


121913_Oil&Water_04A fresh look at rainwear for girls.

Amy Wismar is the founder/designer of a bright, shiny and new line of rainwear for girls called Oil & Water. “My fun and beautiful daughters inspired this line and continue to inspire me every day,” she says.

It’s just fabulous.

If you like style, originality and great quality, you’ll love Amy’s raincoats, jackets and ponchos designed “for the everyday girl.”

Oil & Water rainwear if made for girls sizes 2-10. All fabrics are shower and windproof, in a fabulous mix of colors and metallics. Each piece is fully line in faux fur or softwash poly. Luxurious!

121913_Oil&Water_01We had hoped to bring a fresh, modern look to children’s rainwear that is classic, beautiful and happy chic! And now, after two years of sketching, designing, sewing and meeting fabulous people in the fashion industry, I think the Oil & Water collection shines, too.

121913_Oil&Water_02Good for Moms. Special for girls. Reinforced snaps, tailored hoods and deep pockets are featured on all styles for everyday comfort,  using the highest quality, washable waterproof and water resistant fabrics.

A little ray of light in an otherwise gloomy rainstorm!

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 Holiday


Peel, stick, decorate … remove & reuse … without damaging your walls.

121813_WallcandyArts_01Add whimsy and cheer to your holiday décor with fun and festive new designs to Wallcandy Arts‘ peel-and-stick wall decals. Rearrange new, removable, reusable Dancing Deer, Merry Tree and Merry Christmas letters easily to create distinctive scenes and holiday dreams –for your child’s room, a family holiday party or to entice St. Nick himself. Adorable!

I hear there’s a sale going on right now, too … check out Wallcandy’s Facebook page.

BambiniWare


121713_BambiniWare_01Mompreneur brings new line of innovative gear for mommies + babies to star-studded pre-Golden Globes event.

Launched in October 2013 by Washington, D.C.-based attorney-turned-entrepreneur Riche Holmes Grant, BambiniWare™ is a new line of smart, stylish baby products designed to make life with baby easier and even a little more glamorous in the process.

BambiniWare is heading to Hollywood January 10-11, 2014 to exhibit at LA’s exclusive, invitation-only Boom Boom Room Pre Golden Globes gifting suite, which showcases the latest in baby and kids’ gear for celebrity moms and dads.

I am thrilled to showcase our new gear on such a grand stage. I created BambiniWare to provide functional and fashionable solutions to the everyday dilemmas that I faced as a new mom and I’m excited to share our products with celebrity mommies and babies who confront the same challenges.”

-Riche Holmes Grant

121713_BambiniWare_03The Boom Boom Room, considered “Hollywood’s Biggest Night for Famous Tots,” is the first and only all-baby and kids gifting suite during Hollywood’s awards season. Celebrity nursery designer and fashion television personality Jayneoni Moore reached out to Riche shortly after launching BambiniWare to attend this special event.

121713_BambiniWare_02Mommy Designed. Made in the USA. Designer bibs, burp cloths and unique baby gifts feature vibrant, bold colors and modern prints to soft palettes and timeless classics. Sold online and sold exclusively at Daisy Baby in Bethesda, MD, BambiniWare is mommy-designed and tested, features materials that are safe and friendly to babies and is manufactured in the United States.

“For a long time after the birth of my daughter, I felt like I was stuck in a fashion rut because I paid so much attention to her needs that I neglected my own,” Riche says. “The products in BambiniWare’s inaugural Burpa™ line reflect my effort to help other moms tackle the various spills and thrills that babies bring with tools that make sense and look great. Featuring modern prints to timeless classics, we’ve got something to fit every mommy’s style from Hollywood to Hometown, USA.”

  • 121713_BambiniWare_logoChildren’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!