Children’s Retail Today

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Konfidence


Europe’s leading designer/manufacturer of award-winning premium protective swimwear makes its American début in more than 94 buybuy BABY stores nationwide and online at www.buybuybaby.com.

Now available in America. Founded in 1998 by Andrew Regan, a UK-based doctor and dad of five, Konfidence is designed for healthy, happy, confident kids. The company makes a complete range of award-winning, color-coordinated protective swimwear and accessories for youngsters from birth to seven years. The Konfidence™ collection also extends to UVPF sun protection clothing and wetsuits for children up to the age of 14 years.

Working with experts in the swimming industry, we have created the most comprehensive, dedicated baby and children’s swimwear range available on the market. When dealing with the safety of babies and children in water, it is important that we continue developing our established and much loved products and bring new items to market that parents and caregivers will want to use.”

– International Sales Director Dan Allen

052814_Konfidence_BabywarmaLook for the Babywarma™ Neoprene Swimsuit, specially designed to keep baby warm while in the water while providing 100% UV protection on covered parts. The One-Size Aquanappy Swim Diaper provides superior protection at the beach or pool. Paddler™ Socks are the perfect solution for protecting little feet from hot or cold surfaces, sharp items and more. The Aquaband with Earplugs keeps water out of baby’s ears. The soft, neoprene band acts like a splash guard while the silicone ear plugs provide an extra level of protection. For busy parents, the lightweight Roll & Go™ Babychanger by Konfidence™ makes diaper changes anywhere a breeze. The Warma™ Neoprene Wetsuit is the perfect learn-to-swim gear made from flexible neoprene, providing warmth in and out of the water, while also allowing freedom of movement. Adjustable shoulder straps allow for growth and ensure a snug fit.

052814_Konfidence_USA logo“Whether it’s for baby’s first swimming lesson, a splash around the pool with mom and dad, a beach holiday or children of any age learning to swim, we have the products to make it all an enjoyable experience,” Dan says.

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Bombas Kids Indiegogo Campaign


Bombas are engineered and designed to look better and feel better, with a mission to help those in need.

052114_CRTPost_BombasSocks_LogoBombas men’s/women’s sock collection launched on crowdfunding site Indiegogo in August 2013 and remains the #1 most funded apparel brand in Indigogo history. After listening to feedback from supporters, Bombas once again turns to Indiegogo to bring these amazing socks to the feet of kids everywhere, helping to further their mission –and with just 10 days left, Bomba Socks’ new kid’s collection campaign* is definitely making a run at outperforming the original campaign!

052114_CRTPost_BombasSocks_01The Bombas line of bold athletic-leisure socks are great for kids, with bright color, a comfortable design and promise of a Bombas Growth Guarantee – if kids wear through the socks or they outgrow them within a year, Bombas will send another pair for free!

With the knowledge that socks are the #1 most requested item in homeless shelters, for every pair purchased, Bombas donates a pair to someone in need … that’s 70,000+ pairs to date!

Watch the kid’s campaign video and see how the company set out to rethink an everyday product in a totally advanced way, building them with purpose for athletic performance and designed for extreme leisure.

052114_CRTPost_BombasSocks_BeeBee Better. The word bombas is derived from the Latin word for bumblebee. “Bee Better” is the company’s mantra, stitched inside every pair as a reminder to push harder and be better at your athletic pursuits; that you helped someone in need with your purchase; that we’re all connected and little improvements can add up to make a big difference.

*campaign closes May 30, 2014

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Children’s Retail Today is Five Years Old!


????????????????????????????????????????????????????CRT is the one online publication for anyone with a passion for children’s fashion.

A Decade of Street Cred. As the one & only managing editor of beloved trade publication HUDSON’S Childrenswear Review –on board for its creation in 2005 until the final issue in 2011- I’ve been covering the great children’s fashion stories for 10 years, interviewing dozens of specialty retailers, mass merchandisers, family business owners, manufacturers, designers and decision makers who are leading the way to success in every aspect of the children’s business today.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????For anyone with a passion for children’s fashion. Launched in 2009 to compliment HUDSON’S editorial, and re-branded as Children’s Retail Today in 2012, I’m celebrating five years of getting the word out about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children to love. I write about fun and functional products, key companies, inspiring designers and important issues affecting not only industry professionals, but consumers as well.

Store owners, manufacturers, designers … mompreneurs & inventors …

Get inspired! Read fresh posts about apparel and footwear collections, product launches, nifty services and best practices to take your business to the next level.

Parents, grandparents … gift-giving aunties, coaches, teachers & friends …

Find the best stuff! Learn about new products and where to buy … better yet, convince your favorite shop to carry your picks!

Children’s Retail Today –CRT for short- showcases what I like to call “adorables” –the most desirable children’s apparel, footwear, accessories, gifts, books, toys, products for parents – and more.

????????The New Look of CRT

Big images, bold color, bright white space –the new look of CRT puts emphasis on what everyone is here to discover: innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. And their parents, too. Simply click the dot icons at the top right for a few plusses like the page menu, secret messages, social links and site search!

Enjoy the moment with me! I’m always looking for cool stuff to tell you about, so contact me about your great idea.

K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers, Inc.


Kids In Distressed Situations and Fashion Delivers merge to better serve people in need.

043014_CRTPost_KIDSFashionDelivers_LogoKids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) and Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation, Inc., both U.S.-based nonprofits with a global reach, were founded to secure donations of excess new product from manufacturers and retailers to provide relief for people in need. Now, these two organizations have joined forces to create K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers, Inc., with a new website named as a call to action that emphasizes the mission, www.DonateProduct.com.

We are very pleased that the merger is completed, maximizing the benefits of our consolidation with strengthened resources and, most importantly, our ability to serve families, kids and adults in need.

-Co-Chairmen Allan Ellinger and Gary Simmons

K.I.D.S. was founded in 1985 by children’s industry executives, and in 2005 Fashion Delivers was created by adult apparel and home fashions professionals to serve similar purposes.

Moving donations of new apparel, home fashions, toys, books and other items is a huge effort. Cash donations and other financial support help pay for programs, logistics, coordination and transportation costs so that new product reaches the people who need it most. While the organizations’ work in natural disasters has attracted the most attention, fighting poverty is a daily mission. Together, they have delivered over $1 billion of new product and efficiently operate with less than 3% overhead.

Confronting poverty that robs an individual of their dignity. “Roughly 50 million people in the U.S. live in poverty, including seven million families,” Mr. Simmons says. “K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers brings together a diverse network of more than 1,000 community partners and 390 donors throughout the 50 states and the world to distribute donated product. Connecting these local, on-the-ground agencies with donated product given by some of the most recognizable brands in fashion, footwear, toys, home and juvenile product allows us to provide hope and dignity to families and individuals facing these challenges.”

K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers also introduce Joel Newman, former COO of Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger, as president for an interim period. “Joel has extensive senior management experience in the retail and wholesale industry as well as experience with non-profit organizations,” Mr. Ellinger says. “He will initially concentrate on fine tuning strategy and organizational development and will also participate in the search for a permanent president.”

With the merger of K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers complete, Denise Durham Williams, former Executive Director of K.I.D.S., has resigned to pursue other opportunities in direct-service nonprofit work. “We want to thank Denise for her efforts, particularly her work on the merger. We wish her every success in her future endeavors,” says Mr. Ellinger.

New Plush from Aurora World


The award-winning company introduces three engaging new lines the blend trendy with traditional cuddliness.

042314_CRTPost_Aurora_01Leading plush toy, gift and doll manufacturer Aurora World Inc. recently added three new original lines -from the eye-catching to the irresistible, Wuff & Friends is based on a proven Aurora best-selling character, while Taddle Toes and Wobbly Bobblees use oversized features to grab the attention and hearts of shoppers everywhere.

These stunning, new product lines provide our customers with a true impact at retail via excellent value, branded merchandising support and engaging consumer experiences.

042314_CRTPost_Aurora_02Wuff & Friends. “Shake the animal upside down for a fun feature that makes Wuff and his friends outrageously fluffy,” says Michael Kessler, Aurora’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. Shaggy, waggy and just plain cute, Wuff is Aurora’s best-selling sheepdog highlighting a line of eight dogs including Schnauzer, Chow, Pekinese, Poodle, Malamute, Pomeranian and Scottie. A high-pile, low-pile mix gives this plush line a whimsical, fun look that is soft to the touch.

Retailers:  Merchandise signage and product tags reinforce this messaging.

042314_CRTPost_Aurora_03Taddle Toes. “These characters encompass chunky soft bodies, endearing faces and detailed, oversized feet,” Michael says. At recent industry trade shows, Taddle Toes proved to be one of the hottest sellers as the oversized features delighted buyers who wanted a stand out plush product for their stores. The Taddle Toes line features a large variety of popular domestic, jungle and wildlife animals. “We anticipate Taddle Toes to be a long-term plush line with introductions for our ‘everyday’ and seasonal styles, as well as for baby, including adorable pink and baby blue bears and elephants.”

Retailers:Aurora’s branded display rack holds approximately 32 pieces.

042314_CRTPost_Aurora_04Wobbly Bobblees. “An innovative, impulse plush line with strong shelf appeal, Wobbly Bobblees feature darling, oversized heads that subtly wobble for an endearing head tilt at retail,” Michael says. “Plus they are extremely cute, and that equals strong sales.” Seventeen styles include a monkey, lion, elephant, white tiger, pig, cow, giraffe, cat and dogs; a spring-themed assortment with lamb, chick, bunny and frog complete the line.

Retailers: Aurora’s collateral merchandising support including a branded corrugated display and product hangtag, highlight the Wobbly Bobblees characters and product features.

Aurora showcases its products at over 50 industry trade shows each year including Atlanta International Gift Show July 8-15, 2014; showroom #784. Aurora products are available in more than 25,000 specialty stores and gift shops worldwide as well as online at http://shop.auroragift.com. For more information or to make an appointment at an upcoming trade show, visit http://auroragift.com, email info@auroragift.com or call 888-287-6722.

Robeez® Buy One Give One Sock Event


The Original Soft Sole brand partners with K.I.D.S. this month on a fabulous giving campaign.

Throughout April, Robeez, beloved maker of the industry-leading Original Soft-Sole pre-walker, is partnering with the equally beloved charitable organization K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations) on a spring giving campaign. Right now, for every pair of Robeez socks purchased* at MyRobeez.com, a new pair of socks will be donated to Head Start –the federal government program that promotes school readiness in children ages birth to five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development.

Robeez and K.I.D.S. are committed to underserved children with a variety of needs, especially lack of shoes and clothing, and we are dedicated to helping the children of Head Start in any way possible, and hope to do so by starting with a simple pair of new socks.

–David McCubbin, President of McCubbin Hosiery, a Robeez licensee

041714_CRTPost_Robeez_webpage*The Buy One, Give One Sock Campaign runs until April 30 on MyRobeez.com and is expected to donate at least 1,000 new Robeez socks to Head Start through K.I.D.S.

Robeez was founded in 1994 and offers fun, whimsical footwear and hosiery with functional support for tiny feet. New York, NY-based K.I.D.S. provides new clothes, shoes, toys and books to families in underserved communities, an ideal partner for Robeez on this event.

We are so grateful for this wonderful donation program of Robeez socks from McCubbin Hosiery. Socks are one of the most requested items for donation among the many community charities with which we work. The support for low-income children in Head Start programs is especially important given the challenges faced by the families of these kids.

–Donna Charles, K.I.D.S. CEO

KidStyleSource.com


Two websites in one, for savvy kids fashion shoppers of all kinds!

Kindred Spirit. Whether you’re a style-minded shopping parent or a fashion-forward retail buyer, KidStyleSource.com is a fabulous online find – one after my own heart. The entire site features the latest news in apparel, accessories and furnishings for infants through tweens, organized for the shopping public as well as for professionals in the children’s product industry.

041614_CRTPost_KidStyleSource_webpageThe brainchild of editorial director Tracy Mitchell, who has covered the children’s market in various editorial roles at Fairchild Publication’s Children’s Business magazine for almost 20 years, KidStyleSource.com features breaking collections, undiscovered designers, emerging labels and familiar brands –for both parents and professionals- presented in a grown-up, insider-type way.

As an industry insider, KidStyleSource surveys the market and tracks down the trends as they develop. And more importantly, we’re known for presenting those trends in a meaningful way that we believe enhances the retailers’ shopping experience. Translating this curated approach from online to the show floor is designed to take the retail buying experience to the next level.”

-Tracy Mitchell

Comprehensive Coverage. The site also features merchandise by trends and by categories in easy-to-navigate sections. The style showcase ranges in price “from mass to class,” which makes visiting a great shopping experience.

Fashion director Lynda M. Johnson is a fashion journalist and stylist with 28 years of experience working for both trade and consumer publications and leads the fashion resourcing efforts for the KidStyleSource, among other things.

A division of Style Source media LLC, the six-year-old KidStyleSource.com is a unique destination for both parents and industry executives to find great fashion stories.

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ZAIKAMOYA


Introducing the Fall/Winter 2014 collection.

Recently spotted at ENK Children’s Club in March, ZAIKAMOYA is a children’s apparel line that appeals to the minimalist.

Pure, Versatile, Essential. Crafted in small editions, the clean, simple designs are made from high-quality, durable, natural fabrics like organic cotton in neutral tones. This first collection is ideal for children from newborn to age four. The brand plans to expand for other ages.

Kasia Pysiak is the person behind the Brooklyn, NY-based company, which takes its name from the soft, cuddly bunny (“zaikamoya” means “my bunny” in Russian). Some styles are appropriate for both girls and boys, and the soothing color palette is a favorite among parents, who wish the clothes came in adult sizes.

GirlzNDollz


040214_CRTPost_GirlznDollz_LogoThe New Jersey-based company launches two new doll collections.

As a first generation teen emigrating from the Caribbean, Jessie Saint-Hubert has worked for over 15 years in the U.S. developing plush for well-known companies. Now, her lifelong passion for dolls inspired the launch her own business, GirlzNDollz™ –with her daughter, who shares Jessie’s passion for dolls and playing dress up. Each of the dolls emulates the best characteristics of their friends and family; they are soft, cuddly, diverse and loveable! And together, the mother-and-daughter duo helped create all the outfits and accessories.

040214_CRTPost_GirlznDollz_03GirlzNDollz launches with the introduction of  Lil’Totz™ and Just2Girlz™, dolls with sweet bios that allow girls to discover who they are and unleash the potential of who they can become. These unique and adorable collections allow for each girl’s own imagination and compassion to open up their world and teach them to accept one another as they are.

040214_CRTPost_GirlznDollz_04The GirlzNDollz Collection

The soft and cuddly rag dolls are based on real-life characters that all girls can identify with. Lil’Totz is a collection for ages 3+ while Just2Girlz is perfect for children 5+.  The collection’s size grows with the girls as they mature from toddlers to tweens –they’ll want to collect them, play with them and love them! Each doll collection also has a beautiful dollhouse just their size. The entire line meets all current CPSIA regulations and ASTM-F963 toy safety standards.

040214_CRTPost_GirlznDollz_06You’ll Love What We Stand For!

GirlzNDollz celebrates everything there is about being a girl! Empowerment starts at an early age, and the GirlzNDollz brand grows with your child as they learn through play about life’s unlimited possibilities. The company’s mantra is, “I am me!” emphasizing quality, value and uniqueness.

Available at online doll store GirlzNDollz.com.

Silikids®


An all-new product line of safe, modern silicone accessories for kids

032614_Silikids_08Founded in 2006 by Stacey Feeley and Giuliana Schwab, Traverse City, MI-based Silikids the first mom-founded brand of products that are toxin- free, hypoallergenic and made entirely out of silicone. A pioneer in the children’s market, the company has just introduced an expanded line of innovative feeding products.

Our new offerings are a direct result of our talking with parents over the past year to create a cohesive line of stylish, functional and eco-friendly Silikids products they want and need.

New Silikids products now available in stores include Siliskin® Sippy 8oz., a  Siliskin® Top, Silimap, Silibib® and Siliskin® glasses.  A Siliskin® Bowl, Silispoons and Silibags (snack bags) will be available sometime in April/May.

New Silikids products include:

Silibib, with a new ergonomic design that allows for it to lie flat. The bib includes a hidden pocket that easily flips forward for use. Soft, comfortable for baby, hypoallergenic, easy to wipe off and dishwasher safe.

Siliskin® Bowl, ideal for young children starting solid foods. The sectioned bowl suggests proper portions of the four food groups.

Silispoon, designed to encourage independent eating habits, it features a textured handle and wide spatula style head to make it easy to scoop up food.

Silibags, translucent silicone reusable sandwich/snack bags that make it easy to see what is inside. Embedded closure keeps bag sealed shut.

The Silikids collection is available at specialty juvenile products stores nationwide including Giggle and online at 2modern.com, diapers.com, amazon.com and at the newly redesigned www.silikids.com.