Happy Fourth of July from Children’s Retail Today
Back in 1973, when Barb Agatstein started making bows for her daughter Betsy, little did she know her home-based business would take off, becoming one of the most respected and well-known brands in the girls hair accessories market today.
Classic American Success Story. Missouri-based Wee Ones® makes high-quality hair bows, headbands, clips and other fashionable accessories for babies and young girls. Family-owned and award-winning, the company continues to turn heads for its design excellence, recently adding Sana Shucart as product designer. “Sana has done a lot of different things in the shoe industry,” says CEO Miles Faust, “and she’s excited to learn our business and find ways to apply what she’s learned to help Wee Ones grow.” A product development executive with an impressive track record, Sana is an expert at developing stylish and innovative brands for many major retailers across the country. And she’s excited to be looking at the world of fashion through the eyes of -well- a wee one. “It’s all about creating designs that the Wee Ones girl and all of her friends want to wear,” Sana says.
We believe we have something for every little girl, and moms have looked to us for our selection for almost 40 years.
The Wee Ones Girl Defined. Found in stores all over the U.S., and select retailers in Canada, Mexico, the UK and Korea (as well as the company website), Wee Ones is known for the classic, premium hair bow. The company also designs a line for tweens called Deidra & Kiki, and recently launched a new line for girls ages 10 thru 18 called Apres les Petites, which features sophisticated accessories that move beyond the Wee Ones bow. In addition, Wee Ones distributes Knot Genie, an amazing detangling hair brush for kids.
Big, Bright and Fashionable. Sana and founder Barb Agatstein –who still holds the title of chief design officer- work together closely on all aspects of design and product development. Wee Ones designers spend months studying the seasonal nuances and materials, to offer on-trend designs of the highest quality.
Glitter is our favorite color.
Last year, Wee Ones introduced an exclusive glitter ribbon featured in the WeeSparkle collection, hand-crafted from a unique grosgrain ribbon with a glitter-infused coating that does not rub off. Great for dressing up, dressing down, playgrounds and pools, the WeeSparkle collection comes in show-stopping colors perfect for girls of any age.
For the Fall/ Holiday 2012 season, be on the lookout for glam, glitz and glitter to complement every style, from bows to Banditz -the new fashion craze sweeping the nation.
“I don’t know when ‘re-purposing’ became a word,” says Molly Gaddy-Walters, self proclaimed glue gun expert, geek-of-anything-crafty, and freak of anything vintage. “I always thought it was cool to find hidden beauty in someone else’s treasure.”
Molly is also the owner/shopkeeper of ARTIFACT –a unique boutique, consignment shop and event space-featuring one-of-a-kind re-purposed and up-cycled home furnishings, clothing, gifts and more. “We specialize in helping people find beauty in the worn, torn and discarded,” Molly says, “or we give their personal artifacts a needed artistic touch.” The Las Vegas-based retailer is scheduled to open to the public on Saturday, June 30 in Tivoli Village with eco-conscious merchandise that’s Handmade in the USA by talented artisans found locally and across the United States. “This is one of the most talented, artistic and inspirational groups ever assembled; a true ensemble of creative genius, and I know together we are going to take the world by storm.”
ARTIFACT looks at retail differently. It has a story and purpose. Each unique object in ARTIFACT is like a lost treasure only to be found. Any kind of work that touches us on an emotional level -that brings us joy or happiness, tears or laughter- is art. Molly Gaddy-Walters has created an artful masterpiece in ARTIFACT. It is gift for all of us, to not only shop, but enjoy.
– Gina Gavan, founder and CEO of marketing development firm Tribal Minds
Making the ordinary art. The store is organized with several departments, including Scribble, the place where kids, babies and their parents can shop for fun, cool, trendy and classic finds that are re-purposed and up-cycled. There’s an organic market with handmade baby items including cribs, blankets, nursery décor, books and toys that have been re-purposed or are green. Scribble also features a crayon bar as well as The Trading Post, named for the historic North American place where folks exchanged goods, met, discussed current events and shared ideas. The Trading Post at ARTIFACT is for kids to meet and exchange toys in a safe environment.
Other ARTIFACT departments include Purpose, featuring vendors and artisans who create special custom orders; Masterpiece, furniture and decorative accessories; Portrait, clothing and jewelry for men and women; and Landscape, full of rare and unique found objects such as books, signage, outdoor/indoor fixtures and large art pieces.
Classes, events and more. Molly and her team plan to hold classes that focus on “the Art of ARTIFACTS,” as well as special ones that celebrate a birthday, birth of a baby or wedding. ARTIFACT also offers Green Chic Party Planning that works with a customer’s ideas and makes them green, including kids parties.
The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.
-Pablo Picasso
As one of her favorite quotes, Molly takes the words of Pablo Picasso to heart every day. After years of working in the high-end retail world, Molly stopped to stay at home with her kids –and started living with re-purpose. The family motto was “use it up, make it last, or do without,” she says. It didn’t take long for her to realize that re-purposing is not only a way of life, but a freedom –to express ourselves and define our personal style. “Trips to the thrift store seemed to unfold like a story book. I looked around and saw all the beautiful potential many of the items had. I felt the need to repurpose them in a way others would treasure.”
So it’s not hard to image that the début of ARTIFACT will bring back that very best of shopping experiences –finding something super special at an affordable price.
In the fall of 2011, UrbanSitter launched in San Francisco CA, giving moms and dads throughout the Bay Area the ability to book a qualified babysitter by leveraging members’ trusted networks to match families with caregivers.
Unlike other quality childcare services available online (I introduced you to NannyPro.com recently), UrbanSitter lets parents view sitters they know -as well as sitters their friends know- and book them in real-time.
We think that UrbanSitter is to babysitting what OpenTable is to restaurant reservations.
-co-founder Lynn Perkins
UrbanSitter was founded by a group of Internet veterans who wanted to use technology to power a faster, more personal babysitting service. Lynn Perkins, mother of twin boys, used her background running online clothing retailer Xuny.com, and convinced her three friends (Daisy Downs, an interactive media producer at ad agency Goodby, Silverstein and Partners; Andrea Barrett, a product manager at travel site TripIt; and Hadar Wissotzky, CEO of interactive digital agency Streamline Social) to help her come up with an answer for her outrageous question: Why is it that I could book an online restaurant reservation in minutes, yet had to spend hours calling and e-mailing around to find a babysitter?” Good question.
Social Yellow Pages. Parents sign up for UrbanSitter using Facebook Connect and can view sitters known through friends or affiliations -including schools, sports teams and parents groups- and can view each sitter’s availability in order to select a sitter for a specific date and time, or plan an outing when they know their favorite sitter is available. Jobs or interviews can be booked in minutes and parents can contribute written reviews, ratings and Facebook Likes to sitter profiles.
Babysitters who sign up with UrbanSitter can post their credentials, as well as availability, hourly rates and location preferences. The ability to see who parents are connected to fosters trust and familiarity and helps sitters decide which jobs to accept. To protect privacy, contact information is exchanged only after the booking is confirmed. And sitters keep all the money they earn and positive reviews posted to the site help them gain more work.
Parents have always found and booked babysitters through friends. UrbanSitter genuinely leverages the social graph to replicate the physical word-of-mouth experience online, and in the process, turns a formerly cumbersome process into just a few easy clicks.
Because UrbanSitter’s success is built on trust, the business took off. Within six months of its launch, San Francisco-based UrbanSitter expanded to New York City, Chicago, Denver, and more, according to Entrepreneur.com.
In January, the company –with 2,000 bookings per month, 2,500 registered babysitters- secured $1.75 million in seed funding. Led by First Round Capital, with participation from Rustic Canyon Partners, Menlo Ventures and several angel investors, the funds have furthered UrbanSitter’s mission, allowing another expansion to San Diego, Napa Valley and Sonoma, Seattle, Boulder, St. Louis and Lake Tahoe. UrbanSitter is also considering its model for use with other types of services, such as tutors and pet-sitters.
NannyPro.com is an online service to help anyone find the best nannies and babysitters, offering advice, tips, and resources for not only families, but the nannies and babysitters, too.
We understand your needs, concerns, and fears, because we have been in your shoes.
“When my wife went back to work after maternity leave, we were faced with the challenge of finding a trustworthy, responsible, and loving nanny for our three children,” says co-founder Ken Myers. This experience has prompted us to found and operate NannyPro.com.”
In addition to providing services that include information on childcare and how to hire a caregiver, NannyPro also has resources on education, health and wellness –even ways to save, pets and kids sports, such as this article, 10 Reasons Big Wheels Have Stood the Test of Time, written by contributor Sara Dawkins.
The folks at NannyPro personally conduct in-depth reviews of each nanny and babysitter who joins the NannyPro listing, including reference and background checks and in-person interviews. site. “We do extensive research using the best background check options on the market and are able to offer our users a Best-in-Class Background Check process,” they say. NannyPro recently expanded by partnering with childcare leader eNannySource.com, a resource for over 15 years. The Buffalo, NY-based business serves the United States and Canada.
Both sites offer a unique experience for families and caregivers to meet and help raise our children.
The Complete NannyPro Hiring Guide. One of NannyPro’s services free with each full membership is a complete hiring guide written by company president Carolin Soldo, full of advice on how to get started, the nanny or babysitter hiring process, templates and forms including interview selection sheets, interview questions, sample work agreement, all you need to know about nanny taxes, and more.
One of life’s simple pleasures has got to be a walk in the rain on a warm summer day.Showers could be fleeting though – and over before you can get the kids into their raincoats. All you could hope for is they’ve got their rain boots on … to puddle-splash, of course. Or … you can get your kids a Hoodebaby.
Slip it on, wrap them up and go. Made for babies, toddlers and kids (and hopefully for adults someday –hint, hint), Hoodebaby is a hooded wrap that blankets children easily from rain and cold. This stylish outerwear is a one-size-fits-all alternative to wearing a coat. Hoodebaby rainwear is crafted of BPA and lead free 100% laminated cotton and double combed cotton flannel, and the warmwear is made from designer micro fleece and soft fluffy baby bunting. Great for walking in the rain, keeping the chill of air conditioning at bay or weathering a beach breeze.
Stuffing a baby into a coat is always cumbersome. The child becomes overheated, car seat straps need to be loosened (which is unsafe) and it is very awkward carrying a child wearing a coat.
Designer/creator Rani Isbell is raising five kids with her husband, and she’s was always looking for ways to make their day-to-day routine less complicated. “Hoodebaby is faster, easier and more comfortable than a coat,” she says. “It will be one of the most useful additions to your child’s wardrobe.”
I especially love the colorful prints – from sandalwood to tart, gypsy, teal pom pom and pink owl, they make Hoodebabies stand out from the crowd. You can tell they’ve cuddly soft and fun to wear.
By the way, the “e” in Hoodebaby honors Rani’s most recent edition to her family, baby Elias.
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! Thanks, Rachel Florio PR, for introducing me!Play, dance, live…because LamanBlu™ is made to Celebrate Childhood.
Holli Gibson’s three-year-old is a stunner. Her eco-friendly contemporary apparel line LamanBlu™ premiered to rave reviews in 2009 and has grown to include a boy’s line and industry praise. Holli herself is the recipient of The Rising Star Award for Design from Fashion Group International.
“‘Laman blou’ means ‘blue sea’ in Papiamentu and is a constant source of inspiration for me,” Holli says. “I’ve been a fashion designer for years working out of New York and Dallas, but watching my children explore the world’s wonders with fresh eyes led me to create a brand to celebrate childhood.”
Made in the USA. The company makes beautiful apparel with signature detailing for children ages six months to six years, using gentle-to-our-environment fabrics, which are also gentle to a child’s delicate skin. Holli says, “We use fabrics including bamboo, pure linen and organic cottons, recycled polyester blends, all in fashion forward bright colors – and everything is Made in the USA.” She knows that children want to be comfortable no matter what they’re wearing, so all styles go through extensive wear testing by real kids. She keeps mom’s busy life in mind, too –creating machine washable, ironing optional pieces, many have adjustment points at critical areas, so a child can wear their clothing for longer, even after a growth spurt.
Another way LamanBlu™ carries out its mission to Celebrate Childhood is to support charities protecting children and protecting our world for them. “We are actively involved in several charities both through direct volunteerism and financial support, including JDRF, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Falling Whistles.
When Kam Corkin introduced me to her young company, I learned not just one, but two things. 1) what a “lovie” is and 2) how easy it is to be drawn to a product with such a cute name.
Kam is founder/CEO of Drool Monkey Organics, makers of fine-quality, eco-friendly baby products, and specializing in organic hankies and teething lovies. What’s more, the heirloom-quality lovies are made from a custom-woven wicking fabric that helps prevent drool and teething rash. Simply knot the corners to give your baby relief from those growing pains, too.
Kam designed the first Drool Monkey as a practical solution for her drooling baby. “When my first child was three months old and started putting everything in her mouth,” she tells me, “I knew I had to find a non-toxic solution that was easy to keep clean.” Her organic and sanitary products quickly became sought after by all her friends, so she started her Monterey, CA-based business right as her second child was born. “It’s been a roller-coaster trying to launch a product during such a busy time in my life, but it’s been magical to watch my son use the product that I invented for my daughter three years ago.”
We also just had our first celebrity sightings. Selma Blair has been photographed using her Drool Monkey. Ali Landry just tweeted a photo of her son, Marcello, snuggling his Drool Monkey.
I’ll let Kam tell you what makes Drool Monkey so unique:
Made from custom-woven organic cotton fabric, it is amazingly luxurious and soft. The best part is that it can be washed and dried every day to keep it clean and sanitary without any piling.My own two kids are kitty-kids … but I’m convinced even my cats would appreciate a Drool Monkey. I know I would!
Though she’s never worn the inventor’s cap before, Donna Broder‘s choice to become a mompreneur has not only enriched her own life, but that of her son … and those of both parents and children nationwide.
Let me explain.
When Donna’s son Noah first started pre-school, he had a little trouble adjusting to days away from home. When his first-day jitters extended to weeks, Donna was inspired to create a product that would help Noah through this transition, and help her leave the school yard without both of them in tears.
She gave Noah a photo to take with him to school … but soon, the photo got torn. So she put on her thinking cap and came up with an award-winning idea.
No parent wants to watch their children suffer when they should be having the time of their lives.
From its huggable feel to its adorable hip look, Huggalo is what the company calls “a best buddy with a surprise on his tummy.” The keepsake soft doll has a clear plastic frame to hold favorite photos, so kids can take their memories with them on their greatest adventures –and know they’re loved, even far from home. Once Donna introduced Noah to Huggsley – the first Huggalo – he went to pre-school with a smile.
Huggalo is a great transitional toy for any situation. From a military parent’s deployment to the grandparents living cross country, to the first day of school or the passing on of a beloved pet or friend, Huggalo succeeds by pairing something tangible with pictures of those who can’t be around every minute of the day. By sticking a photo of their dad, mom, sibling or a grandparent in the frame, kids can see the people they miss. But Huggalo lets kids do more than that.
“By letting our son or daughter adapt to new situations we are helping our kids become more resilient and confident, too,” Donna says. She believes that kids are empowered when they are given tools to comfort themselves.
Winner of the Parents’ Choice Recommended Award. In fact, Noah’s Huggsley has made such a huge impact on children’s lives, that he was recognized and commended by the Parents’ Choice Foundation for his heroic ability to teach life lessons with care.
Huggalo is brought to you by Donna’s Redorb Concepts, her California-based company that supports several philanthropic organizations, including The Soldiers Project and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Thank you, ChicExecs PR, for introducing me to Huggalo!
When owner Darcy Santala contacted me through Facebook, I was thrilled to peruse her lovely online store and sing its praises. “We’re always looking for the coolest new baby stuff,” she tells me. She’s also looking for the coolest, new baby stuff that’s true to the “go-local” philosophy – such as Houston-born Infantissima (just featured on CRT recently!) – and others Made in the USA.
We cater to stylish moms-to-be, new moms as well as friends and family members of expecting women who are looking for the perfect gift for their loved one and impending new addition.
Staff Recommendations. Mother of two girls, Darcy knows what to look for when sourcing for her store. She’s dedicated to finding high-quality, adorable and durable, unique and versatile products at an affordable price.
You’ll find things for moms and maternity; girls, boys and parent-friendly gear; nursery; gifts as well as gift certificates and wrapping service. Plus, don’t hesitate to find out what the staff recommends. It’s all here!
Hand-selected and Haute Mommie Approved. Darcy selects all of the products herself –and she’s also used them all with her own children. “The majority of our maternity clothes are designed to be worn during and after pregnancy,” Darcy says, “and trust me, this stuff is so cute you’ll want to wear it after baby arrives.” In fact, many shop employees actually wear maternity outfits all the time, and no one would know it, unless they ask!
Cool Partners. The Haute Mommies & Bella Babies shop is located at 477 Bay Area Blvd in Houston, TX 77058. I’m especially impressed with Darcy’s partners list, which includes a pregnancy spa and ultrasound clinic, a maternity leave coach –and Seattle, WA based Dabble Wine (“For after baby arrives or for a little fun before getting pregnant.”). A girl after my own heart!
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!
Children's Retail Today 