Rum Punch

Mindfully handmade designer apparel for the entire family.

Lifestyle brand Rum Punch is a delightfully colorful and vibrant apparel line made from super soft, luxurious, organic and sustainable fabrics like hemp and bamboo and features a modern fit. Kids and baby collection Petit Punch recently launches with more to come for the rest of the family.

Our lifestyle brand is for people who think differently, who go against the grain, who say what they feel and dare to take action. People who want to make a difference in the world and who want to live the Life they Love.

Sold exclusively at RumPunch.com. The vibrant tie-dyed goods with inspirational messages are designed and made in Los Angeles, CA USA by designer Sybile Kohn-Deutschman. A wardrobe stylist in an earlier llife, Sybile believes that clothing is not only a reflection of how you feel about yourself and the world around you, but fashion can also change you from the outside in. She gets her inspiration from growing up on islands like Tahiti, St. Barths and the Dominican Republic, as well as sailing the Caribbean with her family. “You’re never too young to inspire others and you’re never too old to live the life you love,” she says. She appreciates the importance of slowing down, staying connected and keeping the colorful spirit of the islands in her everyday life.

Sybile has created an empowering, uplifting and environmentally conscious brand that encompasses a love of life, a respect for nature, the spirit of adventure, excitement for the unknown and the belief that giving is just as important as receiving -the company works with The Teen Project.

And since life is more than just bringing up kids, check out Sybile’s blog. For her, it’s a Rum Punch Life!

Incidentally, all of the Rum Punch product shots are taken by photographer (and Sybile’s husband) Robert Deutschman. View more of his work at www.robertdeutschman.com.

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

moriko

Little seats for little peeps.

One look at Seattle artisan Bruce Hanamura’s whimsical-yet-modern chairs perfectly proportioned for children will have you wishing for a smaller behind, perhaps … just so you, too, could enjoy sitting on the soft, smooth surfaces he creates from solid Mahogany, Western Maple, Walnut and Birch.

You’ll have to be happy to let your kids dream of a forest where magical animals frolic and play – while they sit on a moriko. In fact, the name moriko means, “forest child,” and the children’s furniture line includes little seats that resemble a rabbit (usage), fox (kitsune), beaver (biba) and squirrel (risu) –all uniquely hand-crafted, heirloom-quality solid wood seating that is Made in the USA. Currently moriko’s ship in three to four weeks.

Each chair evokes the personality and character of the animal it represents, and is a loving and unexpected detail for any child’s play space.

Not to worry. Bruce also designs custom furniture for adults (and the size of their behinds) through his company The Design Pallet. He likes to use reclaimed and local lumber giving it a second life as desks, tables, chairs, headboards, night stands – anything your adult imagination can dream up!

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

Lolly Wolly Doodle

Brandi Tysinger-Temple is sitting with her niece Lolly while setting up an account on eBay to sell her homemade clothing for kids.

“What are you going to call it?” Lolly asks Brandi.

“Well I don’t know, Lolly Wolly Doodle,” Brandi answers using Lolly’s nickname, “what do you think I should call it?”

Right then and there, the two realize they already have a great name! Lolly Wolly Doodle is entered into the eBay form and voila – Brandi’s got herself an account.

That was about six years ago. While Brandi is selling her creations on eBay, she decides to offer them on her Facebook page on a lark – and this is when the business turns into something even more special.

Recently featured on ABC World News, Brandi’s clothing business has grown out of the house and into its own production facility, realizing $11 million in sales a year – and Lolly Wolly Doodle (LWD) has become one of the largest employers in her town, Lexington, North Carolina. “We’ve created jobs for more than 100 people,” Brandi says on her website. “Lexington was once a thriving manufacturing and textile town but now has an unemployment rate of 10.7% (one of the highest in the country), with almost all of the manufacturing work having moved abroad. Creating meaningful work for our great LWD team of people – every one of them with an incredible and often heartbreaking story of their own – has been without a doubt one of the greatest blessings of building this company.”

Lolly Wolly Doodle makes apparel, holiday clothes and accessories for girls, boys, babies, ladies and families – just recently, LWD launched DESIGNEDbyMe, where you have the chance to design your own clothes, made by the LWD team in North Carolina and delivered to you in three weeks.

Some folks say Lolly Wolly Doodle makes the cutest kids clothes on the planet, and I say they’re also making a lot of dreams come true.

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

TrailHoppers by Cozey7

Introducing the first performance blanket for your little explorer.

Perfect for an Errand or Adventure. In a world of multitasking, everyone could use an extra hand – especially parents. TrailHoppers are a hands-free way to keep your little ones bundled up, cozy-warm, while you walk the dog, carry the diaper bag or push a sibling on a swing. Made from warm, breathable, recycled Polartec,® TrailHoppers are an extra layer to keep the chill away, but they don’t blow away or get run over by the stroller! TrailHoppers integrate with all baby gear and fit between the buckles of car seats, strollers, backpacks, front packs and swaddlers, plus kids can wear them over a diaper or snowsuit.

Jill Winckler, a mom from Colorado and founder of Cozey7®, found that a regular blanket requires both hands free to keep little ones’ legs and toes covered while out running errands or enjoying a hike in nature. It’s easy to keep them cozy with a sweater, hoodie or jacket, but legs and toes stay cold. So Jill invented this functional blanket that’s easy for parents to use and even easier for kids to wear.

“TrailHoppers are made for life with the wee set. Whether you’re running errands, bopping around the zoo or kickin’ it on a new trail, this blanket keeps your hands free and gives you peace of mind that your little explorer will be ‘cozey’ and stay tucked all day, down to their toes.”

Super Convenient. TrailHoppers’ Polartec® fabric is produced in the U.S. and is the highest quality fleece. The Denier spandex trim has an unbelievable feel and is quick drying, keeping little explorers’ chins from getting chaffed and soggy. The zipper’s anti-jam system makes it easy to zip’em up and off you go. The easy open-toe flap saves you from back-tracking to find a lost sock or shoe or opens to let kids explore.

Made in the USA. “Bringing apparel manufacturing back to the U.S. is a big issue,” Jill says. “A few years back our designers left the U.S. for cheap labor. Young and old were exploited in the factories overseas and at the end of the day, it’s not the best practice. At Cozey7, we have sourced our materials in the U.S. and are manufacturing the TrailHoppers right in Colorado. This has given us the opportunity to build a strong relationship with our manufacturer and see that the production crew is compensated fairly and has a safe work environment.”

Available in a modern array of colors, TrailHoppers are suited for newborns and children up to two years of age. To see the blankets on active toddlers, look through Cozey7’s online picture gallery or Facebook page. Buy on the website or select specialty stores.

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

Sniffie Clippies from Sweet Julep’s

Innovative hair confections, each with a fun fragrance.

From popular couture hair accessories brand Sweet Julep’s come Sniffie Clippies, scented hair clips, bands and bows, plus bracelets and necklaces with a unique, fun fragrance that will last up to 12 months, then slowly dissipate. Each Sniffie is individually packaged in cello wrap and given a fragrance name. Recent additions are mango, passion fruit and kiwi.

Made in the USA. Creator/designer Alice Hardin, a former Hollywood nanny, originally opened for business as Ruby’s Closet, before changing the name to Sweet Julep’s in 2012. Alice’s hair accessories have a “no-slip” interior called Silly Grip, made from the same material as baby bottle nipples and proven to out-perform all other types of grip. Each design is made with components that are held to high safety standards and are environmentally friendly. Wholesale available.

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

Shirts That Go

Vehicle & transportation inspired t-shirts for kids and toddlers.

Bold. Graphic. Realistic. Shirts That Go are designed for kids in motion! A huge hit with toddler boys who love anything transportation or construction related, Shirts That Go can also inspire little girls who have a need for speed!

From the airport to the highway, the construction site to the farm, the railway and even into space – Shirts That Go has ’em. Recent additions are military vehicles and a line of emergency / fire & rescue vehicles, too.

Made in the USA. Shirts That Go come in short or long sleeves (from American Apparel) and are made from soft, comfortable cotton. Owner Nick is a Dad who was challenged to find cool vehicle themed t-shirts for his kids, so he decides to create his own line of tees almost four years ago. He currently has over 32 designs, with new ones added on a regular basis. “You will see in our line that the vehicles are illustrated with careful eye for every detail,” Nick says. “As a boy what I liked (obsessed over) was the fine detail on various machines -from the pistons and hydraulics on construction type equipment to the tracks and small wheels on a tank, it was the details that captured my interest. I see that same interest in my own kids and others that really like the vehicles.”

Custom Packaging Options. Shirts That Go knows how to package up a birthday surprise, too. In addition to great shirts they have available Included on all orders of 3+ tees are full-color shipping boxes that really wow kids and toddlers. These beautiful boxes not only serve to deliver the gift with style but they often live on as a place for kids to keep collectibles. Even the standard packaging included in the price includes a personalized gift note that makes it special.

Even big kids will be impressed!

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

Skip Clothing

Inspired by tropical climes and exotic travel.

Designer and label creator Sharon Hirt has created a fun and breezy collection that appeals to young kids who love colorful, classic clothing and accessories. Skip Clothing is a collection of children’s apparel, hats, scarves, brooches and hair accessories that’s based on classic pieces, created with functionality, comfort and appeal in mind.

Designed in Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Australia, Skip Clothing features embroidered details on cool printed cottons and cotton blends, designed in a vibrant color palette for girls ages three to 12.

What I most love to remember, about my childhood, are hot January Melbourne days, dressed in my cool cotton dresses … coming home at dusk, with containers of handpicked, wild blackberries … long drives to the beach to catch the fresh, summer breezes … Drawing inspiration from these memories, I am very excited to present our Collection, with so much more to come!

Sharon plans to release a boys collection this month, and is also working on a women’s fashion line called 45hours, inspired by short stays, warm to tropical domestic and international stopovers, business functions and exotic celebratory occasions.

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 Man with the Violin

Based on a true story of what happened when a world class violinist performed and almost no one listened.

From picture books to non-fiction, young adult fiction and historical fiction, horror and biography to series books, stories in anthologies and magazines, writer Kathy Stinson has authored a wide variety of material for readers.

“What you read influences what you write. And so does the day to day life that you live.”

-Kathy Stinson

The Ontario, Canada-based mother of two, two stepdaughters and grandmother to five has been inspired by all of the children in her life to write her books … and this one is inspired by children and the fabulous Joshua Bell, telling a real-life tale.

Man with the Violin. Seven years ago on a random January day, the real Joshua Bell takes part in an experiment devised by The Washington Post, performing at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station in Washington, D.C. More than 1,000 commuters pass his playing and only seven stop to listen for more than a minute. Just seven adults … yet the children are mesmerized, even as they are pulled away by adults on a more important mission –or so it seems. After 43 minutes of exceptional performance, Joshua Bell’s violin case holds $32.17 … as the world continues to pass him by.

Written by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Dušan Petričić, with a postscript by Joshua Bell, The Man with the Violin tells the story of Dylan, a little boy who notices everything, while his Mom speeds through life taking no notice at all. It is Dylan who realizes something extraordinary is happening that day in the subway station, yet he cannot convince his Mom to slow down and seize this incredible moment. Later that day, Dylan hears Joshua Bell playing on the radio and has the grace to point out to his Mom, “‘We should have stopped. We should have listened,'” to one of the finest musicians in the world, playing his magnificent Stradivarius in the middle of the day … just for them. A magical gift, unrecognizable to those who do not see. Hear Kathy and Dušan talk about their vision for The Man with the Violin, listen to the music played in the subway station that day …

To date, here’s a list of awards The Man with the Violin has garnered:

Winner of Digital Book of the Year Award in the Ebook Fixed Format/Enhanced category
Winner of the Eric Hoffer Award in the Children’s Book category
Winner of the 2013 Gold Award in the Children’s Book category of NAPPA
2014 Storytelling World Award
Independent Publishers Award (tied for Gold in the Children’s Picture Book category)
Winner of Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Children’s Picture Book category (tied)
Honourable Mention for the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Picture Book Award
Honourable Mention for ForeWord Magazine’s IndieFab Award in the Children’s Book category
Shortlisted for the 2014 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award
Nominated for the Frances Howard-Gibbon Award
Nominated for a Shining Willow Award
A ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year finalist
An IRA Notable Book for a Global Society
Heather’s Pick (Chapters/Indigo)
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013
Starred reviews in Kirkus and Quill & Quire
A Canadian Children’s Book Centre “Best Books for Kids & Teens” Selection
A “49th Shelf” Booksellers’ Pick for 2013
A 2013 OLA Best Bet for Children
A Toronto Public Library “First & Best 2013” title

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

Peek-a-Boo Boutique

“Our shelves are filled with high quality merchandise at a fraction of retail prices!”

Located in Coral Gables, FL, Peek-a-Boo Children’s and Maternity Preloved Boutique is an upscale consignment shop that carries lightly used, top drawer children’s and maternity clothing, kids gear, books, toys, furniture and accessories. Re-sale consignment items are offered at the fairest, market-appraised prices to ensure maximum return on investment for consignors. The store also serves as an outlet center to process overstock and past season items from fabulous boutiques.

Some of Peek-a-Boo’s preloved brands include: Juicy Couture, Ralph Lauren, Gymboree, Gap, Mini Boden, Hartstrings, Burberry, Janie and Jack, Anavini, Kissy Kissy, Oilily, Tommy Hilfiger, Mad sky, Baby Nay, Nike, Nautica, Guess, Tea, Disney, Zara Baby, H&M and Mother Goose among other boutique brands. Peek-a-Boo also carries a variety of extraordinary gifts from brands like Moby Wraps, Charm It!, Zirimi Hair Accessories, Toke Shoes, Eeboo, Melissa and Doug, Gund, Pickles and more. Peek-a-Boo is known for an excellent customer service experience, too.

As a former Architectural Project Manager on high-end airport projects, Claudia Baroni traveled the world. While working in Los Angeles, she got inspired by the many consignment boutiques for maternity and children’s clothing, opening the doors of Peek-a-Boo Boutique in the summer of 2010. Now she brings great bargains and quality items to the residents of the Miami area and to the world, through the boutique’s new website, http://peekaboobtq.com/.

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

PishPoshBaby

Infographic brought to you by PishPoshBaby, one of the most popular online baby shops for baby gear, offering not only high-quality merchandise, but facts and advice, along with the right choice, to parents everywhere. PishPoshBaby utilizes Mom Reps – Moms, just like many of you- who help the retailer assist with this special stage of life. Along with personal, live experience comes professional service, immediate shipping, up-to-date inventory and the security of knowing that your purchase is backed by PishPoshBaby’s Satisfaction Guarantee.

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