Dallas Market Center

From Stay-at-Home Mom to Work-from-Home Mompreneur, this spunky Texas-based designer is making it in the USA.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Samantha Conner has always had a passion for creating beautiful things. So after her first child was born prematurely and she needed to stay home, her passion took an unexpected turn.

Six years after selling her first hair bow at local craft fair -a hobby she started during her children’s nap time that blossomed into a successful home business- she’s taking her love of fun fabric combinations and bright style to the next level, and launching her own girls clothing line.

Made in the USA. Beautiful clothing and hair accessories for girls size 2T-6, Samantha Conner Designs (SCD) is a fresh take on girl’s fashion, featuring bold pattern, rich colors and lots of playful details. Created with what Samantha describes as “the busy girl” in mind, her first collections embody the idea that style and comfort go hand-in-hand. Her two daughters inspire her designs -and now, she’s noticed even they have an eye for fabric, and are learning to sew!

Manufactured locally in Garland, TX, SCD recently launched wholesale at the Dallas Market Center and is available in children’s boutiques all over the US and online. She continues to maintain a custom handmade shop at Etsy.com. Future plans for SMD include growing the business through online sales and local trunk shows.

If I can do it, then anyone can. I feel lucky that I have had the opportunity to pursue my passion. I hope that I can help others do the same by sharing my story.

Crafty Texas Girls. Want to know more about how you can live an inspired, creative life? Follow Samantha’s blog, Crafty Texas Girls, where she documents her journey of balancing motherhood, creativity and running a small business, following her dreams and turning a hobby into a thriving business.

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! SCD Photography by Erin Morman of Splendor Photography and Kristis Mills Photography.

We’ve heard the news from many brands about new representation all across the country and Canada. Here’s a list of just a few:

Donald Sutton of Dallas, TX-based Brentwood Sales signs on to represent Wee Squeak covering the Southwest U. S. Danielle Fyfe and Danielle Elizabeth Designs partners with Kids At Home for sales in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Carolina Baby Company, a manufacturer’s rep group based in the Southeast, partners with the original Tummy Tub, designed in the Netherlands to ease the transition of a newborn from the mother’s womb.

Cindy Deloach joins Gossip Girl as Midwest sales representative for the Gossip Girl and Hula Star swimwear brands. Cindy is the VP of sales at Martha Foster Group based in the Dallas Market Center, an organization run by women representing women’s and children’s products with over 30 years of experience in the children’s wear market.

San Francisco-based Velvet & Tweed partners with the Paperdoll Style showroom in the California Market Center, to represent the line in the Western U. S. Owner/designer Tina Schreiber is now introducing her fourth Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

Two more showrooms sign on to represent LamanBlu in the South and Southwest: Button Up! and Lace and Denim. Another Colorado-based company, ANNA’S Preemie, adds Steve and Cynthia Ecton to handle representation of the brand in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Memphis and the Mobile area.

Made in the USA brand Bunny and Bee adds new reps Alejandra Keenan, handling Florida and Puerto Rico, Lisa Brookover in Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina and Ginger Baby’s Janelle O’Donnell and Shonna Johnson to serve Western Canada. Los Angeles, CA-based Rock Candy Kids is the new representative for another Made in the USA brand Bobinette in California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Hawaii.

See Kai Run grows with the addition of new sales reps in the Eastern and Midwest regions of the U. S., adding 13 new states in all. Washington D.C.-based Shari Lehrer represents the brand in Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Kristine Prugh and her sales associate Gillian Fincher are covering Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

-Janet Muniz