VegasKids

New Show on HUDSON’S Calendar!

On August 1-5, World Market Center Las Vegas presents an exciting new trade show that brings the full spectrum of kid’s markets together for one super-convenient, opportunity-packed event.

Following a successful launch last summer, Vegas Kids débuts in an expanded section of World Market Center, centrally located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. With easy access to Interstate 15 and US Highway 95, it is adjacent to Las Vegas Premium Outlets® on Grand Central Parkway.

Vegas Kids brings together buyers and sellers from the juvenile industry and features nursery and youth furniture plus accessories. Held in conjunction with Las Vegas Market and Gift + Home, Vegas Kids offers unique programming, resources and special events all geared to equip your business for what’s ahead. Attendees can expect to source fresh, innovative products as well as find a confluence of new opportunities to help them differentiate their stores, add new revenue streams and increase sales.

“Juvenile continues to be a hot market for retailers,” says WMCLV president and CEO Robert Maricich, “and we are pleased to offer it once again as a destination at Las Vegas Market, along with relevant programming that helps retailers uncover new ways to market to this sector.”

World Market Center Las Vegas is a dynamic new showcase for the home and hospitality contract furnishings industry in Las Vegas, the fastest-growing home furnishings market in the country. When fully completed, the venue will have more than 12 million square feet of state-of-the-art exhibit space in eight buildings on 57 contiguous acres. All segments of the industry will be together on one mega-campus, making it the largest, most comprehensive, most accessible showroom and convention complex in the industry.

Expanded plans for Vegas Kids include seminars by industry experts to share their knowledge and experience with market attendees. Learn more about increasing green strategies in your business, staying ahead of the latest in industry trends and discovering the best in design. Enjoy a host of opportunities to network and have fun, like complimentary receptions and special exhibits. A full calendar of networking receptions and week-long exhibits is in development.

The World Market Center’s WMCommunity is an online resource that provides a whole new way for buyers and sellers to connect. Creating an online profile allows you to register for upcoming shows, update your contact information, receive key market news, find more exhibitors and popular products, build your calendar and schedule meetings with exhibitors. Find them on Facebook, too.

-Janet Muniz

Carter’s partners with K.I.D.S.

CARTER’S LAUNCHES COMPANY-WIDE STORE DONATION PROGRAM

Carter’s, Inc. names Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) as its charitable partner in a new company-wide store donation program, donating all excess children’s apparel from nearly 500 Carter’s and OshKosh B’Gosh retail stores nationwide to benefit children in need through the organization.

“As part of our mission to help children feel safe, happy and nurtured,” says chairman/CEO Michael Casey, “K.I.D.S. is the ideal partner to ensure that Carter’s can provide essential new clothing to children who need it most.”

Carter’s is launching an ongoing partnership program with K.I.D.S. to ensure that every piece of Carter’s and OshKosh apparel that is suitable for donation goes to local children in need. K.I.D.S. is distributing the clothes through its network of nearly 1,000 social service agencies to children of military families and those challenged by poverty, homelessness and domestic abuse.

The program expands on a longstanding partnership between Carter’s and K.I.D.S. Carter’s provided over $1.5 million worth of product to K.I.D.S. in 2010. Now, with its donation commitment extending to inventory from every one of its retail stores, Carter’s anticipates that value rising to $3 million in clothing this year alone; in the last three months, Carter’s has already donated approximately $316,000 in product to K.I.D.S through this program.

“Carter’s has been an invaluable contributor for more than a decade,” K.I.D.S. president Dr. Janice Weinman. “A store’s excess inventory finds new life when a child receives a new sweatshirt, winter coat or a pair of jeans. In a time when so many needy children require apparel, it’s wonderful to have a retailer like Carter’s committed to helping children in need.”

-Janet Muniz

Hello, the house!

Newly listed! A chic dollhouse for kids ages three and older!

The Emerson House draws inspiration from Richard Neutra‘s Desert House and an A. Quincy Jones-designed house for actor Gary Cooper. This modern child’s toy house is the perfect home for the modern toy family, with a living room, kitchen, library/office, master bedroom, bathroom and child’s bedroom. Dolls can enjoy year-round sunlight in its large, open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows. It features many distinguishing architectural details such as glass corners, two fireplaces, including one built with cut stone, scored hardwood floors, recessed LED lights powered by solar panels and sliding glass doors. Assembly required.

Designed by Tim Boyle and measuring 30 by 21 by 18 inches, the Emerson House is built using only non-toxic and lead-free wood stains and paints and real CARB-certified woods by Brinca Dada, (BREEN-kuh DEY-duh), an exciting new toy company “that delivers the best thinking in modern aesthetics and innovative play-value to create toys that kids love to play with and parents love to look at.” This team believes that toys don’t need to be noisy or flashy to be exciting; that toys can be beautiful and fun. The company is helmed by founder/CEO Douglas Rollins, who is inspired by his love of design and toys. Doug spent nine years Toys”R”Us and ToysRUs.com in marketing, new concept development and buying, as well as launching several different start-up companies.

Pretty impressive, right? So is the price: over $300. Yet, it’s a magnificent find for that modern family.

-Janet Muniz

Remember “it’s a small world”?

“it’s a small world, after all … it’s a small, small world!”

Disney Consumer Products teams with Nordstrom to mark the 45th anniversary of Disneyland’s it’s a small world theme park attraction with a new line of kid’s apparel, accessories and footwear. Based on Disney artist Mary Blair’s original artwork, four seasonal collections for newborns, infants and toddlers début at Nordstrom stores throughout the year.

Each collection represents a different country: Japanese Spring (February); Indian Summer (June); Scottish Fall (September); and Russian Holiday (November). Each collection features items from collaborators such as Petunia Pickle Bottom, Trumpette, Baby Nay and Mighty Fine.

Disney and Nordstrom are also teaming with TOMS Shoes and FEED Projects to give back to communities around the world, with TOMS Shoes’ One for One commitment of giving a pair of new shoes to a child in need, while FEED Projects Small World items benefit UNICEF, which was the ‘it’s a small world’ ride’s original 1964 beneficiary.

-Janet Muniz

Empowered Clothing

Action sports clothing line celebrates first year!

“My eight-year-old son wanted me to buy him a t-Shirt at an action sports event a year ago, but every shirt had an image of a gun or a marijuana leaf,” Javier Gamboa says. “That’s not the example I’d like to set for my children, and I know there are many other parents out there that feel the same way. So we set out to do it better, and bring a positive message to the action sports community and the youth of America. Javier is president, CEO and co-owner of Phoenix, AZ-based Empowered Clothing Company, who, along with Chuck Crouthamel, created a line of clothing designed to be cool enough to rival the biggest established brands in the lifestyle and action sports category, but also “inspire everyone to find their purpose in life, and feel empowered to live that purpose.”

Messages like LIVE ON PURPOSE, BREATHE IN VICTORY, EXHALE DEFEAT and IT’S GOOD TO BE ALIVE adorn nearly every t-shirt, beanie and cap. “We’ve even invited our customers to design their own messages,” Chuck says, “and we take tag lines suggested by fans and incorporate them into our newest products.”

Since launching last year, Empowered products are being shipped to kids of all ages in every corner of the country. The commitment to giving back to the youth in each community is unrivalled. As inspirational speakers, Javier, Chuck and Empowered Clothing Company’s strategic partners -often action sports athletes- visit schools, recreation centers, skateboard parks and other places where kids can learn to become empowered members of their community and speak about goal setting, dreaming big and dedicating their lives to following their dreams and becoming positive, contributing members of society. The company also works with charitable and community organizations by creating fundraising partnerships designed to assist non-profits in continuing to create inspiring programming and outreach for kids. Led by “Social Media Dude and Community Architect” Tommy Pierucki (yes, this is his real title), Empowered Clothing Company connects daily with their customer base via their rapidly growing online presence. Celebrities from throughout the action sports world provide online messages and endorsements, and kids are encouraged to share their own videos of themselves participating in action sports while wearing Empowered gear.

-Janet Muniz

little society

“Teach your kids to be fashion-conscious and eco-conscious.”

-Taira Soo

Taira Soo is founder and designer of little society, a clothing brand committed to encouraging young children to care for the world where they live. Designed for kids ages two thru eight, the clothes are comfy and imaginative with environmental messages that do just that, featuring the world’s most endangered species.

“Wearing these clothes may not seem like a big deal,” Taira says, “but in the world of our littlest humans, it’s a small step toward big change.” Not only are the message graphics fun and inspiring, but the materials and techniques used in producing the garments are earth friendly.

little society is responsibly Made in the USA, too. The company is donating a portion of proceeds to help protect species, habitat and humanity.

-Janet Muniz

lollacup

Easy to use & clean, safe and Made in the USA!

Mom Hanna Lim was surprised to see her daughter drinking from a straw at nine months old. Her pediatrician suggested weaning her to a straw instead of a sippy, so she immediately purchased several toddler straw cups, but realized that her daughter could not get a sip out of any of them. “After talking with other mothers, I learned that some of their children find it so difficult to sip from toddler straw cups that they are turned off from using straws altogether,” Hanna says. “That’s when lollacup was born.”

The entire experience inspires Hanna to develop the lollacup, a stylish and functional, BPA- and phthalate-free drinking cup with an innovative patent-pending design. A flexible, valve-free straw with a weighted end allows children to drink effortlessly from it, even when reclined at an angle.

And all parts are manufactured, assembled and packaged in the USA, in an ISO 9001 certified facility that carries an FDA Device Manufacturing License from the California Department of Health Services. CPSIA compliant, too!

-Janet Muniz

Quagmire Kids

“After five years helping adults look cooler, we had to give future trendsetters their shot to stand out from the crowd.”

-Bobby Pasternak

Quagmire, the Toronto, Canada-based apparel brand founded by two buddies with a passion for golf, surf, skate and street culture, announces a new kid’s apparel collection including a range of ColorFusion tops that transform when exposed to heat. Premiering for Spring 2011, the collection runs in sizes 4-12 and features t-shirts, polos and shorts.

“Man, when I was a kid and Hypercolor went huge, I had to have it,” says co-founder Geoff Tait. “Talk about king of the playground. There was no stopping me with the ladies when I rocked one of those shirts back in fourth grade.”

ColorFusion shirts begin changing at 20° Celsius – that’ s 68° Fahrenheit in America. Built to last. Machine washable.

“ColorFusion is where it’s at. Parents love it. Kids dig it.”

A member of Green Grass One, Quagmire is available throughout Canada at more than 200 pro shops and off-course retailers. Named Canadian Golf Company of the Year by ScoreGolf, the five-year-old brand now has strong distribution in the U.S. Quagmire also offers custom apparel. Quagmire’s management partner is the 31-year-old Jaytex Group, the Canada licensee of famous brands Kenneth Cole Reaction, Tommy Bahama, Original Penguin, Gant, Union Bay and Ben Sherman.

-Janet Muniz

Very Cute Dress-Up!

“All of our clothing is Made in the USA and we are very proud to have stayed true to our heritage. Many of our customers love it.”

-Richard Behar, Capitol Clothing

Miami, FL-based Capitol Clothing Corp. manufactures a variety of novelty uniform outfits for kids under the Little Baron and Capitol Boys brands. Themed outfits allow kids to dress up as a boat captain, police officer, sheriff, firefighter, the U.S. Military and more are available in sizes Infant, Toddler 2T-4T and 4-7.

The 22-year-old company recently introduced the Safari Style Vest to the collection. Celebrity children are big fans, too – Michael Jackson’s son Prince has been seen wearing the Police outfit; Victoria Beckham’s son Cruz wears the Jr. Zookeeper outfit and most recently, John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s newborn son received outfits in a celebrity gifting basket.

-Janet Muniz

Follow-up to HCRSourceBook post…

As a follow-up to today’s HCRSourceBook post…

HELP JAPAN! K.I.D.S. is coordinating immediate relief efforts following the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and 23-foot tsunami that swept the northern part of Japan. K.I.D.S. is asking retailers and manufacturers to provide donations of desperately needed new products, and for the public to provide monetary support to the long-term relief effort, by visiting www.KIDSdonations.org or calling 212.279.5493.

In the hours following the record-breaking quake that set off tsunami warnings as far away as California and South America, K.I.D.S. alerted both its corporate and private donors with a call for support. Urgently needed new items such as blankets, undergarments and apparel are being collected and K.I.D.S. is working with its not-for-profit partners to ensure that shipments quickly reach affected children and families.

Through the K.I.D.S. 10-to-1 system of matching donations, the organization is donating $10 worth of new product for every $1 raised. Donations of $5, which provides $50 of new merchandise to child in need, may be made by texting the word ALLKIDS to 85944. Visit www.KIDSdonations.org for more information.

-Janet Muniz