kids products blogs

Hong Kong Trade Development Council News


More than 106,000 buyers attend 4 major trade shows to start the new year.

011414_HKTDC_01A New Record. Nearly 2,900 exhibitors took part in four shows, which opened on January 6: the HKTDC Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, Hong Kong International Stationery Fair and HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show. Over 106,000 buyers attended the show, an increase of 5% over the previous year.

Happy Birthday! The Toy Fair, the largest of its kind in Asia and second-largest in the world, celebrated 40 years with two new areas of business,  this year. Smart-Tech Toys and Therapy Toys. Here’s a video:

Emerging Markets. “Most Toy Fair buyers came from the Chinese mainland, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the United States,” says Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) deputy executive director Benjamin Chau. “Participation from emerging markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East grew significantly; mature markets like the United Kingdom, Canada and Korea also recorded good increases.”

011414_HKTDC_02The HKTDC organized more than 160 buying missions counting nearly 10,000 buyers to the four fairs. Among them were major importers and distributors, including the US’s Toys “R” Us, Japan’s Tokyu Hands, Korea’s CJO Shopping, Russia’s Brainy Brats, the mainland’s yhd.com and JD.COM, and Thailand’s The Mall Group.

Mr. Chau says that the HKTDC would step up its promotional efforts in emerging markets, inviting more local buyers to Hong Kong to help Hong Kong companies capture new market opportunities.

011414_HKTDC_04Small Orders, Big Business. The Small-Order Zone was once again set up at the Toy Fair, as well as the Baby Products and Stationery fairs. Some 110 showcases displayed products, which were available in quantities from 20 to 1,000 pieces. Nearly 7,000 buyers visited the zone during the four-day-fair period, generating over 16,000 business connections.

Response to the Smart-Tech Toys zone was strong. One of the zone’s exhibitors, Roam & Wander Ltd, presented TuTu, a rabbit powered by an iPhone app. Marketing Manager Casper Chen says that TuTu was popular among buyers. The product was awarded this year’s “Best of the Fair: Electronic & Remote Control Toys,” at the Hong Kong Toys and Baby Products Awards.

Quality Buyers. Ken Lo, general manager of educational toy maker Eastcolight, says fair traffic was strong. “The quality of buyers and demand were high,” he says. Mr. Lo expects his company’s sales to go up some 5% this year.

011414_HKTDC_03Suitable Suppliers. Sebastian Wetzel, CFO of Babyloop, a German online shopping site specializing in baby products, says he had found suitable suppliers at the Baby Products Fair. “We plan to buy a variety of products at the fair, including baby bibs, diapers and sleeping bags. We target to place US$80,000-US$100,000 in on-site orders.”

Russia’s Begemott, with 88 outlets in the country, sells baby toys and games and owns nine brands. The company’s project manager, Evstratova Xenia, says she found the scale of the fair impressive, adding that she had found two quality suppliers through the fair’s business-matching service, and was pleased with the outcome.

The Toy Fair, the Baby Products Fair and the International Licensing Show are organized by the HKTDC, while the Stationery Fair ia organized by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

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Happy 2014!


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Oil & Water


121913_Oil&Water_04A fresh look at rainwear for girls.

Amy Wismar is the founder/designer of a bright, shiny and new line of rainwear for girls called Oil & Water. “My fun and beautiful daughters inspired this line and continue to inspire me every day,” she says.

It’s just fabulous.

If you like style, originality and great quality, you’ll love Amy’s raincoats, jackets and ponchos designed “for the everyday girl.”

Oil & Water rainwear if made for girls sizes 2-10. All fabrics are shower and windproof, in a fabulous mix of colors and metallics. Each piece is fully line in faux fur or softwash poly. Luxurious!

121913_Oil&Water_01We had hoped to bring a fresh, modern look to children’s rainwear that is classic, beautiful and happy chic! And now, after two years of sketching, designing, sewing and meeting fabulous people in the fashion industry, I think the Oil & Water collection shines, too.

121913_Oil&Water_02Good for Moms. Special for girls. Reinforced snaps, tailored hoods and deep pockets are featured on all styles for everyday comfort,  using the highest quality, washable waterproof and water resistant fabrics.

A little ray of light in an otherwise gloomy rainstorm!

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!

Wallcandy Arts Holiday


Peel, stick, decorate … remove & reuse … without damaging your walls.

121813_WallcandyArts_01Add whimsy and cheer to your holiday décor with fun and festive new designs to Wallcandy Arts‘ peel-and-stick wall decals. Rearrange new, removable, reusable Dancing Deer, Merry Tree and Merry Christmas letters easily to create distinctive scenes and holiday dreams –for your child’s room, a family holiday party or to entice St. Nick himself. Adorable!

I hear there’s a sale going on right now, too … check out Wallcandy’s Facebook page.

BambiniWare


121713_BambiniWare_01Mompreneur brings new line of innovative gear for mommies + babies to star-studded pre-Golden Globes event.

Launched in October 2013 by Washington, D.C.-based attorney-turned-entrepreneur Riche Holmes Grant, BambiniWare™ is a new line of smart, stylish baby products designed to make life with baby easier and even a little more glamorous in the process.

BambiniWare is heading to Hollywood January 10-11, 2014 to exhibit at LA’s exclusive, invitation-only Boom Boom Room Pre Golden Globes gifting suite, which showcases the latest in baby and kids’ gear for celebrity moms and dads.

I am thrilled to showcase our new gear on such a grand stage. I created BambiniWare to provide functional and fashionable solutions to the everyday dilemmas that I faced as a new mom and I’m excited to share our products with celebrity mommies and babies who confront the same challenges.”

-Riche Holmes Grant

121713_BambiniWare_03The Boom Boom Room, considered “Hollywood’s Biggest Night for Famous Tots,” is the first and only all-baby and kids gifting suite during Hollywood’s awards season. Celebrity nursery designer and fashion television personality Jayneoni Moore reached out to Riche shortly after launching BambiniWare to attend this special event.

121713_BambiniWare_02Mommy Designed. Made in the USA. Designer bibs, burp cloths and unique baby gifts feature vibrant, bold colors and modern prints to soft palettes and timeless classics. Sold online and sold exclusively at Daisy Baby in Bethesda, MD, BambiniWare is mommy-designed and tested, features materials that are safe and friendly to babies and is manufactured in the United States.

“For a long time after the birth of my daughter, I felt like I was stuck in a fashion rut because I paid so much attention to her needs that I neglected my own,” Riche says. “The products in BambiniWare’s inaugural Burpa™ line reflect my effort to help other moms tackle the various spills and thrills that babies bring with tools that make sense and look great. Featuring modern prints to timeless classics, we’ve got something to fit every mommy’s style from Hollywood to Hometown, USA.”

  • 121713_BambiniWare_logoChildren’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!

My Lanyard Maker


Helps kids create the easiest lanyards ever – weave it to believe it!

Recently, the Choose Friendship Company débuted the new My Lanyard Maker on popular shopping site HSN –with great applause!

112113_ChooseFriendship_04Whether you grew up calling them lanyards, scoubidou, boondoggle or plastic gimp, this all-American arts and crafts favorite makes making them easier than ever. My Lanyard Maker’s innovative loom is designed to create an endless variety of patterns, without tangling laces and confusing knots. Convenient storage keeps colorful supplies neat and clean, too.

112113_ChooseFriendship_01Fun Gift Idea. Popular with the boys as well as the girls, kids can design colorful plastic bracelets, tradable key rings and backpack charms with My Lanyard Maker –great holiday fun!

112113_ChooseFriendship_03The Choose Friendship Company is the brainchild of David Crorey, who’s philosophy is, “Give me an everyday problem and I’ll invent a solution.” He invented the My Friendship Bracelet Maker® for this granddaughters, so they could make friendship bracelets with ease – a patented innovation.

112113_ChooseFriendship_02Now, David has turned a family business into a global sensation, bringing even more innovation to simple crafting techniques with an expanding product line to engage kids in creative self expression, while promoting the message of friendship.

KidSwitch Light Switch Extender


111313_KidSwitch_LogoGreg O’Sullivan is president of Just Kids Inc., makers of the KidSwitch Light Switch Extender, a nifty gadget that helps toddlers reach up and turn the lights on or off.

Greg and his wife Wendy started manufacturing and selling what they call a “helping hand tool” 18 years ago as a side business … which has grown into a full-time, family-owned, North Carolina-based small company selling more than 400,000 switches and counting.

KidSwitch attaches easily to a light switch and extends down vertically 12 inches to a toddler’s reach, which gives a child independence and parents a chance to teach their young children a necessary task. It can also instill the concept of “green living” very early on, encouraging kids to save energy.

111313_KidSwitch_productBut I’m getting ahead of myself here – the biggest advantage of KidSwitch is the safe solution it provides to help young children reach up and operate room lights on their own, so parents can rest easy.

Helping Children Reach for the Moon! Winner of Creative Child Magazine’s Seal of Excellence in 2010, KidSwitch is also honored with the Buzzillions Reviewer’s Choice™ Award for the nation’s best child safety product. “It is amazing to see how far our product has come,” Greg says. “I created KidSwitch after my own daughter fell off a makeshift ‘ladder’ that she had built out of toys in an attempt to reach her light switch. Years later, it is so rewarding to read the many positive reviews from parents who share their own stories about how KidSwitch is helping make their and their children’s lives a little easier.”

Wendy explains that the company name represents members of the family:

J stands for daughter Jordan
U stands for “Us” (we are all in this business together)
S stands for younger daughter Samantha
T stands for Taylor, the O’Sullivan’s inspiration

Just Kids it is – very nice!

Little Passports


111213_LittlePassports_packageRaising global citizens right in their own backyards.

Amy Norman says she practically grew up on a 747, traveling back and forth from America to England every three years for her father’s work. So it makes a lot of sense that she would create an educational experience for kids that inspires wanderlust.

Amy is co-founder of Little Passports, a fun way for kids to learn about and enjoy other places and cultures. She and her co-founder Stella Ma dreamed up two engaging characters, Sam and Sofia, who take young aspiring travelers along on their adventures through the United States and to other countries by sharing their experiences with them.

Our products combine the surprise of postal mail with the online games kids love today.

111213_LittlePassports_SamandSophiaWith the subscription-based service, Sam and Sofia send your kids a personalized package in the mail each month that includes an adventure letter, fun souvenirs, stickers, wall-size maps and more. They even get their own passport and a boarding pass to travel the world, with a secret code to access online games and activities at Little Passports’ online Boarding Zone. Everything is designed to encourage kids to take an active interest in their world and other cultures as early as possible – ages five to 12.

111213_LittlePassports_USThis San Francisco-based company is passionate about “helping to raise a generation of citizens who are compassionate about the cultures and people around the world,” donating one percent of sales to non-profits focused on children and issues that affect them.

Amy and Stella are also committed to giving other moms and budding entrepreneurs opportunities to grow businesses with Little Passports. Check them out on the Affiliates and Become an Agent pages.

Ginger Snap Bambino Boutique


110713_GingerSnapBambinoBoutique_logoHandmade accessories for little ladies, just in time for the holidays!

Ginger Snap Bambino Boutique is inspired by a beautiful baby girl named Georgina (Ginger for short).

“She is definitely a little fashionista like her mama,” say mom Angelina Alexander, who decides to make accessories for ALL of her daughter’s outfits herself. (Something every new mom faces, I’m afraid). And after all the compliments on her homemade treasures and inquires for special orders, the new Ginger Snap Bambino Boutique is established. “I never thought I would start a shop, but here it goes,” Angelina says. “These are for the affordable mamas.”

110713_GingerSnapBambinoBoutique_01New Designs Added All the Time. Angelina is a new fan of Children’s Retail Today, and she tells me she’s added new designs for the holidays to her online store, just in time. “Completely handmade shabby flower headbands with coordinating barefoot sandals are also available,” she adds, as well as custom orders. “Send photos of the outfit to us.”

110713_GingerSnapBambinoBoutique_04Ginger Snap specializes in headbands and barefoot sandals for babies, and also makes tutus, costumes, crochet items, rented 3D numbers and backgrounds for birthdays and photos, and “All About Me” birthday boards. International orders, too!

110713_GingerSnapBambinoBoutique_03Coming Soon – Infant Clothing! Plans for a clothing collection are in the works, as well as an Etsy site, which is under construction. Keep up with Ginger Snap news and order for the holidays by liking the Ginger Snap Facebook page and comment.

  • 110713_GingerSnapBambinoBoutique_shophandmadeChildren’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!

Babyhome


110613_Babyhome_02Spanish child care company wins 2013 SheKnows Parenting Award.

Based in Barcelona, Spain with offices in New Jersey, Babyhome offers a dynamic range of award-winning, high-quality, stylish, functional and affordable child care products, including highchairs, a wooden cradle collection, strollers and more.

Congratulations! This year, Babyhome’s Emotion stroller is selected as Best Everyday Stroller in the 2013 SheKnows Parenting Awards.

We are honored to be the recipient of this coveted award from one of the leading lifestyle sites for women. Our Emotion stroller being selected among the hundreds of submissions they received is an incredible achievement.  Thank you to the SheKnows editors and of course to our Babyhome fans worldwide for their votes.

-Stellario D’Urso, vice president, sales and marketing Babyhome USA

The lightweight Emotion stroller is designed with the latest trends for functionality in mind, perfect for parents looking for affordable luxury. Emotion comes complete with an adjustable seat that will hold up to 55lbs – plus a mosquito net, rain shield, footrest, waterproof canopy, large shopping basket and removable wheels (wow!) – all folding easily into a compact, practical package, too!

110613_Babyhome_SheKnowsAwardLogoBigger and Better. SheKnows is an award-winning women’s media platform and a top lifestyle site. SheKnows’ fourth annual Parenting Awards recognizes products and services for children and parents that stand out in the areas of functionality, durability, innovation, convenience, price and overall excellence. The SheKnows editorial team reviewed nearly 200 products, and the SheKnows user community cast more than 18,000 votes to help choose this year’s winners. Categories ranged from baby gear and pregnancy essentials to baby and toddler toys and tablets for kids.

The SheKnows Parenting Awards are a great resource for parents who want recommendations on products and services that are vetted by their peers, especially as the holiday season approaches. Each year, the Parenting Awards gets bigger and better. We are proud to work with so many great companies and would like to extend our congratulations to Babyhome.

-Kristin Bustamante, SheKnows editorial director

For more information about the SheKnows Parenting Awards and to view winners, finalists and the Editor’s Choice picks in each category, click on the logo above, or visit http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/awards/parenting-awards-2013.

  • Another Hilary Abbott Communications, Inc. client! 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!