See Kai Run

Big kids can have cool shoes, too.

Popular footwear manufacturer See Kai Run is débuting its new big kid line, Kai, at this season’s upcoming trade shows. Kai continues where the See Kai Run collection leaves off with sizes to fit post-toddler to school-aged kids two to six years old.

“We want kids to grow up with See Kai Run,” says founder Cause Haun. “Since 2004, our customers have told us over and over again that they want the same See Kai Run styling they love in larger sizes. We’re so thrilled that the wait is over and the new larger sizes have arrived!”

Kai features eight new styles -five for girls and three for boys in sizes 8 through 13. The debut collection takes See Kai Run designs and adapts them for bigger-sized shoes, accommodating the needs of older kids. Kai also features soft, high quality leather and flexible soles, but with the right amount of durability and sturdiness for kids on the go. Kai joins the company’s largest collection to date, which includes 31 new styles from the See Kai Run first walker line and 23 styles from the Smaller® baby bootie line. Design highlights include adult trends that translate well for little girls such as scallops and ruffles. Color focus is non-traditional, with pink taking a back seat to purple, gray and copper for girls, and bright accents for boys.

See Kai Run footwear promotes healthy development of babies’ and children’s feet with their ultra-flexible soles, soft leather and wide toe box and meets the American Podiatric Medical Association‘s rigorous standards for foot health and functionality. See Kai Run is awarded the APMA’s prestigious Seal of Acceptance.

-Janet Muniz

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