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Nov 23 2010
Room for Recovery
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and when the economy sputtered in 2009, even the usually upbeat children’s show industry adopted the belt-tightening and soul-searching measures necessary to survive. As a result, managers and showroom reps are proud to point out that the creative enticements added to their lineups in the last few years led […]
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Oct 8 2010
High Gear
DeNai Jones still remembers the first time she encountered a consumer carrying one of her bags: She was crouched behind her mother, gripped by panic. “We were in downtown L.A. shopping for fabric, and I was hiding behind fixtures in the store,” she recalled. “My mom said, ‘Why don’t you introduce yourself?’ But I was […]
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Aug 30 2010
Spring Mix
What’s hot for Spring ’11? Fresh designs are sprouting up, but don’t expect an all-new slate of trends. Skinny jeans aren’t fading, the boho look is still in and nautical themes persist as a perennial spring staple. “The thing we’ve discovered over the seasons is that nothing moves very quickly [in children’s wear],” said Fiona […]
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Aug 10 2010
Bright Futures
Briana Hersh, Designer, Haven Girl What is your brand best known for? Bling, comfort and amazing prints! Who is your target consumer? The mom whose daughter wants to be fashion-forward but still look like a kid. We offer trend-driven items with comfort and age-appropriate styles. What served as your inspiration for Spring ’11? I watch […]
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Jul 1 2010
Gimmee More!
Unlike giftables for young children and babies, which often center around perennial reorders of the same soft blankies, cuddly plush and adorable layette, the tween market revolves around blink-and-you’ve-missed-them fads. If you recall the Webkinz frenzy, you know such products can be all the rage with middle-schoolers one day and a forgotten relic the next. […]
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Jun 2 2010
Hidden Gems
Children’s retailers are discovering what their women’s apparel counterparts learned long ago: Females—no matter what age—love shopping for accessories. Buyers are reporting the category is their fastest growing and after a year of selecting safe apparel (i.e. basics and value collections), they’re finding cute, affordable add-ons fill the sales gap. As Mary C. Lavin, owner […]
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Apr 27 2010
Power Promotions
Yule Fuel “At Christmastime we co-host a ‘Holiday Magic’ event with the stores around us. We have a face painter come in and there are sleigh rides outside. We also participate in fashion shows in the area by providing clothing for the models. Oftentimes, the models end up buying the clothes they wear in the […]
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Mar 1 2010
Novel Ideas
Whimsy and novelty permeated the Fall ’10 shows in Europe, resulting in fresh ideas and tweaks on existing concepts all designed to evoke a “gotta-have-it” feeling in shoppers. Though consumers may still be wary of unnecessary expenditures, they can be wooed by something new so long as it represents value, according to Jamie Ross, creative […]
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Feb 8 2010
Perfect Fit
The role of a sales rep seems straightforward: He or she markets and sells a line throughout a specified territory on behalf of a manufacturer, with a goal of growing the brand. Those who rep multiple lines are able to show several product lines at once, maximizing their return on each store visit. “We expect […]
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Jan 12 2010
10 Commandments of the Well-Stocked Gift Selection
Sooner or later, virtually everyone needs to purchase a present for a child. While customer tastes may range from syrupy sweet to extremely eclectic, retailers can tick off certain qualities that make for a foolproof gift sale. Here, Earnshaw’s outlines exactly what thou shalt put on the shelves to ensure every customer discovers an item […]
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Dec 18 2009
Timing, traffic and turmoil spark debate over which trade show will emerge as the national leader.
Where will you be, come February 2? With both WSA and FFANY now scheduled to take place Feb. 2-4, 2010 (and overlapping again Aug. 3-5), both fashion footwear vendors and buyers will have to make the choice between Las Vegas and New York or split their resources among the two. The general sentiment? This isn’t […]
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Dec 1 2009
Navigating the CPSIA
It was early fall 2008 when shock, panic, fear and confusion reigned in the children’s apparel and products industries after Congress passed a regulation that would change the rules of the game for everyone. Prior to Aug. 14, 2008, manufacturers and importers of children’s products, including apparel and accessories, experienced only limited enforcement when it […]
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Oct 1 2009
Viable Markets
New year’s resolutions can never be addressed too early, especially when it comes to business. And after a tough 2009 during which market traffic was noticeably down and the retailers who did attend weren’t exactly throwing around cash, the children’s industry is more than ready to turn toward 2010 and a fresh start. No smart […]