Children’s Businesses Make Inc 500 List

Several companies from the children’s industry have popped up on Inc. Magazine’s 2009 Inc 500 list, a compilation of the nation’s fastest growing privately held companies based on percentage revenue growth from 2005 to 2008. “These are the most dynamic, fast-growth companies in the nation, the ones finding innovative solutions to problems, creating smart systems and inventing products we soon discover we can’t live without,” Inc. editor Jane Berentson said.

The publication’s 28^th annual list includes BabyEarth, a Round Rock, Texas, retailer specializing in eco-friendly baby items, at No. 115 with 1,440 percent growth; Seattle-based shoe manufacturer See Kai Run, ranked No. 196 with 1,021 percent growth; and layette company SwaddleDesigns, also of Seattle, is at No. 463 with 580 percent growth.

Fewer than a third of the retailers that made the Inc 500 list have even a single brick-and-mortar store.

The publication added an expanded list, the Inc. 5000, in 2007 to provide more insight on the leading industries. San Francisco-headquartered apparel company Tea Collection and Miami-based children’s retailer Genius Jones were among the businesses on that list, ranking at No. 1054 and No. 1436 respectively. For more details, visit www.inc.com.

Read the September issue and learn more about: A Spring ’10 trend report A spotlight on new products bowing at ABC Kids Expo The top launches from the New York shows Catching up with the Kids In Distressed Situations charity Plus: Infant and toddler fashion Coming In October: Tools for selling slings and wraps Tips for easing CPSIA compliance Understanding the Canadian consumer Back to the future with tween fashion Plus: hot gifts for tweens and infant hosiery