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Mar 26 2021
Gap Inc. Plans to Sell Janie and Jack
The higher-end kids brand was acquired by Gap in 2019 for $35 million from bankrupt Gymboree Group.
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Feb 26 2015
Shine On
Looking to boost your bottom line? From bow-ties to bracelets, retail pros reveal how to tempt shoppers with irresistible accessories.
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Feb 4 2015
Rebel Cry
Peter Kim, the CEO of Hudson Jeans, is leading the charge for a more socially responsible business model—a message he hopes will resonate with the company’s littlest customers, too.
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Feb 4 2015
Hot to Trot
With children’s footwear sales on the rise, retail experts reveal how to stay a step ahead of the competition.
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Jan 21 2015
What’s Selling at Pitter Patter Inc. in Bath, Maine
A new location and a loyal clientele are just a couple reasons why sales are soaring for Colleen Whitaker.
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Jan 7 2015
Rain or Shine
As consumers increasingly snap up waterproof wares, retailers and manufacturers offer tips to soak up sales.
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Dec 11 2014
Sammy & Nat Designer Samantha Benson
If you had told New Yorker Samantha Benson five years ago that today she would be helming her own baby clothing brand, she never would have believed it. But when she started shopping for gifts for her friends who were expecting, she couldn’t find anything that wasn’t covered in frills and “baby-ish” add-ons. “I wanted […]
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Nov 26 2014
What’s selling at William & Grace in Asheville, North Carolina.
Beloved by locals and tourists alike, Asheville, NC’s premier children’s store is going into its 10th year of business. Brenda Youngblood opened William & Grace at the suggestion of her daughter, who saw a void in the children’s market when she returned home after living in Atlanta. Named after Brenda’s grandchildren, the store has prospered […]
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Nov 25 2014
Earnie Award Winners 2014
Drumroll Please… After tallying thousands of votes from retailers across the U.S. and Canada, we are pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 annual Earnie Awards! Congratulations to this year’s honorees, who wowed voters with everything from top-notch customer service to stand-out style. Read on to find out who took home top honors this […]
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Nov 25 2014
Goal Oriented
Step by step, Bébé au Lait founders Claire and Ronnie Ekelund built their line of stylish nursing covers into a range of sophisticated products for mom and baby—all inspired by a surprising source: soccer. by Audrey Goodson Kingo As a former professional soccer player, Ronnie Ekelund, along with his wife Claire, know a little something […]
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Oct 2 2014
Twin Set
As children look more and more to their parents for fashion inspiration (Or is it the other way around?), Mommy and Me styles are a hot commodity. In the not-so-distant past, matching outfits with mommy was nightmare fuel for many a kid and tween. Chances are you remember—not so fondly—holiday gatherings spent decked out in […]
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Oct 2 2014
Stepping Ahead
After acquiring the rights to Robeez last year, David and Mark McCubbin began implementing big improvements to the beloved baby shoe brand—including an epic birthday bash this month in honor of its 20th anniversary and much more to come next year. David McCubbin may be a soft-spoken Midwesterner, but he knows that sometimes you need […]
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Sep 10 2014
Amy Martini of Me & Mommy in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Not soon after Amy Martini opened her kids’ boutique Me & Mommy in 2001 in Myrtle Beach, SC, some of her customers indirectly turned her on to the idea of providing matching duds for moms. “They would come in and say, ‘I’m buying all of this stuff for my kids. I want to get something […]
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Sep 3 2014
Channel Surfing
Touted as the next big trend in retail, the “omni” approach is everywhere. But what does it really mean for store owners? By Samantha Sciarrotta hen talking retail strategies, the term “omni-channel” has become almost unavoidable. Retailers and analysts can’t say enough about the approach and how it’s a must in a digital world. But […]
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Aug 21 2014
Paige Fitzgerald of The Lilypad in Rehoboth Beach, DE
The Fitzgerald family and The Lilypad children’s boutique go way back. Known as Susy K when it opened in 1984, the kids’ store has been a Delaware staple for families in search of the coolest duds for little guys and gals—which is why Paige Fitzgerald and her mother, Gayle, often stopped by the shop. And […]
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Aug 1 2014
Father of Invention
Steve Dunn aimed to change the children’s product industry, one innovation at a time. Now the Munchkin CEO has his sights set on the apparel category, with a patent-pending one-piece and a fashion line full of functional twists. Most entrepreneurs can tell you all about their “light bulb” moment, when the inspiration struck for creating […]
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Jul 7 2014
Feet First
Take a heritage brand with nearly a century of success and add a visionary leader with big plans for his beloved company, and it’s easy to see why Trimfit’s next act may be its most impressive yet. Here, CEO Mark Mexicott reveals how the industry mainstay’s next moves will carry it far beyond legwear. by […]
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Jun 18 2014
Kate Schmitz of Flying Squirrel in Brooklyn, NY
For Kate Schmitz, owner of Flying Squirrel Children’s Store in Brooklyn’s trendy Greenpoint neighborhood, fronting a retail space is about more than selling clothes. Providing both new and slightly used products, Flying Squirrel moved from Williamsburg to Greenpoint in 2013. Schmitz, who took over the business in 2010 when original owner Judith Velosky left after […]
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Jun 5 2014
Carol Yenne of Small Frys in San Francisco, CA
When Small Frys, a Bay Area kids’ clothing staple since 1984, went up for sale in 1991, Carol Yenne jumped at the chance to make the store her own. “The store is close to my house,” she remembers. “It was time for a change.” So the former Levi Strauss & Co. manager purchased the business—and, […]
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Jun 4 2014
Mass Appeal
With 30 years of experience in children’s fashion, including a stint at Tommy Hilfiger, industry veteran Barry Kottler of BAK Apparel has mastered the art of survival in an ever-shifting retail landscape, establishing a reputation for quality and building a legacy that will last as the next generation steps up to the plate. By Audrey […]