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Jul 28 2009
CPSC Offers Guidance on Tracking Label Compliance, Rules on Crystals
The Consumer Products Safety Commission issued guidance last week on how to comply with the tracking label requirements of the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act. In a statement, new chairman Inez Tenenbaum addressed the key concerns surrounding the tracking label requirements. First, she dispelled the idea that all manufacutrers and products must comply to a […]
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Jul 28 2009
Ali Landry to Launch Lifestyle Label, Children’s Line
Actress and mom Ali Landry will launch a children’s apparel label, Belle Parish, with her friend and business partner Annie Kate for Spring ’10. According to the company’s Web site, the collection will have a Southern sensibility and classic, vintage styling with a modern twist. Landry plans to build Belle Parish into a full lifestyle […]
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Jul 20 2009
Vendors Announce New Reps
• Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Anna’s Preemie, manufacturer of premature infant clothing, has hired sales reps Steve and Cynthia Ecton of the Dallas Fashion Center. With 38 years of experience in the infant apparel industry, Steve and Cynthia Ecton’s territory includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Tennessee. For appointments, call (501) 362-5597 or e-mail […]
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Jul 17 2009
Stella’s vlog: Right Bank Babies edition
This is officially too funny. Our ad manager, Rita O’Brien, clearly takes her work home with her. First, her kids always want to know if her mood has anything to do with the number of ads she managed to sell that day. Second, her daughter Stella has started speaking in fashion tongues. Just watch this […]
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Jul 16 2009
I O U
The recession has spawned many dicey situations—between coworkers, friends and family members. Thanks to the lack of cashflow, the relationships between retailers and wholesalers (not to mention reps) could be quite frayed at this point. I heard one manufacturer say that she has 150 accounts that owe her money. Ouch. While it’s a given that […]
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Jul 14 2009
I do!
A piece that surely was a rerun on this week’s Sunday Morning program made me think. (I know, thinking on a weekend, what’s next?). It was all about how J Crew launched itself into the bride wars. Designed, I’m assuming, for the anti-bridezilla, the J Crew line aims to give wedding parties easy, value-conscious alternatives […]
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Jul 13 2009
Best & Co. Ceases Operations
Best & Co., a Greenwich, Conn.-based upscale children’s wear company that dates back to 1879, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on June 26 and announced on its Web site that it would discontinue operations. The company, which was acquired by FAO Schwarz two years ago and headed by president Catherine Moellering, had a retail […]
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Jul 13 2009
Avril Lavigne Debuts Children’s Line
Looks like the recession’s crushing effect on celebrity lines isn’t daunting Avril Lavigne. The young pop singer, who launched the Abbey Dawn collection for juniors last year through Kohl’s stores, is reportedly extending the line to smaller sizes. Set to launch in just two weeks, the apparel is said to include layered tees; leggings with […]
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Jul 13 2009
Bubble’s 8th Show Moves to New Venue
The Bubble New York children’s trade show is moving to a new location for its eighth edition. Taking place Aug. 2–4, the market will be held at Cedar Lake, 547 West 26th Street in Chelsea. The show will feature clothing, bedding, toys, furniture, organic products and more. First-time exhibitors at this edition include 4funkyflavours, Adooka […]
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Jul 13 2009
LamanBlu Praised for Design
The Denver branch of Fashion Group International (FGI) recently awarded LamanBlu by Holli Gibson with a Rising Star 2009 award in the Children’s Wear category. Ten category winners received an award, which was given to outstanding designers. “I am honored to be chosen as the category winner for children’s wear,” Gibson noted. “Fashion Group […]
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Jul 13 2009
Synergy Licensing Named Agent for Dorel Juvenile Group
Dorel Juvenile Group, the Foxboro, Mass., manufacturer of the Safety 1st, Quinny, Cosco, Maxi-Cosi and Bébé Confort product lines, has named Synergy Licensing of New York as its licensing agency to pinpoint new opportunities for its brands as well as related trademarks, such as Baby on Board and Nature Next, which fall under the Safety […]
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Jul 13 2009
Jannuzzi Opens L.A. Showroom
Fountain Valley, Calif.-based Jannuzzi, maker of boys’ and girls’ wear, has opened a new corporate showroom in Los Angeles. The showroom, which officially opened on June 12, is located in Suite B692 of the California Market Center. “There are a lot of great sales reps at The Mart, but given that our line includes clothing, […]
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Jul 13 2009
New Rep Appointments: One Ruby Lane, Zutano
• Children’s footwear company One Ruby Lane of Foothill Ranch, Calif., has tapped new reps based in Dallas and San Francisco: Terry Skiermont, who is based out of the Dallas Market Center, will cover Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico. She can be reached at (713) 376-9100 or terryscollective@aol.com. Sarah and […]
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Jul 9 2009
Gifted
Do yourself a favor and give the gift of gifts! I can pretty much write the script when I’m talking to retailers about what’s selling these days. For most, sportswear is as slow as molasses, imports are risky business and even tween items aren’t the sure things they used to be. What almost everyone can […]
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Jul 2 2009
CPSIA Update
Given the direction business has been heading, it’s become harder and harder for designers to launch lines in this market. The pressure right out of the gate is to have reliable, inexpensive factories, making the started-out-of-my-garage success stories an endangered species. Then came the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. And a difficult task became nearly […]
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Jul 1 2009
Season’s Greetings
The sun is shining, kids are out of school and pools and beaches are crowded so naturally retailers across the country are unpacking deliveries of… winter coats. Just as swimwear landed in stores in February when bone-chilling temps made donning a skimpy bikini the least appealing idea ever, outerwear is taking up space (and open […]
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Jun 30 2009
The New Normal
I know Walmart is a bad word to anyone servicing better tiers, but guess what, they’re the ones benefiting from the economy. Moreover, they just might maintain much of that market share post recovery. Everyone keeps wondering if people will ever return to pre-recession level spending. While I think Americans have extremely short memories and […]
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Jun 29 2009
ABC Expo Reserves Day One for Specialty Brick-and-Mortars
All Baby & Child, Inc., the San Antonio-based parent company of the ABC Kids Expo, has announced that the first day of its 2009 edition will be dedicated exclusively to brick-and-mortar specialty store retailers. The following three days of the show will be open to all retail buyers. The company noted this decision will help […]
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Jun 23 2009
Local Economy Booster
What to do when times are tough? Print your own money, of course. That’s what some cities and towns are doing. http://tinyurl.com/qkb4wr Apparently it’s legal, and local currency helps encourage residents to spend locally. With stores and restaurants closing with a scary frequency lately, many people have devised ways to help their city economy. Here […]
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Jun 23 2009
Hot Foot
We’re on the eve of our latest Little Steps footwear magazine collaboration with sister pub Footwear Plus. (Read it at http://tinyurl.com/nemjzz) I think this is our third year. Initially our mission was to educate retailers on the value of adding (or expanding on their) shoes. Well, whether we can take sole credit for it or […]
The No. 1 Magazine for Childrenswear Professionals
The No. 1 Magazine for Childrenswear Professionals
