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Feb 27 2012
Jupiter Toys and The Hive Unite
Kids’ toy brand Jupiter Toys is partnering with licensing agent Space Enterprises to produce a range of wooden toys and children’s furniture based on the popular Disney Junior pre-school series, The Hive. The products are set to hit shelves this spring. “The Hive is about nature, education and having fun, as are our toys, so we hope […]
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Feb 27 2012
The Children’s Place Sees Sudden Upswing in Shares
Speculators have taken a shine to specialty retailer The Children’s Place ahead of its March 7 fourth-quarter earnings report. Shares in the company are up 2.4 percent to stand at $48.80. As of October 29, 2011, the kids’ clothing retailer operated 1,076 brick-and-mortar stores and online at www.childrensplace.com.
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Feb 27 2012
Wittlebee Makes Shopping for Children Easy
Kids’ clothing club Wittlebee is the latest startup to enter the subscription service market. For $40 a month, customers get a curated package of eight essentials selected from the likes of Gap, Carter’s and Cotton Seed, based on size, favorite colors, personal preferences and geographic location. Sean Percival, CEO of the Santa Monica, CA-based […]
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Feb 27 2012
Wonder! Kids’ Retailer Closes
Upscale children’s superstore Wonder! in Deerfield, IL, has shuttered after less than four months in business, citing financial difficulties. The 135,000-square foot store, which sold everything from baby oil to Bugaboo strollers, was the brainchild of venture capitalist Shane Christensen and aimed to blend the convenience of a big box retailer with a boutique mentality. […]
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Feb 27 2012
K.I.D.S. and Partners to Donate 20 Million Huggies
Kids In Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S) has partnered with the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) to distribute 20 million Huggies brand diapers to families in need. The partnership kicked off with a distribution event benefitting needy teen mothers on February 21 in the Washington D.C. area. Every three months, K.I.D.S. and NDBN plan to distribute […]
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Feb 20 2012
Art Impressions is So So Happy
Lifestyle-brands firm Art Impressions recently signed a handful of new licensing deals for its tween and teen So So Happy brand. Among the new licenses are: a line of junior and girls’ bags, wallets and travel cases by Accessory Innovations; a collection of headwear and cold weather gear from Berkshire Fashions; bath and beauty products […]
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Feb 20 2012
Continued Growth for Paul Frank Apparel
Saban Brands, a brand management, marketing, promotion and strategic business development firm, revealed new collections for its Paul Frank license this week at Las Vegas trade show MAGIC. Included in the collections is a line of daywear, swimwear and sleepwear for juniors by Age Group that will launch this fall, as well as a line […]
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Feb 20 2012
Abercrombie & Fitch Closing 180 U.S. Stores by 2015
Teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch plans to close 180 U.S. stores by 2015, the company’s CEO Mike Jeffries told analysts in a conference call Wednesday. The chain will target underperforming locations, but specific stores have not yet been announced. Last year, Abercrombie & Fitch closed 71 stores.
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Feb 13 2012
Zinkia Entertainment announces partnership with Bentex Group Inc.
Consumer-driven apparel company Bentex Group Inc. has teamed up with Zinkia Entertainment on its award-winning children’s series Pocoyo. Under the terms of this multi-year agreement, Bentex will create a line of branded apparel for the U.S. market, including T-shirts, sportswear, sleepwear, swimwear and outerwear for boys and girls, to launch in spring 2013. With 680,000 […]
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Feb 13 2012
Henson Co. Signs Pajanimals Deals
The Jim Henson Company recently signed several deals for its preschool Pajanimals brand, including an agreement with SaraMax Apparel Group for sleepwear featuring characters like Sweetpea Sue, Squacky, CowBella and Apollo. The sleepwear collection will be available this fall. In addition, California Costumes will be developing toddler Halloween costumes for fall, and LightHeaded Beds plans […]
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Feb 13 2012
Hasbro and K’NEX Connect for Tinkertoy
Hasbro is breathing new life into the classic Tinkertoy brand through its recent partnership with K’NEX Brands. Tinkertoy was originally created in 1913 for children ages 3 and up, and K’NEX has now developed a sturdy, kid-friendly building set with parts made from plastic instead of wood so that the new sets snap and stay […]
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Feb 13 2012
Target Sponsors NICKMOM
Nickelodeon announced that Target has signed on as a charter sponsor for NICKMOM, the network’s new multi-platform content and entertainment initiative targeted to mothers. Along with nightly TV programs for moms launching this fall, Nickelodeon plans to expand its NICKMOM.com blog with more editorial feature, photos and video. The new direction is based upon research […]
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Feb 13 2012
Chooze Launches Design Competition
Mix-and-match shoe brand Chooze launched ‘Create a Difference’ shoe design competition for children. Kids have until April 15th to submit two original drawings (one for each foot since Chooze shoes are always feature two coordinating designs) via email. The company will then select one winner and turn the drawings into fabric for a new Spring […]
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Feb 13 2012
First Ever Mom Fashion Show, Hosted by Iman, Debuts at Fashion Week
Hosted by mom and model Iman, the first ever Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show, will premiere tomorrow as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Donald and Mary Oenslager Gallery at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. The show will feature an array of designers who make realistic yet stylish clothing for today’s busy […]
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Feb 13 2012
Children’s Apparel Sales Expected to Rise 5.1 Percent in First Quarter
New research from the division of International Business Machines that studies retail predicts children’s apparel sales to grow by 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2012 – outpacing growth in the women’s apparel category, which is predicted to increase by 2.4 percent. Menswear sales, likely tied to the rising rate of employment, is expected […]
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Feb 6 2012
PGA, Cartoon Network Apparel is a Hole in One
The PGA of America and Cartoon Network Enterprises joined forces to create a new kids’ apparel line called PGA Authentic Jr. The line, which will debut at green-grass retailers this May, will feature shirts, shorts, skorts, outerwear and hats for both boys and girls. The collection will be distributed by children’s golf apparel manufacturer Garb. […]
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Feb 6 2012
The Dark Knight Licensees Rise
Warner Bros Consumer products is teaming up with a bevy of licensing partners to celebrate the final installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, which is set to hit theaters this July. Mattel, the master toy partner of DC Comics and the Warner Bros’ Batman trilogy, will unveil a Batman collection featuring items like […]
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Feb 6 2012
ICSC Reports Strong Sales for January
The International Council of Shopping Centers recently reported a 4.8 percent sales increase for January—the strongest January sales report since 2006. ICSC notes that sales were especially high at luxury department stores, adding Saks Inc. was one of the strongest with a 10.5 increase. Discounters also experienced an increase with same-store sales. The council expects […]
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Feb 6 2012
Uniqlo’s Latest Collaboration Includes Kidswear
Following the success of its designer collaboration with Jil Sander, Uniqlo will debut a range co-designed with Undercover designer Jun Takahashi. Sold under the UU label, the collection marks the Japanese chain’s first foray into childrenswear. The line will retail from $10.90 to $59.90 and will include bright separates and loungewear.
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Feb 6 2012
Consumer Confidence on the Rise
Consumer confidence increased for the second week in a row, according to the results of the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index released Thursday. The Index rose to minus 44.8 in the period to Jan. 29—the highest since June—from minus 46.4 the previous week. Employment gains and post-holiday clearance sales also helped create a better buying climate […]
The No. 1 Magazine for Childrenswear Professionals
The No. 1 Magazine for Childrenswear Professionals
