Scene & Heard at Playtime New York and ENK Children’s Club

From celebrity appearances to information-packed seminars, the August editions of Playtime New York and ENK Children’s Club offered a whirlwind of activities for retailers in attendance. Even better, many exhibitors reported that business was brisk, with more retailers making bigger buys. Judging by the confidence of both buyers and brands, Spring ’15 should be a strong season for retailers and manufacturers alike.

Did you miss out on the action? Never fear! We’ve got you covered. Some of the shows’ most buzzed-about moments included:

Celeb mama Molly Sims stopped by the Mbaby booth at ENK Children’s Club to tout the new collection. Our Editor-in-Chief got the skinny on why the former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model loves dressing her son Brooks in the brand’s paten-pending designs. “It’s functional, it looks good and it’s easy to use,” Sims replied. “And the colors are amazing.” She added: “I’m so picky with what I do and who I work with, but now [Mbaby] is a part of my life.”

If you loved listening as Clarissa Explains it All, get excited: The star of the popular ’90s teen sitcom, Melissa Joan Hart, launched a boys’ clothing line at ENK Children’s Club. Hart was in attendance on Saturday, chatting with buyers interested in the nautical-themed, American-made collection, dubbed King of Harts.

Brands and buyers alike were impressed with Playtime New York’s new venue at the Metropolitan Pavilion—as well as the show’s Monday-morning branding seminar, co-hosted by Earnshaw’s. With loads of tips on everything from the lifestyle photography to mastering the art of advertising, a number of brands left feeling inspired to give their brand a re-boot. Panelists included Playtime New York’s social media guru Jennifer Cattaui, Earnshaw’s Publisher Noelle Heffernan, Earnshaw’s Editor in Chief Audrey Goodson Kingo and Sophie Demenge of Oeuf.