The Biz: Feature Articles

David Holdridge is the kind of child who thinks about the needs of others. In 2008, when he was just seven years old, he thought up a way to bring his little sister more joy. He knew she loved her soft, fuzzy blanket, and her favorite stuffed lovey. He thought that if he could combine the two, it would surely bring a smile to her face. With the help of his mom Emily, David was able to make his vision a reality, and Happy Blankie was born! Happy Blankies are blankets that kids want to cuddle with at first sight. These cozy covers come in a variety of styles, each featuring an adorable, wide-smiling creature.

Mother’s Day, a holiday that is second only to the Christmas season for gift-giving, is here. What better way to show moms how much their love, affection, hard work, and sacrifice mean than a special day full of pampering and presents? From delicious culinary creations future chefs cook up courtesy of kid-friendly kitchen gear from Curious Chef and Ann Clark, to artwork and photos captured on mugs, jewelry, and snow globes by Neil Enterprises, to must-have handbags from Trumpette — there are wonderful surprises here that will make every mom sigh with well-deserved contentment.

“High Five” counts down Editorial Director David Gaunt’s personal observations, tips and praise reports about the children’s business. This edition includes five tips about cold calling, The ABC Kids Expo in Kentucky, doing business differently, strollers breaking the glass ceiling again and Coverplay, an example of “Why didn’t someone already think of that?”

In the ever-changing children’s industry, each season brings new designs, products, and even entirely new lines. Customers are always looking for the newest, hottest trend. To keep them coming back season after season, year after year, retailers must stock a variety of fresh, eye-catching products. New collections offer brick-and-mortar retailers opportunities to be the first to introduce what’s new to customers, and possibly hold the title of “the only place in town that carries it.” To help buyers on their quest, The Giggle Guide^® presents some new offerings from Robeez, Redsnapper, Snapants, and Jelly The Pug.