The Biz: Feature Articles

Business Sense

Can You Prove a Copycat Has Violated a Copyright?

By Jeremy Richardson

Do you believe that someone has copied your designs? Legally, a copycat may not be necessarily guilty of copyright infringement. A recent case involving a comic book character and a movie character, both with hairdryers in hand, provides a valuable reminder of what is and what is not protected by copyright law. It’s a battle over whether a comic book creator can protect his hairdryer-toting, terrorist-fighting figure from being copied by big-time Hollywood studios. Although this copyright case did not involve the children’s industry directly, fashion and product design similarities are a common problem for many in the juvenile business.

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Features

Increase Foot Traffic with Sox Appeal

By The Giggle Guide

It’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and that is certainly true for some of today’s creative children’s apparel. Children’s fashion has never under estimated the creativity of moms. The Giggle Guide® takes a closer look at mom designers that “toe the line” during a time when more brands and styles of socks are available than ever before. One pair of socks per day for children is simply not enough. Hosiery by Hank & JoJo, Celeste Stein Designs, SmartKnitKIDS, and BabyLegs are made to increase foot traffic!

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Features

Sock it to Them

By Mari Gold

What could be cuter than babies’ feet? Parents oooh and ahh over tiny toes and spend hours playing “this little piggy.” Little piggies don’t just go to market, they go in style, when adorned in booties and socks that keep feet snuggly warm. Booties and socks seem more plentiful than ever, available in many unique, attention-grabbing designs. Footwear accessories coordinate looks for little divas and dudes, from the top of their heads down to their tippy toes. The Giggle Guide® looks at the growing trends in socks, with designs from ToeBlooms, Dolly and Dimples, Zooni, and Sock Ons.

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The Green Scene

Skylar Luna Adds Some Chic to Sleep

By Caletha Crawford

Wen C. Reese brings her contemporary design sensibility to nighttime with Skylar Luna, which launches at ENK Children’s Club (booth #2211). Moms can appreciate the eco-friendly properties and reasonable prices; while kids want to cozy up to these comfortable and stylish pajamas. Skylar Luna will also entice retailers through its year-round availability, which allows them to order only what they need, when they need it. Reese states, “Skylar Luna is soft, organic cotton washed in a sophisticated palette using simple designs — no busy all-over prints or mass-market characters.

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Bookworm

The “I Like Book” Keeps Thoughts of Love Alive

By Kelly Lee

“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” Had Rudyard Kipling been one of the greatest psychiatrists of our time, he could not have distilled the essence of communication any more clearly. The words we use in everyday life are vital to building solid relationships with those around us. As parents of two growing boys, entrepreneurial couple Meredith and Lance Looney have developed their ideas on the most important way to nurture a close, joyful family life by letting their loved ones know that they are important, welcomed, and loved. With this in mind, the I Like Book was conceived and published in 2010.

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Business Sense

Putting Relationships at the Heart of Your Sales Strategy

By Caletha Crawford

Having just returned from a round of paper craft-related trade shows where I was a buyer for once, I must say, vendors of the world, we need to talk. Ah, there they are, the four most dreaded words in the dating dictionary. Drop that phrase on a spouse or a loved one today and watch them cringe in response. Maybe it’s too soon in our Giggle Guide relationship for such a heavy conversation, but given that we’re on the brink of another show season, the time has to be now for some straight talk aimed at vendors.

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The Green Scene

Toobalink Connects with Building Greener Toys

By Amy Barnes

While Kermit sang of the difficulties of being green, toymakers are creating new toys that make it easy and fun to be “green.” With the continuing trend toward greener living, Toobalink is a new toy company that encourages imagination with an eco-friendly, reusable twist in building kits. Recyclable toilet tissue and towel tubes get a new life when combined with the Toobalink connectors and couplers. Developed initially as part of a Classic Play toy class at Pratt Institute, Toobalink was inspired by children playing with often tossed-out household items. The brand re-imagines traditional building blocks and logs, with creativity and a focus on helping Mother Nature.

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The Green Scene

Cloth Diapering is a Choice for the Better

By Mari Gold

Cloth diapers have come a long way, babies, from the days of diaper pins and rubber pants. Today’s cloth diapers come in an array of fabrics and styles from all-in-one (AIO) to prefolded to contoured, and that’s only the beginning! With so many choices, there’s bound to be a cloth diaper choice for every parent-to-be. When shoppers opt for cloth, everyone benefits: the baby, the family budget, and the environment. The Giggle Guide® promotes changes for the better with information about the Real Diaper Industry Association, Super Undies, and Happy Heinys.

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The Green Scene

Béaba Serves Up Menu of French Innovations

By Emmi Kern

Béaba is a French company that creates innovative toys and household items that make life easier for parents of young children. Founded in 1989, Béaba’s attractive and easy-to-use products have become part of family life in countries around the world. Béaba’s flagship product is the Babycook, an all-in-one baby food maker that simplifies the entire process of feeding an infant or toddler. Béaba offers an excellent selection of booster seats, bottles warmers, meal accessories, bath items, toys, and more. All items feature a signature contemporary style and bright colors that enhance the look of a home and offer sleek style on the go.

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