The Biz: Feature Articles

Teething is a challenging time! Sleepless nights and seemingly endless bouts of crying are difficult enough to struggle through; add in the fact that a teething baby chews on everything in sight, and you’ve got a source of concern. Parents also worry about their drooling infant wearing cold, wet shirts. In the past, parents used feeding time bibs to catch the drool and water-filled, chilled teething rings for chewing. Now there are more trendy tools available! Per Bambini, Dr. Bloom, Inc., ZoLi, Inc., and Amberizon offer fashionable, creative teething accessories that soothe parents and babies alike.

Have you ever heard of the Snuggie^®? How about Pillow Pets™? Chances are not only have you heard of these products; you probably have one in your home! The Snuggie^® boasts sales in excess of $100 million; quite impressive since the brand has only been around for a few years. Pillow Pets™, on the other hand, have been around a little longer —about 7 years— and look to be one of the must have items for Christmas this year. What’s so appealing about these products? How are they thriving while so many other businesses are struggling? More importantly, what lessons can we glean to share in this success? The short answer: advertising.

There is nothing more precious than a sleeping baby, especially when mom and dad can rest assured their little one is sleeping safe and sound. Sharing the commendable goal of educating parents about the importance of safe sleep environments are HALO Innovations, Greenbuds, Angelcare Monitors and BreathableBaby. These top-notch companies have developed high-tech products specifically designed to make sleeping safe and serene for infants and parents alike.

Welcome to “Imagination Theater.” Not since Jim Henson created Kermit the Frog from a fuzzy robe and golf balls have there been such innovative options for creative puppet play for children! By offering a variety of fanciful products from Maxim Enterprise, Apple Park, Puppet Hand and Folkmanis, you can bring the world of Imagination Theater into your store, and introduce a whole new generation to the magic of puppets, theaters, and story time.