The Biz

At one time or another, even the most-cherished child may feel he or she isn’t worthy of being loved. Maybe a big brother has been unkind to a younger sibling and been reprimanded. Or, a kid gets angry at the playground and is given a time-out under Mom’s not-too-pleased eye. For a story that helps build self-esteem while pointing out that everyone deserves love no matter what difficulties have transpired, consider Dorothy and the Good Shepherd, the first title in the Lamplight series from Cane Creek Publishers.

Do you remember the fun of making paper crafts when you were a kid? It’s still very much in style and nowhere is it expressed with more originality than with Piperoid, incredibly cool robots made entirely out of paper. Futuristic-looking Piperoids hail from Japan where they won the Good Design Award. They’re a breeze to put together, as each robot is made of colorful paper tubes with pre-drilled holes so older children can cut, fold, and connect the pipes without having to fumble with sticky, messy glue or tape. The only tool needed is a pair of scissors!

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.

Veteran retailer, Anna Beth Goodman, launches Pippen Lane Collection, a line of fun, funky playwear and dresses with New Orleans flair. Driven by her customers’ needs and a desire to express the charm and personality of her 8,000-square-foot Pippen Lane boutique, Goodman has developed a buyer-friendly line that’s cheerful and appealing in layette through infant for boys and up to size 12 for girls. To ensure its success, Goodman has assembled an elite group of children’s wear experts to manage every aspect of the business from production to sales to customer service.