The Biz

Take a mental journey across the centuries, stepping back to the courts of Paris and following trade routes to exotic destinations within India, to Hong Kong and then around the globe to the New World. Now, transport that cultural tapestry back to the present and weave it into an uncommon line of feminine clothing for children. Such are the inspired visions for infants, little girls, and big girls as captured in children’s clothing from April Cornell.

Winter is fast approaching and with that comes the excitement of SNOW! Something about the delicacy and pureness of a fresh snowfall is captivating as it floats from the heavens and blankets the earth below. Children are especially taken with the phenomenon of snow and, from the first flake, long to touch it, roll around in it, and hurl it into the air! Yet not every child gets to experience snow, or at least not as often as they’d like. With Snow To Go^®, children can celebrate the joy of snow all year long!

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.

When Debbie Runge and her father received more greeting cards at a shared birthday party than they could keep, Debbie decided to invent a product that, unlike cards, could be paid forward and reused over time. That thrifty thought led her to create WebRappers, re-recordable 8” plush toys that can be customized with songs and personal greetings. Velcro on WebRappers allows gift givers to wrap the toys around presents to celebrate special occasions and milestone events. They can be wrapped around cribs, baskets, bottles and practically anything one can imagine!