The Biz

Hippototamus, a European-inspired children’s wear collection, has grown from its origins in company-owned brand shops in NYC to availability at other specialty retailers. For the first time, the brand is offering its unique and competitively-priced Spring 2011 apparel, for children ages newborn through six, to a broader market. “I am excited to be growing Hippototamus, as I began this endeavor five years ago to fill a huge void in the marketplace!” says founder and president Tiffani Talbot. “Better quality children’s wear at a moderate price point was not, and is still not, readily available.”

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.

Young boys and girls love to enter the world of knights, princesses, heroes and villains. Even with the most active imaginations, every story is made more exciting when children can experience the fantasy coming to life in active, surprising and hands-on ways. The pop-up series of classic stories published by Simon and Schuster presents favorite tales in an engaging way that makes reading an adventure! With the upcoming release of the newest title in the collection — Beauty and the Beast — parents can build a keepsake library of children’s literature.

Society continues to move forward, and if businesses don’t follow the global lead, they will be left behind. The juvenile products industry, inch by inch, is going organic and placing Fair Trade practices squarely on its business radar. By supporting Fair Trade, organic, and eco-friendly transactions across the globe, both the environment and low income economies are given a fighting chance at sustainability and growth. Every day, more and more children’s businesses are becoming part of the Fair Trade phenomenon, including: noted*, mirasa design, One World Projects, and Maggie’s Functional Organics.