The Biz

No one, including your customers, thrills to the sight of little kids dropping snacks all over the floor and mashing them into the carpeting. Those same shoppers also enjoy a tidy car — very tricky when youngsters are on board with their endless eating. A dedicated inventor, grandfather and science enthusiast felt exactly the same, which is why he created Munchie Mug, a spill-proof snack cup ideal for little ones ten months and older.

Wood has long been used as a material for children’s toys. In days gone by, wooden blocks, dolls, and building sets were common sights in playrooms and playgrounds across the world, before being replaced by the more familiar plastic toys we see so much of today. Luckily for us and the environment, wooden toys are gaining popularity again these days, thanks to their aesthetic appeal and durability. Many of these toys also encourage creativity. Kinderbuilt is a family-owned company that specializes in high-quality wooden toys.

AmericasMart is the juggernaut behind the popular Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. AmericasMart offers a convenient and accommodating venue for exhibitors, with over 4,000 permanent showrooms available, along with temporary exhibits. The first Atlanta show of the year is on now through January 16, 2013. Here are a few must-see recommendations: Choose Friendship, Hotline to God, Sister Chic and Moonjar.

Families with children need a clean, convenient surface whether they are traveling and the only flat surface is a less-than-pristine airport floor or they go to the beach and need a space that beats sand twenty to one. Enter the Monkey Mat, stylishly enclosed in its own convenient six-by-six, animal-print carrying pouch with weighted corners to make it stay where it is put. The mat even has loops for additional grounding, as well as little loops in the center that are handy for attaching small toys, keys or a pacifier.