The Biz

Fashion-forwardness in the infant and toddler set is becoming a hot trend for designers. No longer content with mass-marketed clothes, many parents want sartorial uniqueness for their mini me’s wardrobe. Enter Little Trendstar, whose name says it all. The brand is dedicated to little kids with big personalities. Creator Nicole Worth knows kids love the spotlight; she’s seen it countless times in her own two little boys. Her designs are all about capturing attention by focusing on fashionably creative graphics and plenty of style. Little Trendstar has already released seven new designs for 2012, including Beat Goes On, a guitar graphic tee that embodies the spirit of a true performer.

Go! Go! Sports Girls of Dream Big Toy Company Founder Jodi Norgaard knew as a mother and a coach of girls’ sports that there was need for a girl’s doll that would be age appropriate, proportioned properly and send a positive message about a healthy lifestyle through sports. Jodi spent two years launching the product, from a rough sketch to the fall 2008 debut of the tennis girl doll at the U.S. Open in New York. Jodi believes the point of her business is to send a message to girls to dream big and go for it, which is her personal mantra.

I love nothing better than a procedural television show. Whether it’s a real-life murder mystery on Dateline or a fictional CSI case, I like trying to solve a whodunit. In everyday life, I also enjoy making connections between things I hear and see through conversations and observations — putting together the pieces of the puzzle to get a full picture. So it’s no wonder that one bit of wisdom I heard recently jumped out at me. During a speech, an apparel executive said, “Whether you’re a retailer or a wholesaler, your job is to find the balance between listening to and leading your customer.”

What’s not to love about birthday parties? There are the presents, the cake, the happy guests, the fun atmosphere. Everyone has a birthday, but no one enjoys it more than a child. With somewhere between 10 and 50 children at a party (and sometimes even more!), the pressure is on to keep them all happy, well fed, and interested. Most of these children have already attended dozens of parties, so families are looking for ways to create a unique birthday party experience. This unique experience can be achieved with products from party-hardy companies, including Attitude Pie, Party Partners, and It’s My Party.