Items tagged “Toys & Recreation”

NY Now - New York City, New York (2/1/14 - 2/6/14)

NY NOW™, the Market for Home + Lifestyle (formerly NYIGF®) made BizBash’s “New York’s Top 100” list for 2014 — little wonder, considering the strong impact the show has had. The show attracted over 30,000 attendees from more than 80 countries. The February show ran from the 1st through the 6th at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Not all companies with great products took home awards, but both new and veteran retailers did show a stellar uptick in orders. Companies like Anaïs & I, Scentco Inc., EFL Sales (Fiona Walker England and Albetta), and Calisson Inc drew a lot of attention.

Being on-trend and in style are more than just adjectives decorating the “About Us” page: these words form the foundation of successful children’s businesses. Rapidly changing attitudes and tastes mean that companies need to be innovators. Which suits Florian Berger’s Donkey Products just fine, as the company is “always ahead of the curve – always on the hunt for the new and the different.” The German company is known for developing unique pieces that surprise and delight. As a family business, there is a strong focus on fostering the creativity in design that captures the imagination.

Tiffany Dekel and Laura Burch both have impressive resumes. Tiffany has a background in clothing design and launched three successful online agencies; Laura is an illustrator and art educator at a major university. While they’re both proud of their accomplishments, Dekel and Burch hold a special place in their hearts for handmade crafts, and they want to make the art fun and accessible for more people. In 2012 they launched lullubee, a company that takes a unique approach to crafts and crafting supplies.

Over thirty years ago, seven university students graduated and vowed to develop a company that would make a positive contribution to society. One graduate, Vitool Virapornsavan, was both an architect and the future founder of Plan Creations Co., Ltd. Since Plan Creations began, PlanToys has created innovative playthings for kids produced to meet the highest quality, safety and environmental standards. Today, the company employs over 1000 people, operates two subsidiary businesses, and is the first company in the world to manufacture toys from reclaimed rubber wood.

American toymakers and clothing designers may appreciate tradition, but they also love innovation. They can integrate the best of old and new to produce products that are unique and functional. 3 Marthas, Two Bros Bows, Papersalt, and The Beaufort Bonnet Company are all very different enterprises. A clothing company reaching its silver anniversary, a business that makes a rugged outdoor sport safe and fun, a publisher that helps to inspire family values, and a designer who recreates novelties from the past. Each one embodies the American spirit in its own way and makes us proud.

Lolli Living is a textile company specializing in nursery gear. It offers parents the best of both worlds when it comes to nursery decoration; it allows them to choose complimentary pieces from various collections in order to create their own look. All the collections are designed to layer so there’s no worry of striking out when choosing a combination. Customers can go subtle and staid or artsy and exotic. Either way, it’s bound to look great and put-together.

The rise in allergies has had a dramatic impact on the landscape of families and fun time. Gone are the days when classroom cupcakes were the norm and children painted with whatever was handy. Glob founder Ashley Phelps understands sensitivities. As an artist, she suffered through skin irritation from paints, but just bore the trouble as part of her trade. However, life was about to get better: a friend who was developing a house paint from plants inspired her to investigate new, safe ways to color her world. She started Glob, and has been helping families with her non-toxic, environmentally-positive products ever since.

The 111th annual American International Toy Fair® is running from February 16-19, 2014 (Sunday-Wednesday) at New York’s Javits Convention Center. Retailers, inventors, businesses of all sizes, distributors, manufacturers, and anyone with anything to do with the children’s toy market will descend on one of the biggest shows ever. After its 2013 record-smashing show, attendees can expect the best in products and the serious consideration of global companies. A peek at exhibitors reveals that Smart Games and Toys, Ubooly, Shure Products, and Super Impulse will all make an appearance.

Kids have their own way of looking at their environment, in large part due to their imaginations. For example, in the child’s mind, the terror of the monster in the closet might have been a cute character from a comic book when the lights were on — but now it has changed into a grim ghoul. Families have been challenged by children’s fears, and more than one parent has spent the night sitting up next to an anxious child’s bed. But now parents have a new champion: Vicki Sewell, author and creator of The Magnificent Sprinkles. Sewell just experienced a strong showing at the AmericasMart in Atlanta, where her plush critters and storybook garnered serious attention.

The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market® - Atlanta, Georgia (1/7/14 - 1/13/14)

“The response was amazing!” And that about sums it up for the The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. Companies that exhibited at the January 2014 market were unanimous in declaring that it was a hit. With more than seven million square feet of space for exhibitors, AmericasMart Atlanta can afford bragging rights. Its new app launched to rave reviews, scoring in the top ten business apps, according to iTunes. In January alone, new buyer rates went up double digits, indicating an increasing wave of interest. Companies that made their mark at the event include Livie & Cole, Fizoos, Night Buddies and FoneFace.

NY Now - New York City, New York (2/1/14 - 2/6/14)

NY Now, formerly the New York International Gift Fair, is almost here again! The huge trade show – one of the largest of its kind in the world – is slated to run from February 1-6 at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City, and will include some of the most successful home and lifestyle businesses in the industry, as well as those making their way to the top. Among the impressive line-up of exhibitors are some promising up-and-coming children’s product sellers, including BeanPatch & Co., Lava Lunch, Free Like Birdie, and Luca & Company

Swedish company Little Jalo has its eye on developing the finest in children’s products. Started by industry veteran Marie Sammeli, Little Jalo brings the best of kids fashion into line with the finest in materials and design. But Little Jalo’s Euro-style is not only popular on the continent. “We have had a very good consumer response,” Sammeli explains. The mother of four has a strong vision for the company’s products — beautiful, earth-friendly, sustainable creations — and knows how to meld it with the durability and quality that parents need.

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