Tween Appeal

What is a tween? Typically defined as ages 10 through 12, the period between childhood and becoming a teenager, tweens are becoming a force all their own. The tween market can be a little hard to nail down: tweens are moving beyond the childlike toys and behaviors they are used to, but still not quite ready for the almost-grown-up style of older teens.

Retailers need to be wary of coming off as too cutesy or way too sophisticated. Tweens will be turned off by the too juvenile and parents will shun brands that seem to push their children too far, too fast. Still, finding a happy medium is possible. Kids in this group tend to be very creative. Edgy, fun, yet practical accessories and designs all make for happy families. The best in tween products combine individualism with creativity, and the lines from Nail Candy, Shwings, and Tractor bring customers back for more.

Nailing the Tween Market

Nail Candy understands the tween’s desire for something fun, crafty, and attractive. Angela Parro notes, “The beauty is that every time you use our pens you can create something new and unique… the possibilities are endless and the designs are fun.”

Nail Candy pens burst with color that can be easily controlled by squeezing. Each pen has a unique tip that allows for free artistic expression. The pen colors are developed along the lines of themes, making them simple to coordinate for special occasions or swap canisters out for individual designs.

The Americana set caters to the patriots. For girls who are feeling adventurous, there’s the Be Brave set, featuring canisters of color designed with the trendy fall and winter animal prints in mind. There are also enduring classics, like the French Manicure set. Best sellers include the Lessons in Neon (riding high on the return of 80s fashion), the Courage My Love (classic matches like pink, red, black, and white — a great starter set or stocking stuffer) and the Mardi Gras canisters (bringing the party to flashy fingernails).

Add a variety of these sets to your shelves as great gifts, “pick-me-ups,” or party season picks: www.nailcandypen.com

Sales Ascend on the Wings of Shwings

Started by savvy designer Sonya Ooten, a successful jewelry designer and mom, Shwings are “shoe wings” for footwear. Dozens of styles translate into great appeal. One day, tweens can imagine themselves as superheroes with the Pink and Purple Foil styles; the next, they can swap out into something new, like the edgy Leopard print.

Shwings can also be mixed and matched for added fashion: a single pair works great for school days, but two pairs can be attached for those days when tweens want to really stand out. Since these accessories can be tied on in several places on the footwear (plus on necklaces, hair accessories, backpacks and apparel), wearers have endless choices about how to make themselves stand out from the crowd.

Just like with shoes, customers will want more than one pair, so stock shelves with the products that take wing at www.shwingsonline.com

Tractor: Experience Speaks, Tweens Listen

If you guessed that Tractor jeans have been around for more than a tween’s age, then you guessed right. Industry veterans Howard Mensch and Diane Kuczer founded the company that has been providing the best in comfy fashion for 15 years. Tween fashion sense changes rapidly, so what’s the secret to longevity within this fickle market? A thorough understanding of what customers want and the best service in providing it to them.

Kids and parents rely on Tractor’s fashion sense: always on-trend, always giving tweens a perfect fit. Retailers rely on Tractor’s proven record of delivering quality products and service. With an eye on creating modern styles with classic designs, Tractor created its own Jeggings —fashionable like jeans, but with the pliable fit of leggings. Jeggings are offered in 25 colors, including indigo, purple, sunflower, and paprika, in sizes 7-14. Each pair is comprised of cotton and spandex, making them machine washable and ensuring the same fit wear after wear.

Bring tweens to your shop with the fashion and fit from http://www.tractorjeans.com. See “Contact Us” tab for list of sales representatives.