Hip and Cool Product Finds

Every year, there’s a handful of kids’ products that everyone just has to have. They’ll be the talk of the town at playgroups, moms’ fitness classes, and on social media sites. It’s hard to define in specifics what makes something “cool”, but certain products just have the “it” factor that gives them overall desirability. Today’s viral marketing makes it easier for a product to take off and gain popularity seemingly overnight. Of course, some of these products end up being a flash in the pan, but others stand the test of time and become well-loved classics. To get there, it usually means having a combination of a high-quality, innovative product, smart marketing, and excellent customer service. The following companies are innovators with possibly the next “must-haves”: HICKIES, Buddha Board, EarZings and 4moms.

HICKIES Kiss Shoelaces Goodbye

These trendy laces are designed to not only make shoes look cooler, but also to enhance their wear-ability. HICKIES is an alternative lacing system that uses unique elastic band-type closures in place of traditional laces. These allow wearers to easily turn any shoe into a slip-on and do away with time-consuming laces. Unlike cloth laces, HICKIES don’t require any tying, they’re attractive, and there’s no need to worry about them getting dirty or frayed.

Kids love HICKIES because they let them customize their shoes with a wide array of different colors, and they make getting ready for school a breeze. HICKIES are one size fits all, so even those with little feet can use them and they fit any shoe that has an eyelet lacing system.

Husband and wife team Gaston Frydlewski and Mariquel Waingarten made the decision to leave their native Argentina for New York City to launch their company. Both Gaston and Mariquel had successful backgrounds in business and entrepreneurship, and their instincts told them that HICKIES would be a product customers want and need. Their dream is to revolutionize the way people wear sneakers; based on the early responses to Hickies, that dream has a chance of becoming a reality.

For more information, vist www.hickies.com

Art Calmly Materializes with the Buddha Board

The practice of Zen Buddhism involves being still and experiencing the moment, whatever it may hold. The makers of Buddha Board had that philosophy in mind when creating their product, and the result is a fun and unique art tool that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Buddha Board looks like a simple art canvas, but when one tries, one realizes it’s unlike anything used before.

Instead of ink or paint, water is used to draw on the Buddha Board. When the user creates a stroke on the canvas, it starts out clear but slowly darkens into a bold black mark. After a few minutes, the mark then begins to fade and eventually disappears leaving behind a blank canvas once again.

Buddha Board’s inventor Eric Thrall designed his product in hopes of encouraging artistic expression and relaxation. The Vancouver entrepreneur feels that in a busy, high-tech world, kids and adults need some low-stress, non-competitive recreation to help them unwind and reach their full potential.

This could be a new attention grabber in your store: www.buddhaboard.com

EarZings are Pierce-Free

EarZings are a new breakthrough in accessories for kids. These cool, convenient pierce-free earrings are easy-to-use, attractive and safe. They come in a variety of styles and colors so they’re great for kids of all ages. They allow kids to enjoy the fashion and freedom of having pierced ears without the discomfort and commitment that goes along with it.

Laura Pffaf, inventor of EarZings, came up with the idea for the design when trying to help her daughter find an acceptable alternative to ear piercing. The 7-year-old wanted to get her ears pierced, but Laura felt that it wasn’t time for that just yet. After trying uncomfortable clip-ons and magnet earrings, Laura eventually developed earrings that would look great, feel great and stay on her daughter’s ears. That’s how EarZings came to be, and in the following months, as Laura tweaked the design and perfected her invention, she became confident that this would be a product with far-reaching appeal.

Not every girl (or even every grown woman) is willing or able to have their ears pierced, and EarZings are a great alternative. For more information, visit www.earzings.com

4moms’ mamaRoo Rocks with Motion Mojo

When nothing else does the trick, a crying baby can often be soothed by gentle, continuous motion. This is why baby swings, vibrating infant seats, and good old fashioned rocking chairs have been the salvation of many a mother’s sanity. While these devices can be helpful, their motion isn’t always smooth and natural enough to provide the best results. That’s why the mamaRoo from 4moms is a hit with retailers and parents.

The mamaRoo is the luxury car of baby motion seats. From its futuristic appearance to its many convenient features, it’s miles ahead of most other products in the same category. Instead of the typical vibrations or rocking motions that most similar products offer, the mamaRoo sways and bounces in a way that’s meant to mimic the natural movement of a person walking. It also has “car ride” and “kangaroo” settings for when mom wants to change things up a bit.

The 5 nature sounds available on the mamaRoo make the baby’s relaxation experience complete, plus a parent can also hook up their MP3 player to the unit to create whatever type musical atmosphere is desired. The mamaRoo is a great investment for anyone who wants little one to chill out in style.

For more information, visit www.4moms.com