Recently style watchers have been preoccupied with Coachella, the music and art festival that wrapped up last weekend. These days the event is almost as well known for its see-and-be-seen street style snaps as it is for mashing up different genres from hip hop to electronica. But while everyone was preoccupied with what starlets like Kate Bosworth were wearing, I took note of the cross-promotional opportunities these events afford artists.

This year’s Earth Day, April 22, marked the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Help your customers and the environment by offering goods that are planet-friendly and help lead to a sustainable future. You, your shoppers and the people they shop for are all in this movement together. Here are a few brand suggestions that can help you go “green” in more ways than one: Lifefactory, Itzy Ritzy, Dandelion, and Kids Konserve.

The ABC Spring Educational Conference and Trade Show will be held April 25-27 at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas. This annual event provides opportunities for manufacturers and independent children’s retailers to get to know each other better, learn tips to improve business and see new products on display from a variety of juvenile product manufacturers. In the ABC SEC spirit of new product news and business education in the good-luck town of Las Vegas, I asked exhibitors to tell me about their “must-see” product on the trade show floor, their favorite business tip and what is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to them.

Get ready for some good, clean fun! Your customers will laugh with delight at these sweet-looking towel creations from Towel Treat. Each is created with a fluffy hand towel or washcloth folded and displayed to look like a tempting sweet. These unique gifts are perfect as bridal, baby shower or birthday favors. Plus, they’re calorie-free! The newest additions to this whimsical line are rolled up plushy kids’ blankets of 100% polyester, packaged as cuddly animal pals.