AmericasMart University Teaches Retailers How To Succeed
During the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, held July 8-15 at AmericasMart, AmericasMart University (AMU) will offer retailers a series of business classes lead by consultants, designers, writers/authors and business practitioners to offer the skills and knowledge to help buyers improve their businesses.
The AMU curriculum offers classes in Retail Business Basics, Buying & Selling and Building Your Brand. Buyers who attend gain hands on experience and benefit from the expertise of industry leaders. Click here for the July AMU course schedule.
K.I.D.S., Blue Star Families Promote Reading Among Military Families
Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) and Blue Star Families (BSF) joined forces to bring the joy of reading to military children by donating new books to military-impacted libraries and schools, and providing individual kids with books of their own. The Books on Bases, Smiles on Faces program also helps kick off the White House’s summer service initiative, United We Serve. The distribution of donated books took place at Bayside Elementary School in Virginia Beach, VA, with local military children and their families and friends participating in reading and craft activities.
“Through our connections with children's book companies, K.I.D.S. was able to secure donations of books for the Bayside Elementary School and we are looking forward to working together with Blue Star Families to coordinate building up the book collections of military-impacted libraries and military bases across the country,” Janice Weinman, president of K.I.D.S, said.
The Books on Bases, Smiles on Faces donation event and fair was timed to be part of the United We Serve program, a White House priority to increase volunteerism across the United States. The event was also supported by the Virginia Governor’s Advisory Board on National and Community Service and the Armed Services YMCA, among others. Bayside Elementary has been home to thousands of military families for many decades and will be one of the many military–impacted schools that will benefit from the Books on Bases, Smiles on Faces program. The Hampton Roads region of Virginia houses one of the greatest concentrations of military families in the nation.
For 23 years, K.I.D.S. has provided new clothes, shoes, toys, furnishings, books and juvenile products donated by leading manufacturers and retailers. The donations move through K.I.D.S.' network of more than 1,000 community-based social service agencies in the United States to reach children in need.
Kind + Jugend Expands Exhibition Space, Reports Industry Growth
Koelnmesse, organizer of Kind + Jugend (Sept. 17-20) at Cologne exhibition Center in Germany reported continued signs of growth resulting in the overall expansion of exhibiting space. Some 800 companies from about 40 countries will come to the Cologne Exhibition Centre to present their latest products in children’s furniture, safety seats, textiles, prams, hygiene articles, toys and fashion for babies and toddlers during Kind + Jugend.
Koelnmesse reports a steady, if modest, growth within the juvenile market as families continue to value home life and children thus spending their money accordingly. Small increases in European purchasing patterns for infant and toddler apparel, and toys and games, organizers say, is a sign of the industry relative stability and growth in certain categories.
Warner Bros. Unveils Worldwide Harry Potter Licensing Program
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) enlisted a prominent collection of global licensees to capture the magic of the eagerly anticipated upcoming feature film, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Hitting theaters Wednesday, July 15, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is the sixth installment and latest chapter in the film series from Warner Bros., which has licensees gearing up to support the most successful entertainment franchise of all time.
NECA, Inc. and Corgi International Limited, the global master toy partners for the Harry Potter franchise, will create a spellbinding line of products in support of the upcoming feature film release. Additional key licensees include Mattel, with Scene It? Harry Potter 2nd Edition and Noble, for wands, chess sets and high-end sculpts; additional global licensees include: Panini, DeAgostini, Hasbro, Rubie’s Costume Co., Exhibitgroup/Giltspur, Artbox Entertainment, Gentle Giant, Giant Merchandising, Jibbitz, BioWorld Merchandising Inc., Andrews McMeel Publishing and Tonner Doll.
American Int'l Toy Fair And Engage! Expo To Co-Locate In NYC
The Toy Industry Association and Show Initiative LLC announced that Engage! Expo (previously Virtual World Expo) will co-locate with the American International Toy Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City in February 2010.
Toy Fair brings together more than 1,100 manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from nearly 90 countries and over 361,000 net square feet of space to showcase their toy and entertainment products. Engage! offers both a full conference program and a tradeshow floor to help major entertainment companies, youth brands and advertising agencies learn how to combine existing products with engagement opportunities and revenue streams of online media.
Youth entertainment companies are already capitalizing on digital tools such as cameras, communication and music devices, Internet sharing software, social media, virtual worlds, and Web-connected toys and games to further enhance consumer interaction with their brands. "Toy Fair exhibitors are constantly introducing new ways to engage children," says Marian Bossard, TIA vice president of meetings and events. "The Engage! Expo conference will expose Toy Fair exhibitors and attendees to best practices, current trends and effective strategies behind the most successful online brand extensions."
The 107th annual Toy Fair will be held Feb. 14-17, 2010; Engage! Expo will overlap with Toy Fair on Feb. 16-17. The two events will bring more than 25,000 attendees and exhibitor personnel to New York City and the Javits Center. All Engage! Expo attendees will receive access to the show floor at Toy Fair and all Toy Fair attendees will receive access to the Engage! show floor. In addition, TIA members who exhibit at Toy Fair are entitled to half-price registration discounts for the Engage! conference program.
Interactive YooHoo & Friends Web Site Launches
Aurora World, Inc. launched an online virtual world inspired by its best-selling plush line of YooHoo & Friends, www.yoohoofriends.com, for children from five to 12 years old. The Web site's characters resemble real animals in their natural habitats from all over the world and will educate children about them. The free site allows users to play games, download wallpapers, calendars and icons, watch previews for the upcoming YooHoo animations, adopt and raise YooHoo & Friends, and learn about each endangered animal.
"According to our research, a child uses the Internet in more than half of the households in the United States alone. We think that the Internet can be a positive force in the lives of children and their parents, especially with our educational components," says Michael Kessler, senior vice president of Sales at Aurora. "The Web site is an added bonus feature to the plush animal itself, and we expect it to drive families to local retailers to collect all the YooHoo & Friends in the line."
Kind + Jugend Offers Discounted Travel Rates
Buyers and exhibitors attending Kind + Jugend, (Sept. 17-20 in Cologne, Germany) may now book travel packages online and receive discounted rates. Deutsche Bahn is offering up to 40 percent off hotel accommodations and airfare. Meanwhile, show officials encourage all international attendees to apply for travel Visas well in advance. For more information, visit the Travel Service section on Kind + Jugend's Web site (www.kindundjugend.de).
DMC Offers Variety Of Floor Events
Buyers attending the upcoming Total Home & Gift Market, June 24-30, at Dallas Market Center will find a variety of floor events with giveaways and discounts available throughout the Market. Market attendees can win big with:
- Trade Mart Treasures; Thursday-Saturday at 6 p.m., 1st and 2nd floors, Trade Mart. Cash drawings for several lucky buyers in participating showrooms.
- Live on 5, Thursday-Saturday at 5 p.m., 5th floor, World Trade Center. Stop by the 5th floor and win prizes from participating exhibitors.
- To Go Bucks on 7, Saturday at noon, 7th floor, World Trade Center. Visit participating 7th floor jewelry and women's accessories showrooms to win "To Go Bucks," which can be used for purchases on the 7th floor.
- Unwind on 9, Friday-Saturday from 4-6 p.m., 9th floor, World Trade Center. Enjoy complimentary food and beverages, sponsored by participating 9th floor exhibitors.
- Lucky 13 Raffle, Friday-Sunday from 4-5 p.m. and Monday from 2-3 p.m., 13th Floor, World Trade Center. Place a qualifying order in a participating showroom to win instant cash and great prizes.
To register for the Market, visit www.dallasmarketcenter.com.
Maclaren Acquires Netto
Maclaren, a leading consumer lifestyle company known for its premium buggies and baby products, announced that they have acquired the juvenile modern furniture company, NettoCollection. The acquisition initiates Maclaren’s entry into the nursery furniture category, and follows on the heels of the successful retail introductions of the Grand Tour travel system, Beginning personal care for mothers, and seasonal fashion buggy liner program.
David Netto will continue his involvement with this innovative brand and will collaborate with Maclaren to design and develop future collections and other juvenile products.
|
Herrington Teddy Bears Develops Tiger Woods Foundation Mascot
The official mascot for the Tiger Woods Foundation, designed by Herrington Teddy Bears, made its debut at Tiger Jam XII presented by AT&T in Las Vegas. The Herrington Teddy Bear Company became involved with the foundation to create the mascot with two basic designs. Both were limited edition pieces and were given away at the Tiger Jam event held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. The recipients of these mascots were VIP invitees and donors to the event. For its own personal contribution, Herrington Teddy Bears donated a 16" version of the Tiger mascot that was sold at an auction in conjunction with the event.
CHA Offers Free, Low-Cost Business Tools
In response to belt tightening across the retail industry, The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) is now offering participants of its upcoming CHA 2009 Summer Convention & Trade Show (July 28-30 in Orlando) business-building tools to increase their store sales. These value-added services include:
- Complimentary, one-on-one consulting sessions with industry experts that will be available to show visitors on a first-come-first-served basis. Consultation topics will range from in-store events, customer service, and legal issues to press relations, social media and web development. Interested retailers should register for sessions online in advance of the Show.
- Cost-effective demo-nars for only $25 (CHA member rate) and $50 (non-member) per session that teach retailers valuable in-store selling techniques.
- Seminar passes, which grant show guests access into any seminar anytime during the Show, now available to CHA members for only $50, and $100 for non-members. Single-day seminar passes will also be available for $35 for CHA members, and $75 for non-members, and grant pass holders access into any seminar during one day of the Show.
To learn more about the upcoming CHA 2009 Summer Convention & Trade Show, visit www.chashow.org.
Aurora Partners With Shopatron
Plush manufacturer Aurora World, Inc., partnered with Shopatron, a provider of eCommerce solutions for consumer goods manufacturers. Shopatron offers a tool for consumers to place orders online, which are fulfilled by area retailers. Aurora’s retail customers may use Shopatron for free.
“Shopatron allows us to sell Aurora plush products online without affecting the bottom line of our business partners,” Michael Kessler, senior vice president of Sales at Aurora says. Aurora joins more than 80 other consumer brands that have turned to Shopatron for their eCommerce needs. “Consumers are on the hunt for more options in obtaining products, particularly through the ability to order online and then pick up those orders in their favorite stores,” Kessler adds.
Kessler says marketing data show a third of online buyers pick up their online orders in a store. “There are many enticing reasons for shoppers to do this including free shipping, receiving the product faster, simplified returns and exchanges, as well as the ability to purchase other products from the same retailer.” The Shopatron branded online store retains the look of Aurora’s corporate Web site, visit www.auroragift.com.
Wolff Joins Medela As VP Consumer Business
Medela, Inc., a creator of breastpumps, breastfeeding accessories and lactation research, hired veteran marketer Thomas Wolff as its new vice president of consumer business. In his new role, Wolff will be responsible for Medela products sold through retailers.
He comes to Medela from Johnsonville Sausage where he working within the marketing department. Prior to Johnsonville, Wolff held various marketing and account management positions at General Mills, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company.
