New
Orleans-based Pippen Lane Debuts Namesake Playwear Line;
Retailer Taps Industry Experts to Roll Out Colorful
Wholesale Collection for Spring 2012
(New Orleans, LA; July 20,
2011) Veteran retailer, Anna Beth
Goodman, is launching Pippen
Lane Collection, a line
of fun, funky playwear and dresses with New Orleans
flair. Driven by her customers' needs and a desire to
express the charm and personality of her
8,000-square-foot Pippen Lane boutique, Goodman has
developed a buyer-friendly line that's cheerful and
appealing in layette through infant for boys and up to
size 12 for girls. To ensure its success, Goodman has
assembled an elite group of children's wear experts to
manage every aspect of the business from production to
sales to customer service.
"My store has been in business for
12 years, and I've come to realize how many people know
and love it, which gives the line instant name
recognition and has created excitement surrounding the
Pippen Lane Collection wholesale launch," Goodman stated,
adding you'll see her experience as a retailer and buyer
in every facet of the collection. "After years of
catering to my customers, I know what they're looking
for. So I'm mindful of things like comfort, fabrics and
fit. For instance, my customers have been telling me they
want more color. As a result, the line is practical yet
colorful."
The Pippen Lane Collection has
distinctly Southern roots, which is most recognizable
through the use of bright hues, feminine bodies and
iconic New Orleans imagery. But because Goodman splits
her time between Louisiana and California and shops coast
to coast, her designs also have balance and broad appeal.
For baby, layette groupings feature understated fleur de
lis, bee, crown and bear embroidery on solid pink, blue
and white lettuce-edge footies, polo shortalls, skirted
one-pieces and blankets. The line's signature print, a
Carnival bead pattern, is rendered in multicolor for
girls and blue for boys.
Lively patterns are at the
forefront of the girls' selection. The Cornelia group
features sweet lavender buds, while Arabella bursts with
bold florals in teal, chartreuse and coral. Peacock
screenprints and Swiss dot textures add additional
character to the line. Separates abound with an array of
rompers, capris, shorts, tunics and ruffle tees as well
as a variety of dress options including drop-waist,
tiered ruffles and flutter-sleeve A-lines.
"Once I had the creative vision for
the Pippen Lane Collection, I wanted to assemble the best
team possible. Thanks to technology, we live in an age
that has allowed me to do just that. This is a truly
global company," said Goodman, referring to her design,
management and production capabilities. "I just want the
line to be easy for retailers. I know what aggravates me
as a buyer so my goal is to use my retail experience and
make this line easy and appealing for buyers."
From the start, Goodman has worked
closely with Stratford, Connecticut-based Christine
McCarthy, head of Christine
McCarthy Sales
Management
(CMSM, LLC), to lay the
foundation for a successful launch. Throughout her
14-year career in retail buying and sales, McCarthy has
built strong industry contacts, enabling her to recommend
top industry consultants, many of whom she's worked
closely with in the past. The Pippen Lane team includes
Regina Salinas of San Francisco as Customer Service
Manager and Los Angeles-based Sheila Bellomy as
Production Manager. The network also includes a graphic
designer in New York, an eco-friendly warehouse in Idaho
and production in Peru, India, China, Chile and the
U.S.
Goodman also relied on McCarthy to
handpick the Pippen Lane Collection sales team based on
their experience and their reputations for exceeding
customer-service expectations. The collection has been
placed with the following sales reps: Bill and Sandie
Ellsworth for New England, Mike Spiegel for the
Southeast, Ken and Paula Gorelik for the Midwest, Jill
Griffith of Cultivated Kids for Dallas and the Southwest
and Julie Smith for the West Coast. The collection will
be delivered from January 15th to March 30th.
