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June 2006 Reporter's Notebook is a regular feature to keep retailers and buyers up to date with our sponsors' news. So if a designer is adding a collection, moved their offices, added a new sales rep or even a new baby, you'll know.
Celebrities are gobbling up designer Michelle Caruso's BLOOMERS BABY DIAPER CAKES. Whoopi Goldberg ordered the "pink modern cake" for Brooke Shields' new daughter Grier. The "cake," three tiers of disposable diapers trimmed with pink and cocoa polka dot ribbon and topped with pink silk mums, is part of the company's new "modern" line. The designs in this group come tied with grosgrain ribbon in sophisticated color schemes and adorned with silk mums and dahlias. Caruso is adding two new reps to her sales force. DW Specialties in Chicago will represent the company in seven Midwestern states. To contact Debbie White, call 312-755-9770. Atlanta-based Summer Place Reps, summerplacereps.com, is responsible for the company's sales in Texas, New York, New Jersey, New England and Washington DC. Call 770-444-0776 to speak to Brittany Harrell. Caruso can be reached at 949-933-5020 or visit bloomersdiapercakes.com.
Congratulations to Cabot, Vermont-based ZUTANO. The company has been nominated for the 2006 Vermont's Governor Deane Davis Award, presented by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. According to the Chamber of Commerce, "the award honors small businesses in Vermont for demonstrating outstanding efforts through company operations and objectives, economic growth, a positive corporate culture, strong community participation, and the company's support of Vermont's natural environment." The other two finalists are King Arthur Flour and the SymQuest Group. Kudos to Uli and Michael Belenky, the company's founders, for supporting their local schools, philanthropic giving programs and help in funding Le Foyer des Filles de Dieu, an orphanage for girls in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Belenkys can be reached at 800-287-5139 or visit zutano.com.
Catherine and Steve Granville have done it again. The owners and designers of the well-known FLEURVILLE collection of diaper bags have added two new designs to their collection: The "Auto Bag" and the "Sling Tote." The Auto Bag ($125 wholesale) is a four-in-one piece: A large carrier bag is rubber booted to keep the bottom clean and dry, as well as preventing the bag from shifting around in the back of the car. Three additional bags - two waterproof shoulder totes, and another that is insulated to keep food warm or cool - nestle inside the carrier. Each ballistic nylon bag features waterproofed interiors, double re-enforced padded handles and are PVC-free. The Sling Tote ($70 wholesale ) is available in several solids and prints covered in clear plastic. The bag can be worn three ways: Over the shoulder as a tote; with the additional strap as a messenger bag; or attached to a stroller's handles. Like all Fleurville items, it's fully loaded with zippers, changing pads, a zippered pocket for keys and cash and an insulated bottle holder. For more information, contact Lindsay Fagan at 415-482-8510, ext. 15 or visit fleurville.com.
Remember the family photos where mom and her daughters wore matching printed dresses? The hippest way to do mother/daughter now - or in this case - daughter and son coordinates, is BUMBLEBAGS' new Toddler Car Seat covers. The items match the company's popular line of diaper bags, are water and stain resistant and fit all standard infant/toddler car seats (seat covers: $44-$48 wholesale; Bumble bags are priced from $58-$64 wholesale.) For more information log on to bumblebags.com, or call Stefanie at 626-934-8600.
Little actress Darcy Rose Byrnes who portrays Abby on "The Young and the Restless," was included in the "Best Dressed at the Emmy's" section in CBS' Soaps Magazine - thanks to Charlene May. May, who designs the GREGGY GIRL collection, was asked to a create a gown for the young thespian a few weeks prior to the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, held on April 28, 2006. Byrnes was the only child actress in the photo spread. Nice work Charlene! Log on to greggygirl.com.
HIGH INTENCITY is sprinkling a little magic over their new Disney Fairies Pixie Dust Collection. The line, which features bracelets and necklaces bedecked with beads, flowers, heart trinkets, ribbon, glitter, and crystals is based on the fairy Tink and her mischievous friends in Disney's book series. The Pixie Dust collection ($4-$8 wholesale) is sure to capture "the Disney Fairies' enchanted world and the imaginations of little pixies everywhere." Visit Pixie Hollow at disneyfairies.com. To order the line visit highintencity.com.
POSH BABY'S latest collection is Indian Summer, a group of cotton sportswear for spring. The line (NB-6T) features dresses and pants in sophisticated, richly colored graphic stripes and prints with coordinating, embellished T-shirts. For more information, log on to poshbaby.com.
Comparing an infant to a flower in bloom will be especially apt when the babe wears a floral bedecked headband from BABY CAPELLI. The company's new collection features daisy, peony and rose embellished bands available in eight colors ($8.50-$9 wholesale, are available in size NB-6 months and 6 months to 3 years.) Log on to babycapelli.com for a look.
People who love People (magazine that is) may have noticed Brooke Shields' new daughter, Grier, modeling PIXIE LILY'S daygown on the cover of the magazine's May issue. As if one celebrity spotting wasn't enough, Mariska Hargitay of "Law and Order" fame received garments from Pixie Lily at a baby shower, and wrote to designer Leda McIntosh Jackson: "I have to tell you, your clothes are the most spectacular, beautiful, handmade, precious little items I've ever seen in my life. …You guys are artisans." And Gwyneth Paltrow Martin wrote: "Thank you so much for the incredibly beautiful Pixie Lily pieces. We dress Moses in them every day (no joke) and receive countless compliments." Visit Pixie Lily at pixielily.com.
SHERI BLUM DESIGNS has released its Spring 2006 collection of hand painted children's wall art and nursery wall hangings. The new line includes 16-inch round name plaques to personalize a nursery or child's room. Blum's designs have been included in Pregnancy Magazine and the nursery design book, "Ideas for Great Baby Rooms," by Sunset. To see Blum's line, contact The Glitter Box Showroom in LA, 213-489-7605; Southern Fried Chicks Showroom in Dallas, TX, 214-742-611; and at Sugar Bébé Showroom in Atlanta, GA, 615-294-0904. Blum can be reached at 410-857-0220 or visit sherriblumdesigns.com.
Rose Spice is about to launch her spring 2007 collection. "It's a little old with a little new," she says. "The line mixes peasant tops with patterned skirts inspired by French textiles, and dresses and halter tops paired with denim washed Bermuda shorts. The ROSE SPICE COLLECTION is represented by the following showrooms: One Eighty RSA, INC. in New York City, 212-695-2225; Paperdoll Styles Showroom in Los Angeles, 213-629-8575; Colett Bigler Showroom in Vancouver, WA, 888-576-0199, bigler-showroom.com; Bob Blumenthal Showroom covering the Southeast, 404-523-0443; Cultivated Kids in Dallas, 214-630-3080; or visit rosespicekids.com.
New sales representatives are handling the gorgeous sweaters, hand-knit by artisans for Maribel Beas' RENATTONI collection. Marsha and Jerry Bank rep the line for the mid-Atlantic territory, 410-997-4848; for their Philadelphia showroom call 215-656-3179. The collection can also be seen through Leslie Stevens' Plainview, NY, showroom, 516-433-1720. For more information, visit renattoni.com.
John and Shelley Blye of the PINC PREMIUM denim collection have opened a new showroom at 1384 Broadway. Due to demand from buyers who insisted the Blyes add smaller sizes and styles for boys to their popular tween girls' collection, the Blyes are now shipping infant sizes 12-24 months, and a new group called Premium Blu for infant and toddler boys, sizes 4-7. Both collections have a November delivery. Pinc Premium's new sales representatives are Eloisa & Mia in Los Angeles, 213-486-9827; Halley Singer in Dallas, 800-767-1475; and Windy City Kidz in Chicago, 312-467-5434. Or visit jamesgirone.com/pinc.
Julia Roberts has been shopping. Her latest purchase for little Hazel is an outfit from ELEPHANTITO that she found at Belles Choses in Vinings, Georgia (she's from the Symrna area). Check out the line at Bella Rose Imports' booth at the August 2006 ENK Children's Club show in New York City, or visit the Summer Place Reps showroom at the July Atlanta show. Can't wait to see Elephantito's spring 2007 collection? Call Brenda Weinberger at Bella Rose Imports (jamesgirone.com/bellaroseimports), 718-302-3810 or visit elephantito.com. To reach Brittany Harrel at Summer Place Reps, call 770-444-0776 or visit summerplacereps.com.
A change of scenery is always a good thing. Just ask Donna and Robert Prescott at R & D INTERNATIONAL, the manufacturers of Young Colors, Silly Sarongs, Frumpy Rumps and Fancy Threads. They've moved their headquarters from Casa Grande, Arizona to their "beautiful new offices" in Salida, Colorado. Contact them at 7720 County Road 160, Sallida, CO 8120l. Phone: 719 529-3812, Fax: 719 539-3813; or visit youngcolors.com.
The folks at GAGA GOODS are gaga with good news. In May, their Fairy Princess Snuggly was featured in Life & Style Weekly as a great gift for Hollywood's newest royalty, Suri Cruise, daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. The company has introduced several products: ready-to-gift Goodiebags filled with the company's original products; Handy Dandy Bag Tags to personalize a little one's diaper bag or backpack; and the Hush Hush Sleeper Keeper door sign that instructs visitors not to knock or ring the door bell while baby is sleeping. Kathryn Adler, Owner/Designer, has added a great new incentive to buyers, too: the Spread Some Smiles Programs with two percent of all sales going directly to children's charities. For more information, visit gagagoods.com.
Love the PEDIPED? The soft-soled, 100% leather, Velcro-fastened shoe for boys and girls. The fall/winter 2006 collection of the adorable footwear will be available to buyers soon. The company's VP of sales and marketing says, "The designs are delicate, we've added holiday styles and plenty of new color combinations, too." For more information about the new collection, call 800-880-1245, or visit pedipeds.com.
Retail buyers fall in love with INNIES 'N OUTIES' great prints, rich colors and simple shapes before they realize the garments are reversible. Once they turn the charming pieces around, they're hooked. (Who doesn't love a two-for-one?) Buyers, you're in for a treat this fall. Partner Abbe Murray-Cote has created a collection of unbeatable looks in rich cotton velvets, classic plaids and pinstripes, in tones like pumpkin and red pepper and chocolate and pale blue. To see the new collection, contact Abbe Murray-Cote at 866-866-2880, or visit inniesnouties.com.
News to share? Contact tina@jamesgirone.com.
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