Mud Pie Encouraging Healthy First Steps for All Babies

The March of Dimes and Mud Pie announced a partnership that will help raise funds for March of Dimes 2013 imbornto campaign through the sale of Mud Pie Baby Socks. The collaboration is a perfect fit for the gift manufacturer who is known for their signature infant socks. Through this alliance, Mud Pie will contribute a dime for each pair they sell to their retail partners or directly to consumers. 

“We know our socks make people smile-- parents and grandparents tell us all the time,” said Marcia Miller, Mud Pie’s founder and CEO. “When one mother reached out to tell us that our socks were a source of joy when her baby was confined to intensive care, we were inspired to find a meaningful way to ensure healthy first steps for all babies.”

Mud Pie has committed a minimum donation of $100,000 to the March of Dimes imbornto campaign, a national March of Dimes cause marketing program centered around the inspiring message that ‘every baby is born to do something great’ and designed to generate awareness and raise funds to continue the organization’s research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs. 

“The March of Dimes has been hard at work improving the lives of babies and families everywhere for 75 years,” says Chad Royal-Pascoe, Vice President, National Partnerships and Cause Marketing. “We are excited to partner with Mud Pie on the imbornto initiative to help all babies start out on the right foot.”

Warner Bros. Launches New Line Based on DC Comics 1960’s Batman TV Series

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) officially launched the highly anticipated Batman Classic Television Series licensing program, inspired by the classic DC Comics 1960’s Batman television show at an exclusive event co-hosted with Junk Food Clothing at the famed comic store mecca Meltdown Comics in Hollywood. Leading the impressive roster of licensees supporting the program, Junk Food Clothing, celebrity-favored designer of fashionable t-shirts, unveiled its capsule collection which includes a range of men’s and women’s t-shirts featuring live-action imagery and inspired graphics from the show. The exclusive apparel collection is available at Meltdown Comics or junkfoodclothing.com

Summoned by the Bat-Signal onto the black carpet was the classic Batman, the Bright Knight himself, Adam West, one of the most celebrated Caped Crusaders and star of the classic television series, along with celebrity Batman fans including DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee, musician Chris Daughtry, 90210’s Rumer Willis,Splash’s Katherine Webb, The Neighbors’ Tim Jo, The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun, Arrow’s Colin Donnell, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Antonio Sabato, Jr., The Twilight Saga’s BooBoo Stewart, The Office’s Melora Hardin, Baby Daddy’s Chelsea Kane, Haven’s Kate Kelton, graffiti artist David Choe, KROQ’s Ralph Garman, Glee’s Josh Sussman, Shrek’s (Broadway adaption) Stephen Kramer Glickman and celebrity DJ Caroline D’Amore kept the crowd going as she set the tone for the event.

The new licensing and merchandising program brings to life some of the most celebrated elements of the 1960’s Batman Classic Television Series, including the dynamic duo of Batman andRobin as well as an arsenal of archenemies such as The Penguin, The Joker and The Riddler, as well as Batman’s famous high-tech gadgetry and, of course, the Batmobile.

Hip Peas Natural Kids Care

Hip Peas is for parents with a conscience! The products are not only completely safe for children and the environment, they work wonders on tots' locks. What's more, there have been many parents who buy the products for their children and start using them on themselves as well! For example, the Hip Peas Hair Styling Balm is a must-have item for the entire family - moms, dads and kids can all benefit from this versatile product.

Some additional scoop on Hip Peas: 
* Retail priced from $6.99-15.95 
* Available for sale at hip-peas.com, fine children's stores & salons nationwide. * 10% of our profits go toward child-focused charities 
* Products are paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, petrochemical-free and cruelty-free 
* Naturally scented with fresh blueberry extract - "The smell of Hip Peas Hair Balm is OUT.OF.THIS.WORLD amazing! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!" April in Pontiac, MI (from a customer testimonial).

Giftware News' March Digital Look Book Insider is Now Available for Viewing

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PLUSH 2013 Announces Exhibitors for Upcoming Show In Los Angeles

Jina Park, CEO and Founder of PLUSH, is proud to announce their PLUSH 2013 exhibitors for the upcoming luxury baby and trade show June 7th - 9th, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, CA. PLUSH Show 2013 exhibitors include Natart, Maclaren, Baby Jogger, Bugaboo, Britax, Inglesina, Babyhome, Ergobaby, Orbit Baby, Nuna, PetitNest, Boon, MAM, JJ Cole, Munchkin, Zoli, Moby Wrap, Amy Michelle, Dapple, DaddyScrubs, Happy Family, Ubbi, Puj, and Itzy Ritzy to name a few.

"I am extremely excited to see the manufacturers that recognize PLUSH as "THE" show in the industry to attend. We at PLUSH are committed to bringing the best of the best to the event and I'm very excited to see this goal coming to fruition," said Jina Park. "Our team is more than ready to welcome the industry retail stores to PLUSH, and look forward to seeing them walk our show floor, build relationships with our manufactures, and recognize the quality of manufactures that attend PLUSH."

Past PLUSH show's participants continue their enthusiasm for previous shows and have offered the following: "PLUSH was the perfect venue for us to meet new expectant mothers and fathers that are entering the baby world for the first time and show them all the products we offer. A great opportunity to build your brand and your customer base." - Tiffany Harris, Owner/Co-Founder of Layla Grayce

"As a buyer I love being part of this amazing event because we get direct feedback from expectant and new moms as to what products they like and would be willing to purchase. The one-to-one connection of manufacturer to consumer also helps the manufacturers to further develop products based on the true needs of these consumers. In addition to this, the event offers a variety of vendors with high quality standards, beautiful design and a commitment to work with retailer to deliver products that best fit their consumer." - Cheryl Petran, CEO of The Pump Station & Nursery. "PLUSH provided a fabulous upscale venue to promote our line of LUXURY furniture! The PLUSH staff was amazing to work with." - Lonni Paul, Designer and Owner of PetitNest

"We are providing a wonderful three-day show dedicated to making retailers feel welcomed, productive at work, and having fun on vacation," continues Jina Park. "Luxury hotel, champagne, fun receptions, and the best manufacturers that the industry has to offer, this is one trade show they'll be delighted to have attended. This is going to be the Juvenile Industry's Show of the Year!"

Pre-Registration Now Open for PBJ: Play. Baby. Juvenile. in Dallas

Dallas Market Center recently announced that pre-registration is now open for PBJ: Play. Baby. Juvenile., a new, juried trade event for the most innovative gifts and gadgets across the baby and children’s industries. The show will take place March 21-22 and further expands the selection inside the marketplace where children’s products already include apparel, accessories, toys, textiles, furniture, bedding, books and educational gifts.

PBJ will be held in conjunction with the Dallas KidsWorld Market (March 18-21) which includes the 200,000-square-foot marketplace on the World Trade Center 8th floor.

To pre-register, watch for the PBJ pre-registration email or call Market Travel at 214/744-7444. Keep up-to-date on all market information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter with the hashtag #PBJshow or by visiting Know It All, the Dallas Market Center blog.

Mompreneur launches new toys and program that empowers kids to do good

Chrysti Carol designed Monkeez Makes a Difference to teach children the importance of helping others and giving back through kid-friendly toys and tools including the adorable Genuine Monkeez and Friends™ sock characters, online games, real-life Do Good challenges and a special 10% donation on each child’s behalf to one of three nationally renowned charities of his or her choice. As the mother of two boys, former teacher, children’s book author and writer for educational apps, Chrysti Carol based the program on research that indicates it’s never too early to teach children to think of others and that children should be empowered to explore causes and reach their own decisions about what to support.

While the program is new, it’s already making a big difference: Thanks to retailers’ support of the program not only locally but across the country, Monkeez Makes a Difference recently donated $67,000 based on sales, split equally between Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse and Best Friends Animal Society. Click here to view a video on Monkeez Makes a Difference featuring Chrysti Carol.

The fun and education starts with the Genuine Monkeez and Friends plush characters featuring special Monkeez Makes a Difference tags, which are available in their online store and at independent retailers locally (including Wonder Works) and across the country. There are more than 100 plush designs in multiple sizes to choose from, including monkeys, owls, bears, lions, dogs, cats, pigs, cows, octopuses, panda bears, kangaroos, turtles, koalas, alligators, hedgehogs, elephants, hippos, zebras, frogs, bunnies and raccoons. Each specially marked character comes with a unique online game activation code on the tag. Suggested retail prices range from $2.99 to $114.99.

With an adult’s help, children follow the instructions on the tag and visit MonkeezAndFriends.com. There, they can enter the code and watch videos about each charity that partners with Monkeez Makes a Difference, including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse and Best Friends Animal Society.

Children can select which charity they would like to contribute to, and Monkeez Makes a Difference donates 10 percent of the wholesale cost on their behalf. By selecting the charity of their choice, children unlock the door to an interactive and educational online world. Children can revisit MonkeezAndFriends.com as many times as they’d like to play educational games and learn more about what they can do to help others.

Monkeez Makes a Difference also extends the experience to the local level, helping children to make a difference at home, at school and in their communities every day with Do Good Cards. Available in five different packs, each Do Good Card set contains challenges that consist of simple, but meaningful, tasks, such as, “Today at lunch, look around. Invite a child that is sitting alone to sit with you.” When children have completed each challenge and talked about the experience with their parents, they receive the trading card, which can be redeemed at MonkeezAndFriends.comto make a 10% donation to one of the three charities of their choice and receive incentives to continue making a difference.