Live From New York It’s Elf Fashion Week with Special Guest Ho Ho Husky

Daytime clothing at the North Pole may be standard red and green, but according to Elf Magic, the folks who know everything about the secret life of Elves, Santa’s favorite Elves own a nifty travel wardrobe of Elfits to dress up their “Sleigh Trip” visits! Coinciding with the American International Toy Fair is Elf Fashion Week, taking place at Booth 1056 with special guest star Ho Ho Husky. Look for the 2013 collection to include new fashion and accessories for such Elfcapades as gymnastics, surfing and ballroom dancing!

For those not up-to-date with the timeless Elf Magic tradition of Elf home visits, Elves typically arrive around Thanksgiving and return to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve. The excitement of having an Elf visit during the holiday season is fun for all who believe in the magic of Christmas.

Assuming Santa can spare them for a few days from Elf duties, Elves are often allowed to visit their special families for short visits around important events like birthdays or vacations. For all those travel occasions Elf Magic Elves have designed an entire collection of clothing and accessories known as Forever Elf Fashions allowing the Elves to “Dress to Impress”.

The latest looks from Elf Fashion Week should hit online and arrive in stores in June. The biggest news in 2013 is a four-legged friend who's not a reindeer at all! New for 2013, Elf Magic will introduce their newest adorable friend, Ho Ho Husky as well as many new Elfits. Look for these delightful accessories this summer

An Five Best New Product Awards Presented at NYIGF's Baby & Child

Five companies were presented with Baby & Child "Best New Product Awards" today, with Box Play for Kids® receiving the "Blogger's Best" distinction for Box Play for Kids Stickers. Baby & Child, one of 10 divisions in the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), runs through Wednesday, August 22, at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. 

In addition to the semi-annual "Blogger's Best" award, Baby & Child "Best New Product Award" winners are recognized for excellence in four categories: toy, décor, gear and apparel. A panel of eight editors from trade media, kid-centric blogs and websites selected products which exemplified innovation, design and style. 

The summer 2012 winners and finalists, selected from 116 products, are: 

BLOGGER'S BEST:
Box Play for Kids® (Phoenix, AZ) for Box Play for Kids Stickers, eco friendly stickers made of 100 percent recycled paper that turn old boxes into new toys. 

TOY:
Winner: PlanToys, Inc. (Mountain View, CA) for Play House, a three-story rubberwood and PlanWood doll house with a handle to carry and a rooftop that becomes a garden.
Finalist: Fat Brain Toy Co. (Elkhorn, NE) for Tobbles Neo stacking toy.
Finalist: Juratoys US Corp (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) for Magnetibook Crazy Face. 

DÉCOR:
Winner: HABA® USA (Skaneateles, NY) for Teepee Play Tent, a portable personal space for little explorers to take exciting and creative adventures.
Finalist: Magicforest, LTD (Portsmouth, NH) for Fly With Me Hot Air Balloon Music Box.
Finalist: Milk Moon Kids (Cincinnati, OH) for Growth Charts. 

GEAR:
Winner: aden + anais® (Brooklyn, NY) for Serenity Star, a 5-in-1 electronic sleep and feeding system for mom and baby.
Finalist: MadPax (Phoenix, AZ) for BUBBLE nibbler. Finalist: Love Mae (Stokers Siding, Australia) for Tableware – Melamine Dinnerware. 

APPAREL:
Winner: Pipopipo™ (Los Angeles, CA) for Pipopipo friends socks, which come in a reusable bamboo package with three pairs of socks designed either for boys or girls.
Finalist: Cutey Booty (Mount Pleasant, SC) for Girl & Boy Outfit.
Finalist: Keepsake Threads (Fort Wayne, IN) for Upcycled T-Shirt Baby Bibs.

Five "Best New Product Awards" Present and Baby & Child

Five companies were presented with Baby & Child Best New Product Awards today, with The Wonder Forge™ receiving the "Blogger's Best" distinction for its Angelina Ballerian Dance With Me interactive game. Baby & Child, one of 10 divisions in the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), runs through Wednesday, February 1, at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

In addition to the "Blogger's Best" award, Baby & Child Best New Product Awards winners are recognized semi-annually for excellence in four categories: toy, décor, gear and apparel. A panel of editors from print and electronic media outlets, including our own Joann Fallon, selected products that exemplified innovation, design and style.

"These winners were clear stand-outs in a competitive field of outstanding products in Baby & Child," said Randi Mohr, Baby & Child sales manager. "The judges recognized design innovation and creativity which set these products apart from all others."

The winter 2012 winners and finalists, selected from 100 products, are:

BLOGGER'S BEST:
The Wonder Forge™ (Seattle, WA) for its Angelina Ballerina Dance with Me, an interactive collaborative game where kids take the center stage.

TOY:
Winner: Tegu (Darien, CT) for its Tegu Mobility – Dart, a wooden car with 10 classic Tegu blocks, a signature magnetic styling top, and 4 magnetic wooden wheels, Dart is a member of the Compact Line of Tegu Mobility. Finalist: Hape North America (Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada) for its Pancakes. Finalist: Juratoys US Corp (Fort Lauderdale, FL) for its Janod Wooden Toys.

DÉCOR:
Winner: Swankie Blankie (Plano, TX) for its Citron Marbella Receiving Blanket, a washer and dryer safe blanket with a unique design Finalist: Magicforest (Portsmouth, NH) for its Sevi Fly With Me Growth Chart. Finalist: My Boy Sam Ltd (New Milford, CT) for its Baby Stroller Blanket.

GEAR:
Winner: 7 A.M.® Enfant (New York, NY) for its Pookie Poncho, a baby carrier cover and stroller cover in one, made of waterproof materials. Finalist: MadPax, LLC (Phoenix, AZ) for its BUBBLE by MadPax. Finalist: GroVia® (Bozeman, MT) for its Curious About Cloth Kit.

APPAREL:
Winner: Zutano Inc. (Cabot, VT) for its Bowtie, the new accessory for little boys in Zutano's hallmark colors. Finalist: Dabbawalla Bags (Seattle, WA) for its Lunch Knot Purse. Finalist: Tutu Couture® (Atlanta, GA) for its Officially Licensed Collegiate Tutu Line.

The Best New Product Award judges were: Joanne Fallon, Baby & Kids Magazine; Jennifer Cattaui, Earnshaw's; Joanna Dreifus, MyMomShops.com; Caroline Kennedy, Playthings; and Leesa Valentino, TheGiggleGuide.com.

NYIGF Best New Product Award Winners

The first-ever Best New Product Awards took place within the Baby & Child division at the New York International Gift Fair, held January 29 through February 3. Baby & Kids editor Melody Udell was there to help judge product submissions in five categories: apparel, gear, toy, decor and a special blogger's best category.

Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists!

Blogger's Best:

Maple Landmark, Inc. for the Rocker-Feller Rocking Horse

Toy:

Winner: Tegu for the Magnetic Blocks

Finalist: Maple Landmark, Inc. for the Rocker-Feller Rocking Horse

Finalist: Geared For Imagination for Topozoo

Decor:

Winner: Oopsy Daisy, Fine Art For Kids for the A to Z Animal Prints.

Finalist: Zutano Inc. for the Owls four-piece crib set

Finalist: manny and simon for Duck Wooden Step Stool

Gear:

Winner: MadPax for the Spiketus Rex

Finalist: Buggyguard for the Stroller Lock

Finalist: Innobaby LLC for the Keepin’ Fresh Kids Stainless

Apparel:

Winner: Loralin Design for the Handmade Sweater Basket

Finalist: Magnificent Baby for the Elephants On Parade Take Me Home Set

Finalist: 3 Sprouts for the 3 Sprouts Eco-Friendly Art Smock

Photo courtesy NYIGF.

New York Gift Shows Offer Something For Baby

Juvenile-product retailers have gotten lucky of late as more and more trade shows pop up with sections devoted specifically to products for babies, children and their parents.

During the last New York International Gift Fair, show organizers announced their Focus Forward 2013 strategic plan, which sees the reorganization of NYIGF as the Javits Convention Center changes too. One of the first steps of Focus Forward 2013 is the new Baby & Child division. Cross merchandising children’s every day products with gift merchandise is the industry standard now, so it’s worth a trip to New York to find new diaper bags, furniture and layette alongside plush toys, books, footwear and anything else you can imagine.

Elsewhere in New York City, you’ll find a similar concept now in its second go round at 7 W New York. The NYC Baby& Kids Fair, which runs August 16-18 at 7 W 34th Street, presents temporary exhibitors with children’s products and parenting aides. And I’ll be there too! I moderate the Product Profiles speed-selling seminar and buyers lunch on Tuesday, August 17 at 1 p.m.

Here’s a little teaser from the NYIGF to whet your appetite.

NY Market Week Highlights

by Mary Gerlach

Earlier this month, the staff of Baby & Kids magazine set up shop in New York City for a few days. Trade shows are one of the most exciting aspects of our jobs as we get a chance to see products (and often times prototypes) before they hit store shelves the following season. Aside from new products, many of which you’ll find in the pages of Baby & Kids, show management and the industry as a whole celebrates milestones and releases big show news.

Here are few highlights from the show. For more coverage, look for my NY Market Week wrap-up report in the upcoming issue of Giftware News Plus. Sign up here to receive your complimentary subscription.



Associate editor Ashley Trent led the New Buyer Orientations during the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF). Ashley was joined by NYIGF’s Helen Overly. Helen, by her own account, has been in the industry in one of several capacities for countless years. Together, the two ladies answered questions from first-time buyers across the globe. For some, it was their first trade show before opening a shop and for others, NYIGF was their first stateside show.



Karen Wolfskehl (right), Baby & Kids' east coast sales rep, chats up industry associates at the Gift For Life The Stakes Are High fundraising events for DIFFA. The evening was a night of cocktails and camaraderie as buyers, manufacturers and show-management groups put business aside for a good cause. DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is a large supporter of direct care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS as well as prevention education for at-risk populations.


Chris Collins, vice president and general manager of 7 W New York, is flanked by exhibitors for the ribbon cutting of the first ever NYC Baby & Kids Fair, a temporary juvenile show on the 11th floor.


Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president, announces Focus Forward 2013, NYIGF’s strategic planning, which will be implemented in stages starting with the Summer 2010 Fair and culminating in 2013. As part of the expansion, NYIGF will introduce Baby + Child division of juried, purpose-driven products for babies, toddlers and kids (through age 10), and their families. The range of featured products will include arts and crafts, books, music, toys, games, puzzles, dolls and plush, gear (diaper bags, stroller accessories and feeding accessories), wearables and accessories, layette, bedding accessories and blankets. Ultimately, Baby + Child will feature some 200 companies on Level One of the Javits.


Buyers found green inspiration in the SustainAbility Design for a better world display. Featuring a juried collection of eco-friendly, innovative design, the display highlighted sustiaable design in the lobby and detailed the companies behind the products.

Associate Editor Ashley Trent To Lead NYIGF New Buyer Seminars

posted by Mary Gerlach, associate editor

Talcott Publishing is pleased to announce that Associate Editor Ashley Trent will lead the New Buyer Orientations during The New York International Gift Fair, January 30-February 4, 2010. Along with GLM’s Buyer Services Representative Helen Overly, Ashley will provide tips and her own insight to help new buyers navigate the Fair, use the directory and make the most of their time at market. She’ll also answer industry-specific questions.

“During my career in publishing, I’ve covered it all,” says Ashley. “From home décor and gourmet to gifts and juvenile merchandise,” she adds “I’ve had a hand in everything. I’m excited about the chance to work with new buyers and generate excitement for the week ahead.”

“Talcott Publishing has a long-standing tradition of helping buyers at NYIGF not only before and after the show, but during as well. It’s always satisfying for us to lend any assistance we can in supporting the gift industry,” Publisher Daniel von Rabenau adds. He says that this winter, the company’s editors will be in Atlanta, New York, Las Vegas and Dallas, speaking formally and informally with buyers. “This helps us create a better magazine to serve the industry,” he said, “and it also helps buyers get our perspective, and take advantage of our experience in the industry.”

The New Buyer Orientations will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, January 30-February 3, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in room 1E04. The seminars are free of charge. To register for NYIGF, visit www.nyigf.com.