Atlanta's America's Mart Summer Gift Show

The Atlanta America's Mart lifted the summer buying season with a lot of energy and enthusiasm in the juvenile category, especially. The show was well attended from all over the country and internationally and attendance numbers are projected to have held up to those of a year ago, boding a good market. The quality and variety of the offerings — from clothing to baby products to juvenile toys — provided a wonderful selection of unique goods to offer customers and separate the savvy baby retailer from the big box crowd.

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Baby K'tan Announces Surprise Price Cut

In a surprise move designed to help parents & retailers cope with the current economic recovery, Baby K'tan has temporarily slashed the domestic MSRP of its flagship baby carrier by almost 10%, to just $49.95. Wholesale pricing has been reduced to reflect the new MSRP. The price cut, which will be in effect for the entire last half of 2012, is in stark contrast to price increases recently announced by some competing baby carrier manufacturers.

"We understand how difficult it is for many parents to make ends meet in the current economic climate," says Baby K'tan President Michal Chesal. "Our unique baby carriers were already a great value, and now they're even more affordable. We are proud to be able to make our carriers more affordable to parents and caregivers by lowering our prices temporarily. Not only should our new pricing help customers, it should stimulate additional business for all of our retail outlets."

Best known for newborn carrying, the Baby K'tan is an exceptionally secure cross between a wrap, sling and structured front carrier. Coined as the "ready-to-wear" wrap with a unique double-loop design, it enables caregivers to comfortably carry infants to toddlers in multiple positions. There is no other baby carrier like it.

Midwest-CBK to Host Monkeez Makes a Difference™ Showroom Events During Summer Markets

Monkey around and do good during 2012 summer markets! Midwest-CBK and parent company MVP Group International, Inc. invite retailers to celebrate the launch of the company's new educational, charitable Monkeez Makes a Difference program during kick-off events in Midwest-CBK's Dallas, Atlanta and Las Vegas showrooms.

Monkeez Makes a Difference is a first-of-its-kind, interactive experience that teaches children the importance of helping others. Featuring kid-friendly tools like the best-selling Genuine Monkeez and Friends™ plush characters, online games, real-life Do Good™ challenges and a special donation on a child's behalf to one of three nationally renowned charities of their choice, Monkeez Makes a Difference gives children the opportunity to learn and practice giving back while having fun. It also provides an innovative solution to parents, grandparents and others who are hungry for tools to help them discuss and demonstrate what it means to think of others in today's world.

During the kick-off events, retailers will have an opportunity to participate in Monkeez Makes a Difference game and website demos; meet representatives from charity partners including Samaritan's Purse, Best Friends Animal Society and Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation; see special SnapRetail e-marketing program demos; receive "I Made a Difference" badge inserts with purchase; and enjoy frozen fruit or ice cream treats.

Monkeez Makes a Difference launch event was held at the Dallas Market.

Mutsy's New Innovative Designs

Netherlands-based Mutsy, recognized for its modernistic stroller designs and distinctive modular construction, introduces its latest innovation for baby transport, the EVO. This lightweight and stylish combi-buggy is an ingenious baby mobility choice with its outstanding ease of operation at an affordable price.

Mutsy's signature style shines in the compact and simply designed EVO, offering maximum comfort for baby whether in use with a bassinet, stroller seat or car seat. EVO's highly versatile stroller seat can face front or back, and is easily reclined with a single hand to a completely lay down flat position. A uniquely designed footrest with fabric can be attached to the front bumper bar to create a safe and fully cosseted enclosure for younger babies when the backrest is fully reclined.

Designed to be exceptionally easy to push and maneuver, EVO is easy to fold without the need to remove the seat, and extremely compact when closed. Other features include a height adjustable leatherette handle, swivel/lock system on front wheels, extendable hood with mesh panel, easily accessible and very large shopping basket, a carrying handle and flip down sun shade.

Program Helps Midwest-CBK Customers with Product Launch Using Email and Social Media

Midwest-CBK, a leading designer and manufacturer renowned for its design, style and sparkle, has partnered with SnapRetail to provide independent retailers with a free, turnkey SnapRetail Monkeez E-Marketing Program. SnapRetail offers a web-based system for online marketing and sales that is used by thousands of independent retailers.

The program brings retailers a complete social media and email marketing campaign to drive store traffic and sales of Monkeez Makes a Difference Genuine Monkeez & Friends products. Midwest-CBK and SnapRetail have made it easy to promote Monkeez Makes a Difference by providing a complete toolbox of email and social media templates to launch the new program to retailers' customers.

The program is available to independent retailers who purchase $500 worth of Monkeez Makes a Difference products during the summer markets or from their sales reps from June through August 31, 2012, providing retailers with:

• One-month free subscription to SnapRetail's system.  

• Coming soon templates that retailers can easily and quickly share with customers to build awareness and excitement for the program just prior to product availability.
• When Monkeez Makes a Difference products leave the Midwest-CBK warehouse, SnapRetail will help retailers announce that the Monkeez are now available in their store.

"Midwest-CBK is always looking for new ways to support our customers with business-building tools," says Frank Davis, Midwest-CBK director of sales. "The beauty of this turnkey campaign is that it's free with purchase of the program and provides popular Facebook, Twitter and email tools to drive traffic and build sales. Plus SnapRetail and Midwest-CBK do the work; retailers simply push the 'send' and 'post' buttons and watch the results."

aden + anais Launches a New Multi-Functional Electronic Feeding and Sleep System

aden + anais, known for their collection of multi-functional muslin swaddle blankets, bibs, washcloths and other modern baby care items, offers its first high-tech product for parents: Serenity Star. The first-ever product from the brand to fuse useful technology with signature aden + anais style, Serenity Star unites feeding, nightlight, sound, clock and room temperature functions into one singular design.

Serenity Star's innovative electronic feeding diary function allows users to record the start-time of the last feed entered. Breastfeeding moms can also chronicle which side was last fed from. The LCD screen clearly indicates all the information needed to simplify feeding, along with a useful 12-hour AM/PM clock. By fusing feeding time and last-side memory functions into one easy display, Serenity Star pioneers the simplest way for moms to record and remember this information effortlessly.

Serenity Star's technology also includes a soothing nightlight, which doubles as a room temperature indicator for the nursery. When the nursery is at an ideal temperature, it emits a soft white glow. Should the room temperature rise above 67 degrees Fahrenheit, the glow will turn red to indicate the room is warmer than recommended. If the room temperature drops below 61 degrees Fahrenheit, the Serenity Star will emanate a blue glow as a recommendation to adjust the room temperature and/or the baby's clothing.

As a sound machine, Serenity Star features four soothing sounds to create the most peaceful environment for baby: two lullabies, white noise or heartbeat. Sound can be controlled with a timer, which can be set for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or for continuous play, so if baby wakes between sleep cycles, the sound remains consistent.