Grand Avenue Baby

Great Design and Fabulous Giveaways: Join Bel Bambini and Oeuf at Plan A BABY

 

Style-savvy moms with an eye for design will not want to miss this! Bel Bambini and Oeuf NYC, have partnered to showcase and giveaway luxurious layette pieces and must-have baby essentials at the first-ever Plan A Baby event on Sunday, October 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Bel Bambini is giving Plan A Baby attendees a chance to win celebrity must-have products from Aden & Anais, Cloud B, Safe Sippy, Best Ever Mat and beautifully-designed, handcrafted knits from Oeuf’s Clothier Collection. To enter, guests must simply stop by the Bel Bambini and Oeuf NYC showcase at the event. Winners will be drawn and announced every hour. Oeuf NYC will showcase its practical and stylish essential Classic Crib, Dresser and bedding and offer guests a 10% discount on all Oeuf products exclusively at the event.  

Expectant parents that sign-up and start their Bel Bambini baby registry at the event will also automatically be entered in Bel Bambini’s Baby Registry Sweepstakes. Running through October, the Baby Registry Sweepstakes gives expecting parents the chance to win $250 Bel Bambini gift certificates and the complete collection of celebrity must-have products featured at Plan A Baby.

Plan A Baby is a one-day celebration of new and expecting moms. Featuring high-end products and services, expert speakers, including The Baby Planners and Dr. JJ Levenstein, a silent auction, spa treatments and fabulous gift bags, it’s a grown-up play day filled with information and indulgences. Tickets can be purchased for $35 online at www.planABABYevent.com or at the door for $45. Or stop by Bel Bambini this week. The first 20 people to come into the store and mention Plan A Baby will receive a free ticket to the event!

Expectant moms don’t miss this opportunity to see many of the finest names in baby under one very chic roof. Grand Avenue Baby will be there. We hope you will too!

 

LA Retailers, Don't Miss Super Market Tuesday

We're thrilled the California Market Center reintroduced Super Market Tuesdays this year. Designed as mini markets, Super Market Tuesday is a perfect time to buy fill-in inventory, scoop up great deals, attend informative seminars and get FREE parking. 

Grand Avenue Baby is hosting a continental breakfast in our showroom (B601) from 9-11 a.m. tomorrow. Please join us for goodies and check out the deals from Francie Pants, Scandinavian Child, Sweet Shoes and Tiny Revolutionary: 

Francie Pants | Children/Baby apparel | no minimum for opening orders

Scandinavian Child | Children/Baby gear | ¹buy a Micralite Toro Stroller-receive a FREE Lillebaby product and ²Special Market Tuesday Starter Package

Sweet Shoes |Infant Shoes | order 15 pairs and get one FREE

Tiny Revolutionary | Children/Baby tees | offering no minimums for opening orders

Can't get in for market: call 213.627.1230 or email us sales@grandavenuebaby.com to place your order!

Market's Coming to Town

June Market officially kicks off tomorrow, Friday, June 12, and we can't wait to show retailers the latest and greatest at Grand Avenue Baby! Although Market officially runs thru Tuesday, June 16, our showroom is open year-round so retailers can come by (or call 213-627-1253 or email sales@grandavenuebaby.com) any day to order the fabulous products we represent.

Like the super cool tees from Tiny Revolutionary. So much more than a t-shirt line, Tiny Revolutionary has a pretty simple philosophy – "teaching kids to celebrate their individuality and approach the world with a compassionate spirit and sense of social responsibility is one of the very best opportunities to make the world a better place." Every time I see this Tiny Revolutionary's "I'll Change the World Someday" tee, I think to myself, "wow, my daughters have tremendous potential to make a positive impact" and it's inspires me to help them do just that!

Retailers who are looking to bring new brands into their store will love Scandinavian Child's super-affordable starter packages that get product with proven sell-through, like the lillebaby EveryWear Carrier, the Anka High Chair and Beaba Babycook, into the store.

       

And with summer and sundresses upon us, it's the perfect time to stock up on Francie Pants! Give girls the freedom to twirl, do a handstand or high kick and give their moms the relief of knowing Francie Pants has them covered. With 24 patterns to choose from, in sizes 2 – 16, girls everywhere will want to “Show em London, Show em…Francie Pants!” 

Here's to a great Market and a happy summer!

Toys R Us Stops Ordering Drop-Side Cribs

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Toys R Us has stopped ordering drop-side cribs because of safety concerns. Concerns which stem from the 21 recalls of 4.2 million cribs over the past two years because of hazardous defects. "Products involved in the recalls have been linked to at least five infant deaths and 16 cases in which babies were trapped by parts of a crib, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Drop-side cribs, popular because sliding down one side of the crib makes it easier for a parent to pick up a baby, have proved to be particularly problematic." the Journal reported.

We're not surprised by this move at all. Brenda Berg of Scandinavian Child has been telling us how dangerous drop-side cribs are for more than a year. This is why both of the cribs Scandinavian Child introduced at the ABC Kids Show last year have fixed sides!

Scandinavian Child's Cariboo Kiwi Cot arrived in retailers a few months ago and the Anka Sova Crib (pictured) landed in stores this month. Both cribs offer fixed sides and convert to toddler beds. The gorgeous new cribs are beautiful, safe and eco-friendly. Brenda and her team at Scandinavian Child wouldn't have it any other way. They call that philosophy "Designs Without Compromise."

Consumers Want Green Products and They Want Proof

According to the new BBMG Conscious Consumer Report: Redefining Value in a New Economy, 23% of U.S. consumers say they have "no way of knowing" if a product is green or actually does what it claims. But, 77% agree that they "can make a positive difference by purchasing products from socially or environmentally responsible companies," and they are actively seeking information to verify green claims. We're thrilled to see consumers looking deeper and proud of Sage Creek Organics for earning certification from EcoCert, which offers consumers one way to verify green claims.

 

Sage Creek Organics proudly displays their EcoCert label. A leading manufacturer of 100% organic cotton baby apparel, bedding and related products, the company strives to provide stylish and affordable heirloom quality soft organic cotton pieces to customers using methods and materials that have a low impact to the environment and are safe and healthy for children. The company goes to great lengths to ensure the process and product is 100% certified organically grown and treated. Certification by Ecocert (ecocert.com), a well respected third-party organization that inspects and certifies companies under the strictest standards in more than 80 countries around the world, helps them prove this.

Brenda Berg, founder and CEO of Scandinavian Child, Appointed Vice Chairman of JPMA Board of Directors

Brenda Berg, founder and CEO of Scandinavian Child and a mother of two, has accepted the Vice Chairman position of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association’s (JPMA) Board of Directors. Passionate about product safety, Brenda has served on the JPMA Board since June of 2006 and as a voting member of two ASTM Safety Committees. In these roles, she works tirelessly to advocate for both juvenile products manufacturers and for children and their caregivers.

Founded in 1962, the JPMA is a national trade organization representing 250 companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who manufacture, import and/or distribute infant products such as cribs, car seats, strollers, bedding, and a wide range of accessories and decorative items. JPMA’s comprehensive Certification Program was established to help guide parents and caregivers toward purchasing juvenile products that are built with safety in mind. JPMA's Certification Seal is available to manufacturers who voluntarily submit products for testing. Only after the product passes the rigorous testing of the appropriate ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standard can it display the JPMA Certification Seal.  In addition to product testing, JPMA works with government officials, consumer groups, and industry leaders to educate consumers on the safe selection and use of juvenile products.

Brenda Berg’s inspiration for Scandinavian Child was the beautiful and practical Svan^® High Chair, which she discovered on a trip to Sweden while pregnant. That discovery ignited the idea of bringing innovative, functional, yet stylish children’s products from around the globe to North America. Founded in 2002, Scandinavian Child now represents six brands including: Svan of Sweden, Cariboo of New Zealand, Monarch, líllébaby, Beaba, Micralite and Anka by Svan. Built on the company philosophy, “Designs Without Compromise,” all of the products in the Scandinavian Child collection must meet the company’s demanding criteria: safety, usefulness, eco-friendly design, style and superior quality, and be JPMA certified.

Grand Avenue Baby Celebrates New Showroom at CMC

In January 2009, Grand Avenue Baby opened its first brick-and-mortar showroom in the heart of the children’s business in Los Angeles at the California Market Center’s Kids on 6.  Los Angeles is one of the most influential markets for the baby and maternity category, and California Market Center (CMC) is the only showroom center in the country open for business 365 days a year.  Grand Avenue PR clients are showcased in the Grand Avenue Baby showroom and our clients now have the opportunity to utilize the showroom as a sales channel as well.

 

We're celebrating the opening of the Grand Avenue Baby showroom and kicking off the LA Market tomorrow night. If you’re in the area, please join us!

Sage Creek Organics Products Have Passed

On January 30, 200 the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to postpone the enforcement of testing and certification requirements under Section 102 (a) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) prompting a major sigh of relief among children’s manufacturers rushing to get product tested by the original February 10, 2009 deadline.

This vote only postponed the testing and certification requirement, not the safety requirement of meeting the 600ppm lead content standard. Sage Creek Organics has always led by these standards so in spite of the extension, they made the decision to continue testing all of their products. Not because they had to, but because they wanted to in order to ensure the safety of their products. The testing is complete and all of Sage Creek Organics products have passed.

We never doubted they would and we’re proud to spread the word!

 

LA Market Kicks-off with Mom2B Fashion Show

LA's Indian Summer provided a great backdrop for the bright colors and cool fabrics featured on the runway of the Mom2B Show's Spring 2009 Maternity & Nursing Fashion Show. Lauren Kiyomi showcased two pieces from "Lauren Kiyomi Littles," offering buyers a look at their "Mommy & Me" options for Spring 2009.

Pictured are Lauren Kiyomi's Printed Voile Dart Blouse (in River Rock Tangerine) with Wide Leg Twill Pants and Printed Voile Knit Contrast Dress.

For a complete look at Lauren Kiyomi's Spring 2009 line, visit Grand Avenue Baby's online showroom at www.grandavenuebaby.com, stop by the Mom2B Show at the California Market Center through Sunday, October 19, 2008 or see the line in Conception Showroom (CMC Suite A-635.)