Kaloo expands product line
By Lisa Casinger -- Kids Today, 1/1/2007
Kaloo, founded in 1998 by Eric Panciulo, initially was a toy manufacturer. The line quickly grew following Panciulo's long-term vision of becoming a one-stop resource for independent retailers.
Kaloo's line includes plush, fragrance, bedding, jewelry, clothing, feeding and furniture, which it launched at the 2006 ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas. It will debut its newest category, rugs, at the New York International Gift Fair this month.
"We are on of the few companies promoting a lifestyle collection," said Kaloo's president, Leif Quraeshi. "Kaloo has a very clean, French look and those that like it like it a lot. We're responding to customer demand by venturing into different categories."
Quraeshi said when considering a new category, the company goes through a vetting process and a lot of test marketing before the product is actually rolled out.
"We don't bring products to market to test them; we've done our due diligence beforehand," he said.
There are eight cotton rugs in the collection ranging from shaped to 4′ rounds and 4′ × 6′ standard sizes with suggested retail prices between $150 and $200.
The rugs will coordinate with Kaloo's collections of Blue, Lilirose, Liliblue, Sable, Dragee, Plume, 1 2 3 and Lollies.
"The cornerstone of our business is upscale independent retailers and the lifestyle look we're offering will make buying easier for them," Quraeshi said.
Kaloo's numbers increased 35% in 2006 and Quraeshi looks for 2007 to be another good year.
Kaloo offers a lifestyle look, shown here in the Lilirose collection. Its latest category, rugs, are debuting at the NYIGF this month.
