Top Stories

• Innovative products shine for specialty retailers at ABC Spring Show
  
  Jane Kitchen, May 14, 2013
    New products were on display last week at the 5th annual ABC Spring Conference and Trade Show, geared to specialty retailers. The show also featured a half-day of conference panels and speakers on hard-hitting topics including social media, showrooming, bloggers and more.
  
• Uglydoll and DC Comics Super Heroes unite
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 14, 2013
    Ugly, LLC. and Warner Bros. Consumer Products have entered into a co-branded collaboration with DC Comics Super Heroes and Uglydoll characters.
  
• Isis Parenting and NüRoo founders to present webinar on the science of skin-to-skin
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 14, 2013
  Boston-based Isis Parenting is presenting a free one-hour webinar on ‘The Science of Skin-to-Skin and Kangaroo Care' on Wednesday, May 15, at 8:00 E.S.T. in honor of International Kangaroo Care Day.
  
• Standard Furniture to close Frisco City, Ala., plant
  
  Thomas Russell, May 14, 2013
  n an effort to cut energy and labor costs and improve the efficiencies of its domestic operations, case goods manufacturer Standard Furniture is closing its 300,000-square-foot Frisco City, Ala., plant.
  
• BFPA and PLUSH to make "industry-changing" announcement at 2013 Show
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 14, 2013
    Baby Furniture Plus Association and PLUSH are set to make a big announcement next month at the trade show, which takes place June 7 - 9 in at the Hyatt Regency Plaza in Los Angeles.
  
• New American-made juvenile furniture line, Bellefonte Kids, to debut at ABC Spring Show
  
  Jane Kitchen, May 7, 2013
  Bellefonte Kids, a new juvenile furniture line, will make its debut at the ABC Spring Show and Educational Conference this week.
  The solid hardwood furniture is made in Bellefonte, Pa., and manufactured in the Woodcraft Inds. facility, owned by Jack Campbell and in business since 1984.
  Industry veteran Jerry Schwartz, formerly sales and marketing director for Ragazzi, is heading up the operation, and is catering the line exclusively to specialty stores.
  
• Vermont Tubbs, Brown Street Furniture assets to be auctioned off
  
  Thomas Russell, May 7, 2013
  Late last year, the owners of Vermont Tubbs and Brown Street Furniture held out hope their case goods plant would be sold and reopened for business.
  Those hopes appear to have ended as the assets of both companies will be auctioned off in early June.
  
• Las Vegas Market Shifts Winter 2014 Dates
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
  The Las Vegas Market is changing its winter 2014 market dates to Sunday, Jan. 26-Thursday, Jan. 30.
  
• JPMA refreshes Safe Sleep Campaign
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
  The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has refreshed its ongoing Safe Sleep Campaign - a multifaceted endeavor aimed at safe sleep education.
  
• Cheminne Taylor-Smith joining Tobi Fairley Associates as senior VP
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
    Cheminne Taylor-Smith is stepping down as vice president of marketing for the High Point Market Authority to become senior vice president of brand marketing at design firm Tobi Fairley Associates, effective May 13, the company announced.
  
• SMC Entertainment expands licensing partners for ‘The Jungle Book'
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
  Los Angeles-based brand management and licensing company SMC Entertainment Group is expanding its portfolio for the evergreen entertainment property, ‘The Jungle Book.'
  
• Angela Engel named director of sales for Newport Cottages
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
  Angela Engel has been named director of sales for Newport Cottages. Engel takes over the position formerly held by Cheyenne Beard Hornburg, now director of business development for the company.
  
• Jamie Grayson scheduled to speak at PLUSH Show
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
    Baby gear expert and blogger Jamie Grayson, of The Baby Guy Gear Guide, has been added to the roster of speakers at next month's PLUSH Show in Los Angeles.
  
• LightHeaded names Katie Hatch chief intuition officer
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
    Park City, Utah-based furniture company LightHeaded has retained industry veteran Katie Hatch as Chief Intuition Officer. Hatch will be spearheading the company's strategic merchandising and product development.
  
• Toys ‘R' Us raises more than $2 million for autism
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
  Toys ‘R' Us raised more than $2 million across the U.S. and Canada during its seventh consecutive in-store and online fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization.
  
• Cherie Marcum named EVP of Finance at Dallas Market Center
  
  Kids Today Staff, May 7, 2013
    Dallas Market Center has named Cherie Marcum has executive vice president of finance at Dallas Market Center. In her position, Marcum is responsible for overseeing the company's financial processes, audits and budgeting system.
  
• Holland House launches Crush Youth Furniture
  
  Jane Kitchen, April 30, 2013
  Holland House has launched a new subsidiary, Crush Youth Furniture, with a 9,000-square-foot showroom adjacent to its Centerpoint on Centennial showroom in High Point. The new division is led by Lynn Wiggs.
  
• Cybex teams up with fashion designer Jeremy Scott
  
  Kids Today Staff, April 30, 2013
  German gear manufacturer Cybex has teamed up with American fashion designer Jeremy Scott for a colorful collaboration that includes strollers, car seats, diaper bags and carriers.
  
• Beaba opens U.S. office
  
  Kids Today Staff, April 30, 2013
  French feeding products company Beaba has opened Peek A Boo USA, its first U.S. office, and will assume all distribution from Scandinavian Child. The new subsidiary, located in Hoboken, NJ, will be the primary contact for all current and potential customers starting May 1, 2013.
  
• K.I.D.S. to honor industry women at luncheon
  
  Kids Today Staff, April 30, 2013
  Kids In Distressed Situations and Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation will recognize four top leaders from fashion, real estate, entertainment and philanthropy at the Women In Industry Luncheon taking place Thursday, June 6th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.