minui HandySitt US - News

New multi-functional minui HandySitt is a kid's high chair, adult chair and portable high chair all in one.

2010-02-14T22:35:03-08:00

From home, to grandma’s house, to a favorite restaurant, parents need just one high chair. Designed in Denmark and made in Europe, the minui HandySitt seating system is now ready to ship in the US and Canada.

The product is made up of two separately sold parts, a Portable Seat and a Chair. They connect using magnets and together form a freestanding high chair. On its own, the portable seat folds flat and weighs just 5 lbs. It hooks on to most adult chairs, so is useful companion for young families when eating out. The Chair, when not connected to the Portable Seat, is an adult chair and step stool tested for up to 350lbs.

With young families living in smaller spaces than previous generations, the modern high chair’s compact form, versatility and Scandinavian aesthetic make it an attractive choice for savvy consumers.

The Portable Seat retails for $129.95 and the Chair for $169.95 and they come in three styles: natural birch, black and antique. Various accessories, including a travel bag for the Portable Seat and a baby cushion that gives 6-12 month olds additional support are sold separately. The seating system is handcrafted out of sustainable FSC-certified solid Birch wood.

“Most high chairs are bulky and kind of ugly. There aren’t many out there that look as good as the HandySitt, that can be a permanent high chair for the home or a portable one for the road, and that are suitable for kids 6 months old all the way up to 5 years. It’s a true 3-in-1 one seating system, so we’re excited about its potential.”
— Adam Neilson, chief dad, Keiki Enterprises

Introducing the minui HandySitt Seating System

2009-10-13T16:58:27-07:00

Our new minui HandySitt chair was well received at this year's ABC Show in Las Vegas. It was a finalist both at ABC's JPMA and Cologne Germany's Kind+Jugen Product Innovation Competitions.

With the new wooden chair, which works with just about any HandySitt portable high chair ever sold, we now have a versatile seating system for kids 6 months and up that is all of the following:

- A freestanding high chair for the home for kids 6 mo - 5 yrs old
- A compact high chair for traveling or taking to restaurants
- A booster seat that's great for mealtime and also for kids to work on projects at the table
- A space saving restaurant high chair and booster seat
- A chair for older kids
- A step ladder for adults , or for kids to help at the kitchen counter

"With the introduction of the new Chair, our product is further differentiated from other modern, wooden high chair products. We're the only one that offer a great looking, eco-friendly freestanding high chair for the home, but that also has a portable seat -- which is a high chair in its own right when affixed to an adult chair -- that families can take with them on outings."
-- Hardy Mogensen

What is the new product?
The chair itself is made from FSC-certified baltic birch. It's designed to accommodate attaching our portable high chair to. And, as it has been stress tested for up to 350 lbs, it can also be used as an adult chair or stepladder, so it's a useful piece of home furniture long after the kids outgrow their high chair.

How does the portable high chair attach to the Chair?
The feet of the portable high chair slide into small metal clips at the front of the Chair's seat. When not in use, the clips fold down and out of the way. The metal arms of the portable high chair then secure to the chair with powerful magnets embedded in the arms at the top.

What colors does it come in?
We'll have 3 styles: Antique stained wood with black arms, Natural Birch and Black. All three will have black arms.

Video - see it in action

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More photos of the new modern high chair

Now with a 3-Point Harness

2009-09-28T22:56:19-07:00

As of September 25th, 2009, we’re shipping minui HandySitt portable wooden high chairs with a 3-point harness instead of a plastic safety guard.

Why the change?
1. While the safety guard is a preferred restraint system in Europe as dictated by the TÜV, in North America the 3-point harness is the preferred restraint system as outlined by the ASTM.

2. You’ve let us know that you’d like a harness instead of a guard system.

If you purchased a chair with a guard prior to September 25th, 2009, you can now purchase a harness.

Taking the High Chair to New Heights

2009-09-15T22:40:29-07:00

We unveiled a new high chair at the All Baby and Child Show in Las Vegas this week. The product extends the versatility of minui's already eco-friendly, modern, safe and great looking children's seating system.

While the award winning minui HandySitt portable high chair has been a staple in Europe for nearly two decades, it wasn't introduced into North America until spring of this year. In response to high chairs that are too big, over-designed and sometimes and eyesore in the family home, it has been a hit with space and eco-conscious parents who can tote it along on outings with junior. Grandparents too have been quick to catch on, as they appreciate that it can be folded up and stowed in a coat closet when the grandkids aren't around. At just 5lbs, it affixes to most dining room chairs, transforming them into a high chair for kids months - 5yrs.

The new product, called the minui HandySitt Chair, works in tandem with the portable seat acting as a 'base' for the home. Together, the multi-functional minui HandySitt seating system can be configured and used as:

- A freestanding high chair
- A compact and portable high chair for traveling or taking to restaurants
- A seat for an older child (> 5yrs old)
- A step ladder for adults to get to upper cabinets, and for kids to help mom with meal prep

"Most high chairs are bulky and kind of ugly. There aren't many out that look as good as the HandySitt, that can be a permanent high chair for the home or a portable one for the road, and that are suitable for kids 6 months old all the way up to 5 years. It's a true 3-in-1 one seating system, so we're excited about its potential."
-- Adam Neilson, chief dad, Keiki Enterprises

"Because the new Chair is compatible with any minui HandySitt portable high chair ever sold, there's huge promise to expand our future market, as well as to reconnect with parents already using our products. We know the high chair segment really well and believe this product evolution makes our high chair system truly unique."
-- Hardy Mogensen, CEO, minui

The new chair is expected to be available in North American in early 2010.

Portable high chair guarantee. If you don't
like it, we'll pay you.

2009-05-05T22:49:23-07:00

Our guarantee: If you don’t love it, we’ll refund your purchase, pay for return shipping and send you $10 to put towards a different high chair. No questions asked, promise. Details

Why do it?
We know that our HandySitt is a great product. As dad’s with young kids, we use them every day, and our peer distributors in Europe have done very well with them for more than a decade.

They’re not well known in North America however, and we want to get the word out quickly. Moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas, restaurant servers and customers almost always become advocates of the minui HandySitt portable high chair once they’ve had a chance to try it out. And, perhaps most importantly, kids love them because they’re included by being right up at the “big table”.

Your kids learn from watching and interacting with you. The HandySitt doesn’t have a tray, so your child sits right up at the table with you. Trays keep children away from the family table, the hub for eating, talking and connecting with our loved ones.

Research suggests that, “the family dinner table is an ideal place for language development and social skills to evolve” (Tarkan 2005). “Children who eat dinner with their families develop better eating habits later in life” (Eisenberg, et al. 2004).

All that to say, the HandySitt doesn’t look like most high chairs. Consumers are used to free standing, often plastic and very big items for their child’s eating needs. Our high chair is more compact, is made mostly from wood and sits on a chair you already have. It does everything a giant plastic high chair does but takes up much less space, looks way better in your home or restaurant, can be hidden away when not in use or taken with you on outings.

Back to the guarantee. We want to get these into the hands of parents because we know they’ll love them and tell their friends. By offering a crazy guarantee, we’re making it easy for hesitant buyers to give our minui HandySitt modern high chair a try.

Sources/references
Marla E. Eisenberg, et al, “Correlations Between Family Meals and Psychosocial Well-being Among Adolescents.” The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 158: 792-796 (2004).

Tarkan, Laurie. “Benefits of the Dinner Table Ritual.” The New York Times, May 3, 2005; via www.bridges4kids.org

How to find the right Sales Reps in the
Juvenile Product Industry

2009-04-27T11:02:02-07:00

When starting a new distribution company you have an important decision to make:

“Sell to the stores directly” or “Hire independent representatives to do it”

In our case, we chose the later. Sure doing it ourselves could save us money, but it’s not always about the money, it’s about the relationship.

An independent Rep has already built relationships with many stores, and because they are more localized, they can be in the store on a regular basis to explain the product to new sales staff, answer questions, and give tips on how to best sell. They build relationship with not just the stores buyer but also a stores sales force, the person directly in contact with the end customer. They are also personally invested on a deeper level because it’s their business, and their name.

So how do we find our Reps? We ask the stores who they like, who makes it into the store most often, and who they would want to work more with. I like to think that this is the best way to judge a rep. In that way I like to assume we have some of the best reps in the country. Specifically, when I can phone a store, I like to speak to someone who sells on the floor. If they can recommend a specific Rep they like, you know they’re a great Rep. It shows that the Rep has taken the time to meet and build a friendship with more than just the owner or buyer. This will translate into sales.

In all honesty, this is not always the easiest task. It’s harder and harder to find a good Rep these days. Independent Reps seem to be a dyeing breed. Not only are there less people getting into the business, but a lot of product manufacturers are moving “in-house” with their sales staff. In truth, I think this strategy is somewhat sad. Not to say that these aren’t great sales people, but you start to loose part of the personal relationship. In my opinion, this disconnection begins trickling it’s way down to the end customer, finally, making it harder for a product to make a customer feel completely secure in their purchase.

Frankly, I got into this business, in part, because it tends to be family friendly. I see my Reps as an extension of that family, and in turn, I hope they extend that family feel to their stores.

Eco-friendly = Kid-friendly & Parent Approved

2009-04-23T17:08:40-07:00

Parent Tested, Parent Approved Media Announces its 2009 Green Product Winners

April 22, 2009 – (Vancouver, BC)
minui HandySitt announces that it has been awarded the influential PTPA Media Seal of Approval for excellence in parenting products in the Green Category.

We all know our children leave small footprints and now thanks to PTPA Media’s new Go-Green rating category, parents can ensure the products they buy for their kids also leave small footprints.

Like all products that earn the Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal, the winners boast high quality, functionality, and style. This latest product group, however, also benefits from being environmentally friendly. The minui HandySitt portable high chair was among many entries competing to win the PTPA Media Seal of Approval for the Winter 2009 campaign.

Being honored with the prestigious PTPA Media Award is a huge achievement for the minui HandySitt portable high chair.

“When parents, grandparents and restaurants start using our high chair, they love it, and best of all, their kids love it too, so we’re stoked to get some formal recognition.” – Adam Neilson

“The PTPA Media Go-Green Award is committed to finding the latest and greatest products which leave little or no footprints on the environment,” says Sharon Vinderine, President of PTPA Media. “We established this campaign in direct response to the growing requests from the PTPA Media parenting community to not only find enviro-friendly products but to review them to ensure they are the quality products most parents need. Companies were invited to submit their green products and PTPA added relevant themed questions to our renowned rating evaluation system. Parents and professional evaluators reviewed the products and now we are confident consumers can rest easy when they choose a product that has earned the PTPA Media Green Seal.”

“Winning this gives the HandySitt an official stamp of approval by North American moms. While it has garnered accolades in Europe over the past decade, this will really help build awareness for it on this side of the ocean.” – Adam Neilson, Chief Dad, Keiki Enterprises

About Keiki Enterprises and the minui HandySitt
A North American distribution company started by two young dads, Keiki distributes and builds brands for children’s products that are great looking, practical and built to last. More

About PTPA Media
PTPA Media (Parent Tested, Parent Approved) provides an objective means to discover and appraise new products designed to enrich family living. The company’s mission is to assist and educate discerning consumers by providing reliable and relevant information about exciting and quality products on the market. Products range from baby clothing, toys and accessories to parent-centric creations. The Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal is presented to companies whose products are deemed exceptional by a knowledgeable and unbiased panel of experts, including parents themselves. More

High chair safety: European vs. American standards

2009-04-14T12:30:50-07:00

Europe and the US adhere to their own safety norms for high chairs. While they’re similar in their specs guiding openings, stability, harmful substances and durability, they differ in their requirements on the device used to secure a child to the seat. Here’s what they say.

Europe
The TÜV, Europe’s preeminent independent safety testing authority, has determined that either a safety bar with crotch strap or a 5-point harness is needed to effectively secure a child.

Stated in section 5.6 of the European high chair safety norm: “The high chair shall be such as to prevent the child from slipping forward out of the seat. The requirement can be met either by a restraint system comprising of a crotch restraint and a horizontal component or by an integral harness.”

Bottom line: a hard safety guard and crotch strap OR a 5-point harness is required to meet the safety standard. A 3-point harness is not acceptable.

European safety specifications are set by the European Committee for Standardization and their norm for high chairs is EN 14988-1:2006.

America
The American safety standard is defined by ASTM and the designation for high chairs is F 404-07. Regarding restraint systems, section 6.8.1 states “A restraint system shall be provided to secure a child in the seated position…” and 6.8.1.1 goes on “The restraint system shall include both waist and crotch restraint designed such that the crotch restraint’s use is mandatory when the restraint system is in use.

Bottom line: 3-point harnesses are required on all high chairs and safety guards with a crotch strap are not recognized as acceptable.

Conclusion
Based on differing norms, there’s no way to conclude whether or not the guard with crotch strap or 3-point harness is more suitable. Both seem acceptable so it becomes a matter of personal preference.

It’s worth noting that both European and American norms require all high chairs to carry a warning label stating that a child should never be left unattended in their high chair.

What about the HandySitt?
The HandySitt portable high chair has been designed and tested to the European norm and therefore ships with a safety guard and crotch strap but not a safety belt. However, a 5-point harness is sold as an accessory and can be used instead of the safety guard. While the guard is suitable for most kids, the harness is perfect for really squirmy ones.

The safety guard is designed to be used with kids 6 months to 3 years old. Once toddlers hit 3, it can be removed and the HandySitt wooden high chair operates as a portable booster seat.

Official launch into the US

2009-02-17T13:02:37-08:00

As of today, Keiki has officially launched the HandySitt portable high chair into the US. To start, we’re targeting kids boutique stores in the Pacific Northwest.

If you’d like to see our products in your favorite kid’s store or family restaurant, please tell them about HandySitt.

Coming to a store near you soon.