Inside look at retailing, in-store operations, merchandising, customer relations, retail management, vendor relationships and more. en-us http://www.kidstodayonline.com/community/Retailers/47268.html?nid=3617 2008 Reed Business Information. Subject to its Terms of Use. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:41:55 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6579431.html?nid=3617 Merchandising executive joins leadership team. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:20:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6579416.html?nid=3617 Nuts For Candy, a California retailer, filed a class-action lawsuit against vendor Ganz USA and its Canadian parent firm, alleging that the conditions the company sets for stocking its popular Webkinz plush line violate U.S. antitrust laws. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:10:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6579363.html?nid=3617 Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., will have an exclusive invitation only showroom for all their customers and invited guests at the Renaissance Hotel next to the convention center September 8th, 9th and 10th during the ABC Show. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:07:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6579248.html?nid=3617 MT. LAUREL, N.J. – The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Assn. has elected its board of directors for 2008-2009. Tony DeSimone of Fisher Price is chairman, succeeding Kelly Mariotti of Green Frog Art, who is now immediate past chair. Greg Mansker of Chicco USA is vice chairman and Brenda Berg of Scandinavian Child is treasurer. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:32:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576186.html?nid=3617 Home furnishings supplier Hallmart Collectibles will open its new showroom, C-603 in Building C of the World Market Center here in time for the July market, and lifestyle mogul Kathy Ireland will be on hand to celebrate. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:30:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576495.html?nid=3617 With ongoing pricing pressure on items ranging from foam to fuel, many furniture sources that have so far avoided passing along price hikes say they can no longer absorb the costs. Some already have raised prices on finished goods, while others expect to do so between now and August. An informal poll of vendors showed that prices on average have risen or are set to rise between 3% and 5%. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576493.html?nid=3617 Girls fashion brand LittleMissMatched plans to open 85 shop-in-shop boutiques in Macy’s by September. The company also has completed its first round of funding from consumer-market investor Catterton Partners. Dec pillows and wall décor will be part of the Macy’s launch at some of the 85 stores. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576490.html?nid=3617 Juvenile furniture specialist Stork Craft Mfg. has acquired solid wood ready-to-assemble specialist Canwood Furniture, which had said in March that it would close this year. At that time, Canwood President Mel Kemp said given the strong Canadian dollar, increased raw material costs, global competitive pressures and severe labor shortages in the British Columbia, the principals believed they had... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576488.html?nid=3617 Economic Snapshot Employment The unemployment rate ticked up another one-half point in May to 5.5%, up from 5% in April. This leaves about 8.5 million people unemployed with teenagers and blacks experiencing the highest jobless rates at 18.7% and 9.7%, respectively. The bright spot in the employment picture was health care, which picked up about 34,000 jobs in May. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576486.html?nid=3617 Gary Wiggs, Badcock Home Furniture & More We do quote prices over the phone but we do not match pricing. Advertising is always an adventure. It sometimes seems we have a photo copier of our ads going right into competitor’s stores. However, this has not seemed to hurt us. We continue to grow. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576481.html?nid=3617 The Las Vegas Market is awash in color this month, with several manufacturers introducing products in eye-popping shades that have a fun, playful edge. But neutral wood tones still have their place, too, with several new options that are gender neutral and span all age groups. And with the grand opening of World Market Center’s building C, there’s even more to see. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576480.html?nid=3617 The Top 20 kids home furnishings retailers recorded $10.8 billion in sales in 2007, an increase of 2.6% from $10.5 billion for the same group in 2006. The leading companies sold kids products through 12,804 doors last year. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576479.html?nid=3617 The Top 20 kids home furnishings retailers recorded $10.8 billion in sales in 2007, an increase of 2.6% from $10.5 billion for the same group in 2006. The leading companies sold kids products through 12,804 doors last year. Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart takes the crown once again as the No. 1 retailer, selling $3. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6576478.html?nid=3617 Richard and Aggie Choi opened their first Ashley Furniture HomeStore three years ago, though they’ve been furniture retailers for about 20 years. The furniture business wasn’t quite where they saw themselves ending up, as is true with many retailers. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6573737.html?nid=3617 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Stanley Furniture has issued a voluntary recall for 1,200 of its 2nd Nature Build to Grow cribs that could pose a safety issue for infants Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:22:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6573498.html?nid=3617 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Jardine Enterprises, has announced a voluntary recall of about 320,000 Jardine cribs. The cribs were sold at KidsWorld, Geoffrey Stores, Toys "R" Us, and Babies "R" Us stores nationwide and at www.babiesrus.com from January 2002 through May 2008. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:18:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6573566.html?nid=3617 FORT COLLINS, Colo.- New Zealand-based stroller manufacturer Mountain Buggy is debuting a new logo this summer as the company looks to reposition itself in the marketplace with a new brand identity. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:44:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6573470.html?nid=3617 HIGH POINT — Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. has named Tim McGee senior vice president and general manager of its High Point operations. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:40:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6573311.html?nid=3617 HIGH POINT — Tom Mitchell has been named president and CEO of the International Home Furnishings Center here, shifting to the Big Building from his longtime post as senior vice president and general manager of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. in High Point. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:26:00 MST http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6570295.html?nid=3617 Rock legend Rod Stewart will headline the industry’s biggest night of the year at World Market Center Las Vegas on Monday, July 28, which officially kicks off the 2008 Summer Las Vegas Market Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:46:00 MST