Five Best New Product Awards Presented at Baby & Child
Five companies were presented with Baby & Child Best New Product Awards today, with Manny & Simon receiving the “Blogger’s Best” distinction for its collection of eco-friendly, wooden push toys in vehicle shapes. Baby & Child, one of 10 divisions presented semi-annually at the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), runs through Wednesday, August 17, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
In addition to the “Blogger’s Best” distinction, Baby & Child Best New Product Awards are presented semi-annually in four categories: toy, décor, gear and apparel. A panel of editors from trade media, kid-centric blogs and websites selected products which exemplified innovation, design and style.
“Baby & Child is a juried division, so the product caliber is already quite high,” said Randi Mohr, Baby & ChildSales Manager. “These products were called out for their superlative design characteristics, quality and aesthetic appeal.”
The summer 2011 Baby & Child Best New Product Awards winners and finalists, selected from 119 products, are:
BLOGGER’S BEST
Manny and Simon (San Diego, CA) for its collection of eco-friendly, wooden push toys in vehicle shapes (helicopter, fire truck, dump truck and tow truck). The collection is made from 100%, post-industrial recycled wood residuals and is non-toxic, with ultra-low order paint and zero VOC.
TOY
Winner: Kidzaw® (Oak Park, IL) for Master Kitz: The Starry Night, an educational artist’s kit with paper, paint and simple tools to inspire children ages 4-8 to create their own interpretations of Van Gogh’s masterpiece.
Finalist: anamalz™ (Nashville, TN) for anamalz barnhouse
Finalist: Be.Retail PTY LTD. (New York, NY) for Cooking Club for Kids: Cupcake Kit
DÉCOR
Winner: 3 Sprouts (Toronto, Canada) for Storage Boxes, with reinforced cardboard sides that allow the box to lay flat when not in use and featuring one of three signature 3 Sprouts eco-spun felt appliqués of a brown dog, orange kangaroo or blue peacock. Finalist: Lazzari® a Brand of FOPPAPEDRETTI (New York, NY) for CASA Toy Container
Finalist: P’kolino® (Fort Lauderdale, FL) for New Little Reader Chair
GEAR
Winner: Finn + Emma (Montclair, NJ) for Stoller Sac, featuring wooden snaps and a sophisticated floral pattern and doubling as a sleepsack when on the go.
Finalist: CBHStudio – Little Packrats (Groton, MA) for Little Packrats OWL Backpack
Finalist: My Blue Bumbershoot™ (Philadelphia, PA) for My Blue Bumbershoot
APPAREL
Winner: Magnificent Baby (New York, NY) for Smart Close Magnetic-Fastening Reversible Cardigan, a 100 percent cotton cardigan featuring magnetic closures to easily dress baby in seconds.
Finalist: Class Attire (Merritt Island, FL) for The Box Chalkboard Tee
Finalist: Patouche (Toronto, Canada) for Poncho
The summer 2011 Baby & Child Best New Product Award judges were: Melody Udell, Baby & Kids; Angela Velasquez, Earnshaw’s; Lynda Johnson, KidsStyleSource.com; Jenny Heinzen-York, Kids Today; Elina Furman,Mamaista; Joanna Dreifus, MyMomShops.com; Caroline Kennedy, Playthings; and Leesa Valentino,TheGiggleGuide.com.
Baby & Child features 150 companies offering sophisticated and purpose-driven products for children 0-10 years. The winter 2012 edition will take place Saturday, January 28, through Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. For information and registration, visit www.nyigf.com.
