Feb 1, 2011

Five Companies Win Inaugural Baby & Child Best New Product Awards

New York, NY – The first semi-annual “Best New Product Awards” were presented today in five categories – toy, décor, gear, apparel and “Blogger’s Best” – to Baby & Child exhibitors whose juvenile products best exemplify innovation, design and style.  Baby & Child, the newest of 10 divisions of the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), runs through Wednesday, February 2, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

“These awards recognize innovation and quality in juvenile product design,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “As demand within this product sector soars, so does the level of design talent and innovation showcased at NYIGF.”

A panel of 10 editors from trade media and kid-centric blogs and websites selected winners from 111 products. The winners and finalists are:

BLOGGER’S BEST:
Maple Landmark, Inc. (Middlebury, VT) for Rocker-Feller Rocking Horse. A carefully-designed and crafted rocking horse featuring laser-engraved details, made from responsibly harvested solid pine with a non-toxic naturoil finish.  Made in the USA.

TOY:
Winner: Tegu (Rowayton, CT) for Magnetic blocks. Wooden blocks that defy gravity with safely embedded magnets inside. Blocks are made from eco-friendly hardwoods, making them both sustainable and durable.
Finalist: Maple Landmark, Inc. (Middlebury, VT) for Rocker-Feller Rocking Horse.
Finalist: Geared For Imagination (Fairlawn, OH) for Topozoo™.

DÉCOR:
Winner: Oopsy daisy, Fine Art For Kids (San Diego, CA) for A to Z Animal Prints. Canvas wall art reproductions featuring colorful and exotic animals, printed in the giclée method and stretched by hand over a wooden frame with a decorative edge, eliminating the need for framing.  Made in the USA.
Finalist: Zutano Inc. (Cabot, VT) for Owls 4-piece crib set.
Finalist: manny and simon (Del Mar, CA) for Duck wooden step stool.

GEAR:
Winner: MadPax (Phoenix, AZ) for The Spiketus Rex. Over-the-top creature feature backpacks for kids of all ages that allow children to store books, gear and more, while expressing one-of-a-kind style.
Finalist: Buggyguard (North Palm Beach, FL) for Stroller lock.
Finalist: Innobaby LLC (Hoffman Estates, IL) for Keepin’ Fresh Kids Stainless.

APPAREL:
Winner: Loralin Design (New York, NY) for Handmade Sweater Basket. A 100 percent cotton sweater and matching shoes, packaged in a tiny gift basket to create the perfect new baby gift.
Finalist: Magnificent Baby (New York, NY) for Elephants On Parade Take Me Home Set
Finalist: 3 Sprouts (Toronto, Ontario) for 3 Sprouts Eco-Friendly Art Smock.

The Best New Product Award judges were: Melody Udell, Baby & Kids; Nanci Gregg, Baby & Children’s Product News; Leesa Valentino, TheGiggleGuide.com; Lynda Johnson, KidsStyleSource.com; Jenny Heinzen-York, Kids Today; Elina Furman, AListMom.com (formerly Mamaista); Liz Gumbinner, Coolmompicks.com; Nicole Feliciano, Momtrends.blogspot.com; Joanna Dreifus, MyMomShops.com; Caroline Kennedy and Meredith Schwartz, Playthings.

Baby & Child showcases some 150 suppliers of arts and crafts, books, music, toys, games, puzzles, dolls and plush, gear (diaper bags, stroller accessories and feeding accessories), wearables and accessories, layette, bedding accessories and blankets.

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected.  The next edition will take place Saturday, August 13 – Thursday, August 18, 2011, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. For information and registration, visit www.nyigf.com