Retail in a Second Baby Boom

The children of the baby boomers are now having babies of their own. Naturally, those children are often having more than one, and so mathematically it makes sense that the baby boomers are now longer the largest portion of the United States population. Instead, it is their children. This notable shift in population has created a massive trend toward clothing for infants and children. Celebrity mothers dress their kids in all of the latest styles, and so it filters down to the public with Baby Gap and more toddler stores in malls than ever. Children's clothing is in a major growth category for many retailers, and more of them are coming on board the kid's clothes train.
The Gerber clothing line has been added to the list by the major department store, Sears. It brings a "mix-and-match" collection of clothing that is both cute and practical. Sears hopes to increase their market share by pushing this new line of children's clothes. Both Sears and JCPenney use gift sets to move their products. It is commonly known that baby showers are responsible for much of the kid's clothing that is purchased, and so these major departments are focusing on gift giving to sell their new children's clothing lines.
Babies "R" Us is also a massive retailer of kid and infant wear. It has become the one stop solution for parents in a rush. Get toys, diapers, clothes, anything else you could possibly imagine an infant might want or desire, and it is thriving in this second generation of Baby Boomers. Taking its cue from Babies "R" Us, Wal-Mart released the "Child of Mine" label as well as many other department stores picking up premium national infantwear labels. These powerhouses are finding ways to provide extremely cheap solutions for kid's clothes.
However, the expensive, high-end, baby boutique market is also flourishing. As a result of the wealth produced by the baby boomers, their children have more money to spend on their kids. Upper crust boutiques for children are opening all over the United States. Celebrities and other cultural elite are spending an obscene amount of money to keep their kids in style, and retailers are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Now is a great time to get into child and infant sales. There has never been such a market of people with such vast resources to support this kind of sales. If your store or department has not already investigated children's clothes, consider this venture, as it has proved an incredible source of sales revenue for many small shops and major companies.
Competing During the Holidays
About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of decorative childrens clothes hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlykidshangers.com.

Kid's Fitness

As a result of the government released report on childhood obesity claiming 30% of children in the United States are considered obese, the resent concern for the activity of kids has increased. Retailers are hopping on board this trend as well to cater to the needs of kids for more active lives.
Gymboree is a 580 store chain that approaches child obesity by using a Play & Music program that influence kids as small as six months to a year to exercise and live more active daily lives. It is a program enrolling parents and children and teaching them about the arts and personal fitness. The physical fitness category of Gymboree targets cardiovascular health, strength and flexibility. It also strives to give kids a positive attitude toward having personal fitness by promoting healthy living.
McDonald's has also become a leader in the trend to keep kids in shape. The mascot, "Ronald McDonald," has been revamped as a newer, fitter Ronald, but it doesn't stop there. McDonald's has offered free limited gym memberships to children as well as parents, and the multi-billion dollar company plans to promote a "McKids" brand of kid's outdoor equipment, such as bikes, scooters, and skateboards. This year, McDonald's paired up with Warner Home Video to produce a video series of "McKids," encouraging exercise and healthy lifestyles. Along with these outreaching fitness campaigns, McDonalds has introduced the healthiest foods this year in the company's existence. Fruit, salads, and grilled chicken options are now available. So busy families is no longer dependent on hamburgers and French fries to get them through the day.
Possibly the most innovative and aggressive stores tackling the problem of child obesity is the Toys R Us Geoffrey store. These stores not only promote and sell outdoor toys and the like but offer huge playground areas with nearby cafes for parents to enjoy. Geoffrey stores seek to create an environment that gives kids active entertainment while allowing the parents to relax. Part of the problem of child obesity is that the parents rarely exercise as well. This way, the child does not suffer, and the parent can enjoy a cup of coffee.
There are many clothing retailers also supporting free kid's gym memberships as well as different summer camps and activities. It is expected that the trend will only increase as more people begin to realize the problem of child obesity is affected their household. Child fitness serves a double purpose by providing an outlet for a more active and healthy lifestyle for kids and giving stores another pull for customers at the same time. Some may see this as a shallow gimmick, but the most important thing to consider is, does it work? If it does, the reason for stores promoting child fitness really doesn't matter. At least now there are more opportunities forming everyday to help the population deal with this problem that attacks our children.
About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of decorative childrens clothes hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlykidshangers.com.