Kid's Fashion: Boys and Their Shorts

For the next five months, almost every little boy in America will be wearing shorts every day. So when it is time to do summer shopping, that is pretty much the only thing retailers need to stock for bottoms in the boys section. It is good to have a few other things just in case (jeans, cargo pants, etc), but keep the central display racks hung with shorts. Of course it is crucial to know what styles of boy's shorts are really popular as well as what other items complement those shorts. Any children's retail store is guaranteed success for the summer if it focuses on the shorts and provides the best styles.
So what are the most popular styles of shorts for little boys? The trend for shorts today in both teenage young men and small children is for shorts to be somewhat baggy and long. It was once thought that baggy shorts made maneuverability more difficult, but look at the professional skate boarders and so on. Roomy shorts provide flexibility and comfort. Oversized pockets are another essential. Cargo shorts have been a staple in the boy's shorts arena for several years now, and they are not going away. Other general categories of shorts include extra long shorts, athletic shorts, patterned shorts, and "board shorts" (or surf shorts).
When it comes to picking out colors and patterns, many parents just bring their little boys along so they can pick out what they like. Kids are only going to wear what they want to wear, even if it means wearing the same pair of shorts every day. So keep an eye out on what colors and patterns the kid's are picking out. Right now, neutral colored shorts are the most popular (brown, cacky, etc), but camouflage print is also very popular. We are also seeing a come back in the classic plaid prints on longer shorts for little boys. When it comes to board shorts, the more bright colors and cool designs the better, even when they are not at the beach.
Flip-flops are the most common shoes accessories to shorts, especially for those hot summer months. If you carry tennis shoes or other casual shoes for kids, then be sure to supply ankle socks as well. Tube socks and crew socks are out when kids are wearing shorts.
If you want your childrens clothes hangers to be empty by the end of this summer be sure to have the right shorts. Remember they are the most important part of your display. Choose shirts, shoes, accessories, and bags to follow the trends set by the shorts you have for sale, and watch the merchandise disappear.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens clothes hangers and baby clothes hangers. The right childrens clothes hangers really make the difference in kid's retail. For more information, please visit http://www.onlykidshangers.com.

Layered Luck for Kid's Retail

The layered clothing concept is no stranger to the retail market, but it has become increasingly popular in children’s clothing lines. Not only does a layered approach make sense with kids, but it is also becoming the trend once again, therefore producing higher sales due to multiple items for each outfit. A woven or knit sweater might cover a cotton collar, which in turn may go over a soft colored T-shirt. Three items on one kid, and the child has the comfort of simply removing clothes when he/she is hot and putting them back on if they catch a chill.
Overall sales have increased due to the rise of layer popularity, but layers are also becoming one of the biggest dominating fashions in children’s clothes. Observing the display childrens clothes hanger racks, almost every outfit has some sort of layer effect, and as a result the sales for kid’s tops is outweighing the sale of pants and bottoms in both number and revenue. Though it is typical for upper garments to outnumber bottoms, these garments usually account for less of the actual sales revenue due to their lesser prices. Thus, it is easy to see that layers are definitely having an impact on the retail market. Not only are there more items sold because of layers, but items such as vests and jackets have higher profit margins and are much more likely to be sold to those seeking a layered look for their child. In fact, these margins are often even higher than pants and other bottom garments. Fleeces and sweaters are also among this category of outer layers that are really bringing in the profits.
Some designers and retailers are also mixing layer clothing into single garments with the appearance of layers. Long sleeves sown into short sleeve T-shirts, vests with hoods and arms sown in, and jackets with fleece liners are all attempts to keep the layered look in single garments. These garments are useful for those customers that are more likely to make a single purchase but like the layered look and would spend a little extra for the material. These garments are becoming known as mixed media and they are extremely popular in children’s clothes this season. Some of these “mixed media” are simply employing multiple fabric types to create seemingly multilayered effects.
Take advantage of the layer rage and make sure that your children’s retail inventory is packed with layer options for your customers. Parents love them because it gives them changing options throughout the day, and kids love them because that is what all the other kids are wearing.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens clothes hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlykidshangers.com.

Shopping Tips for the Little Ones

As kids grow up, it is important to know how to provide the clothes they need, when they need them. Clothing is one of the most basic human needs, yet many kids go deprived because parents feel stifled by the costs of children’s clothes. The truth is, it doesn’t have to be an outrageous cost if you know what you are looking for and if you have a little bit of a strategy throughout the years. Don’t let money keep you from keeping your kid’s well clothed.
When acquiring clothes for babies, especially newborns, be sure to register the fact that they are going to grow very, very fast. So many parents and baby gift givers don’t consider this fact and parents end up with a ton of clothes that their babies can never even wear. If you have clothes that are in the zero to 3-month range, exchange them as soon as you can for sizes 6 to 9 or even 12 months. It is okay to have baggier clothes when they are really young. Most babies spend most of their time wrapped up in blankets anyway. When you do go out shopping for infant clothes, check value or resale stores first. You will be surprised at the plethora of baby clothes. Babies grow out of their clothes long before the clothes wear out. You can also save some steps by browsing the childrens clothing hanger racks every time you are out buying diapers or other necessities. This way you can pounce on the sales that might come up. As your little tike grows into a toddler, keep your eye out for clothes that come on and off easily so they can learn to dress themselves and have a little easier time during “potty-training.”
The most important thing to do as your kids grow is taking inventory and knowing what they have and need to get rid of. Each season should begin with a sorting of all of your kid’s clothes to find out what is needed and what needs to be sold or given away. By doing this you can make a seasonal, clothes shopping list that provides the basic categories of needed clothes like outerwear, jeans, etc. Seasonal outerwear should always be bought large to make room for growth in future seasons. These items can be especially costly, and you will find that your kids don’t mind having their clothes a bit baggy at this age. The frequency of laundry in your home will determine how many sets of clothes they really need. By this time, your kids will also beginning having opinions about what they like in clothes. It is definitely okay to listen to their input. If they don’t like particular clothes, odds are they will spend all their time wearing the clothes they do like and wasting the clothes they don’t.
Finding the right children’s retail provides is a vital task to keeping clothes shopping simple. Perhaps try out a new one every year, but try to stick to the old faithful stores. There is no need to add more stress than already exists. By joining frequent-buyer programs and signing up for online new letters, you will be alerted of the current sales and products, and some retailers even offer warranty programs for clothes that wear out too early, and to prevent this, buy durable basic clothes such as jeans and t-shirts. Check out the quality of their design before buying anything. You don’t want them to come apart in the first wash. Buttons and zippers are especially likely targets for kid clothes malfunction.
Be smart about searching for kid’s clothing. It doesn’t have to break the family budget if you spend a little time sorting, planning, and consulting with your kids. Buying new clothes should be a fun experience that you and your family can enjoy.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens clothes hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlykidshangers.com>.

Kid Pj's and Sleepwear

Pajamas are a long time major player in the children's retail business. However, with a shift to more kids sleeping in T-shirts and boxers, traditional sleepwear is beginning to take a back seat. In order for the sleepwear industry to continue, their focus must shift toward advertising gimmicks and gifts.
Traditional children's night-gowns are just not as high in demand as they once were. Sure, in those winter months near holidays many parents still like to buy something pretty and comfy for their kids to run around the house in (especially when company is over), but as far as the normal everyday bed time goes, thermals, cotton T-shirts and shorts, and boxers are taking over. Most parents do not even consider the flame retardant feature to most children's pajamas when picking things out. Adults are buying pajamas less and less, and so they are finding them less important for their kids as well. Though this is changing what you find on childrens clothing hangers, actual sleepwear has found its place in another niche of the bedtime market.
By using novelty to emphasize sleepwear on the sales floor, industry leaders believe that sleepwear is far from sinking. The most effective technique for sleepwear sales thus far, is including specialty items along with the purchase of particular garments. This is especially useful for those pajamas that have a cartoon, super hero, or other theme that can be paired with action figure toys, teddy bear, or other popular kid's merchandise (depending on age group). This helps a parent to think about the value of the sleepwear in addition to another product, making them more likely to consider taking it home. Novelty pajamas are becoming more and more popular with the addition of three-dimensional screen-printing and all sorts of licensed images. Almost fifty percent of the current little girl's sleepwear that is sold has some specific character licensing. Character licensing sells shoes and sportswear to adults, why not pajamas for the kids. Disney of course is a major player in this. Those timeless classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Alladdin, and more give an incredible boost to the value of children's sleepwear.
With a little bit of creative thinking, the kid's pajama industry still has a full life to live in children's retail. Image licensing and combination gifts make pajamas more than just something for kids to sleep in. Instead, they give parents another idea for a fun and entertaining thing to get the kids, and if it serves a practical purpose as well, then it is a great thing to get for the kids any time of year.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens clothes hangers and baby clothes hangers. The right childrens clothes hangers really make the difference in kid's retail. For more information, please visit http://www.onlykidshangers.com.