Earnshaw's Magazine | October 2022

Noelle Heffernan

FULL CIRCLE

“To me, the model of success is not linear. Success is complet ing the full circle of yourself.” --Gloria Steinem

AS WE GO to press, Hurricane Ian has caused wide-spread destruction and numerous deaths in southwest Florida and is con tinuing its path up the coast. There are many displaced families who have lost everything, and I hope you will all consider donating product or money to the childrenswear charity Delivering Good. For more information, please visit delivering-good.org.

For me, this ask represents a full-circle moment in my second go-around as Editor in Chief of Earnshaw’s. This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing the new President and CEO of Delivering Good, Matthew Fasciano (Q&A begins on page 12). This charitable organization evolved from a merger of two others: Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) and Fashion Delivers. And Delivering Good has continued the original mission of these seed organizations: distributing new apparel and necessities to children and families in need and victims of disasters, bringing dignity and self-esteem to the most vulnerable populations. Next month, Delivering Good hosts its annual gala, continuing a tradition that started in 2006; that year, K.I.D.S. celebrated its 20th anniversary with keynote speaker former President Bill Clinton—and yours truly helped execute it.

Yes, among the prior professional hats I’ve worn, I’m a former employee of K.I.D.S. I worked there from 2004 to 2007 and had the unique opportunity to help produce the first two galas and the women’s luncheon—these accomplish ments hold places of honor on my CV. I felt compelled to remind industry veterans about and share with newcomers

the mission of Delivering Good.

We profile another established organization, Paris-based Playtime. The company launched a New York edition of its avant-garde trade show in 2010, and then last year brought North American manufacturers together for Kid’s Hub, creating one exciting, dynamic and “must-attend” event.

Check out the interview with Events Director Chantal Danguillaume starting on page 14.

Speaking of dynamic, our fashion pages have, unbe lievably, hit a new level of emotion, beauty and artistry. We were humbled to have esteemed photographer and cinematographer Mark Andrew on set; some of his clients include The New York Times, Pepsi, Conde Nast, and Dreamworks. His film projects have been shown at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, and his photography work is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian. Styled by our visionary Fashion Director Mariah Walker, “Stand By Me” beginning on page 20 highlights classic, en vogue looks from Spring 2023.

Keeping with the classic theme, we visit the Hip! Hip! Hooray! children’s boutique in Dallas. Owner Jennifer Howell has maintained her niche for timeless dressing for more than two decades, and she shares her well-earned retail advice in “Three Cheers for Tradition” starting on page 16. You’ll find more baby-clothing inspiration from Liat Levy, the creator and mom behind Lev Baby in our Designer Chat on page 18.

I hope this issue’s variety of stories and fashion inspire, educate and encourage all of you to continue reaching new levels of excellence. If you have your own story of coming full circle, I would love to hear from you. Please reach out to me at Michele.Silver@wainscotmedia.com.

Michele Silver Editor in Chief

EARLY BIRD

MUD PIE HAS rolled out its Easter and Happy Everything collections, allowing retailers additional time to shop the collections in anticipation of the Easter holiday on April 9, 2023. The Easter launch includes kids’ apparel and gifts with new categories of bath bombs and plush doodle pillows. The brand’s Happy Everything collection has been given a new look, focusing on crisp white elements and sweet scalloped details for a classic yet cozy look.

SUSTAINABLE COLLAB: GERBER X LIVAECO

GERBER CHILDRENSWEAR LAUNCHES Softest Edit, a new baby and toddler apparel line developed in partnership with Livaeco by Birla Cellulose. Launching exclusively on GerberChildrenswear.com and Amazon, the buttery soft line of rompers, pajamas, dresses, and headbands is made with a more sustainably produced Viscose fiber, derived predominantly from natural eucalyptus. The new fabric option (95% viscose / 5% span dex) is the first offering of its kind for the brand. Livaeco™ fibers are 100% sourced with ethical forestry practices and every garment made is fully traceable back to its origin. Each piece retails for under $25 and comes in seven gender-neutral trendy solids, 12 year-round fun prints and two holiday-specific prints in sizes 0-3M to 5T.

ELEVATED EMPATHY

FOOTWEAR’S GREATEST HITS

MOVING INTO ITS third year, The Great Event Show for footwear will take place February 8th and 9th at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck, NJ. Formerly The Children’s Great Event, the trade show is run by the Alonso family, owners of Unitrends Footwear Company. The Great Event Show attracts vendors and retailers primarily from the Tri-State area as well as national and international retailers. For more information on exhib iting and attending, please visit greateventshow.com.

OWL AND OAK, the company behind social emotional tools for children and their families, has created a T-shirt collab with organic cotton clothing company Finn and Emma. “The Empatees” (short for Emotional Learning Tee) super soft T-shirts feature hand-illustrated inspiring affirmations and quotes. According to Owl and Oak’s founder Anna Schwengle, The Empatees let little ones show their pride while encouraging them to treat others with kindness and empathy. Schwengle was featured in the Earnshaw’s August issue in the piece, “Note to My Younger Self,” where she spoke about her journey with ADD and development of The Moodies plush toys with a book.

Softest Edit

Mud Pie Easter bath bombs

The Empatees from Owl and Oak

ON TREND

Finishing Touches

From bows and bags to sunnies and swaddling blankets, little extras level up looks and ring up more sales.

Super Smalls

Birdie Bean

Watchitude

Rylee + Cru

Flap Happy Baby Noomie

Wunderkin

WeeFarers

ON TREND

Purple Reign

Still taking cues from Very Peri, the Pantone color of the year, designers embrace a softer side with lovely lavender.

Planet Sea Petite Hailey

Lola and the Boys

Primigi

Submarine

Maiibu Sugar

Three Hearts

Paige Lauren

Q&A

MISSION ACCEPTED

Matthew Fasciano, the newly appointed President and CEO of Delivering Good, discusses how his deep roots in social services, youth leadership and juvenile justice provide a robust foundation for his next non-profit challenge. By Michele Silver

A LITTLE BIT of history. For those of you who have been in the childrenswear industry for a while, it’s quite likely you’ve heard of—and donated product to—Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.). The charity has helped millions of chil dren, families and individuals affected by poverty and disaster resulting in more than $1.6 billion of donated product. The Board of Directors was a veritable who’s who in the children’s apparel and juvenile-products industries.

In 2006, the nonprofit Fashion Delivers sprung up to address the apparel needs of adults and piggybacked on the distribution model created by K.I.D.S. Shortly thereafter, it merged with K.I.D.S. In 2017, K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers, Inc. was relaunched as Delivering Good. While the name has changed, the mission that has been in existence for more than 30 years has remained the same; to provide under served and at-risk families living in poverty or are victims of natural disasters with necessities such as clothing, >32

SHOW STOPPERS

Go behind the scenes of the largest, curated, fashion-forward, and lifestyle trade shows that New York has to offer: Playtime and Kid’s Hub. BY MICHELE SILVER

SABRINA SHAPIRO

rade shows have always experienced an ebb and flow. These shifts often coincide with major changes affected by company mergers and acquisitions as well as the natural evolution of businesses. With more than 14 years under its fashionable belt, Paris-based Playtime has proved its staying power in the U.S. and used this traction to launch a second synchronous show, Kid’s Hub.

Dirkje Baby Wear

Headed up by CEO Sebastian de Hutten, the first Playtime show took place in Paris in 2007. Then, taking advantage of the opportunity of the void in the Big Apple, Playtime New York launched in 2010 at the centrally located Metropolitan Pavilion.

“We liked the exclusivity of having it in one place, and that the building itself is beautiful while being neutral enough to allow

>36

FOR TRADITION THREE CHEERS

With a singular focus on classic dressing, Dallas-based Hip! Hip! Hooray! has established itself as a fan favorite for generations of families.

BY MICHELE SILVER

Talk about staying power. Jennifer Howell’s boutique in the affluent enclave of Park Cities, Dallas, has been going strong for 23 years. But

her passion for retail and timeless baby clothes goes much further back.

Howell and her sisters grew up wearing “precious” dresses, socks and shoes with matching hair bows, popular in their hometown of San Antonio, Texas. That style became part of her DNA, she says”

“Something about those years stuck with me, because it has always made my heart sing to see babies and young children dressed in that classic way.”

NCE HOWELL GOT to high school, she landed her first job in retail, learning all the basics at Frost Bros, a high-fashion department store in San Antonio, Texas.

“I loved every aspect of the business, from talking with the buyers about what trends they were looking at for the next season, to unpacking the new merchandise as soon as it was delivered, to helping customers choose the perfect items for their upcoming special event,” Howell recalls. She also discovered what would later be a key to her own success. “It was during this time I learned the non-negotiable importance of quality, personalized service that has been the foundation of my business all these years later.”

Howell took her passion for retail along with her eye for design and got a degree in interior design. She began design ing nurseries, and many of her clients mentioned how hard it was to find traditional baby clothes such as beautiful layette, darling bubbles and jon-jons, and sweet dresses.

“Those discussions got the wheels in my head turning–perhaps a children’s boutique with clothing, bedding and nursery accessories might be a good way to build up my

Pretty little walkers

design business,” Howell says, adding that there was a distinct void in the retail market at that time.

BUILDING SUCCESS

In 1999, Howell opened a 700-square-foot space in Snider Plaza in the heart of Dallas. Since that time, a few competitors have come and gone but Hip! >37

DESIGNER CHAT

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE a fifth baby to get one thinking about how to create super soft clothing for little ones—especially if you’ve already got a degree in fashion merchandising and design and extra time during a global pandemic. Liat Levy put her expertise to the test and launched Lev Baby in March 2021. Although the -person company is less than two years old, Lev Baby has already found its way into the hearts of many retailers and consumers around the country. Levy discusses her trajectory into children’s wear, how she gives back to those in need and what buyers can expect to see for the upcoming season of Spring 2023.

ER: What is your design background?

Liat Levy: I studied at the Fashion Institute in NYC and got experience working at Fashion Week, in licensing and in showrooms. I completed my degree at Drexel University. After graduation, I man aged and opened designer retailers in South Florida for many years.

ER: Why did you choose bamboo as the fabric for Lev Baby?

Levy: Bamboo has so many incredible qualities to it. It’s sustainable, which is so important in our world today. It’s breathable, wicks away moisture and is temperature regulating, to name a few of its best traits. But most of all, bamboo is super soft and snuggly—it makes you want to snuggle your little loves just a little longer!

ER: What’s most important to you when designing a collection?

Levy: I always strive to find prints that will touch everyone along with prints that go out-of-the- box a bit. I love uniqueness, some thing no one has seen or ventured to do before, in either the concept or the actual design. Lev Baby wants to make memories with our customers and each design has this in mind.

ER: What’s the inspiration behind all of those great prints you use?

Levy: My kids are my biggest inspiration! There is nothing better than getting advice on prints from kids, since they will be wearing them. Being a mom, I am immersed in the world of kids and therefore, constantly being inspired.

ER: What do you love most about designing?

Levy: Design is therapy for me. Seeing my vision come to life, first onto paper, then onto fabric and finally on babies is so rewarding.

ER: What’s most challenging about being a children’s apparel designer?

Levy: There is so much competition! But, competition is healthy and keeps me motivated to do more, push my limits, inspire more moms, and create more memories.

ER: What can buyers expect from the Spring 2023 collection?

Levy: Spring ’23 is super exciting with bright colors and some classics with a twist. Our collections will include family matching pajamas, a fun collection for golf lovers, and lots of spring florals and sweet bunnies for Easter.

ER: What advice do you have for new designers getting into this market?

Levy: Be yourself and follow your own path. Each business is unique and has its own direction and path to take. Be inspired and inspire others. Have a bigger mission than just making clothes.

ER: What are you most grateful for?

Levy: I am most grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me. Lev Baby has been able to inspire others and put a smile on so many faces around the world. We have a partnership with a Miami children’s hospital where we donate blankets to children with longterm stays. Knowing these children have one extra smile to brighten their heart gives us motivation to grow.

In Hebrew, “lev” means heart, and that’s just what owner Liat Levy pours into her bamboobased collections.

A COMPANY THAT’S ALL HEART

From left: Cole is wearing a suit, shirt and bow tie by Appaman and shoes by Baby Deer Vivian is wearing a white blouse by American Outfitters 76 on top of a dress by Twinset and shoes are model’s own.

Jena and June are wearing white dresses by Holly Hastie and flower headbands by La Paz

From left: Logan is wearing a jumpsuit by Sophie & Lucas Mackenzie is wearing a dress by Abel & Lula and shoes by Igor

From left: Nell is wearing a dress by Kickee Pants, a bow by Wee Ones and shoes by Oomphies. Kit is wearing a dress by Tartine et Chocolat, a bow by Bows Arts and shoes by Oomphies

Tomas is wearing a jumpsuit by Turtledove London. Baby Lucian is wearing a jumpsuit by Me & Henry

From left: Jena is wearing a grey sparkling dress by Isobella & Chloe, hair accessory by Wee Ones and shoes by Igor. June is wearing a black dress with retro vintage white collar by Gerber Childrenswear and shoes by Igor

From left: Kori is wearing a one-piece by Oeuf and shoes by Baby Deer. Michal wearing a dress by Vignette and shoes by Baby Deer

From left: Cole is wearing a sweatshirt by Miles the Label, T-shirt by The Sunday Collective, pants by Kickee Pants, and shoes by Baby Deer. Vivian is wearing a jumpsuit by Mayoral and her own headband and shoes.

Tomas is wearing shorts and shirt by Lalalu. Baby Lucian is wearing a grey jumpsuit by Gerber Childrenswear and a vest by MarMar Copenhagen

From left: Kit is wearing pants and a top by Yell-oh, hair accessories from Bows Arts and shoes from Oomphies. Nell is wearing an outfit by Milon, hair accessories from Bows Arts and shoes from Oomphies

From left: Kori is wearing a jumpsuit by First, hat by Turtledove London and shoes by Baby Deer. Michal is wearing a dress by Caffe d’Orzo and shoes by Baby Deer

Hair and makeup by Clelia Bergonzoli/ Ray Brown Pro. Special thanks to State Management and Zuri Agency.

I’M UNBELIEVABLY LUCKY TO HAVE INHERITED A SEASONED TEAM.”

–MATTHEW FASCIANO

continued from page 12

toiletries, books, and toys that are not hand-me-downs, but are brand new. Delivering Good employs a global network of social service agencies to distribute product at the local to those directly in need. The organization has the highest four-star rating from Charity Navigator and meets GuideStar’s highest standards for up-to-date and complete information. To date, Delivering Good has donated $3 billion worth of new product.

Succeeding Gary Simmons, President and CEO of Gerber Childrenswear LLC, who served as Delivering Good’s interim President and CEO, Matthew Fasciano was appointed to the post in July 2022. It’s been a busy couple of months, as the orga nization gears up for its major fundraising gala, an “Evening of Delivering Good,” on Wednesday, November 2, at a new venue for them, Cipraini New York. Fasciano took time to speak with me about all things Delivering Good and delve into his future plans for the organization.

Michele Silver: What has been your professional journey? Matthew Fasciano: I come to Delivering Good with a long history in education, social, and juvenile justice, most recently serving as the Chief Operating Officer for 15 years at The Posse Foundation, where I provided vision, thought leadership, and programmatic oversight for a national college success and youth leadership development nonprofit. I began my career as a teacher and Dean of Students at the New York City Board of Education. After receiving my MSW, I did clinical work, mostly in the substance abuse realm, before earning my law degree and moving on to work with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice.

Silver: What attracted you to the CEO position?

Fasciano: I was attracted by the simplicity of the mission–con necting surplus new merchandise with people facing challenges related to poverty and disaster made so much sense to me. New items would likely be out of reach for this population, and the fact that Delivering Good is able to provide them adds a level of dignity and self-esteem for recipients. That’s a powerful combination that I wanted to be a part of.

Silver: What projects, processes, and accomplishments from your work at The Posse Foundation will translate well to Delivering Good?

Fasciano: I did a lot of work on scaling programs at The Posse

2022 EARNIE AWARDS

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN & RETAIL

ACCESSORIES

Bari Lynn Iscream

Lillie & Roses Super Smalls

ACTIVEWEAR

Limeapple Puma

Terez

Vinetage Havana

BABY PRODUCTS

Baby Jar Bumkins

Copper Pearl Oil & Carol

BABY/TODDLER APPAREL

Angel Dear Little Me Oh Baby!

Tia Cibani

BEAUTY & PERSONAL CARE

Klee Naturals

Little Lady Products Noodle & Boo

Petite ‘n Pretty

BOYS’ APPAREL

Andy & Evan Appaman

Me + Henry

Tiny Whales

CHILDREN’S FOOTWEAR

Mini Melissa Native Naturino Oomphies

CRIB SHOES

Baby Deer Elephantito Old Soles

Stride Rite

GIFTS

Beaufort Bonnet Company Little Giraffe Mon-Ami Mud Pie

GIRLS’ APPAREL

Lola and the Boys

Mabel + Honey Molo Vignette

MOMMY & ME/DADDY & ME

Me + Henry Pink Chicken Posh Peanut Vilebrequin

NEWBORN Angel Dear Feltman

Lev Baby Magnetic Me

NEW BRAND

Birdie Bean Floafers

Pepita & Me Poppet & Fox

OUTERWEAR

Appaman Hatley Moose Knuckles Patagonia

SLEEPWEAR (CHILDREN’S)

ESMA

Kickee Pants

Pajamas for Peace Posh Peanut

SLEEPWEAR (INFANT)

Kickee Pants

Kissy Kissy Little Sleepies

Paige Lauren

SPECIAL OCCASSION

Appaman

Marias Sky Imoga

Petite Haley

SUSTAINABLE

Kyte Baby Mon Coeur

Snapper Rock

Tane Organics

SWIMWEAR

Andy & Evan

Feather 4 Arrow Shade Critters Submarine

TEETHERS/PACIFIERS

Copper Pearl LouLou Lollipop

Three Hearts Apparel WubbaNub

TWEEN

Katie J

Lola & th e Boys

MIA

Mini Molly

UNDERGARMENTS

Deua par Deux

ESME

Kickee Pants Malibu Sugar

ECONOMIC FACTORS ARE PUSHING MORE PEOPLE TO SEEK HELP.”

–MATTHEW FASCIANO

Foundation, ensuring not only the efficiency of that work, but the quality of the experi ence for all stakeholders; at Delivering Good that goes from product donor to community partner, to the ultimate recipient of the support we provide.

Team efficiency is also a focus from my time at The Posse Foundation. I’m unbelievably lucky to have inherited a seasoned team here at Delivering Good and I look forward to working with them to create new efficiencies that will support the growth of our program work so we’re ultimately helping more people.

Silver: As you’ve observed Delivering Good navigate through the pandemic, how have the needs of the network of social service agencies have changed? How do you plan to address those?

Fasciano: The pandemic has resulted in increased need for the services that our network of community partners provides to individuals and families across the U.S. and beyond. Economic factors are pushing more people to seek help as prices for almost everything have increased. We’re working with our partners to identify new ways for us to support their work and reaching out to existing and new product donors to emphasize the need for their generosity–we don’t see the need going away anytime soon. Our focus now is how and what can we do to provide more support for our network.

Silver: What’s special about this year’s gala?

Fasciano: We are honoring one of our community partners, Tackle Tomorrow with our Innovation Award, which recognizes their innovative literacy program. The event will be hosted by Delivering Good board member and event co-chair, Ken Downing.

Silver: What organizational goals are you setting for 2023?

Fasciano: Fundraising is always an area of focus, and I am working with the team on not only growing our fundraising revenue but also diversifying where it is coming from. Robust fundraising means we can do more for the people we serve. Related to that, is another goal of working with our community partners to identify what additional resources and support we can provide to help them do even more for their communities.

Silver: What other changes and improvements are you planning to make?

Fasciano: We are looking across the organization to identify ways that we can be more efficient in our operations, particularly in the area of technology.

brands to make their booths a mini-representation of their universe,” explains Events Director Chantal Danguillaume.

Kid’s Hub was born in 2019 in Las Vegas, and in August of 2021, the show joined Playtime New York. Playtime brands represent avant-garde looks while Kid’s Hub labels are geared towards the North American market. It’s truly the best of two worlds.

“By bringing together these two complementary sectors of the fashion industry, buyers are able to explore the entirety of the kids’ fashion and lifestyle industry in one place, making their buying more efficient and offering more visibility to all the brands,” says Danguillaume, who adds that by having both physical trade shows and an online marketplace, profes sionals can connect at any time, from anywhere in the world.

The first Playtime comprised only 50 brands and 12 years later, it has grown to 300, taking up three full floors at the past July/August event. New booth structures now enable visitors to immediately identify which sector of the market they were immersed in, according to Danguillaume. “Playtime and Kid’s Hub New York have established themselves as the largest trade shows dedicated to the kid’s market in the United States,” she says.

Since the post-pandemic return to in-person trade shows, Playtime and Kid’s Hub experienced a 35% to 50% increase in the number of visitors from one edition to the next, accord ing to Danguillaume. “We have also noticed that the visitors really take their time to discover the entire offer, spending an average of two days exploring the show. The thanks we receive from brands and buyers is the most gratifying feedback that we could possibly receive,” she expresses.

The show continues to experience a strong number of brands wanting to participate, “despite the shifts that have remod eled the kids’ fashion and lifestyle market,” Danguillaume says. Speaking of remodeling, the show has rebranded itself, with a new identity created by Nash & Young, a French-based branding strategy agency, to reflect “unique, alternative and creative inspiration.” Look for this refresh at the next Playtime and Kid’s Hub New York, which takes place Feb. 12–14, 2023.

New

Hip! Hooray! has been on a consistent upswing even among the dozens of boutiques in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. “Since most of what we sell is for a very particular, niche clientele, we are the go-to store for that precious, traditional look,” Howell says. She has also had with the added bonus of many customers becoming dear friends and their kids becoming customers. “I am now starting to see the children I helped dress way back when who are now grown up and bringing their children to their ‘favorite store when I was a kid.’”

Describing her store as a “tight ship with a small crew,” Hip! Hip! Hooray! has three fulltime and three parttime employees, many of whom have been with Howell for more than 10 years. “As a small store, we don’t have a docu mented sales training program. It’s more of a lead-by-example sort of thing,” she says. “Our cus tomers don’t want to be sold to. They want their needs and wants met. We try to be conversational and consultative, not sales-y. We are known for our outstanding customer service and going above and beyond to serve our clients.”

Even though employee retention is pretty much a non- issue, Howell always goes the extra mile to help culti vate the best possible environment: “We pay our employees above market to attract and retain the best available. Most importantly, we treat everyone like family. We all step up to support each other so the store can be covered when mem bers of the team need to tend to outside commitments and responsibilities.”

PRODUCT PERFECTION

A major component of the store’s success is that Howell sticks to her carefully curated merchandise made with quality con struction and understated designs and caters to a customer base that values shopping at a family-owned business with community roots. Hip! Hip! Hooray! carries collections from Anavini, Rachel Riley, Auraluz, Florence Eiseman, and several heirloom brands. “We know our core clientele. Every purchase is made with them in mind,” Howell says.

“If it isn’t perfect, we don’t buy it. Our clients are very particular. If an item isn’t ‘just so,’ we will keep looking. We love perfecting every timeless detail for our customers as they

Smocked dresses

Classic christening gowns

Sleepies

create unforgettable family memories of the precious childhood years.”

Another way the store puts its customers first is by hosting trunk shows and special events that are often combined with a charity component. “Since most of our customers are busy parents with small children, they aren’t able to break away every other week for a special event. So, when we do have them, it is important to us that they are truly ‘special’ and worthy of our customers’ limited time,” Howell explains. “We believe trunk shows are excellent opportunities to introduce new brands to our custom ers. Many of our top-selling brands over the years started their run with us as an introductory trunk show.”

VEERING INTO VIRTUAL

While nothing replaces the in-store experience, Hip! Hip! Hooray! has ventured into online sales to continue to serve many customers who have relocated as well as friends of friends, Howell explains. “The online store has also been good for selling past seasons’ items for which we don’t have full size runs,

especially holiday items. We have built a loyal following of customers from coast-to-coast who have never set foot in our store; they are just as valuable to us as the ones who live within walking distance.” The boutique’s Instagram account, @hiphiphooraydallas, has more than 15K followers.

After more than two decades of experi ence, Howell has some words of wisdom for retailers looking to maintain their longevity or those who are new to the business: “Hire the right people. Do business with the right people. Know your customer. Know your product. Align them according. Do what you do and do it well. Don’t try to be all things to all people.”

One piece of advice that she needs to con tinually remind herself about is to slow down and hit the pause button in order to reset her creativity and problem solving skills. “It’s challenging to take time to step out of the whirlwind of day-to-day operational tasks and focus more on the big picture,” Howell says. “But these will be strategic decisions that allow us to improve our business and better serve our customers.”

The Sweet Storefront

Strategy + Content + Design

We specialize in

marketing

www.earnshawsstudio.com

Contact: Noelle He ernan,

noelle.he ernan@wainscotmedia.com

FINAL CUT

You Haven’t Seen Muffin Yet

With an idea that was 30 years in the making, mother and daughter Carolyn and Savannah Strehlow have cooked up a way for families to bond, by way of the kitchen. Snuggle Mu n is a baked-good plush that comes with a story promoting emotional learning along with a yummy mu n recipe. Just in time for holiday gift giving, Lovable options include Lily Vanilly, Stephie Strawberry and Savannah Banana.

PARKER - KHAKI

JeSSE - CHARCOAL

Parker - PINK TIE DYE ROBIN - LAVENDER

Parker Boys- Grey