Strollers: Fold-up-and-go or baby SUV?

It has pneumatic tires and shock absorbers for an oh-so-smooth glide. There’s a cup holder for Mommy and adjustable handles so she won’t strain her back. To keep the sun at bay and the bugs away, Mom can clip on a nifty parasol or mosquito net for you.The cost for this beautifully bodacious baby buggy? Just $900. A far cry from the bucket-on-wheels that poor Victorian moms pushed, these strollers have big, fat tires so modern moms can stroll off-road on trails and beaches. They have rain covers, cargo pockets, weather thermometers and iPod hookups. That’s what you call fully loaded — some strollers call themselves “SUVs for babies” — and it’s what mommies demand, some retailers say. They want strollers that are compact, lightweight, easy to fold, easy to wheel over curbs and fit through doors, and have at least, at least, one cupholder. As seen in celebrity magazines, strollers have become just as hot an accessory as the babies themselves. The Dutch-designed Bugaboo has been the favored “power toy” of the Hollywood set for several years.

But is it a good idea to buy a stroller just because a supermodel pushes one? The editors of American Baby magazine don’t think so. American Baby’s bottom line on stroller buying? Any model safety-certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association will do.

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2007/aug/21/strollers-fold--and-go-or-baby-suv/

Alpha Moms: Tuned In

Marketers and businesses have been courting a new breed of do-it-all moms. These "alpha moms" are the leaders of the pack, keeping up on the newest products and trends and passing the word on to their mommy peers. "Alpha moms are incredibly influential," says Isabel Kallman, CEO of Alpha Mom TV, a new cable TV channel that targets moms. She says if alpha moms believe in a new product, they'll become advocates in promoting it by word-of-mouth. That's why Nintendo tested out the Wii on alpha-mom focus groups months before its release.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2007/september/183020.html

Kissy Kissy’s 2007 Fall Collection has arrived!

Kissy Kissy’s 2007 Fall Collection has arrived!

Your little one will love Kissy Kissy’s new lines for Fall! The Touchdown and Pom Pom Prints are perfect for back to school and football season, and any child dressed in these pieces will score extra points in the cute department.

Kissy Kissy’s new Wee Woof Collection makes anyone forget the dog days of summer and break into a smile – they really are doggone cute!

One of the best things about Kissy Kissy’s lines – besides the great prints - is that they are created with the softest Pima cotton, making them both comfortable and stylish. These high quality pieces also make very popular gifts.

Be sure to check out the latest in these collections at http://www.zarabella.com/

Mom Surfs the Web Surprisingly Often

DoubleClick Performics recently unveiled data resulting from a search usage study targeting the "moms" segment and completed in cooperation with Microsoft and ROI Research, "Searcher Moms - A Search Behavior and Usage Study." The data illustrate heavy search engine usage in support of online purchases, offline purchases, coordinating travel and many other planning activities among moms.

Interesting findings of the study include:

- 70 percent use search engines to gather information before making any online purchase
- 57 percent use search engines to gather information before making any offline purchase
- 64 percent use search engines to find out where to purchase products offline
With regard to purchases made in the eight product categories included in the study:
- 92 percent said search engines were helpful in providing valuable information prior to purchasing
- 79 percent said search engines were helpful in providing valuable information prior to purchasing offline specifically

Regarding consumer packaged goods, respondents reported using search engines:
- To compare prices (72 percent)
- To find retail locations (71 percent)
- To gather product information (71 percent)

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070821/20070821005346.html?.v=1