LESSONS FROM THE NORTHWEST KIDS' EXPO

Posted by Rob Wolf on April 04, 2008

I spent the early part of this week at event called the Northwest Kids’ Expo. It was a mini trade show for buyers of baby products. In attendance were owners of baby boutiques, online stores, and department stores. Our products received a tremendous response, and we were happy to add a number of stores to our Where To Buy section.

Talking to these buyers validated the uniqueness of our products and some of the choices we’ve made in running the business. The elevator pitch—”kid-friendly acoustic covers of songs written by artists like Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, and others”—always raises an eyebrow. But they also loved the fact that we were made in the US and from recyclable materials. These considerations seemed to have taken on a greater urgency with the buyers over the past year.

I was fortunate to share a suite at the event with four other Northwest entrepreneurs. Each one had products that were unique and compelling to the buyers as well:

Bellysock – A cool maternity and nursing accessory that hides those little flashes of tummy that you don’t want anyone to see
Baby Chaleco – Performance bibs for the extreme drooler
Maiden America – Beautifully handmade barrettes that stay in the wispiest of hair
Knuckleheads – Cool clothes for the hipster baby

I encourage you to check out these companies, as they are great products backed by great people.