K.I.D.S. Enters New Venues

Earnshaw’s magazine presented the 34th Annual Earnie Awards on Monday, Oct. 3, at ENK Children’s Club in New York City. Industry professionals toasted this year’s Earnie winners. Nearly 200 guests filled the festively decorated ENK Café to applaud the chosen companies and watch a fashion show featuring looks from the award winners. Earnshaw’s also debuted the Hall of Fame awards and inducted seasoned industry professionals, including Janice Weinman, president of Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.). Each award was presented by an industry professional touched by the honorees’ contributions to the children’s fashion industry; including Gary Simmons of Gerber (Janice Weinman). At the end of the night, Isaac Ash, president and CEO of United Legwear, made a special announcement that the company would donate 100,000 pairs of socks to K.I.D.S. to be distributed over the next 18 months.

K.I.D.S. was one of the Sponsors of the WWD Global Sourcing and Global Markets Forum on September 22 and 23rd at the Conde Nast Building New York. This forum was intended for professionals in the fashion, footwear and beauty industries. We were able to share information and our message about “WHO WE ARE” AND “WHAT WE DO” in an effort to engage new potential companies to work with us so we are able to continue to serve children and families in need. In addition, we learned about the many business challenges that exist today in international trade, global sourcing and the supply chain. Our display table, logo treats and great raffle prizes were ways in which executives from the companies that attended will remember K.I.D.S. and the great work we do.

One of the keys to the success of K.I.D.S. is our long term partnerships with industry-wide trade shows such as the ABC Show, the Toy Fair, MAGIC, Licensing!, Kidscreen and ENK. In 2011, our friends and supporters opened the doors for us to attend two new trade shows, High Point Market (home furnishings) and the Gift Show (home goods) which we know will make a big impact in helping needy children and their families in 2012.