Webkinz. As Alison Zisko reported 2.11.08 for trade journal Home Furnishings News, “For the uninitiated, Webkinz, manufactured by Ganz, are small plush toys that come with a secret code that unlocks a secure Web site, enabling children to take care of a virtual pet online. It offers games, trivia questions and all sorts of ways for children to mind the health and well being of their pet, as well as create and decorate rooms for it on the computer. Webkinz are introduced periodically. Introduced in April 2005, they retail for around $12.95 apiece.”

The article further states ,”“We sold almost half a million dollars in Webkinz last year,” said David Calcaterra, vice president of Thrifty Florist, which operates 16 of the combined flower and gift shops in the metropolitan Detroit region. “People bought other things. In the month of December, it made a difference.”

So far what they are talking about is the selling of the stuffed animals, Webkinz, themselves. What about actual products that license them. Seems like a terrific boost to sales of anything i.e. bedding, tabletop items themselves, furniture, pajamas….lunchboxes, backbacks. It’s a thought, or more like a recommendation. I haven’t checked into licensing the product myself, not yet.

I will say that it is one of those things Moms are recommending to other Moms and is a topic of conversation between Moms….always a surefire way of seeing the beginnings of something very big.

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Back to school or back to college always presents challenges for retailers, parents and the back to school bound teen or college aged person…..

I say go retro, you can’t lose. Using this wave pattern will get you there in no time flat. This image is from a bedroom of a hotel in L.A, the Standard (213-892-8080). Elle Decor UK used this image as a part of their report on Hotel Style. Getting the most from this wave pattern the designers echo the graphic with the stripes in the curtains and the lighting.

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After grappling with how to say Happy New Year to Everyone, this is what I decided on: a sneak peek to my 2009-2010 top trends, as I see it, and as a way to help wrap up 08 depending on where you are in your buying, your product launches, your presentations, or your strategy planning.

1. Color Cornucopia: Eye Candy for the Color Maven’s Soul. Image from John Galliano for Dior Haute Couture Spring 08 Collection. Seattlepi.com.

2. Mother Earth Beats Her Chest: Science Popular.

“An armada of robot submarines and marine sensors are to be deployed across the Atlantic, from Florida to the Canary Islands, to provide early warning that the Gulf Stream might be failing, an event that would trigger cataclysmic freezing in Britain for decades.” Meric Srokosz of the Southampton Oceanographic Centre, explaining the purpose of the $31 million Rapid Watch system he is heading up, does just that, citing the plotline of “The Day After Tomorrow” - specifically the collapse of the Gulf Stream - as a potential occurrence that warrants further investigation. From Treehugger.com and The Observer.

3. Finishing Touches Birth Special Effects. Photo Yohji Yamamoto, Mens FW 08, Style.com.

4. High Tech High Touch in Living Breathing Action. Image from Nau.com’s trademark “webfronts,” which is their idea of recognizing how the internet has changed consumer’s buying behavior.

5. Cross Marketing/Collaborations in Unlikely Places/Partners Creating Phenomenal Hybrids. From Designspotter and Globus by Michiel Van der Kley.

These are but a few of the macro trends I allude to during my strategy sessions or across the year in trend newsletters, reports and product development/programming strategy sessions.

Let me know if you have questions about how the above references might effect your planning for 08-2010, any initiatives that Trendbites publisher, the kimbro agency, may help you support in ‘08 and/or if you’d like to subscribe to any number of Trendbites’ sister, Trendcites (rhymes with bites!), publications.

We do trend newsletters, customized trend reports, product development strategizing and implementation, marketing consulting,
color palettes and by request only, show reports.

You can reach me by email at kim@trendcites.com.

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“Going Green” gets better and better every day. The more I investigate what’s out there, who is doing what and how it is done, the cooler and more functional the category becomes.

This latest find is from artist Rachel Austin brought to me by Mochipopstar through Treehugger through Liana Kabel’s tupperware dress (see below). “Mill Plain, - the name is from a location on the map layered under this painting, has a thick, waxy look to it. Size is 5″ x 5″ x 2″. Boxy wood frame made from reclaimed pallet wood.” Trouble is, right now I can’t locate this actual piece any longer. Her artwork is still available on little pocket mirrors sold through heyprettycupcake on etsy.com though.

As soon as I locate Rachel and find out about this reclaimed pallet wood project, you’ll be the second to know.

Oh, hey, found it! Locate Rachel Austin here. Let me know how it goes. And for further information specifically about the map projects on reclaimed pallet wood go here.

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It may be my imagination but I don’t think so. And if indeed Isabel Toledo got her inspiration from this painting of Mondrian, her interpretation is flawless. Ms. Toledo’s collection for Anne Klein Spring/Summer 08 was one of the strongest of the runway shows during New York’s Fashion Week.

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Decor8 has introduced me to Laura Veirs and her new cd, Saltbreakers. What first attracted me to the image were the colors, with its midnight blue sky, ocean blues and the forlorn algae green dragon, my current favorite color combinations. So, in taking the time to peruse Laura Veirs site and navigate to where I could listen to her music while taking in the cd’s illustrations, I came to understand the connection Ms. Veirs has to not only the title of the cd but the artwork itself. In looking at all of her images, of her band (I take it), and video stills, it all has to do with the coast. I love the inspiration I get from looking at the images, almost smelling the deep salt air, and all the while being introduced to indie/alternative/folk rock music. Her lyrics have maritime and nautical references, so do some of her song titles….I’m hooked.

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As a last goodbye to summer, I am posting Sting’s image again since it was my search for the perfect v-tee that started and fueled for awhile the TrendBites blog and this image of Sting and “The Police” playing at the Bonaroo Music Festival in June was my homage to the perfect summer v-neck tee shirt . I haven’t found any other one as good as this one, but have discovered a boatload of incredible tee shirt offerings….read down into my posts to see what I am talking about.

And, Sting, thank you, you made my summer and probably don’t even know it or if you do that it was about my relationship with your v neck tee shirt (I can see the detail in this shirt folks, it’s incredible, and does not disappoint). The New York Times and I have agreed to a limited run engagement of this image on the TrendBites blog, so hopefully everyone can have a last gander at you & your summertime blues fest. Many kind regards, and congrats on the success of “The Police” world tour.

Photo: “Christopher Berkey/The New York Times/Redux,” removed.

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by The Rinpa Eshidan. “Rinpa” is a word created by the founders of the group meaning “to bring people together, while “Eshidan” essentially means “art crew.” They have several videos of them recording the act of creating art, which they consider to be the creation itself and the videos are meant to engage the audience in the process.

To that end, they have succeeded. I heart the Rinpa Eshidan.

For the Swiss Mime troupe, Mummenschanz, visit their website here.

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Found this on Print & Patterns blog and I want it on a pillow, in a frame, on towels or bedding, better yet upholstery for my vintage chair….the illustrator is Ailene Yamada and you can find her shop Yumi Yumi @ etsy.com. And they come in all colorways!

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Regia Marinho: “REGIA Marinho ART Abstract Painting ORCHESTRATION ” - Painting Acrylic, 2004. Found at absolutearts.com. I thought it would help to post a painting of hers to help explain the below video. I would also take time to view her blog which has more videos. I especially liked the Saks Fifth Avenue Show video, www.regiaart.com/blog.

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