Cheerios helps launch new children’s book

Cheerios^®, which has been getting children’s books to families through its Spoonfuls of Stories program, is helping to launch a brand new children’s book by a brand new author – and this spring, families can be the first to get her book, free inside Cheerios cereal boxes. “The Great Dog Wash,” by Shellie Braeuner, was the winning entry in the first Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories^® New Author Contest for new children’s book authors, earning Braeuner, a nanny from Nashville, a $5,000 cash prize from Cheerios and the opportunity to have her book reviewed by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Simon & Schuster offered Braeuner a book deal, and, over the past year, “The Great Dog Wash” came to life. Simon & Schuster will publish “The Great Dog Wash,” illustrated by Robert Neubecker, in hardcover this summer. A paperback version of Braeuner’s winning story, which Cheerios had specially printed in both English and Spanish, will be available free inside 1.5 million Cheerios boxes this spring.  “Having her book published may be a dream come true for Shellie, but it’s also exactly what we hoped for when we started the contest,” said Jeff Hingher, marketing manager for Cheerios. “There is no guarantee that the contest winner will have their book published – so the fact that Simon & Schuster felt her book had merit is a credit to Shellie’s concept and her writing. One of our primary goals with Spoonfuls of Stories is to encourage parents and children to enjoy reading together and to get great books into kids’ hands. We hope that families enjoy reading ‘The Great Dog Wash,’ – and we hope this storybook ending is just the beginning for Shellie as a newly published author.”  Cheerios has re-launched the New Author Contest to support new children’s book authors. The next contest is open for entries until July 15, 2009. Judging criteria and complete contest details can be found online at www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com.

Online tee shirt boutique expands line to include Moms

Toddler Virtues, an online tee shirt boutique, is not just for toddlers anymore. The first and only educational tee shirt line available to teach virtues to children has expanded to include Virtue Tees for Moms too. This addition has been launched in time for Mother’s Day with the debut of the Gratitude Virtue Tee.  Mom entrepreneur and founder of Toddler Virtues, Monika Hall explains, “With two toddlers of my own, I have quickly learned that children often do as we do rather than as we say. I thought adding Mom Virtue Tees would serve as good reminders to us parents to lead by example and refresh these virtues within ourselves.” Hall adds, “I hope that parents will start teaching virtues to their toddlers just as they do other core educational milestones (like ABC’s or colors). If we make instilling virtues a priority at a young age, we could take little steps to make the future brighter for our children. What could be a better gift than that?”  Toddler Virtue Tees available are: Kindness, Courage, Patience, Tolerance and Gratitude.

LunchBots eliminates the threat of plastic toxicity from lunch boxes

LunchBots, Inc. are the makers of a new line of healthy, eco-friendly lunch and snack storage containers that simply eliminate the threat of plastic toxicity from food storage products – and the cost to our environment – by opting instead for reusable and safe stainless steel container products.  The LunchBots brand and product line was created in 2008 by concerned mom and founder Jacqueline Linder, who had grown tired of scouring the plastic container isles looking for a safe, healthy option for her two young children. “I was amazed by the lack of non-plastic alternatives on the marketplace,” explained Linder.  “I was a mom who wanted to find a safer, environmentally friendly alternative for my family at an affordable price point – and it didn’t exist.” Linder created the LunchBots line out of her sincere belief that plastics are truly not good for our bodies – or for the planet.  LunchBots, which have been independently tested and certified to be safe, are plastic free and comprised of high-quality, 18/8 type stainless steel – the healthiest and safest food storage material available. Moreover, stainless steel is eco-friendly – because it’s reusable, it doesn’t create a regular waste product to pollute the environment and its saves money for users because of its sturdy lifespan.

Former New York magazine editor helps city moms maneuver through the “StrollerTraffic”

Tara Mandy, a former New York Magazine editor, announced her newest venture, StrollerTraffic.com. StrollerTraffic cuts through the clutter of mom blogs with an authoritative voice on city parenting. “There are just so many angry rants and unfounded raves flooding the parenting space on the Web now,” says founder Tara Mandy. “We wanted to bring some legitimacy back to online editorial content by featuring true experts on the subjects city moms are thinking and talking about.”  At StrollerTraffic, everything you read has either been discovered by a been-there-done-that city mom or touted by a bona fide expert. Living and working in Manhattan, they know many of the folks who set parenting trends in motion. Having access to their trailblazing minds (and an insider’s peek at their next steps) is what makes StrollerTraffic the new must-read for hip city moms. Here’s a sample of what you will find:

• StrollerTraffic’s free weekly “Traffic Report” email features tips and advice from a different industry expert each week, whether it’s the founder of Boon talking about how to keep bath toys from getting moldy or a nutritionist from Exhale explaining the downfalls of mainstream condiments. 
• The StrollerTraffic Checklist is a downloadable PDF that lists absolutely everything an expecting mom needs, plus a recommended brand and helpful tip for each item.
• The Scout Scoop is a daily newsfeed on new products and trends that’s updated by the StrollerTraffic Scouts, a network of plugged-in moms in cities across the country.
• Each week, StrollerTraffic readers will be offered an exclusive deal in the form of Stroller Swag: covetable discounts and perks from StrollerTraffic sponsors.

Chris Brogan reviews Kelley Skoloda’s new book

Chris Brogan, president of new marketing agency New Marketing Labs (which is home to the New Marketing Summit conferences and New Marketing Bootcamps) recently gave a video review of M2W® presenter Kelley Skoloda’s new book, Too Busy to Shop.  In addition to thinking Kelley’s book is one that is “filled with really great information about real core stuff involving behavior and mindsets behind marketing”, Brogan says, feels it is the type of read you can take “into your office, shut the door, get out a notepad, and come out wanting to change at least 40% of what you’re doing with marketing, if not the whole thing.”  Click here–http://www.chrisbrogan.com/–for the review—which also includes a review of Geoffrey Miller’s Spent:  Sex, Evolution and Consumer Behavior.

Photo industry will find growth by targeting moms in Western Europe

According to InfoTrends’ research, Western Europe’s photo merchandise market will more than double in size from 2008 to 2013, exceeding $900 million in revenues by the end of this period. Mothers (defined as females between the ages of 25 and 44 with children under age 12) will account for a sizable portion of this revenue. While about 22% of total respondents reported purchasing photo merchandise items in the past year, 30% of mothers stated that they had done so. A recent InfoTrends survey revealed that mothers are more likely than total photo merchandise buyers to purchase their photo merchandise items from online sources. This is true in regard to retailer’s websites as well as online photo sharing/printing services. While only 49% of total photo merchandise buyers reported purchasing photo cards online via a retailer’s website in the past 12 months, over 62% of mothers stated they had done so. In addition, the survey results indicate that mothers are significantly more likely than others to use self-serve kiosks at retail locations.  David Haueter, an Associate Director at InfoTrends commented, “Our research suggests that many busy mothers are highly motivated by convenience, so photo merchandise vendors should strive to offer their products via the Internet as well as retail locations that mothers will visit regularly.”  InfoTrends’ report, Spotlight on Moms: Photo Merchandise (Western Europe), considers how actively Western European mothers are purchasing photo merchandise, what types of photo merchandise are the most popular, and their future purchasing intentions for products of this type. Where appropriate, mothers’ behaviors are also compared to those of the total survey population and to those of mothers in the United States. For more information or to purchase this report or the full multi-client study from which this data was extracted visit:  http://store.infotrendsresearch.com/product_p/97241.htm&click=2366

Happy Mother’s Day!

Ah, Mother’s Day.  It’s that wonderful time of year when we all celebrate those special women in our lives. From single moms to moms of multiples to the grandmothers, M2Moms E-ssentials will be running a special feature next week highlighting some of the unique ways in which brands are honoring the different faces of mom this Mother’s Day. 

 We are looking for your campaigns and promotions, your product launches and new website features—anything that shows how your brand is connecting with moms—all kinds of moms–for Mother’s Day.  Leave your comments or below or contact Patti Minglin, pminglin@comcast.net.  

Coldstone gives mom a sweet treat—and chance to win a trip to Nashville

 

This year, with financial woes tugging at our purse strings and wallets, the Cold Stone Creamery stores in Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, Pueblo and surrounding areas are helping make Mother’s Day a little sweeter by wishing all moms a Happy Mother’s Day with a FREE sweet treat on this well-deserved holiday. In addition to the free ice cream, these Colorado Cold Stone locations are also hosting a Mother’s Day contest, with a grand prize of a trip to Nashville and ice cream for a year.  Every mother who visits a participating Cold Stone Creamery Front Range location with her child or children on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, 2009, will receive a free Love It size ice cream Creation™ with one mix-in.  Also, from April 11 to May 4, 2009, these same Cold Stone locations are running a Mother’s Day contest, encouraging children to write an essay about their mothers. The contest, “Tell Us Why Your Mom is So Sweet,” is hosted by Cold Stone Creamery and Comcast. Children can print off the entry form at www.coldstonecontest.com to be submitted at any participating Cold Stone location. Every child who submits a completed form will receive a coupon for a free kid size ice cream.  “This Mother’s Day we wanted to give something irresistibly sweet to the hard-working moms of Denver,” said Craig Cowell, owner of a Cold Stone Creamery. “This is our opportunity to honor moms with some free ice cream and a special contest – what mom wouldn’t feel special to have their child submit an essay about how sweet she is.”  Winners for the contest will be announced May 9, 2009. The grand prize mother will receive a trip to Nashville, Tenn., and a year’s worth of ice cream. Also, the child who submitted the winning entry will receive a year’s worth of kid size ice cream servings and a Discovery Kids Scanopedia Electronic Talking Animal Encyclopedia.

Meredith to re-launch Espera and 12 Meses under Ser Padres brand

Meredith Hispanic Ventures will debut the re-launched Espera and 12 Meses under the Ser Padres brand this April. The titles — now called Ser Padres Espera and Ser Padres Bebe, respectively — include a new design for both magazines, as well as new features and increased circulation. Ser Padres Espera is the source for expectant Hispanic women while Ser Padres Bebe provides mothers a month-by-month how-to guide with advice on raising their newborns.  “We are excited to bring these new titles to the street under the strength, vitality and recognition of the Ser Padres brand,” said Ruth Gaviria, vice president of Meredith Hispanic Ventures. “These three titles will seamlessly guide women through pregnancy, birth and the toddler, tween and teen years and provide crucial information related to raising happy and healthy families.”  Alberto Oliva, editor-in-chief of Ser Padres, will now also oversee the editorial direction of the new titles. “Both magazines are targeted to a younger demographic since Hispanic mothers — 25% of mothers in the country– tend to be 10 years younger than general market mothers,” commented Oliva.  Ser Padres Espera will be published three times a year, and will increase its annual circulation by 35% to 1.05 million expectant mothers, up from 750,000. It will continue to be distributed through OB-GYN offices.  Ser Padres Bebe will be published once a year with a yearly circulation of 600,000 and will continue to be distributed in maternity wards through sampler bags. “The re-branding of both publications provides an extended vehicle for our advertisers. It allows them to reach Hispanic parents from the moment they are expecting their baby to the first year as a newborn, up until the teenage years,” added Enedina Vega-Amaez, group publisher of Meredith Hispanic Ventures.  As an additional resource for parents, Meredith Hispanic Ventures also offers Mimosblog.com.

Wyndham’s Women on Their Way celebrates Mother’s Day

Women on Their Way by Wyndham Worldwide, the hospitality industry’s longest-running branded program dedicated entirely to female travelers, is celebrating mothers around the globe with a free, fully customizable Mother’s Day e-Card, special offers, and a 10 percent promotional discount on travel booked on www.WomenOnTheirWay.com at any of the participating Wyndham Worldwide family of brands and properties.  Those who send the card are able to upload personal photos and create a message that may then be shared on the Women on Their Way online community or sent privately to their female friends, mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters. The celebration of admired women will be shared on the website’s Mother’s Day section along with great gift ideas from Women on Their Way blog, Adventures with Alyson, and special offers from the various Wyndham Worldwide family of brands.  “Women on Their Way is about recognizing, supporting and celebrating women while providing a resource for them to research, plan and book all of their travel, giving them ideas on how to make the most of the valuable time they spend with their families and friends,” said Virginia Wilson, chair of the Women on Their Way Advisory Board and executive vice president and chief financial officer for Wyndham Worldwide. “We are proud to assist our customers and associates in celebrating and honoring the women they admire this Mother’s Day. To further celebrate these special women, we will be offering vacation packages and deals on www.WomenonTheirWay.com.”  The celebration doesn’t end with mothers alone. By teaming up with the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a Wishes by Wyndham signature charity, Women on Their Way will donate $1 for every Starlight Children’s Foundation card sent, up to $25,000 total, to the organization in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the foundation.  “It’s my hope that every mother is showered with love and praise on Mother’s Day, and we also want to acknowledge the extra-special women who confront and cope with the demands and challenges of seriously ill children,” said Paula Van Ness, CEO of Starlight. “These mothers and grandmothers face daily emotional and financial stresses that most of us cannot even imagine. Starlight is grateful to Wyndham for its generous donation and for this campaign that honors mothers everywhere and pays tribute on this special occasion to mothers of children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.”