Más de una decena de cantantes, encabezados por Thalía y Juan Gabriel, participarán en el homenaje “América celebra a Chespirito” con motivo de los 40 años de trayectoria de Roberto Gómez Bolaños, creador de míticos personajes como “El Chavo del 8” y “El Chapulín Colorado”.
First Rooms to Dream store opens. (News Watch).(Corpus Christi, TX)
Home Accents Today March 1, 2003 | Kitchen, Jane Corpus Christi, Texas — P.J. Kids has licensed the name of its Rooms to Dream line for the retail furniture business, and the first licensed Rooms to Dream store opened here on Feb. 8.
Owned by Carter Green, who also owns an Ashley Furniture HomeStore here, the 10,000-square-foot-children’s furniture store is made up of about 70% P.J. Kids merchandise.
“We’re obviously excited,” said Vasso Unks, marketing director for P.J. Kids. “It’s our very first licensed store.” P.J. Kids hopes to open additional Rooms to Dream stores in areas of the country where the company’s merchandise is not heavily distributed. go to site corpus christi tx
Green has had an ear tuned to this market for some time. “I’ve been watching the industry for quite a few years,” he said. “This is a segment that really hasn’t been addressed correctly.” Rooms to Dream carries children’s furniture from crib to college, and includes a selection of furniture from Stanley in addition to the P.J. Kids merchandise. Green is keeping his vendor list small–a recipe that’s proven successful for him in the past.
“I’d been shopping all the companies that offered these products,” he said. “And you want to saddle up with the horse that’s running the race. We see (P.J.) as the frontrunner in this category…. They have good-looking concepts, their salability is very good, and they offer a turnkey solution.” “Catering to children and their needs is what this store and P.J. Kids is all about,” said Stewart Paul, president of P.J. Kids. “We have always been about stimulating a child’s imagination–creating an environment that is filled with fun and fantasy.” The store is full of fun; it even features a real vintage 1942 American La Franc fire engine–one of three working models in the world–complete with its original paint and a working siren. The truck is part of a tie-in with the Firehouse Loft collection in P.J. Kids’ Better Basics line. go to website corpus christi tx
Green hopes that the fire engine will act not only as a display item, but also as a place for kids to play while their parents shop. He also plans to use the fire engine for local functions.
The store also features a castle, for what Green called the “fairy princess look,” an African-themed jungle vignette complete with wild animal sounds, and a completely furnished playhouse–which can be purchased in its entirety by the customers.
And the store hasn’t forgotten new moms–it also features an on-site party room that can be used for birthing classes or baby showers.
Another plus for moms who want value in their kids furniture: Green said many of the lines Rooms to Dream will carry feature changeable knobs and fronts, so that the furniture can change with the kids’ tastes.
“We want kids to be able to grow into what each one wants,” said Green. “When they’re a baby, the look is what mom wants. As the child develops their own personality, they can change and become their own individual.” Green said the Rooms to Dream store sits on what he calls “retail row” in Corpus Christi.
Green said he plans to open “quite a few” additional Rooms to Dream stores, with the next two likely in Kingsville, Texas, and San Antonio.
“We are looking for other visionaries like Carter Green and his family to work with and license the Room to Dream store to,” said Paul. “This type of venture is so exciting and the relationships we have with some of our retailers allows the store and gallery concept to really fly.” The next licensed P.J. Kids store is set to open in April in Pennsylvania.
Kitchen, Jane
