The company was originally named Pansy Ellen Products, and was founded in 1969 primarily as an infant bath and toy manufacturer.[7] In 1992, the company debuted its products in Toys "R" Us stores.[7] The company re-branded in 1993 and changed its name to Kids II, Inc.[7] Kids II began licensing for Disney in 1999.[7]
In 2001, Kids 2 opened its first international office in Hong Kong.[7] The company expanded to Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan, and Canada by 2006[7][8] The company expanded its Hong Kong - based testing lab with the addition of a chemical testing sector in 2009.[7]
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) partnered with the company in December, 2010.[9][10] The partnership allowed SCAD students to conceptualize and prototype toy concepts for the company.[9][10] The firm acquired the Oball and Taggies brands the following year.[11]
In 2012, the company relocated its headquarters from Alpharetta, to Atlanta.[1] The company's new office space and showroom were a finalist in the design category for Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2012 Best in Atlanta Real Estate Awards.[1] The company was also a finalist in the 2011 Georgia Family Business Awards in the large business category.[12] Kids II opened an office in Johannesburg, South Africa in March 2012.[4][13] The company was one of the first companies in the industry to expand its direct global distribution in South Africa according to Vertical News.[13]
The company received 11 awards at the Graphic Design USA Awards for its package design in 2012.[14] Kids II attended Kind + Jugend, an international juvenile products trade fair in Cologne, Germany.[15] The company showed 350 SKUs at the show.[15] The Atlanta Business Chronicle named Kids II one of the best places to work in Atlanta in 2013.[16][17]
In October 2013, Kids 2 acquired Baby Einstein, formerly owned by The Walt Disney Company.[18] Baby Einstein products use real world objects, music, art, animals and nature with the intention to introduce infants to the world around them.[18][19]
In April 2019, Kids 2 announced a recall of 700,000 inclined baby sleepers sold under a variety of different brand names and models. [20] In August 2019, Kids II announced a name change to Kids2, opening a new factory in China and launching a new direct to consumer website.[21]
In July 2022, Kids 2 acquired a public company, Summer Infant, out of Woonsocket, RI. Summer Infant is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Kids2 and part of the Kids2 Group.[22]
OperationsEdit
In 2018, Kids II was named one of Atlanta's top 50 Private Companies.
In November 2018, Kids 2 launched Kids2.com, a resource for early stage parents.
Kids II has approximately 750 employees worldwide in 8 offices.[4][6]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcGiannina Smith Bedford (March 2, 2012). "KIDS II Buckhead showroom offers flexible product displays". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^Jane Margolies (May 1, 2012). "Just Us Kids: Kids II's Whimsical Atlanta Office". Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^ abGiannina Smith Bedford (February 3, 2012). "Kids II moves offices, showroom to Terminus". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^ abcdefLouis Mayeux (March 7, 2012). "Kids II Moves Global Headquarters to Buckhead". Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^Bill Hendrick (April 28, 2013). "Up Close: A Look into Metro Atlanta Businesses: Innovative toy company growing: Atlanta's Kids II Inc. competes against bigger rivals". The Atlanta Journal.
^ abKristy J. OHara (January 3, 2012). "How Ryan Gunnigle keeps Kids II ahead of the curve". Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^ abcdefg"Kids II". Retail Merchandiser Strategies For Growth. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^"Toy and Game Companies; Kids II, Inc. Expands to Japan". China Weekly News. June 14, 2011.
^ ab"Collaborative Learning Center Kids II: Conceptualizing New Toy Designs". SCAD. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^ ab"Kids II Partners with SCAD". December 28, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^"Toy and Game Companies; Kids II, Inc. Acquires Taggies, Rhino Toys". Entertainment Newsweekly. July 1, 2011.
^"KSU Announces Winners of The '2011 Georgia Family Business of The Year' Awards". Kennesaw State University. July 5, 2011.
^ ab"Toy and Game Companies; Kids II Expands Global Footprint with Addition of South Africa Office". Entertainment Newsweekly. March 9, 2012.
^. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^ abJane Kitchen (September 18, 2012). "North American attendance on the rise at Kind + Jugend". Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^Jacques Couret (September 13, 2013). "Atlanta's 2013 Best Places To Work Awards". Atlanta Business Chronicle.
^"Kids II Named a Best Place to Work by Atlanta Business Chronicle". India Retail News. September 26, 2012.
^ ab"Kids II Purchases Baby Einstein". October 14, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^. August 11, 2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^"Kids II recalls 700,000 baby sleepers including Ingenuity, Bright Starts, Disney brands".
^Inc, Kids II (2019-08-14). "Kids II Announces New Name, Online Retail, and Manufacturing Facility". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2019-09-14. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^"Kids2, Inc. to Acquire SUMR Brands". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-08-11.
October 21, 2023
kids, kids, doing, business, online, kids2, american, infant, toddler, product, manufacturer, based, atlanta, georgia, company, designs, manufactures, markets, bright, starts, baby, einstein, ingenuity, brand, products, kids, international, affiliate, operatio. Kids 2 Inc doing business online as Kids2 is an American infant and toddler toy and product manufacturer based in Atlanta Georgia 1 2 The company designs manufactures and markets Bright Starts Baby Einstein and Ingenuity brand products 3 4 Kids 2 has international affiliate operation locations in Australia Canada Europe China Hong Kong Japan and Mexico 3 4 In 2013 Kids II had more than 400 products under its brands 4 5 Kids2 Inc FormerlyPansy Ellen Products Inc Kids IITypePrivateFounded1969 54 years ago 1969 HeadquartersAtlanta Georgia U S Key peopleRyan Gunnigle CEO BrandsBright Starts Baby Einstein IngenuityOwnerRyan GunnigleNumber of employees750Websitewww wbr kids2 wbr comRyan Gunnigle is the company s CEO 4 6 History EditThe company was originally named Pansy Ellen Products and was founded in 1969 primarily as an infant bath and toy manufacturer 7 In 1992 the company debuted its products in Toys R Us stores 7 The company re branded in 1993 and changed its name to Kids II Inc 7 Kids II began licensing for Disney in 1999 7 In 2001 Kids 2 opened its first international office in Hong Kong 7 The company expanded to Mexico the United Kingdom Australia China Japan and Canada by 2006 7 8 The company expanded its Hong Kong based testing lab with the addition of a chemical testing sector in 2009 7 The Savannah College of Art and Design SCAD partnered with the company in December 2010 9 10 The partnership allowed SCAD students to conceptualize and prototype toy concepts for the company 9 10 The firm acquired the Oball and Taggies brands the following year 11 In 2012 the company relocated its headquarters from Alpharetta to Atlanta 1 The company s new office space and showroom were a finalist in the design category for Atlanta Business Chronicle s 2012 Best in Atlanta Real Estate Awards 1 The company was also a finalist in the 2011 Georgia Family Business Awards in the large business category 12 Kids II opened an office in Johannesburg South Africa in March 2012 4 13 The company was one of the first companies in the industry to expand its direct global distribution in South Africa according to Vertical News 13 The company received 11 awards at the Graphic Design USA Awards for its package design in 2012 14 Kids II attended Kind Jugend an international juvenile products trade fair in Cologne Germany 15 The company showed 350 SKUs at the show 15 The Atlanta Business Chronicle named Kids II one of the best places to work in Atlanta in 2013 16 17 In October 2013 Kids 2 acquired Baby Einstein formerly owned by The Walt Disney Company 18 Baby Einstein products use real world objects music art animals and nature with the intention to introduce infants to the world around them 18 19 In April 2019 Kids 2 announced a recall of 700 000 inclined baby sleepers sold under a variety of different brand names and models 20 In August 2019 Kids II announced a name change to Kids2 opening a new factory in China and launching a new direct to consumer website 21 In July 2022 Kids 2 acquired a public company Summer Infant out of Woonsocket RI Summer Infant is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Kids2 and part of the Kids2 Group 22 Operations EditIn 2018 Kids II was named one of Atlanta s top 50 Private Companies In November 2018 Kids 2 launched Kids2 com a resource for early stage parents Kids II has approximately 750 employees worldwide in 8 offices 4 6 References Edit a b c Giannina Smith Bedford March 2 2012 KIDS II Buckhead showroom offers flexible product displays Atlanta Business Chronicle Retrieved August 25 2014 Jane Margolies May 1 2012 Just Us Kids Kids II s Whimsical Atlanta Office Retrieved August 25 2014 a b Giannina Smith Bedford February 3 2012 Kids II moves offices showroom to Terminus Atlanta Business Chronicle Retrieved August 25 2014 a b c d e f Louis Mayeux March 7 2012 Kids II Moves Global Headquarters to Buckhead Retrieved August 25 2014 Bill Hendrick April 28 2013 Up Close A Look into Metro Atlanta Businesses Innovative toy company growing Atlanta s Kids II Inc competes against bigger rivals The Atlanta Journal a b Kristy J OHara January 3 2012 How Ryan Gunnigle keeps Kids II ahead of the curve Retrieved August 25 2014 a b c d e f g Kids II Retail Merchandiser Strategies For Growth Retrieved August 25 2014 Toy and Game Companies Kids II Inc Expands to Japan China Weekly News June 14 2011 a b Collaborative Learning Center Kids II Conceptualizing New Toy Designs SCAD Retrieved August 25 2014 a b Kids II Partners with SCAD December 28 2010 Retrieved August 25 2014 Toy and Game Companies Kids II Inc Acquires Taggies Rhino Toys Entertainment Newsweekly July 1 2011 KSU Announces Winners of The 2011 Georgia Family Business of The Year Awards Kennesaw State University July 5 2011 a b Toy and Game Companies Kids II Expands Global Footprint with Addition of South Africa Office Entertainment Newsweekly March 9 2012 American Inhouse Design Awards 2012 Archived from the original on September 3 2014 Retrieved August 25 2014 a b Jane Kitchen September 18 2012 North American attendance on the rise at Kind Jugend Retrieved August 25 2014 Jacques Couret September 13 2013 Atlanta s 2013 Best Places To Work Awards Atlanta Business Chronicle Kids II Named a Best Place to Work by Atlanta Business Chronicle India Retail News September 26 2012 a b Kids II Purchases Baby Einstein October 14 2013 Retrieved August 25 2014 Kids II buys Baby Einstein August 11 2013 Archived from the original on November 12 2013 Retrieved August 25 2014 Kids II recalls 700 000 baby sleepers including Ingenuity Bright Starts Disney brands Inc Kids II 2019 08 14 Kids II Announces New Name Online Retail and Manufacturing Facility GlobeNewswire News Room Retrieved 2019 09 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a last has generic name help Kids2 Inc to Acquire SUMR Brands finance yahoo com Retrieved 2022 08 11 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kids II Inc amp oldid 1165888832, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
