School Lunches (and Snacks too!)

What to put in your adorable Princess Linens Chalkboard Lunch Tote? Try these kid-friendly recipes sure to make all the kids jealous of your little one in the cafeteria!

Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwiches:

1/2c Salsa Verde (see recipe below)

8 slices (1/2” thick ea) Tuscan bread

2 medium ripe tomatoes, each cut into 4 slices

8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 8 slices

Spread about 1 tbsp of Salsa Verde on 1 side of each slice of bread. Place 2 tomato slices and 2 mozzarella slices on 4 slices of bread. Place remaining slices of bread, sauce side down, on top. Cut each sandwich in half, place in resealable container and pack into the lunch tote.

Recipe adapted from: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/fresh-mozzarella-tomato-sandwiches-2071

Salsa Verde Recipe:

1 clove garlic, cut in half

¼ tsp salt

2c (packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves

1/3c olive oil

3 tbsp capers, drained

3 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients, blending until finely chopped in a food processor with a knife blade attachment or in a blender. Store covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Recipe adapted from: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/salsa-verde-463

Pizza Roll-up (one of our favorite “special treats” for our little ones)

Using a whole wheat or whole grain tortilla, spread tomato/pizza sauce on one side of the tortilla. This part is up to you, but then add chicken, mushrooms, spinach, ham, pineapple, or turkey or regular pepperoni. Spread an even amount of shredded cheese, preferably a pizza mix (mozzarella, parmesan, etc.). Pop it in the microwave for about 1 minute. Allow to cool and roll up. Cut the Pizza Roll-up into pieces for your little one to enjoy at lunch and pack in a resealable container to go directly into their lunch tote!

Fun (and healthier too!) Chips

Using fun cookie cutters, cut a flour tortilla or wrap. Arrange on cookie sheet and toast in a 400 degree oven for 6-8 minutes. Pack in your child’s lunch tote with hummus, bean dip, etc for on the go snacking.

Want another cute idea? Brush a small amount of olive oil or cooking spray onto the chips after baking and add Parmesan cheese or cinnamon and sugar.

Adapted from: http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/baglunches.htm

What to expect at a gift show

Is this your first trip to the America’s Mart for the Atlanta Gift Show, or more formally called, The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market? If so, here is a snapshot of what you may expect and how to prepare. If not, it’s always good to refresh your memory and maybe even your approach to market!

1. Know what you want to buy, what season you are buying for, and anticipate your needs. Typically, in July, you will place Holiday orders. Seems a little early, but this is industry standard. Plan accordingly. Know where you want to go. The America’s Mart publishes The Market! Guide in printed form and has information available online at http://www.americasmart.com/exhibitor-dir/. Research companies and their products ahead of time and make a must-visit list.
2. Budget and stick with your plan. It is overwhelming to go to the many floors of the mart and walk through the temporaries. There are some great items and fun, flashy designs – many of which will draw your eye! Add in some extra space in your budget to bring in new lines – after all, your customers are always interested in unique items they haven’t seen everywhere.
3. Keep records and make sure to remember what you buy and your ship dates. After each purchase, take a moment to file an order copy in a folder so that you can refer to it while at another showroom or at the end of the day to reflect on what you have already purchased. It would be disheartening to purchase two of the same items without realizing!
4. The Temporaries vs. Permanent Showrooms. The temporaries are vendors that have a temporary space at the mart – they do not have permanent showrooms and will only be available during market times. This is often the best place to find unique items manufactured by smaller companies. Minimums are usually lower and in many cases, they will get to know you and your store should you choose to do business with them. The permanent showrooms are just that – they have a permanent space in the mart. They are available year round, not just at market times and tend to be larger companies and companies that rep multiple lines. These showrooms can be great for staple items and can be a quick way to fill your store (and your budget) fast!

Remember, the Mart will be crowded. Make sure to establish a meeting place for your group in the event that you should get separated or you choose to “divide and conquer.” Perhaps, the best piece of advice: Wear COMFORTABLE Shoes!

Good Luck!

Stop by and come see us! Located in the temporaries, we are in Building 3, Floor 5, Booth #208.

Make Sets with Current Products

Have current plush inventory? No problem! Make a cute gift set that someone can pick up and give out the same day.

Simply attach a Crayon Keeper to the stuffed animal - you can use a color-coordinating ribbon, plastic fasteners or even wrap the animal's arms/legs around the product. You have just created a quick $25 gift, great for the register or for a sibling gifts section!

How Do I Sell the Crayon Apron/Toolbelt?

Are your customers not quite sure what the Crayon Apron or Crayon Toolbelt actually is? Get creative with your displays! Dress a child-size mannequin in a cute, comfortable lazy-day outfit, fill the apron with crayons and attach it.

Doodlebugz Fun with Gift Baskets!

What better way to merchandise product? Put it in a gift basket and make it a set! Your customers (and the person receiving the gift) will value the ready-made gift that looks like it took more than a quick trip to the store to produce.

Try a basket, try a little red wagon. Mix stuffed animals currently in your store, additional art products or even a little candy! The possibilities are endless.

Have you ever thought...

... of taking the Crayon Keeper out of the tube and wrapping the ribbon around the crayons? It's a colorful and bright way to stress the creative side of the Crayon Keeper.

Plus, it fits great in a gift basket this way!

Introducing Princess Linens Assortments!

We have just introduced several new assortments to make your life easier! Now you do not have the hassle of trying to figure out what quantities, colors and sizes to buy - we have done it for you!

Including our best selling items and colors, these assortments have what you need to make your shelves "pop" and keep customers coming back for more!

Available Assortments are:

Doodlebugz Best Seller Assortment

Doodlebugz "Grab and Go" Assortment

New! "Petite Picasso" Assortment

New! "Petite Picasso" $25 and Under Assortment

Spring Pique Sibling Assortment

Want to know the best part? You SAVE MONEY! Get each assortment at a discounted rate versus regular pricing!
***Remember to log in to see Wholesale Pricing***

Turn things Upside Down with the Crayon Keeper!

Turn the Crayon Keeper into a Crayon Caddy with a few simple folds!

Love not having crayons at the bottom of your purse? Have you finally given in and thrown out the beat up plastic baggy at the bottom of the diaper bag that held crayons? If so, you will be happy to know there is one more thing you can do with the Crayon Keeper!

Fold the crayons to the outside, roll it and secure it and it makes a Crayon Caddy. Perfect to use while you are out at dinner - it holds the crayons in place and best of all, when you are ready to go, you unroll it, fold the crayons to the inside, roll it up and throw it in your bag!

It's that simple!

Do I have to merchandise well to retail? Yes! Quick tips you can start today!

1. Display the Product - When is the last time you purchased something without looking at it? In today's economy, people are less likely to purchase something without knowing the full functionality of the item. Give that to them - they deserve it! Simply placing an item on a shelf, waiting for someone to come along just isn't enough! People are used to getting information quickly and do not want to think about their purchases for too long. Help them out with this! Take the product out of the package - show it's full functionality. Yes, you may render 1 product unsaleable, but you have just doubled your total sales!

2. Get Creative - Do you have merchandise that would sell well as a set? What if it is not already packaged together? Get creative with retailing - make it a set! Try tying multiple items together with a ribbon, placing them in a nice basket or even wrapping with cellophane.

3. Plan Ahead - Do holidays come and go in your store? How about the not-so-obvious ones like St. Patrick's Day, Earth Day or even Armed Forces Day? Pull out your collection of green and think of a fun way to retail it. Have camo in your store? Put it on a table and find pieces that complement: even red, white and blue merchandise well with camo. By planning ahead, you will ensure that you have the proper merchandise for each occasion and your store will appear more organized (although we know you were very organized before!).

New Product Alert:: Put the "fun" back in lunch from home!

As our children get older, buying lunch at school can become more and more appealing. Their friends are lined up, waiting for their portion of macaroni and cheese, mystery meat and canned peaches - and your kid wants theirs too!

With school dietary guidelines changing, fresh fruit requirements are satisfied with a sugary swig of "fruit" juice, vegetables are overcooked and lose nutritional value and meats are prepared with fillers and additives to cut down on costs. So, how do you encourage your children to eat better and enjoy the lunch you pack?

Write your children a note on the Princess Linens' Chalkboard Lunch Tote! With a chalkboard located under the lid, it's the perfect place to encourage your child to do their best on an upcoming test or just to say good luck at their soccer game. You could even leave a reminder to turn in their fieldtrip form to their teacher. To make sure your note is not erased, the chalkboard has a plastic covering to prevent erasure due to condensation.

The lunch tote has an adjustable shoulder strap to grow with your child, a front and back pocket to stuff snacks and for recess and breaks and measures 9"x5"x5". Have the front pocket personalized with their name and make it just for them!

Available in Hot Pink, Blue or Camouflage. The product will be available to ship in April - reserve yours from your favorite retailer or Princess Linens today!

Winner :: Giveaway

Congratulations to Leanne of Preppy in Paradise has won our Easter Basket Giveaway. We hope you enjoy it!

Congratulations!

Welcome to our Blog :: Giveaway!

Welcome to the Princess Linens Blog! To start our blog off with a bang, we are giving away stuff! A Doodlebugz Crayola Easter Basket to be exact!


Stuffed with a Doodlebugz Doodlebag, a Doodlebugz Chalk Talk Chalkboard Placemat, a Doodlebugz Crayon Keeper, a cuddly bunny and plenty of candy to keep your budding artist's creativity soaring!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post. (Please include your email address or a way to contact you - we will need this to contact you if you win.)

Want additional entries? You got it! Enter more than once by:

1. Follow @PrincessLinens on Twitter and tweet the contest (you can do this once a day until the contest ends on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST). Please make sure to reference @PrincessLinens in your tweet so that we can count your submission.


2. Become a Princess Linens Facebook Fan. (If you already are, please leave a comment on our Facebook wall to let us know.)


3. Blog about the contest. (Leave the URL as a comment on this post so that we may read your blog.)


4. Subscribe to our blog feed.

Deadline is Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be drawn at random.

Good luck!