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Rugged Bear is planning to relaunch the children’s brand with clothing available at department stores and specialty shops nationwide.TRB Acquisitions, which purchased the rights to Rugged Bear in April, has signed licensing deals with several companies, including Cutie Pie Baby and iApparel. They will create the classic, New England style clothing across a number of categories, including newborn, infant, toddler, and children’s apparel as well as footwear, cold weather accessories, pajamas, underwear and hosiery.Eli Yedid, president and partner of TRB Acquisitions, said the company will be introducing an updated version of Rugged Bear and focusing approximately 70 percent of their products around boys’ sizes up to 18.
The Rugged Bear line will be available in July at department and specialty stores, including Lord & Taylor, Von Maur, and Peebles. –Jenn Abelson |
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Rugged Bear children’s clothing brand to relaunch
Rugged Bear is planning to relaunch the children’s brand with clothing available at department stores and specialty shops nationwide.TRB Acquisitions, which purchased the rights to Rugged Bear in April, has signed licensing deals with several companies, including Cutie Pie Baby and iApparel. They will create the classic, New England style clothing across a number [...]
Rugged Bear brand of kids clothing revived
The Rugged Bear children’s clothing brand will be resurrected this July.TRB Acquisitions, which bought the brand rights last April after the Norwood-based retailer filed for bankruptcy and liquidated its 30 stores, is planning a relaunch through national retailers. The Manhattan private-equity firm’s re-introduction of Rugged Bear will start with a fall collection that’s 70 [...]
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The Rugged Bear children’s clothing brand will be resurrected this July.TRB Acquisitions, which bought the brand rights last April after the Norwood-based retailer filed for bankruptcy and liquidated its 30 stores, is planning a relaunch through national retailers.
The Manhattan private-equity firm’s re-introduction of Rugged Bear will start with a fall collection that’s 70 percent focused on boys’ clothing up to size 18. TRB has signed five licensees to produce clothing, footwear and backpacks, which will have a collegiate, preppy look updated with trendier stylings such as top stitching, and elbow and knee patches. Retailers confirmed to carry the line so far are Lord & Taylor, Peebles and Von Maur, spokeswoman Chelsea Kunkel said. The 32-year-old Rugged Bear, which was started by the co-founder of Eastern Mountain Sports in 1980, had been owned byBostonbrokerage Detwiler Fenton Group when it filed for bankruptcy last January. “We thought it had a lot of potential to be a national brand,” Kunkel said. “We want to sort of pick up where they left off, but we want to increase the brand awareness. We’re going to use more of the logo on the clothing and make sure it’s clearly branded so people know when they see it on a child, versus having to look on the tag.” TRB estimatesRugged Bearwill generate $50 million-plus in sales this year. -—dgoodison@bostonherald.com |
Nor’Easter
Rugged Bear made its mark in New England more than 30 years ago, outfitting generations of kids in its upscale clothing. With a boost from Cutie Pie Baby’s president and founder, Eli Yedid, the brand continues on…
Rugged Bear made its mark in New England more than 30 years ago, outfitting generations of kids in its upscale clothing. With a boost from Cutie Pie Baby’s president and founder, Eli Yedid, the brand continues on, expanding beyond its northeastern haunts and into specialty and department stores across the country.
In April 2011, it was Yedid who snapped up the brand from a Chapter 7 bankruptcy auction, energized to breathe new life into it. “What attracted me to Rugged Bear were all the possibilities. It was a beloved brand with a multigenerational following. They had already conquered the New England market, but seldom used their signature bear icon on their goods and never ventured outside of the region. There was so much that could be done,” he says.
Fall ’12 will be a whirlwind for Rugged Bear. They have secured at least six licensing partnerships in areas from footwear, socks and hosiery to accessories. For its part, Cutie Pie Baby will take on the newborn and infant sizes 0 to 24 months, a category in which the wellknown infant company is very at home. Yedid and his brother Jack built Cutie Pie Baby out of their father’s general import/export wholesaling business into a company specializing in the children’s arena. For 20 years they have been manufacturing layette, snap tees, bibs, blankets and separates that line store shelves everywhere from Babies ‘R’ Us to Nordstrom and in Internet outlets such as Zulily and Macy’s.
“For Fall ’12, the infant and toddler collection is collegiate, with appliqué crests and details such as embroidery, top stitching and decorative knee and elbow patches,” says Yedid, noting preppy plaids and yarn-dyed stripes also get top billing. Cutie Pie Baby’s Rugged Bear range includes puffer vests, track suits, body suits, drawstring cargo pants and hoodies. Boys’ sizes newborn to 7 are the primary focus for the brand, although a girls’ line will be included as well.
“Rugged Bear’s sportswear and sets will be pieces that parents can count on for quality and fit,” Yedid says, but he adds, “Expect the line to have trendier details, with a modern edge.” Licensing partner iApparel LLC has created the upcoming fall Rugged Bear outerwear collection including puffers, hooded fleece jackets, puffer prams, soft shell jackets and ski jackets and pants. The outerwear comes in a variety of blues, pinks, greens and other classic colors, along with brights and neutrals in solids and patterns. Backpacks, manufactured by FAB Starpoint, will feature embroidered logos, bear zipper pulls, compasses, bungees, mesh and pockets, underscoring the adventurous spirit of the line. “The licensees’ product lines are durable and high quality,” Yedid notes. “They will stick to basic color palettes while offering versatility with a preppy feel.”
For footwear, that preppy feel will be articulated in rainboots, sandals, snow and hiking boots by Eastman Group and socks, snow socks and crib shoes in styles ranging from loafers to Mary Janes by Gina Group. To round out the collection, licensee CNY Apparel is producing the line of underwear and pajamas. “We picked companies with great reputations for quality and top-notch design that have extensive experience in the industry and in their particular expertise,” Yedid says.
Northeasterners are happy to see the beloved brand continue and grow. Buyers are also delighted to see a fresh boys’ brand that stands apart from the existing offerings in this category. The future for Rugged Bear looks decidedly bright. “Rugged Bear’s volume in their heyday was 40 million a year. We will do more than 50 million in 2012, and by 2013 I project this will be a 100 million-plus brand,” says Yedid. “Also, I plan on re-opening the stores in 2014. The fun is just beginning.”
Earnshaw’s January Issues Covers Our Launch
Check out the January issue of Earnshaw’s to find an article about our launch!
Check out the January issue of Earnshaw’s to find an article about our launch!
Cub Club Activities
Rugged Bear is constantly looking for organizations that target the health and well-being of our Rugged Bear Cubs.
Rugged Bear is constantly looking for organizations that target the health and well-being of our Rugged Bear Cubs. Most recently, we hosted a public donation site for the New York Cares Annual Coat Drive. Check here for current Cub Club activities.