Crown Crafts Signs Nautica Infant/Juvenile Deal

By Michele SanFilippo -- Home Textiles Today, 11/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Gonzales, La. —

Crown Crafts, Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with Nautica Apparel, Inc. to design, produce, market and sell infant, toddler and juvenile bedding, blankets, bibs, bath products, diaper bags and accessories under the Nautica brand.

“This new license allows us to sell new product categories to retailers that we have never sold to in the past,” said Randall Chestnut, Crown Crafts chairman, president and CEO. “We will now be able to tap into the juvenile market, which has become increasingly important over the past few years as retailers expand their product lines past infant-focused items.”

Nanci Freeman, president and CEO of Crown Crafts Infant Products, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, added, “More mothers are finding out the gender of their babies before birth and want to purchase gender-specific room décor that can be used past the toddler stage.” She said that products developed under this license will be age-appropriate through juvenile years and easily transitioned with twin and full convertible cribs.

Denise Seegal, president and CEO of Nautica Enterprises, Inc., said the company has been looking for the right partner to launch its infant, toddler and juvenile bedding and accessories collections for quite some time.