Award-winning infant and toddler products company broadens direct global distribution strategy with new Johannesburg location
Kids II, one of the world's fastest growing infant and toddler product companies, has opened its newest office in South Africa, expanding the company's global footprint to six continents and more than 70 countries. The new location offers unprecedented benefits to major retailers by expanding the company's direct global distribution channels in South Africa, now considered one of the world's most significant emerging markets. Located in Johannesburg, the new office opened February 1, 2012.
"There is great potential for global expansion with direct distribution in South Africa," said Scott Dale, VP of International Sales for Kids II. "Establishing a permanent Kids II presence in Johannesburg will create a solid long-term platform for our business across all of Africa and enable us to bring even more product innovations to the continent."
Kids II is one of the first companies in the industry to expand its direct global distribution in South Africa. While it has had a presence in Africa for more than a decade through a local distributor, all sales and partnerships will now be driven and managed by the Kids II Johannesburg office. Sales efforts in the new office will be spearheaded by a newly hired national account manager, who brings nearly a decade of international sales experience. Additional staff will be added in the coming months.
The South Africa opening comes on the heels of Kids II's recent relocation of its global headquarters to the heart of Atlanta, Ga. in a 100,000 square foot space that features state-of-the-art equipment and a design-driven product showroom. With seven brands and more than 100 award-winning products in its portfolio, the company has experienced an average of more than 20% annual growth and expects to hire at least 50 new employees in 2012, adding to the global employee base of nearly 400 worldwide employees.
About Kids II, Inc.
Kids II has been inventing and reinventing infant and toddler toys and gear for more than 40 years and has quickly become one of the world's fastest growing baby products companies. Headquartered in Atlanta, Kids II designs, markets and distributes more than 400 unique infant and toddler products, selling more than 22.8 million items per year. The brand portfolio strength runs deep under the Kids II umbrella, which includes its signature brands Bright Starts™, InGenuity™ and Comfort & Harmony™, as well as licenses to design and manufacture products for Disney™, Baby Einstein™, Rhino Toys™ and Taggies™. Kids II spans globally with operations in six continents and more than 70 countries. Visit www.kidsii.com.
Contacts:
Kids II, Inc.
Tara King, 678-597-1778
Tara.King@kidsii.com