Whimsy and Fashion Meet Groundbreaking New Retail Concept

CABOT, VT, Nov. 2, 2011 --  Zutano, the Vermont-based designer of children’s clothing, accessories and home products along with WONDER!, the largest retail destination for children’s products, are proud to announce that they will be launching a Zutano “concept shop” within WONDER!’s first retail location in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield, Illl.  An astounding 135,000-square-foot retail destination, WONDER! has reinvented the way families shop for all baby and kid needs.

Wonder! is the ultimate shopping destination for families. In addition to a vast selection of baby gear, furniture, bedding, apparel, unique toys and much more, WONDER! features a half-acre of interactive play space that includes 20-foot live trees, 10 classrooms and a unique programming stage that will host special events, concerts and activities.

WONDER!, founded by Chicago-native Shane Christensen, is focused on children ages birth to seven years. The Zutano concept shop will be the only stand-alone branded space within WONDER!  World-renowned Chicago-based firm, Gensler has created a revolutionary interior design for the expansive WONDER! space that offers a lively, fresh and inspiring environment that will appeal to young children and their parents.

The Zutano concept shop within WONDER! will capture the whimsical essence of Zutano, known for its one-of-a kind colorful patterns and stylish design.  Guided by the design expertise of Uli Belenky, Zutano founder and designer, the space is inspired by Zutano’s corporate headquarters in Cabot Vermont, a 70-acre farm that was transformed into the hub of the company’s thriving international business.  Zutano has a flagship store in Montpelier, VT, a store within Vermont’s legendary Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT as well as a store within New York City’s famed FAO Schwarz Toy Store. 

The 200 sq. ft. space will feature a wall of amazing sculptural displays made of ‘tumbling’ baby chairs with spaces for Zutano clothes to hang.  A fantastic cascading chandelier created from baby milk bottles, designed by Vermont artist Elliott Katz, will cast a warm glow over the entire space.  Zutano ‘wonder boxes,’ colorful, lighted cubicles will hold folded Zutano pieces.

WONDER! has an expansion plan to enter other major markets in the next year.  The company also plans to simultaneously launch an e-commerce destination, www.shopwonder.com, to appeal to millions of parents searching online daily for the best children’s products.  The WONDER! store will create a sense of community and encourage frequent visits.  WONDER! will feature an indoor café specializing in healthy snack and meal options.  Other resources for families include a customized party space, a state-of-the-art baby registry area and family-focused programming that will include child-focused experts, trunk shows, arts and crafts activities and musical performances.

The Zutano headquarters in Cabot, VT is not only where the line is created, but also the epicenter of inspiration, a place where natural beauty meets babies and Zutano’s dedication to the belief that every child’s individuality is celebrated.  The WONDER! shop will ‘channel’ Zutano’s inspirations and feature Zutano’s full product line, from newborn to toddler, of sweet and sophisticated designs to WONDER!  The store will be staffed by a specially-trained WONDER! employees who will know all of the facets of the Zutano product line.  Shoppers will experience the depth of Zutano patterns and be able to take advantage of the many creative ways they can be mixed and matched to perfectly capture the uniqueness of their child.

“We are thrilled to be working with WONDER!, it’s a fantastic retail partnership,”  says Michael Belenky, President of Zutano.  “We share the same outlook on the ideal parent shopping experience, one that will engage the whole family and create a fun experience for the shopper as well as for the children.  Color, playfulness and an uplifting atmosphere perfectly captures what the Zutano
brand stands for.”

"We are absolutely thrilled to feature the first Zutano boutique in Chicago and the second in the country at WONDER!," said Shane Christensen, Chairman and Founder of WONDER!. "Our brands are perfectly aligned in our desire to make the children's retail space fun, creative and whimsical. Together, we offer unique options for families who are looking for that something special for their children they can't find anywhere else."

About Zutano
Zutano began with an amazingly simple idea that was inspired by the arrival of Michael and Uli Belenky’s first daughter —create high-quality clothes with a variety that comes from mixing and matching prints, patterns and textures. The result was a lovingly created line of baby clothes that was as unique as their precious daughter. Today, twenty-two years later, they continue to create magical children’s products in the foothills of Cabot, Vermont.  Zutano strives to support a nurturing world for babies to come into. The company believes that business has a responsibility to appropriately manage and protect the environment and community through respectful holistic practices locally as well as globally.  Zutano is one of the most influential brands in children’s fashion and a category leader for design innovation. It is a solid example of a sustainable global business based in the hills of Cabot, Vermont. Founded by Uli and Michael Belenky in 1989, Zutano is now available at more than 1,500 gift and specialty boutiques and retailers worldwide as well as on the web at select e-tailers and Zutano.com.  New York’s famed FAO Schwarz houses a 500-sq ft. Zutano boutique, which carries the entire line of sweet and sophisticated designs.   

About WONDER!
WONDER!, based in Deerfield, Ill., is the first-of-its-kind children’s retailer that will provide the country’s largest collection of young children’s products and services under one roof. Its first 135,000-square-foot store will focus on children ages birth to seven and offer a wide assortment of brand name children’s basics and consumables that will include everything from apparel and shoes to toys, gear and furniture, as well as unique, high-quality specialty and boutique merchandise. Focused on a Passion for Parents™ philosophy, WONDER! also will feature a 21,000-square-foot indoor play area, as well as dynamic party spaces to create a one-stop shopping solution for parents. For more information about WONDER! visit www.shopwonder.com.

For More Information:
For more detailed product information, please contact Ann Pechaver: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 802-578-7512.  Visit the Zutano web site at http://www.zutano.com