Say it isn’t so. Ascena Retail Group Inc., the owner of beloved brands such as Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant, and Justice has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. They join a growing list of retailers having to do so as a result of the pandemic.
Ascena owns nearly 3,00 stores found in malls across the country. As part of its bankruptcy plan, the company said it would close at least 1,200 locations including all of its Catherines stores, a significant number of Justice stores and a select number of Ann Taylor, Loft, Lane Bryant and Lou & Grey stores.
Gary Muto, Chief Executive Officer of ascena commented, “Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant, Justice and Lou & Grey have incredibly loyal customers who are at the center of everything we do. These iconic brands have significant long-term potential and we continue to deliver on their mission to provide all women and girls with fashion and inspiration to live confidently every day. This comprehensive restructuring, as well as the actions we are taking to optimize our brand portfolio and store fleet, mark a new start for our company and will allow us to expand our customer-focused strategies across her mobile, online, and store experiences.”
Ascena temporarily closed their locations in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. They began reopening locations in early may as state authorities began lifting restrictions. The company noted lower than normal traffic at their reopened stores.
Muto continued, “I am incredibly proud of the entire team for their commitment to serving our customers during what continues to be a challenging period for retail, our communities and our friends and families. We have a clear vision for our future and we will continue delivering meaningful experiences for our customers each and every day. We look forward to our continued partnerships with our valued vendors, landlords and other stakeholders as we emerge from Chapter 11, and this pandemic, as a stronger company.”
While vacation plans have drastically changed this year families are still looking to get away. Parents have relied on Totts to deliver needed supplies to their destination. Now Totts is learning how to serve families in a new way by offering a new Safe Travels Kit.
Totts takes care of all the consumables you need for your trip so you don’t need to tote around those bulky diaper and wipes packages. They also will send those little things that pile up like detergent, body wash and hand sanitizer.
Totts created a comprehensive package of the most trusted brands for each stage. Packages are developed based on age and length of stay. Packages are delivered to your hotel or vacation rental just in time for your arrival so you are never without necessary supplies.
This summer, Totts has updated safety procedures in accordance with CDC guidelines and will continue to offer boxes of select items focused on safety and curated for your family’s trip. Based on availability, the Totts site and product pages will be updated frequently to reflect what’s in stock.
The new Safe Travels kit retails for $19.99 and includes:
From the first moment you meet them (and probably before) you’ve done everything in your power to keep your little ones safe and sound. From doctor visits to child care, you’ve probably researched high and low to help make informed choices for your child. But do you know when your child should receive their first eye exam?
You’re not alone if you don’t! In fact, a survey from VSP Vision Care and market research agency, YouGov, found that a whopping 88 percent of parents did not know that their children should receive their first eye exam at six months old. And, twice as many parents worry about their children’s dental problems vs. their vision issues – even though most children lose their baby teeth by age 12.
We caught up with busy mom and VSP network eye doctor, Dr. Jennifer Wademan, to weigh in on the best age to get an eye exam, what to expect at the appointment, and how to find the right eye doctor for your family. Read on for our Q&A with Dr. Wademan.
At what age should my child have their first comprehensive eye exam?
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Dr. Wademan: Many parents don't realize this, but the first comprehensive eye exam should be around six months of age. You may have had vision screenings with your pediatric doctor, but a comprehensive eye exam is recommended at the age of six months.
Wow! That's surprising. Six months seems very early; why does my baby need an eye exam at such an early age?
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Dr. Wademan: A lot of important visual skills are developing and should be present around six months of age. That includes the baby’s focusing ability—the ability to fixate on something, usually mom or dad’s face. Also, color vision and depth perception. Those are really important skills that we want to make sure are present at that age.
Especially with babies it’s difficult to tell; they’re not going to be able to tell you what they're seeing or what they're not seeing, so an eye exam can help determine those visual skills.
How often should my child have eye exams?
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Dr. Wademan: The first one should be at six months and then again at three years. The next one should be five or six years old, that age right before they start kindergarten. That’s usually a really good protocol. And then after that an annual comprehensive eye exam is a must.
Remember that babies and children are building a visual library so it's really important to make sure that what they're seeing is clear and unobstructed, and that there’s no visual impairment. That way, if there are any issues present, we can address it earlier on as they're building a more accurate visual library which is essential for their growth and development. This is especially important for their success as they approach school age.
Is there anything I can do ahead of time to help my child feel more comfortable at their eye exam?
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Dr. Wademan: It depends on the age of your child: for babies at six months, making sure you're not scheduling the appointment right at nap time or right when the baby needs to eat.
For an older child, I think it's important just to prepare the child by talking to them. Tell them what to expect and address any concerns or fears they may have before the appointment. I often tell parents to bring your child in at the same time as your exam, let them sit on your lap, so they can watch you do the exam first. Then, when it's time for the child's exam, it's a little easier: they know what to expect.
Really an eye exam is probably the easiest health exam for a child (I'm a little biased). We try to make the experience fun and exciting with toys, cartoons and a treasure chest.
Are there any signs that I should look for to know if my baby/child has vision problems?
Dr. Wademan: It’s important to bring your baby or child in to an eye doctor because their regular pediatric exam is an eye screening, not a comprehensive exam. A comprehensive eye exam goes beyond just clear vision for kids— it can play an important role in mobility and eye coordination, the early detection of chronic diseases like diabetes, and creating a baseline for when changes in vision occur as the child develops.
Another thing parents may notice are eyes not tracking together (lazy eye) in children. It’s important to keep in mind that babies can’t really articulate if something is blurry. Even with older kids, when they're hitting that school age, kids can't really articulate blurry versus clear vision. If a child’s vision is blurry, that’s the picture they’re looking through and oftentimes they don’t know that they should be seeing things any differently.
Beyond ensuring clear vision, are there other eye health and overall health-related issues the eye doctor is looking for?
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Dr. Wademan: In addition to vision issues, there are other diseases that can be present, so it’s important to create a baseline at a very young age. Diabetes, eye pressure, congenital cataracts, lazy eye, all of these can occur in kids. The younger they are and the earlier we are able to treat, the better the prognosis is long term for their overall vision and health.
Starting from birth to about eight years old is where we see a lot of developmental changes and so some of those conditions that we can treat earlier on, means that they're going to be seeing clear and comfortable for years to come. There's a critical window where you want to check everything out. I’m a mom and I noticed my daughter, who is six, wasn’t doing as well in school as I thought she would. I took her to get an eye exam and it turned out she needed glasses. Keep in mind, a child’s vision can change out of the blue and fairly quickly. It’s like their shoe size— it can stay the same for a year but then change two sizes in three months. So, you just never know unless you have that comprehensive eye exam.
Anything parents should know about dilation? Is dilation safe for kids?
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Dr. Wademan: Dilation is safe for kids and is done for two reasons:
The first reason is to get a better look inside the back of the eye. Think of it like window opening, dilation makes it easier to see through thus I can see in the eye more extensively.
Secondly, it relaxes a child's whole focusing system, which allows me to get a much more accurate representation if the child has a prescription whether for nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Parents should know the eye drops can last anywhere from four-to-12 hours, and sometimes your child will get a bit tired. There aren’t really any other side effects, although for some children the eye drops may sting a little bit.
What are the most common issues you see in children during eye exams?
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Dr. Wademan: Moderate-to-higher amounts of prescriptions, whether it’s nearsightedness, farsightedness or sometimes astigmatism. The other thing I often see is lazy eye, where one eye turns out and both eyes are not focusing and working together. Any of these issues can lead to vision problems and reduced vision into adulthood if not addressed early on.
I’m not sure how to get started. What should I look for when selecting an eye doctor for my kid? Do I need to find an eye doctor who has experience with baby eye exams before making an appointment?
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Dr. Wademan: If you don't currently have an eye doctor, visit VSP.com to find an eye doctor near you. I see a lot of families from baby to teenager. Just like with any other provider, it’s important to find someone you’re comfortable asking questions and that you’re at ease with. There are specific pediatric eye doctors, but many eye doctors see babies and children through adulthood.
About Jennifer Wademan, O.D.
Dr. Jennifer Wademan
Dr. Jennifer Wademan is a VSP Network Eye Doctor currently practicing at Bidwell Optometry in Folsom, CA. She graduated from Southern California College of Optometry in 2008 and practices comprehensive optometry with training in family eye care, contact lens fittings, ocular disease, co-management of laser vision/cataract surgery and pediatrics.
Dr. Wademan enjoys her many roles at Bidwell Optometry, but also cherishes her role as mom of two girls, and a wife to an amazing husband. She is passionate about connecting with patients on a personal level and educating on a range of eye health topics. Dr. Wademan is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Calif. Optometric Association, and the Sacramento Valley Optometric Society.
Want to learn more about eye health for kids and find the right eye doctor for your family? Visit VSP.com.
Are your kids bummed because they can’t attend summer camp this year? The Be Kind American Adventure allows parents to help redirect their child’s attention in a positive way this summer. This program focuses on character youth education all while virtually traveling from The Space Needle to The Statue of Liberty.
The Be Kind People Project is committed to reaching children wherever and however they learn, which means bringing summer camp online! The Be Kind American Adventure is a virtual field trip that allows kids to discover and learn about 10 exciting American landmarks as if they were road tripping across the USA.
The online program includes virtual exploration of American landmarks, social interaction with weekly Zoom calls, fun and interactive project-based learning, healthy family-friendly recipes, kindness and wellness activities, amazing coloring pages, virtual souvenirs, postcards, stickers, and certificates, and music and dance with The Be Kind Crew.
“Now, more than ever, it’s important to put kindness and wellness at the forefront of students’ minds,” said Ashley Brannon, Senior National Director of Program Impact and Marketing at The Be Kind People Project. “At The Be Kind People Project, we are dedicated to continuing our mission to provide students with comprehensive programs that use a positive approach to social, emotional, and academic learning. We know that our programs may need to look different, but the need for kindness and youth development remains the same. By offering The Be Kind American Adventure, parents have additional and safer options for their children for summer programming.”
The Be Kind American Adventure is offered in two sessions: Jun. 8- Jul. 10 & Jul. 14- Aug. 14. Each session is for five weeks and includes 15 classes. On Mon. and Wed., new destinations, activities, and videos are unlocked. Each Friday there will be a live Zoom visit with The Be Kind Crew that allows students to collaborate and engage with a check in, show and tell, and movement and dance.
Each session of 15 classes is $65 per household. Contact info@BKPP.org for camp and community program pricing.
Early detection is critical when it comes to fighting cancer. A new tool developed by MIT can anticipate the development of breast cancer in women up to five years in advance.
In a recent blog post, MIT announced the collaboration between MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab and Massachusetts General Hospital. The team has worked together to develop a new deep-learning model that can predict from a mammogram if a patient is likely to develop breast cancer as many as five years in the future.
This new diagnostic tool is based on over 60,000 patients’ mammograms and known outcomes, discovering subtle patterns in breast tissue that are precursors to malignant tumors. It has already placed 31 percent of cancer patients in the high-risk category, compared to 18 percent from traditional modes of diagnosing.
Because this tool is based on actual hard data, rather than suggestive behaviors, it allows for a more comprehensive approach that is free of bias. This means that it is equally successful in predicting a diagnosis in women of color as in caucasian women—and it is also risk-based and not age-based as in previous models.
MIT and MGH hope that this new tool can lead to accurate, early detection of breast cancer for more women and that it might be applied to other types of diseases that face similar detection hurdles.
On Fri., April 12, Fisher-Price issued an official recall on approximately 4 million Rock ‘N Play Sleepers as a result of 30 infant deaths since 2015, attributed to the use of these products. The recall came a week after a joint statement between the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission which issued a safety warning on Apr. 5, advising parents of the potential for injury or death with older infants.
The CPSC and Fisher-Price is recommending parents to stop using all models of the product and contact the company for a refund. Read on for a full explanation of why the company has issued a warning and a subsequent recall.
photo: Courtesy of CPSC
According to the CPSC, 30 infants who were three months or older have died while using Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Play products since 2015 as a result of rolling “from their back to their stomach or side” while unconstrained. Fisher-Price did not immediately respond to Red Tricycle’s request for comment, but the manufacturer does have a comprehensive website addressing the current safety warning about its Rock N’ Play products.
Today, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) & Fisher-Price issued an alert warning parents and caregivers to discontinue use of the Rock 'n Play Sleeper when infants begin to roll over. Click here to learn more about a safe sleep environment: https://t.co/wrDeE3Trl7pic.twitter.com/qXvEbf6ZgQ
If you have questions or concerns regarding this product recall, Fisher-Price encourages consumers to call toll-free at 866-812-6518 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for more information.
The latest big breakup isn’t between two superstar celebs. Instead, it’s The Gap and Old Navy that are parting ways.
The Gap recently announced the split, detailing what will happen to the two brands. Old Navy, which has seen stellar success in the past few years, will stand alone. The Gap, Athleta, Banana Republic, Intermix and Hill City will now all fall under the umbrella of a still yet-to-be-named new parent company.
photo: Mike Mozart via Flickr/Composite: Keiko Zoll
So why are the brands splitting? Gap Inc.’s Board Chairman, Robert Fisher, said, in a press statement, “Following a comprehensive review by the Gap Inc. Board of Directors, it’s clear that Old Navy’s business model and customers have increasingly diverged from our specialty brands over time, and each company now requires a different strategy to thrive moving forward.”
Fisher also added, “Recognizing that, we determined that pursuing a separation is the most compelling path forward for our brands—creating two separate companies with distinct financial profiles, tailored operating priorities and unique capital allocation strategies, both well positioned to achieve their strategic goals and create significant value for our customers, employees and shareholders.”
What does the split mean for you? If you’re an Old Navy customer, look for more good things to come. But if you’re a fan of The Gap, you may need to find a new mall fave to shop. According to recent reports, Gap Inc. plans on closing 230 specialty stores over the next few years—with the majority being in the United States.
As of now, Gap Inc. hasn’t announced specific store closures or given any word on the fate of Gap Kids. The Gap (now and post-Old Navy split) will still have an e-commerce presence, making it possible for you to buy from the brand online.
Recent reports claim that all 87 of Amazon’s pop-up stores are about to shutter for good. Even though its online success turned the once-book-selling site into retail royalty, the pop-ups partnerships are going the way of the dinosaurs.
The kiosks, located inside of brick-and-mortar retailers such as Kohl’s and Whole Foods Markets, give would-be online customers the chance to get hands-on and test drive devices such as Echo smart speakers and Kindle e-readers IRL. While these in-store mini-stores may have made sense for the e-tailer, it looks like Amazon is ready to go in a different direction.
In to a statement emailed to Red Tricycle by an Amazon representative, “Across our Amazon network, we regularly evaluate our businesses to ensure we’re making thoughtful decisions around how we can best serve our customers.”
photo: Courtesy of Amazon
If you’re wondering if Amazon is totally abandoning their real-world presence with the pop-ups closing down, the company’s representative added, “After much review, we came to the decision to discontinue our pop-up kiosk program, and are instead expanding Amazon Books and Amazon 4-star, where we provide a more comprehensive customer experience and broader selection.”
Before FOMO sets in and you rush out to your nearest pop-up, you’ll still get the chance to try out (and of course, buy) your fave devices at Amazon Books and Amazon 4-star, “We look forward to opening additional locations of both stores this year. We are excited to introduce even more customers to these in store shopping experiences where they can discover highly rated books, toys, games, home and kitchen goods, electronics, Amazon devices and more.”
What does living well mean to you? If healthy lifestyle, high life expectancy, low obesity, low risk for depression and government spending on healthcare are important to you, check out what LetterOne’s Global Wellness Index found.
Instead of rating riches, retail or anything else that comes with an economic edge, LetterOne’s Indigo Wellbeing Index—a global wellness ranking of over 150 countries—looked at 10 health-related metrics: blood pressure, blood glucose, obesity, depression, happiness, alcohol use, tobacco use, exercise, healthy life expectancy and government spending on healthcare. What they found was pretty surprising, especially when it comes to which countries come out on top.
Using data from the World Health Organization, the World Happiness Report and other public health experts and reports, the index creators ranked which countries are the healthiest. Despite our economic size and influence, the United States isn’t at the top of the list. So which country did take top honors?
According to the index, our neighbor to the north—Canada—is the big winner, followed by Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. If you’re wondering where we stand, the United States didn’t even break into the top 25, instead ranking as number 37 out of over 150 countries ranked.
While the Indigo Wellbeing Index is certainly a comprehensive look at global health, it isn’t the only stat-based ranking. Earlier this year, Bloomberg released a similar list, naming Spain as the world’s healthiest country.
New Jersey has joined a growing number of states offering paid family leave. Doubling its previous mandated paid leave to 12 weeks, the Garden State is now among the best in the country.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy just signed legislation that will provide 12 weeks of paid leave after childbirth, as well as to care for a sick family member. The new law increases the weekly maximum benefit from $650 to $860. It also increases the allowed intermittent leave from 42 to 56 days within a 12-month period.
“No one should ever be forced to choose between caring for a family member and earning a paycheck,” Murphy said in a statement. “By providing the most expansive paid family leave time and benefits in the nation, we are ensuring that New Jerseyans no longer have to face such a decision and that working families are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. This comprehensive paid family leave program, coupled with the newly passed earned sick leave and minimum wage increase, are fundamental elements in building a stronger and fairer New Jersey for all working families.”
The new benefits will go into effect beginning July 2020.
