Over the years we’ve learned not to get our hopes up about the representation of dads at this massive trade show.  But a heads up to the manufacturers: one picture of a dad, somewhere in your marketing and packaging materials would be a good start.  Please read your market research and act accordingly.  Dads are purchasing your products.

So be warned!  By next year, if you are not including dads in your marketing/sales materials, I will not cover your booth.  You will be required to present one dad (minimum) before the camera rolls. (I’m sure the guys at Playtex are quaking at this pronouncement, but the line is drawn.)

There are certainly glimmers of hope and plenty of Dad-preneurs on the show floor.  I particularly liked getting to meet Mike Barclay and his wife Kristen, the folks behind a layer of Burp Armor.  Typically, I try to ignore all things cloth at the Expo, but Mike’s product caught my eye because of an interview that I did with Men’s Health that I think is now on the stands (I should probably check).  The reporter asked if I knew a good way to keep spitup off of dad’s nice work clothes in the morning before work.

No one could possible be less qualified to answer this question than me.  Early on, I decided the dried spitup was a badge of honor.  Plus, what are nice clothes?  I made something up for the nice reporter and moved on.  But since then, I’ve been on the lookout for a cool spitup mitigation technique and Burp Armor is as good as I’ve seen.  Ergonometric, organic and cool looking, soft on top and ribbed with slide-limiting corduroy, this is a very dad-friendly burp cloth.

No surprise, as this is a dad invented product.  I particularly enjoyed Mike’s story of entrepreneurship (hmm, familiar?) as he is a boarding school guy, and even a dean of students (see full size video).  I hope these guys have a smash hit.  You can do your part by ordering one for an expecting or new dad today.

More notes from the show soon.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMrHKA-Rn3M 400x400]