nursery matters JOHN BARKER
Barking
Mad
john@pramland.co.uk
With Harrogate just around the corner, excitement is rising across the industry, but so are hotel prices! In this lively and insightful article, Pramland’s John Barker reflects on the upcoming show, shares his thoughts on industry pricing, and offers valuable tips on how independent retailers can boost performance through smart brand selection, strategic marketing, and creative incentives. His message is clear: keep pushing, keep adapting, and never settle.
Can you believe it? Harrogate is getting very close, and the excitement is building! However, anyone who has tried to book a hotel for the weekend will confirm that the excitement soon vanishes when you see this year’s prices. Wow, what’s happened there? The same hotel I stay in every year is more than double the price of last year… Maybe I should ask them to price match (LOL). The irony is that these overpriced hotels will be filled with people who don’t understand the concept of making hay whilst the sun shines. Got an in-demand product or service? Make the consumer pay! The industry could certainly learn a lesson or two here. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I’m very pleased to hear that BabaBing! will be in attendance this year, and I would encourage anyone who doesn’t currently deal with them to visit their stand. The Raffi 2 is a wonderful product, and the bundles 36
they offer are fabulous. Best of all, the BabaBing! team is all about independents, and they want you to earn money from their products. A novel approach for this industry and one we should support. So, pop along and say “Hi” to the brothers Robinson. I’m sure you’ll be impressed. July was a very successful month for us here in Hull, and it also marked the end of our first quarter for 2025. I’m pleased to say that it was the best Q1 we’ve ever had, so I thought I’d share what we’ve been doing in-store to help drive this level of success. Firstly, I want to mention our store offering. Over the last 6 to 8 months, we’ve made significant changes and introduced various brands (as I’ve mentioned in previous articles). These additions are driving footfall as hoped, and we’re finding that, with such a comprehensive offering, people are staying longer and shopping more. With Harrogate approaching, this is
“
I’m very pleased to hear that BabaBing! will be in attendance this year, and I would encourage anyone who doesn’t currently deal with them to visit their stand. The Raffi 2 is a wonderful product, and the bundles they offer are fabulous. Best of all, the BabaBing! tea m is all about independents, and they want you to earn money from their products.
the perfect time to analyse the performance of the brands you stock. If a brand isn’t producing business or drawing people in, it may be time to remove it. Shopfloor space is a premium, it must earn its place. If it isn’t, bring in something that will. Harrogate is full of halls and brands,
”
many of which you may not currently stock. Freshening up your offering with exciting new names will encourage consumers to visit and once they’re through the door, you have a chance to make a sale. So, use Harrogate to revise your range and reap the benefits.
nursery today
Barking Mad.indd 1
13/08/2025 14:05