Toys n Playthings

toysnplaythings.co.uk

2016 April No. 6 5 Vol. 3

Independently audited ABC circulation of 5,123

1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

Helping everyone sell more

CONTENTS Regular 5 Leader - with Mirella Anstey 6 News - hot off the press 9 Quick Coffee Break - with Plum’s Mark Wilson

2016 April No.7 5 Vol. 3

TEAM TnP Group Editor Mirella Anstey mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

Editor Mairead Wilmot mairead@lemapublishing.co.uk

12 Movie News - the latest from the box office 13 People News - the latest industry movers and shakers 14 NEW Retail News - the latest from across the retail landscape 16 Media News – the multimedia rundown 17 Media Charts - the latest kids’ TV viewing figures and toy TV advertising spend

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20 What’s New - new products that you need to get your hands on 26 Toy Talk – the retailers have their say 66 NEW Spotlight - one new product, all the USPs explained 70 Trade Talk - we give suppliers a chance to talk business

Writer Rhys Thomas rhys@lemapublishing.co.uk

Group Advertisement Manager Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk

78 Don’t Miss – unmissable products for all buyers and retailers 76 Licensing News – the hottest news from the toy licensing industry 79 Step Back In Time – a slice of toy history from the industry’s longest running magazine

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Features Media Solutions Manager Bradley Mason bradley@lemapublishing.co.uk

Publisher Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

Production Director

30 Pre-school toys – a classic category and area of continual change and investment 54 AIS preview – The buying group has its annual trade fair – and we catch up on what you must see while there!

67 Pocket money Toys – a look at those little toys that make big money

Special Report

Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

10 Brexit – in our out? TnP takes an in-depth look at what leaving the Eu may mean for the toy industry

Design and Production

19 Cover story – Character Options reveal the new exciting additions to their already fabulous Peppa Pig range

Marian McNamara marian@lemapublishing.co.uk

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

Circulation Manager Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

Lema Publishing Ltd

PUBLISHING

1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930

At the heart of retail A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Independently audited ABC circulation of 5,123 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

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22 Retail Interview – Mothercare’s Claire Loxley talks us through what’s new in this high street favourite 71 Don’t Miss Special feature – unmissable products for all buyers and retailers - all from Simba Smoby 72 Harrogate International Nursery Show review – catch up on what was great from the UK’s only Nursery trade fair

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Columnists 15 Shop Talk – Why theatrical retailing pays dividends 18 Media Whisperer – Clive Crouch explores what reduced kids’ tv funding may mean for the toy industry 24 High Street Highs – Customer loyalty – The Entertainer’s Gary Grant explains how important – and costly – maintaining customer loyalty can be 28 The Independent and Secret Supplier – Our enigmatic retailer and The Secret Supplier go head-tohead on kids’ TV 65 TnP Ambassadors – our ambassadors test the toys you stock on your shelves 74 Licensing Opinion – Kelvyn Gardner tell us about his new day job – being a licensee!

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Helping everyone sell more

LEADER

I

A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Independently audited ABC circulation of 5,123 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

PUBLISHING

n the past week, one of the most anticipated movie releases of the past few years has premiered and opened at the box office. I am, of course, referring to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Now, I’m about to pop along and see it, but as I write this, I note that the reviews are mixed to say the least. But what does that mean for toy sales – if anything?

I can say for sure that while my three boys are way too young to watch, let alone understand and enjoy, the movie, they are nonetheless really excited by it. These are, after all, the world’s favourite superheroes So I wonder what impact a great box office return and terrific reviews have on getting the toys in the hands of a child?

In my experience as a mum – it’s not the be all and end all.

I’m not trying to be controversial, but this year is such a top year for movies and therefore the

Mirella Anstey

The truth is that whatever the numbers Batman v Superman turns in at the box office – which are bound to be huge despite the reviews – there are some smashing toys out there and the appetite for superheroes isn’t waning.

Is this fervour sustainable? Well, that remains to be seen. But, for the moment, there are plenty of toy manufacturers and suppliers out there who are doing pretty decent business, and retailers who are also reaping the rewards from movie lines.

One property which enjoys uber global success, both on the box and in toy shops, is Peppa Pig, and she’s TnP’s cover star this month. Character’s Peppa Pig toys are truly fabulous – the playsets are a consistent top-seller, as are the vehicles (current faves in our house are the Campervan and the Once Upon a Time Pumpkin Carriage).

The property has been around for more than 10 years and is still enjoying great success. Character

At the heart of retail

Zootropolis

Also published by Lema Publishing

licensing T O D A Y

Batman v Superman

W O R L D W I D E

Zootropolis Peppa Pig

magazine

The Secret Life of Pets Batman v Superman

TableWare INTERNATIONAL

PICTURE BUSINESS

Featuring FRAMING BUSINESS

expectation on top-performing toy lines is very high.

In last month’s issue our excellent sparring partners, columnists The Independent and The Secret Supplier, discussed this very thing.

Just scanning the box office news I note that Zootropolis (Zootopia as they know it in the US) is going great guns, while on the Tube the other day I heard two people taking about how funny The Secret Life of Pets trailer is.

There’s also a great deal of excitement building around the Trolls musical animation, which seems to have the right ingredients for a good show at the end of the year – great voice cast (James Corden is a huge favourite of mine) as well as an iconic toy.

If you would like to subscribe to any of our other market leading titles please call Robert Thomas on 01442 289930 or email your request to robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

continue to grow the range and expand on the themes which ensures its endless success.

For my part, as an active purchaser of this toy line, I think Character have excellently captured the charm and quirkiness of this pre-school product in their toys – which is not a simple task! Catch up with more of what is new with Character’s Peppa Pig line on page 19.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the AIS show later this month. And do take a look at our Harrogate International Nursery Fair review on page 72 – so many of you stock nursery-type products and now there’s more crossover product than ever before, so definitely worth checking out.

Until next month…!

NEWS

FIND DORY NOW!

Countdown to cool Countdown’s Rachel Riley has proven herself to be very cool indeed after showing her love for MGA’s Project Mc2.

The TV presenter took to Twitter to share her love for the doll brand during British Science Week recently.

It’s probably no surprise Rachel is a fan of the brand – having also recently presented ITV’s new science-themed show It’s Not Rocket Science.

Rachel tweeted the brand’s popular phrase ‘Smart is the new cool’ as well as a picture of herself with the dolls.

DKL’s customers can pre-order the new Scentco Finding Dory range of scented stationery and not only that, DKL have a special launch offer too.

The company are offering customers 10 free refill packs worth £60 retail when they pre-order a Finding Dory FSDU, which holds 100 assorted packs of Smencils, Smens, Smarkers and Gel Crayons.

DKL will be exhibiting the new Finding Dory range at upcoming trade shows, AIS, Toymaster and The London Stationery Show.

Farel Williams, Marketing Executive, said: “Since we previewed the new Finding Dory range at Toy Fair in January, we have been inundated with customers trying to order! Judging by the reaction, the new license is going be a strong seller.”

Star Wars gets personal Star Wars fans will be happy to learn rn that Disney UK and Tesco have once again teamed up to bring personalised Star Wars stationery, m mugs, posters and more to the store.

Tesco first launched the range of pe o coincide personalised Star Wars merchandise to wi d so popular with the Christmas period, and it proved tha that it is back.

IIn fact, it proved such a hit with fans that hat personalised Star Wa Wars merchandise will now remain a permanent option on the Te Tesco Direct website.

TREND SPOTTING: TREND SPOTTING WITH THE TIA Justin Smulison from the US Toy Industry Association gets technical with toys Tech toy fans will feel the electricity in the air when many engaging new products hit the market over the course of 2016. During the Toy Trends Briefing, held in February at the 113th North American International Toy Fair, Toy Industry Association (TIA) experts named drones, robots and toys-to-life as this year’s top tech categories to watch. The range of products displayed at Toy Fair will provide

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This year’s drones can be launched from the palms of children’s hands and also have new features specially designed for mid-air fun

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hours of play and will further inspire today’s tech-savvy kids.

This year’s drones can be launched from the palms of children’s hands and also have new features, specially designed for mid-air fun. Toy robots are becoming more lifelike with customisable features that also teach important concepts, including coding, engineering, problem-solving and building. The toys-to-life category promotes the fun aspects of educational themes and combined with its innovative, affordable technology, everyone can enjoy fully-immersive play experiences. The following is a round-up of some tech toys that will hit shelves in 2016, many of which made their debut at Toy Fair in New York City. They provide great examples that are sure to entice users of all ages.

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Summer just got sweeter Interplay’s My Fairy Garden will be sponsoring the Fairy Tale Hour on Disney Junior every day for three months during the summer holiday period.

The Fairy Tale Hour features some of the most popular shows on the Disney channel, such as Sofia the First and Tinkerbell and Fairies, and Interplay say the campaign is going to deliver a considerable level of awareness for the My Fairy Garden brand.

“We identified Disney Junior as the perfect platform for us to reach our target audience,” said Interplay UK Marketing Manager, Meric Pekcan-Butcher.

“This sponsorship campaign will enable us to emotionally engage with the children and we believe this is an important step towards building the brand.”

Hobbycraft honours West Design Products Hobbycraft has named a thrilled West Design Products as its Supplier of the Year 2015.

Just last year, West Design picked up the Best Strategic Partner 2014 award from the craft retailer.

“It was very unexpected to win Supplier of the Year,” said Jo Bray, West Design MD and Hobbycraft account manager.

“We are thrilled that all our efforts have been recognised and we look forward to continue developing our relationship with Hobbycraft.”

Drones Pocket Drone - Odyssey Toys The sleek Pocket Drone is the world’s first collapsing, highdefinition video drone. Lightweight and the size of an iPhone 6 (it will fit in trouser pockets), it uses next-generation gyro technology enabling it to stay in the air for from five to eight minutes.

Sky Rover Voice Command Missile Launcher Helicopter - Auldey Toys, available summer. Remotecontrolled aircrafts have been taken to the next level with the Sky Rover Voice Command Missile Launcher.

It responds to one of 12 voice commands over a headset and can fire four foam missiles while in flight.

Robots Big Robots - Cepia Hand-grip controllers are used

APRIL 2016

Paul Caspari remembered TnP’s Founder and MD Malcolm Naish remembers Paul Caspari.

“One of the toy trade’s most revered gentlemen has passed away. Paul Caspari was born in Munich in 1922 and was sent by his parents along with his brother to school in England in 1934 following the Nazis’ rise to power.

He founded his toy wholesale business – Robeneau – in 1946.

From small beginnings he built the company into a major national wholesaler and at the same time became a guiding light to many of his retail customers over the years.

Supplying all types of retail business including department stores of whom Harrods were a major customer for many years, he sold the business in 1986 to William Baird Plc., an industrial conglomerate.

Paul was a gentleman of the old school, and with his wife Marietta enjoyed over 60 years of happy marriage until her death in 2012.

Baird’s sold Robeneau in the early nineties to a buy-in led by Kevin Jones who had earlier left Mattel to take up the challenge. They re-named the company FEVA and as toy distributors became the UK distributors for Spin Master, that led to Spin Master buying FEVA to set up their own UK business.

Paul was an early member of the Fence Club joining in 1976 and in fact attended most of the meetings right up to the very last. He was a wonderful ambassador for the Club and during the last few years particularly enjoyed the Curry Night that preceded the Ladies Weekend.

He will be greatly missed and on behalf of the toy trade we offer our condolences to his children Jo and Andrew, along with his four grand children Stephanie, Claudia, Will and Kate.”

to have these trash-talking and fighting robots mimic punches and movements -- reminiscent of the film, “Real Steel.” They can fight other ‘bots or take on targets and obstacles. Big Robots know when they are winning or losing a battle and getting hit. A light on its front also indicates how much life it has left for a match.

CHiP - WowWee Children may pester for CHiP and the chance to simulate pet

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The toys-tolife category promotes the fun aspects of educational themes

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ownership. CHiP teaches kids how to code and program their animatronic new best friend. While a user wears a smartband, the customisable canine follows him/ her around and mimics the actions of a real dog. CHiP will respond to touch and even dance with the child.

Toys-To-Life Virtual Explorer Space Expedition - Uncle Milton With Virtual Explorer line. A globe stand will illuminate and project the Milky Way on bedroom walls.

The accompanying Explorer goggles will further enhance the 360-degree experience by bringing

Stay tuned for next month’s column, which will delve into the Family Matters trend, including product examples. For more information about TIA’s top trends, visit www.ToyAssociation.org/ Trends.

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NEWS Eduk8ing the nation

Chairs of a feather JNH Europe has signed a new deal for Rovio’s Angry Birds Classic and Angry Birds Movie licenses for a range of indoor and outdoor children’s furniture.

Joel Cope, JNH Europe Managing Director, r, said: “We are very excited to work with Rovio o and Bulldog Licensing on the Angry Birds license. cense.

Rovio are putting a tremendous amount behind hind the property, and we are sure the movie will be an overwhelming success and are delighted to be involved.”

The licensed range will include all the company’s most popular lines, including beds, ds, playhouses, and table and chair sets.

The Angry Birds Movie lands in UK cinemas this May.

Eduk8 Worldwide are having a “very successful year”, particularly after being honoured with a BTHA 2016 Best New Toys Award for their range of large floor mat games.

Eduk8’s MD Christine Lawson says now is the time to get in touch if you have outdoor toys on your mind.

“It is a great time to be thinking about these and all our other outdoor toys. We’ve got a really good choice of products, and as always, offer something a bit different that is fun while also having an educational twist.

Our exclusive range includes our ever popular Belly Bump Balls, as well as our Resistance Parachute, Bucket Blast, Bounce and Catch Discs,, to name but a few. And many y of our outdoor toys also provide retailers the chance to r offer STEM products too: our Resistance Parachute is a Resis great example of this, as children learn about wind resistance while w running and playing r together. If anyone would to like more information, do lik get in touch on 01434 ge 672336 or visit www.

67 eduk8worldwide.com.” ed

KIDTROPOLIS IS COMING

Battle of the brains Recently retired industry stalwart Rob Mann took on BBC 2’s quizzing masterminds The Eggheads in March.

Rob, who had an illustrious career in the toy industry with companies including Palitoy, Tomy and Racing Champions, was part of The Co-Operators team.

Robert went head-to-head with The Eggheads’ Barry in the Sports round, but was unfortunately bested. His team battled on in the final, pitting their wits and knowledge against the professionals, and were beaten by just one point! A valiant effort Rob and co.

The UK will see what will be the biggest consumer event for all things kids come to London’s Excel in October half term later this year. Kidtropolis will make its debut supported by an array of consumer brands and companies.

The event is spearheaded by Toy Fair’s former Director of Operations and Creator of Toytopia, Simon Pilling, and Gemma Gallagher, owner of the consumer platform ToyTesters.tv. It will enable brands to engage with their consumers in the run up to the most important shopping period in the year.

Simon said: “I wanted to create a magical event for both consumers and brands, encompassing not only things that children and families would find interesting, but a range of experiences that families would never encounter anywhere else.”

For more information, email Simon at simon@ kidtropolis.co.uk.

Award winning play Learning Resources has won the Education Resources Award for the Best Primary Curriculum Resource with its STEM Robot Mouse. In their eighteenth year, the awards are organised by BESA, the trade association representing educational suppliers in the UK sector, and Brilliant Marketing Solutions.

The judges, an independent panel of experienced educational professionals, most of whom are classroom teachers, said: “the STEM Robot Mouse Activity Set would encourage children to build hands-on coding skills in a fun and enjoyable way. It was very easy to construct and represented excellent value for money!”

Speaking about the win, Dennis Blackmore, Managing Director, said: “Learning Resources are at the forefront of STEM learning in the classroom. The judges commented on the resource’s educational benefits and value for money, reflecting our aim to provide fun, hands-on learning experiences both at home and in the classroom.”

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COFFEE BREAK Plum Products MD Mark Wilson grabs a quick Coffee Break with TnP to talk longterm plans, content and hero lines

Wheely smart SmarTrike’s Explorer 5-trikes-in-1 triumphed at the Prima Baby and Pregnancy Awards 2016 in the Toddler Toy category. The brand’s most advanced model yet won Gold in the hugely competitive Toddler Toy 1-3 years category at this year’s highly anticipated awards. “We are just thrilled to have won Gold for our Explorer 5-trikes-in-1! The Prima Baby and Pregnancy awards are so highly regarded within the parenting industry and extremely competitive, so it is amazing to see that our latest trike has come first and claimed the top spot,” said smarTrike Sales and Marketing Manager, Yael Meir. “We hope that this award and all others won over the last year reassures parents that smarTrike is a fantastic choice for little ones, a great investment, and a toy to treasure for years to come!”

RIP Neville Pittfield One of the toy trade’s oldest stalwarts, Neville Pittfield, passed away on 10 March 2016, aged 81 years.

Neville was with one of the original toy buying groups, Associated Toys, and leaves his wife Jean and two sons, one of which, Barry, continues to run the business trading as Associated Storage & Distribution at Grateley, near Andover.

Back in the 1970s, a toy buying group was formed

by Keith Paul and Neville Pittfield in the Southampton area, called P & P Toys. This proved very successful and it then joined forces with an Andover-based buying group which was called Wessex Toys Buying Group, run by Lindsay Rudd-Clarke. Neville was asked to sell his shop and business and move to larger premises in Andover and run the buying group full time. This business dissolved with Lindsay forming Concorde Toys, and Keith and Neville forming Associated Toys at premises at Lopcombe, midway between Andover and Salisbury. The partnership with the Pauls came to an end, and Neville continued running the buying group. Larger premises were purchased at Grateley, and then Toymaster came onto the scene, membership of Associated Toys was transferred to Toymaster and the distribution for all members was serviced by Associated Toys Ltd for two or three years.

When this arrangement came to an end, Neville and his wife and son changed the business to a Storage & Distribution company (Associated Storage & Distribution), which has proved and continues to be successful. RIP Neville.

APRIL 2016

Mark, tell me about some changes you’ve brought about at Plum?

After a strong performance in 2015 my focus has been looking ahead to modest further improvement in 2016 but a significant step up in 2017 as our longer term projects begin to bear fruit.

The recent appointments of Russell Austwick as Operations Manager and Paul Schaffer as General Manager mean we can continuously innovate and improve in this area. Content has become a key focus for us and Plum now has strong lifestyle images, engaging video content and strong product cut-outs to demonstrate the features, benefits and quality.

Talk us through some recent product innovation.

In our core category of trampolines we have strengthened our range by focusing on design with innovation, safety and longevity to position Plum as the authority in this category. Our Latitude Trampoline has a pioneering design with its unique design with fluid shapes, contemporary monochrome colour scheme and a unique top rail that can be easily dropped in high winds and poor weather.

The Plum Wooden Growing Swing will grow with little ones throughout their childhood.

Our Toddlers Tower Climbing Frame has been updated with an upgraded range of accessories and we’ve been selling out.

Our range of wooden role play toys have performed well for us with innovations such as the Peppermint Townhouse 2 in 1 and our Interactive Kitchens, and we are exploring some opportunities to strengthen the range.

What is Plum’s current top-seller and why do you think it is so hot?

Our Toddlers Tower Climbing Frame has been updated with an upgraded range of accessories and has been received incredibly well by consumers with top up orders already being placed.

We’re also seeing strong success with our Wooden Growing Swing. Our In-Ground Trampoline is also incredibly popular – it’s a more affordable alternative to some of the trampolines on the market yet still retains the quality and performance features.

What is important to you in forging a strong retail partnership?

Our sales team work closely with all of our accounts on an individual basis to build close relationships, which allows us to anticipate their changing needs. With a diverse range of customers ranging from the Grocers and national toy specialists to the independents, it’s important for us to be flexible and respond to all our customers needs.

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NEWS

SPECIAL

The EU - in or out?

The toy industry is inextricably linked to the EU – from patent-protection and exchange rates, to Import/export costs and of course by the ever-evolving and often increasingly tough regulations and directives for toy safety testing.

We talk to some industry thought leaders and find out if they are ‘in’ or ‘out’ and also take a closer look at patents and IP protection JONATHAN THORPE, MD, John Crane Ltd: “No, from a company perspective, Brexit is certainly not an option.

Staying in is to carry on and prosper, leaving I think is a possible disaster in business terms.

It puzzles me as to why we think we can achieve special trade deals if we come out? If this was the case, surely the largest European economy – Germany – would go it alone? The rest of Europe is getting fed up with our arrogance and attitude… we are either in or out and it is certainly not fence-sitting time. The truth is, as I see it, we are not strong enough alone anymore and the world has changed since WWII and the Empire.”

GARY GRANT, Founder and MD, The Entertainer: “As a company we don’t have an official line on whether we are voting yes or no in the referendum. There hasn’t been enough information or facts about each side of the debate in order to help form our opinion. The safe option is to stay in Europe because it’s the known. However, will exiting Europe bring more benefit and stronger economy in the future? The case is still to be made on both sides in order to help form opinion.

Whatever way the vote goes, it will impact our business, economy and the market in which we operate.”

The safe option is to stay in Europe because it’s the known. However, will exiting Europe bring more benefit and stronger economy in the future?

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“The rest of Europe is getting fed up with our arrogance and attitude… we are either in or out and it is certainly not fence-sitting time.

The truth is, as I see it, we are not strong enough alone anymore and the world has changed since WWII and the Empire.”

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CLIVE SMITH MD, Bandai UK “As with everybody trying to understand the true consequences of leaving, it’s still unclear. I believe that until, or unless, we do so, we will never know.

I do think that the debate, so far, has been very poor, and it is difficult to make a personal decision based on the facts given.

However, as we (Bandai UK) are part of a European team who align ourselves with our colleagues in other European territories, it seems natural to want to stay within the European Union.

As we (Bandai UK) do not trade directly with Europe - this is handled by

local subsidiaries - from a sales perspective, we should not be affected.

However, the effect on our currency does concern me.

On sterling, the view is pretty universal: a Brexit vote would cause the pound to fall. Many predicting that it could fall to $1.35.

This can only be bad for our business, which buys in USD. Trying to forward plan exactly where the currency may be at any one time and buying forward is always a risk, but this situation is proving to make the task even more problematic.”

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SETH BISHOP, MD, KD UK: “An exit from the EU is a gamble that no one knows the true outcome of. What I do know is stable economy is good for retail trade and stable exchange rate is good for toy companies. A yes vote would be destabilising in the short term at every level, and only a benefit if it transpires to be a long-term decision beneficial to the economy.

The toy trade has had a good past 12 months. It feels like we are on the right track. I would not want to see that derailed, especially if driven by irrational fears rather than common sense.

We will never be a Federal Europe and the EU itself may fail in the long-term. For now though I think we should stick with it but ensure we retain appropriate levels of self-governance.

If we do exit I would expect sterling to weaken against both the dollar and euro, and margin would be squeezed. Exports could also suffer and we would need the government to quickly negotiate free trade agreements to protect import/export business. There is no certainty this would be possible; we would be negotiating with an EU with multiple member states to lobby and there would be bitterness at play. It doesn’t feel like a safe bet.

The rise of Donald Trump is a great example of emotional and inflammatory argument getting the better of morality and common sense. I hope the British public don’t make the same mistake with Brexit. The best economic outlook for me is we stay in the EU and Trump stays out of the White House.

TONY NORTON, Founder and MD, Norton PR: “I think the average voter will be swayed by the issue of immigration which in my view is short-sighted.

Over the years the UK has become frustrated by petty EU laws and rulings, from health and safety to planning, and in many cases we would be better without them.

However, I think if you understand the bigger picture these issues are less important. Personally I think we need the security that the EU offers on many fronts - financial, defense, trade etc - so for me, I’m in!

Brexit: What will it mean for UK companies and their IP rights?

James Robertson, Partner at Wynne-Jones IP, shines a spotlight on what a Brexit could mean for intellectual property protection around £1500. It is currently unclear There is no doubt that this potential exit exactly what would happen to existing would likely have a major effect on UK CTMs/EUTMs and whether applications businesses, brands and rights, but what filed after a Brexit would cover the UK. For many people are questioning is whether it example, there is a possibility that trade could impact in a positive or negative way. mark protection sought Looking at things after a Brexit will require from the There is a possibility separate applications to perspective of be filed in the UK and obtaining and that trade mark Europe. In such a case, maintaining IP, the protection sought after we would expect this to exact effects and a Brexit will require involve significant impact of a Brexit additional cost for cannot be determined separate applications applicants. until the relevant to be filed in the UK If CTMs are not being agreements have been used in European made between the UK and Europe. In such Community member and Europe, which a case, we would states, they can be leads to a lot of expect this to involve attacked and revoked for uncertainty. non-use. Currently, use Most UK businesses significant additional of a CTM in just the UK will have a portfolio of cost for applicants. keeps the CTM valid trade marks and designs across the whole of protecting their brands, Europe. If Brexit was to and if an out vote were to go ahead then depending be cast, people will want, on exactly what happens with the UK’s and need, to know what effect this will membership of the CTM/EUTM system, have on their company both commercially companies may have to ensure that their and operationally.

CTMs are being used elsewhere in Europe.

Over the past 20 years, thanks to the This may be particularly problematic for European Union, registering a trade mark small companies with long-term growth or design has been fairly simple. Trade plans in Europe. marks can be registered as a Community Registered Community Designs (RCDs) Trade Mark (as of 23rd March the CTM will are widely used as a quick, convenient and be known as the EUTM - European Union low-cost way to register designs across the Trade Mark) which covers the entire EU for

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APRIL 2016

whole of Europe. Should the UK vote to leave the EU, future RCDs would cease to apply to the UK and separate protection would be required for the UK. This would again inevitably result in increased costs .

With regards to patents, the UK would in fact remain a European Patent Convention contracting state, and there would be no impact on UK businesses’ UK attorneys representing them before the European Patent Office.

However, a new system which is due to come into force in the near future, the Unitary Patent aims to reduce the longterm cost and complexity of having granted patents rights covering the whole of Europe. If the UK leaves the EU then Unitary Patents will not cover the UK. Businesses wanting to use the Unitary Patent will therefore have to maintain and pay to renew a UK patent in addition to any Unitary Patent.

From the perspective of UK based toy designers and manufacturers, we would expect the immediate cost impact of Brexit to be felt in terms of protecting trade marks and designs. An immediate concern is that any additional costs might prevent businesses from obtaining proper protection for their IP, and that this could result in an increase in counterfeit and rip-off goods appearing in the UK and the rest of Europe. While there may be other areas which will gain from Brexit, IP is likely not one of them.

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MOVIE

NEWS

Swinging into action Hype levels surrounding the release of Captain America: Civil War went into overdrive following the surprise reveal of a fan favourite character in the latest trailer from Marvel.

As well as the continued feud between the titular hero and Iron Man, Spider-Man shocked fans by swinging into the fray, making his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. It is the first time the web slinger has appeared alongside his fellow Marvel characters on the big screen, as rights holder Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios collaborate.

The conclusion to the Captain America movie trilogy opens in UK cinemas 29 April, 2016.

Zootropolis freezes out Frozen Disney’s latest film Zootropolis stormed ahead in the US with a strong opening weekend.

It pulled in more ticket sales than Frozen’s opening weekend and knocked Deadpool off the top spot.

Known as Zootopia in the US, the film earned Disney $75 million in its opening weekend compared to $67.3 million for Frozen. The film also took $63.4 million in China and $232.5 million globally.

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LEGO Batman unmasked The first images from the LEGO Batman Movie were unveiled last month on USA Today. The colourful images show the blocky Batman with all the action and flashy technology we’ve come to expect from the Dark Knight.

But they also showcase the hilariously-humdrum side of everyday life as Gotham City’s vigilant protector – like warming up leftovers in the microwave. Joining Will Arnett as the lead, stars Mariah Carey, Ralph Fiennes and Michael Cera also add their voices to the animation. The LEGO Batman Movie opens in UK cinemas in February 2017.

Record breaker Hit flicks such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Jurassic World and Spectre all helped to contribute to a record-breaking year for Cineworld. The multiplex sold an eye-watering 93.6 million tickets in 2015.

They showcase the hilariously humdrum side of everyday life as Gotham City’s vigilant protector – like warming up leftovers in the microwave.

”

Let your living room feel the force Star Wars fans are about to feel the force in their living rooms. The film will be available to own as a digital download from 11 April 2016 while it will be available on Blu-ray and DVD from 18 April, 2016.

Fans can discover the complete story behind the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens with in-depth documentary and bonus material.

toysnplaythings.co.uk l thi k

PEOPLE

NEWS

A plum job!

Plum Products brought two new faces on to their operations team.

Russell Austwick and Paul Schaffer (pictured) have both come on board. Russell takes up the Operations Manager position, meanwhile Paul joins Plum as General Manager, initially working on a number of systems based projects.

Managing Director, Mark Wilson said: “I am delighted to welcome both Paul and Russell to Plum. Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable and will significantly strengthen Plum’s operational team as we embark on the next stage of our journey to provide a best-in-class service to all our customers. I am confident that both Paul and Russell will be instrumental in driving our ambitious growth and development plans throughout 2016 and beyond.”

The soft (lines) approach As Sambro introduce a new Soft Lines division, they have brought former Primark buyer Lara Singer on board.

Lara brings with her a wealth of licensed product experience having grown the Primark kids’ accessories (aged 0-13) range across the UK and Northern Europe. Most recently Lara worked as Senior Buyer at renowned retailer M&Co where she developed their licensing ranges, most notably Emoji and Harry Potter, as well as growing their own Kylie brand.

Speaking about the hiring, Nikki Samuels, Sambro’s Licensing Director said the company was “delighted to welcome Lara to the team”.

KD UK welcomes KD UK has bolstered its team with the appointment of Lee-Anne Neale to the position of Sales Manager for Toys.

Lee-Anne brings with her vast sales experience having spent over 14 years developing and managing various accounts within the toy, gift, consumer goods and outdoor sectors where she held positions at Re:creation and Goldfish & Bison.

In her new role, she will work with the internal sales team and existing sales agents to help drive business within the majors, independent and online retailers across KD’s portfolio of products.

Seth Bishop, Managing Director of KD UK said: “I’m delighted to have Lee-Anne join the UK team. Both her character and her broad knowledge of the industry will be a great asset to the company. 2016 and beyond will see company diversification and expansion of ranges, as such Lee-Anne’s arrival could not have come at a more opportune time.”

www.interplayuk.com

Discover the f Nature thro magic o ugh P l a y !

TV

SING ERTI EIGHT V D A YW V HEA TVRS

tel:: +44 (0) 1628 488944 email: sales@interplayuk.com

APRIL 2016

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RETAIL

NEWS

Sunday trading a no-go Independent toy retailers are heartened after changes to Sunday trading laws in England and Wales were dropped by MPs, who rejected the proposals by 317 votes to 286.

In TnP’s recent survey of UK retailers (results shown below) more than 60 per cent opposed the proposed changes. Several said Sunday should remain “special” and that it would only serve to further increase the lead of supermarkets and other large chains.

“Sunday should stay as a day of rest,” said one retailer, a common sentiment that was mirrored by many others who said the shorter hours allowed workers to maintain work-life balance.

The survey also revealed that Sunday was an important part of independent toy retailers’ annual turnover. More than half of all retailers polled said Sunday trading was “important” to their business, and nine per cent of those said it was “critical”.

One respondent said extended Sunday hours would “increase costs and wages without a significant sales benefit”, while another agreed that increased overheads would return “very little turnover increase.”

But the proposed changes did have some supporters, with a third of respondents believing the changes would encourage more shoppers to visit the 20 per cent of high street on Sundays, respondents driving footfall and sales to their shops. Others said they do were unconvinced it not open on would change things Sunday at all at all, with 28 per cent saying there would be little or no impact on their business.

One retailer said the proposals were misguided from the start: “It would not achieve the aim of allowing shops to compete with the internet. Any business owner worth their salt should already be treating the internet as an opportunity rather than a threat anyway.”

Entertaining growth The past month has seen two doublewhammies for The Entertainer.

Not only have they opened two new stores in Scotland, they’ve also opened two further stores in Haywards Heath, West Sussex and The Galleries Shopping Centre, Bristol.

The Scottish store openings are in Dundee and Dunfermline and take The Entertainer’s estate to more than 120 stores.

Meanwhile, the retailer has also reintroduced Super Saturdays.

A calendar of in-store events will take place every Saturday until 14 May across three popular themes; Disney Princesses, Star Wars and Captain America - Civil War. There will be activities, discounts, giveaways and competitions running weekly.

Rebecca Rees, Head of Marketing and Licensing at The Entertainer, says:

Schleich ramps up for retail Schleich is boosting its retail support in 2016, with a number of retailer and marketing initiatives. March saw the Schleich Loyalty Card launch exclusively to Toymaster, helping to drive sales for members of the buying group over the eight month duration. Later in the year there will be a new Horse Club range supported by a strong PR and marketing campaig. New branding and POS will launch this summer and be available to all stockists from July.

Super Saturday fans were out in force at an Entertainer store

“We are delighted to bring back Super Saturdays this spring. The stores will be a hive of activity over the next two months, giving shoppers the opportunity to interact with some fantastic toys.”

From toys to trees Roger McLaughlan the former Toys “R” Us boss has stepped into the breach at Wyevale Garden Centres.

Hired as the company’s new CEO, Riger, pictured, began his new role on 14 March, taking over from Kevin Bradshaw, who will remain with the company for a few months before exploring other options within the portfolio of owners Terra Firma.

SHOPPING CENTRES MOVE INTU GROWTH Intu is looking to develop its UK portfolio over the next three years, ploughing £578m into several development projects.

Boasting nine of the top 20 retail outlets in the UK, from Manchester’s Trafford Centre to Intu Watford, the shopping centre operator’s like-for-like rental income rose in 2015.

The new developments will see the company plough money into Watford, Broadmarsh in Nottingham and Lakeside in Essex, as well as developing a Spanish shopping resort in Costa del Sol.

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toysnplaythings.co.uk

RETAIL

OPINION

High drama is kids’ play A

trip to the theatre should always be an occasion to be looked forward to, yet how many times have you sat through a play that has taken up a couple of hours that you will never get back?

The reasons for this are various, but it’s a fair bet that if you’ve been made to watch a drama that centres on a single set and no changes of scenery, so inevitably, some kind of boredom sets in.

Now think about what you might have thought was a good play with good acting and notwithstanding a change of scenery, does much to ensure that the curse of the Scottish Play does not befall a new production.

Finally, consider the relationship between the theatre and a shop.

One of the great retail clichés is the term ‘retail theatre’. Yet in spite of being distinctly hackneyed, this is a phrase that still carries meaning and which is as important today as it has ever been. The best retailing is theatre – it carries meaning just by the way in which the constituent parts are organised and presented.

It is just as easy for a store to be a West End flop as it is for it to be a blockbuster.

But what is it that makes the difference and can this be planned or is it a happy accident? The best way to approach this is to look at stores that work from a visual perspective because this, for the most part, is what retail theatre is about.

A good store makes you look twice as you walk through the door – once to register a surprising assortment and then a second time to make sense of what you are looking at.

Selfridges does this from the outside in, with windows that demand to be inspected because nothing is ever the same and with an interior that fulfills the promise of the exterior. Recently this translated as a series of window displays under the heading “Bright New Things”.

Practically, this was an excuse to group a diverse number of items and people together and it looked pretty good. Heading into the store, the promise of the windows was made reality in a number of different ways, but all of them head-turning. All good, but the point really is that by the time you get to read this (supposing you have stuck with me this far), things will have altered almost completely and a new piece of scenery will have been hauled onto the Selfridges stage.

Toy shops should not be immune to this kind of modus operandi. In theory at least, they should be places where children’s imaginations are permitted to run wild and to be distracted, whatever the glance lights upon. Some may indeed do this, but there are an awful lot that fall into the single act drama category. These

are the sort of places where the customer (and the customer will be a child) walks in and things are pretty much the same as when the last visit was made, if a repeat visit is made.

And yet it would be so easy to improve matters. On a visit to France a couple of weeks ago I went round a brace of DIY stores. DIY stores? What exactly have they got to do with toy shops?

Simple really. At its most basic, these are places with shelves of screws, power tools and plastic tubing, among other things. Visit Leroy Merlin (a chain of large ‘home improvement’ sheds) however and the shopper is both transported and inspired. In truth, the offer is the same as in all the other DIY sheds, but the merchandising makes you look twice. The garden barbecues, for example, are arranged in ascending height, creating a stepped effect. The chainsaws are sorted in order of magnitude along the upper part of the wall in a sort of Ziggurat-like formation and on and on.

This is about making the distinctly mundane interesting and creating reasons for the shopper to return. And consider this. If it’s possible to create a three-act play from power tools, then how much more straightforward should it be in a toy shop where the raw material is intrinsically rather more engaging?

Taking toys out of their boxes might be a start. There are plenty of emporia where the merchandise remains in firmly sealed wrapping with just a brightly coloured picture on the exterior providing a clue about the excitement that lies within. There are even those who take the self-same boxes and put them in the window – surely a misuse of both merchandise and perfectly decent display space.

A gentle reminder therefore. Toy shops are just the same as plays. They have audiences and the members of this audience will feel inclined to inform others if the drama does not measure up. At this point, those in the ‘just get it out on the floor’ school of thought and who subsequently wonder why full-price sales are thin on the ground, may perhaps take stock of what they do. As well as providing more than adequate service and having the right stock, it is the toy store owner’s duty to provide a measure of high drama and excitement. Do you really raise the stakes with high drama for your shoppers?

John Ryan is Stores Editor at Retail Week. He has worked for the magazine for more than a decade covering store design, visual merchandising and what makes things sell in-store. In a previous life he was a buyer.

APRIL 2016

In-store drama is more than just putting the right stuff out in the right place, says John Ryan

MEDIA

NEWS

Disney expand Frozen empire

Marvel at LEGO Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has released a new LEGO Marvel’s Avengers video featuring superheroes from the recently-released Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War Character Pack.

Based on the highly anticipated Marvel Studios film hitting theatres on 6 May 2016, this add-on content is currently available as a free download exclusively for PlayStation4 and PlayStation3 players.

The character pack expands the game’s roster of superheroes, featuring nine playable characters from the film including Agent 13, Black Panther, Captain America, Crossbones, Falcon, Iron Man (Mark 46), Scarlet Witch, War Machine, and Winter Soldier.

The pack also debuts the Marvel Cinematic Universe character versions of Black Panther and Crossbones, with both variants appearing in a console videogame for the first time.

Elsa and Anna have come to touch screens in Disney Build It: Frozen, a new app allowing kids to build their own version of Elsa’s palace alongside the characters from the award-winning movie. Disney Build It: Frozen is now available for download from all major app stores and allows players to make Frozenthemed snow globe worlds by creating and customising buildings featured in the film.

Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff play along and add musical themes to the world, accompanying players on mini-missions that introduce Snowgies to the cast. After building their world, players can tap the camera to take a flying tour over their creation.

BAA winners revealed

Brand new record Guinness World Records is set to launch a new annual aimed specifically at children aged eight to 12.

Guinness World Records 2016: Blockbusters is a brand new addition to its portfolio of books, and the first launch in an ambitious growth plan following the brand’s 60th anniversary celebrations in 2015.

Set for an Easter launch across the UK, Guinness World Records 2016: Blockbusters is a musthave for kids interested in toys, movies, apps, YouTube, games, tech and pop culture.

The book reveals the records behind headline grabbing names including LEGO, Star Wars, Frozen, Minions, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Minecraft.

It also features fun facts, trivia and brandnew record-breaking challenges to try at home or at school.

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Candy Crush gets puzzled Fans of the global hit game franchise Candy Crush can now take the fun off-screen and apply their skills to the page in a brand-new magazine, Candy Crush Puzzles, which went on sale in March.

Produced by the UK’s leading creator of puzzles, Puzzler Media, in conjunction with King, the creator of the Candy Crush franchise, the new magazine replicates the fun of the game by combining authentic images and striking colours with allnew puzzle challenges.

The winners of the 20th British Animation Awards 2016 (BAAs) were revealed recently.

The award for Best Long Form went to Aardman Animations’ Shaun The Sheep: The Movie. It is the 20th BAA that Aardman Animations have won over the past two decades.

Another big winner was Turner Broadcasting’s The Amazing World of Gumball: The Shell, which scooped awards for Best Children’s Series, and the Children’s Choice Award, chosen by a jury of youngsters, sponsored by HiT Entertainment.

Best Pre-School Series, was won

by Sixteen South’s Lily’s Driftwood Bay: Goodbye Seagull while Martin Freeman picked up the award for Best Voice Performance for Magic Light Pictures’ Christmas tale Stick Man.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

MEDIA

Hey, big spenders

CHARTS

8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000

W

elcome to the February Media Report where we are looking at the viewing levels for both Girls and Boys along with Housewives with Children Pre-school.

So far this year we have seen some encouraging signs in terms of increases in viewing levels, for example Boys are up by 14 per cent compared to February 2015.

As the chart shows, there have been some ups and downs. The Cartoon Network has increased its lead from last February, followed by Pop but Nickelodeon is down, as is CiTVB. We see the viewing levels for Girls is up by 13.3 per cent when compared to last February, Tiny Pop is market leader followed by Pop and Nick Junior.

NickToons and Disney XD are down but, overall, figures are going in the right direction.

In viewing levels for Housewives with Children Preschool, we see Nickelodeon Junior is market leader and miles ahead of any other station. Disney Junior and TinyPop are in second place but are a long way back compared to Nick Junior. The total viewing for this group is up by 18.9 per cent.

We should also mention that ITVB is holding its own here and is showing an increase of 15 per cent, which is good news.

The top 10 companies are really going for it this year.

Reported expenditure is up by a massive 88 per cent.

Hasbro has a reported expenditure of £3m compared to £1m in February 2015.

Looking at the brand count, the number of products advertised in February 2015 was 138, and for 2016 it was 149 – don’t forget we had an extra day in February this year, so that may explain part of the increase. The overall toy expenditure is up by 75 per cent. It seems confidence is high for 2016.

As for the TV market, we know that overall TV revenue is down by a massive 22.5 per cent, some of the TV stations are not having such a good time. The stations who rely on the toy trade for part of their monthly revenue are not doing too bad but ITV and Channel 5 appear to be finding it hard. We should also mention as from 7 March CiTV increased its broadcast hours from 6pm to 9pm so this will put extra minutes into the market place, and it will be interesting to see the effect this will have on the overall market.

In the Media Report for March, we will look at Girls and Boys 4-9 years along with Housewives with Children.

2000 1000 0

Housewives with Children - Preschool February 15 vs February 16

Feb-15

Feb-16

8000 7000 6000 0 5000 0 4000 0 3000 0 2000 0 1000 0 0

Boys TVRs February 15 vs February 16

F b 15 Feb-15

F b 16 Feb-16

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Girls TVRs February 15 vs February 16

Feb-15

Feb-16

Feb 2015 Toy Company TV Expenditure

Feb 2016 Toy Company TV Expenditure

Company Name

TV Expenditure

Company Name

TV Expenditure

Hasbro (UK) LEGO UK Flair Leisure Prod Character Options Vivid Imagination Bandai UK Jakks Pacific/Kidz Biz John Adams Leisure Golden Bear Prod Build A Bear WorkShop

£1,032,034 £807,779 £733,384 £522,214 £304,982 £203,727 £194,158 £179,097 £167,250 £141,150

Hasbro (UK) Flair Leisure Prod Character Options LEGO UK Vivid Imagination Mattel UK Magic Box Int Brainstorm Zuru Toys (USA) MGA Ent

£3,000,622 £1,193,175 £698,701 £678,561 £657,653 £491,345 £386,684 £319,419 £293,298 £221,665

For more information on viewing levels please contact Mike Penfold. mike@globalmedia.me.uk Tel: 01494 763178.

All graphs and information supplied by Global Media Services

SEPTEMBER S SE EPT PTE EM M MB BER 2013 BE 20 2 013 13

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MEDIA

OPINION

If it’s broke fix it!

Columnist Clive Crouch looks at the outcome for toy lines from the threat of lower BBC funding

A

s George Bernard Shaw once said: “The Oxford Media Convention, Tony Hall stated that he wants educated man is a greater nuisance than the the licence fee extended to include the estimated 500,000 uneducated man.” homes where viewers do not have a TV set but watch Education has given us the great gift of reading, and corporation programmes on-demand on the iPlayer. freedom of choice allows adults to distinguish between Such a move would enable the BBC to start charging the what is worth reading and what is not. estimated two per cent of households in the UK who only The same could be said for television, not only are consume on-demand TV content, rather than watching we presented with a vast spectrum of choice but, when programmes live. it comes to deciding what is worth watching, we are To further counter the licence fee critics, Hall said: faced with a similar dilemma.

“Far from the licence fee being abolished, it should be Again Shaw may have the answer when he said: extended to take account of the different ways in which “People see what they look for, not what is actually people consume TV and radio in the digital age, on their before them.” The choice before us now is made easier computer, tablets or smartphone.” to disseminate by the availability of screens and what The Director General is taking every opportunity to time we choose to view content (formerly known as demonstrate that the licence fee is “not a compromise; it programmes). However there is an elephant waiting underpins the success of the BBC”. outside the TV room.

Toy companies, toy brands and licensed products surround When you happen to be Tony Hall, the Director children’s television in many different ways. While I said we General of the BBC, knowing that the next step for should be careful what we wish for, we should not forget funding the organisation is what this genre has already lost, and the a matter of the Government impact that has had on children’s output. disagreeing with Gideon In 2003, the Department for Media, The compound Osborne – AKA George, our Culture and Sport regulator Ofcom removed effect of reduced Chancellor of the Exchequer – the mandatory policy for children’s investment in children’s could be dangerous. programming for the Public Service However, Osborne’s stock has programmes, resulted in a Broadcasters (PSBs) – ITV, and Channels taken a big hit over the recent Four and Five. One of the consequences decline in original budget and, meanwhile, Lord was the removal of children’s programmes Tony Hall is doing his best for from the long-established 3.30pm to 5pm content the BBC and its viewers by week day slot. keeping the elephant at bay.

The compound effect of reduced The issues currently surrounding the investment in children’s programmes resulted in fewer broadcaster’s funding for children’s commissions to the independent producers and a decline budgets, across the next BBC in original children’s content. Currently PACT (Producers Charter, and indeed maintaining Alliance for Cinema and Television) has raised the issue them longer term, are of the with The Children’s Media Foundation (CMF) to lobby for a utmost importance to this reintroduction of this mandate. industry.

The response from Secretary of State of Culture, Media While the licence fee versus and Sport John Whittingdale is: “This is not possible in the subscription (be careful short term, because of the remaining length of the current what you wish for) debate PSB licences.” They expire in 2020. continues, Lord Hall has put In the interests of balance I note that following the lifting a marker down announcing of the PSB children’s mandate, ITV has created a very good that the licence fee will be children’s channel with CITV. In addition the timing of extended to include online removing that programme mandate helped the development viewing such as iPlayer. of Viacom, Turner and Disney in building a kids’ audience for I understand and appreciate their dedicated children’s channels in the UK digital market. that people hold views for Within the toy industry, whether you are a branded and against the principle content licensor, advertiser or sponsor, the future funding for of a licence fee. I’m not here a long-term commitment and commissioning of British kids’ to fuel that debate but shows is crucial to many toy companies’ business models as I acknowledge that well as the young viewers. what iPlayer offers This should not be the sole responsibility of the BBC as is good value for there is a distinct lack of commissioning by the commercial money at £2.80 per PSBs. week. Let us not I mentioned the removal of the mandatory licence forget that in the condition for children’s programmes on the PSB channels next BBC Charter and its subsequent effect. On that note having opened all BBC children’s this piece with a quote from George Bernard Shaw, the programming playwright provides a pertinent comment on which to close: could possibly be “We learn from experience that we never learn anything from on iPlayer. experience.”

As recently as To paraphrase children’s TV favourite and fantastic toy line late February at the Bob The Builder – then let’s fix it!

“

”

Clive Crouch www.clivecrouch.com, info@clivecrouch.com, mobile: 07831 670 453

1

toysnplaythings.co.uk

COVER FEATURE CHARACTER OPTIONS

A whole lotta love for Peppa Character Options continues to build on the success of their classic property and ever-growing Peppa Pig range

T

his year has seen Character Options build upon its already impressive range of Peppa Pig toys. New development across the master toy collection, has created brand new themes that will excite all Peppa Pig fans. In addition to this, a whole range of Creative Play and Construction, all adds up to a licensed portfolio that brings with it the opportunity for growth.

The autumn rollout of Character’s new Classic Peppa range reflects iconic and

instantly recognisable themes within the show that will be highly desirable to the core fan. They will bring to little ones the backdrops for many familiar role play scenarios.

Peppa’s House & Garden Playset includes figures, furniture and accessories for imaginative play. Other favourites include Grandad Dog’s Pirate Boat, Miss Rabbit’s Train, plus many more. The free-wheeling Air Peppa’s Jet with new moulding, is true to the show’s cute style. Classic playsets such as Outdoor Fun and Peppa’s Party w will also be available and with scaled play, pre-schoolers can create a fanta fantastic Peppa World!

Adde Added to Classic is another alltime fa favourite, the 2016 Princess & Sir Geo George range which, as the most success successful theme in the toy brand’s history, is back - ready to delight a generation of fans! The hero of new ge the col collection will be Princess Peppa’s Palace, packed full of royal characters regal furniture. Also new to the and reg range are a an enchanting Peppa’s Rose T Tower and Princess Peppa’s Ca Carriage. These new Princess & S Sir George playsets will have an a attractive golden-yellow sparkly effect and cute princess styling, e putt putting them on every Peppa fan’s wish list.

Th The line-up of Peppa Pig Plush is also to be extended and this year it is the ‘Laugh With Peppa’ animatronic plush that is tthe star of the show. Released in autu autumn this feature-laden plush toy

“

We

have extensive marketing plans for the entire Peppa Pig portfolio!

There are six different commercials for key lines in the making.

”

will be the source of giggles from preschoolers come Christmas morning - if not sooner!

Character’s Peppa Pig portfolio now offers additional categories for retailers to be involved with. This includes the recent addition of Peppa’s Arts & Crafts range with its wide array of Softee Dough toys together with Magna Doodle, not to mention for Autumn/Winter, an impressive floor standing Deluxe House Easel! The new construction range has also got off to a great start, bringing big brick building fun to small hands, but with all the joy that only Peppa and her friends and family can add!

With such an impressive range however, comes an equally impressive marketing plan, and Character has six different TVC’s planned for the autumn showing all the key collections. Kids and parental press are also in the mix, complemented by fully-immersive peer-to-peer PR with influential mums each and every month!

Jerry Healy

Laugh with Peppa P “Our new ‘Laugh With Peppa’ is delightful and will be the source of heaps of giggles from little ones this Autumn” Jerry Healy Marketing Director Character Options

APRIL 2016

For more information call Character Options on 0161 633 9800

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WHAT’S Brand spanking new launches from top toy companies to help you sell more!

A leader in innovation TOY STATE 020 8440 5060 Msangel@toystate.com For more than 30 years Toy State has constantly been on the leading edge of what’s new. A leader in its category, Toy State lives and breathes innovation and imagination. The mission is simple, “To bring smiles to children and families worldwide”, and the latest from its Nikko brand certainly lives up to the company’s lofty standards.

The VelociTrax is a full-function radio control vehicle that promises hours of action with a fast and futuristic style. Featuring 360-degree spins and ultra speed and maneuverability, this innovative product can The VelociTrax is a fullhandle even the most function radio control challenging terrains.

VelociTrax is available in vehicle that promises a sleek neon green or electric hours of action with orange and can travel up to 14 a fast and futuristic KM/HR! Perfect for ages 8 and up; style. this innovative Toy State’s new addition to its Nikko product can handle even line is guaranteed to captivate R/C fans of the most challenging all generations. For more information on what’s terrains. new from Toy State please contact Michael Angel.

As seen on TV

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RAVENSBURGER 01869 363800 www.ravensburger.com/uk Ravensburger’s autumn/winter range offers something for every consumer with key lines supported by heavyweight TV campaigns.

The children’s licensed puzzle collection offers the best licences, with 14 new characters joining the autumn range – Teletubbies, The Secret Life of Pets, Angry Birds, Goldie and the Bear, Go Jetters, Finding Dory, Dora and Friends, My Little Pony, Moana, Emoji, Star Darlings, The BFG, The Lion Guard and Avengers Assemble.

Adult puzzle sales grew in SS2016 and this is expected to continue with new launches including the Limited Edition Christmas Puzzle Santa’s Christmas Party, What If? Christmas Day, and What if The Wedding, plus additions to the Best of British, Colin Thompson and Country Cottage ranges. Autumn also sees the launch of Puzzle Handy – the unique foldaway puzzle board.

Family games remains a key focus for AW2016, and best sellers Labyrinth, Scotland Yard, Bugs in the Kitchen and Eye Found It will be supported with a heavyweight TV campaign.

The unique light-up Chrysler Building and Statue of Liberty designs lead the substantial TV campaign planned for autumn/winter in the thriving 3D market – with Ravensburger’s YOY sales continuing to grow the high-quality, plastic puzzles remain high on their agenda.

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toysnplaythings.co.uk

NEW Just like royalty DKL

Delicious collectables

01604 678780 sales@dkl.co.uk The Breyer model of the Queen’s fell pony, Carltonlima Emma, is now available.

Distributed exclusively by DKL, the Breyer model has been hugely popular since its launch in January.

The traditional 1:9 scale model is created exactly in the likeness of the royal fell pony. Each model has been hand-crafted, and every one is therefore unique and collectable.

In anticipation of the Queen’s official 90th birthday celebrations at The Royal Windsor Horse Show (12-15 May), DKL are encouraging customers to order now to avoid disappointment.

MGA ENTERTAINMENT 01908 268480 www.numnoms.com

With the Queen’s upcoming 90th birthday, the Breyer model of her fell pony, Carltonlima Emma, has been extremely popular.

Breyer model.

Farel Williams, DKL

”

Big building blocks Bigjigs 01303 250400 www.bigjigstoys.co.uk Bigjigs Toys has introduced Gigi Bloks to its portfolio of distribution brands.

Created by a husband and wife team, Gigi Bloks originated in Latvia and the natural and uncomplicated values of the brand resonate through the toys which are made from 100 per cent recyclable cardboard and easy to fold, store and play.

The plain blocks are a blank canvas ready for painting, drawing and do not distract the mind from its imaginary process but motivates it instead, to help children create a play world from scratch.

Liz Ireland, Bigjigs Managing Director, states: “Gigi is a simple constructive play idea that allows children to build great play spaces. Made from sturdy natural cardboard, the bricks are supplied flat and need minimal assembly.

“This is a great accompaniment to the Playcolor paint sticks we offer and the two ranges combine well for life-size, colourful and imaginative play.”

APRIL 2016

MGA has introduced a new pocket-money collectable to our shores — Num Noms .

Featuring miniature characters inspired by sweet foods and flavours, the individually-scented Num Noms has over 60 characters launching this spring.

Num is the outer, soft hollow characters while Nom, is the inner, hard-shelled characters that are either motorised to scoot around, or filled with flavoured lip gloss.

There are thousands of Num Nom mix and match combinations. Packs start from £2.99 for the Num Nom Mystery Blind Pot while the Num Noms Starter Pack includes three Nums and one motorised Nom, and the Deluxe Pack includes six Nums and two motorised Noms. For avid collectors the Go-Go Café playset has everything you need to set your Num Noms free.

Double snap with Disney CARTAMUNDI 01268 511522 retail@cartamundi.co.uk Cartamundi has announced a number of new launches inspired by Disney Princess and Disney.

Pixar Cars. Each of these much-loved names now feature in a Snap game, a two-inone game and a game box, all of which are available now.

21

RETAIL INTERVIEW MOTHERCARE

Mother knows best Mothercare’s Head of Buying & Product Development Claire Loxley sat down with TnP to chat about best-sellers, toy sales and consumer confidence

How long have you been in the toy industry, and how did you get here?

I have been in the toy industry for 12 years, my first buying job was at Mothercare on the nursery area.

From there I joined Hamleys as pre-school toy buyer, and then went on to head up the development of the Hamleys Private Label ranges.

After a great five years at Hamleys, I then moved on to join the Early Learning Centre buying team here at Mothercare HQ as Senior Buyer on girls toys and really got to grips with the exciting world of design and product development. Two years ago I was promoted into my current role of heading up the buying and product design teams for both the Early Learning Centre & Mothercare brands.

So what currently are your top three best selling products/lines.

For ELC brand, the best-selling range is HappyLand, followed closely by our developmental core Baby & Toddler range. We also remain very strong with our range of Home & Shopping and our Big

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“

We do very well when we focus on what our customers expect from ELC & Mothercare as a retailer – quality, play value and product specialism.

”

City Road & Rail segment.

For brands, our current top three performers are VTech, Fisher-Price and SmarTrike.

What categories sell particularly well for you, and what is your target age range?

Baby & Toddler is our absolute core age range, however we are also very strong within certain segments aimed at three to six year olds. We

do very well when we focus on what our customers expect from ELC & Mothercare as a retailer – quality, play value and product specialism.

We have classic products that have

Mothercare’s bestselling brands are: VTech Fisher-Price SmarTrike

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Did you know… this year Mothercare introduced new look Early Learning Centre toy shop areas

play pattern, developmental benefits most important or do you take them as a whole?

become iconic within our range and these continue to sell all around the world year after year.

Roughly what percent of your total sales of toys account for? Is this in growth?

Toys contribute a significant part of Mothercare Groups turnover, which is obviously accentuated in the Christmas season… performance has been really positive with particular highlights in our fantastic re-furbished stores and our direct channel.

You had a strong Christmas in the UK. Do you think consumer confidence is back and holding firm?

I think consumer confidence is back, however the UK toy consumer is savvier then ever! We know the majority of mums shop with Mothercare so we have been busy creating an in store environment whereby the ELC Toy Shop is an integral part of a one stop shop for parents and young children.

Do you think 2015 is the year retailers finally embrace and become truly multichannel?

Mothercare as a business has been doing very well online for some time now. We have been focusing on creating a seamless shopping

APRIL 2016

experience whether you are shopping on the web, in store or with a staff member on an iPad.

Do certain toys sell better online than in-store, and do you take that into account when making buying decisions?

Yes definitely. We have quite a few products now that will perform significantly better online – especially those that are large or heavy to carry from a store.

“

We have quite a few products now that will perform significantly better online – especially those that are large or heavy to carry from a store.

Tell us about your Time to play and learn buying guide/campaign online. Is education and development through play a core tenant of the products you stock?

”

Developmental benefits are hugely important, but it also has to be commercial and appealing in terms of price point and aesthetics otherwise the consumer simply won’t buy into it.

Tell us about ELC’s own brand ranges. Roughly what percentage of your offering is own brand as opposed to branded?

It’s around 60:40 own brand to branded. We have taken a conscious decision to give our branded offer more impact, to complement the ELC & Mothercare ranges and provide our customers with a greater width of range.

Absolutely. Learning through Play is what ELC stands for, and what we strive to deliver through the products we design and the brands that we stock.

Has this online feature helped boost sales of the highlighted products?

Yes!

What draws you to a toy initially when sourcing new product? Are aesthetics,

We asked…

Is there anything you wouldn’t stock?

We do not stock any kind of toy gun or realistic looking toy weapons, and we will also not stock anything of low quality or with limited play value.

23

HIGH STREET

HIGHS

Customer loyalty costs money Founder and MD of The Entertainer, Gary Grant knows that reaching retail apogee requires a lot of hard work and a great deal of investment in courting the customer, but more importantly perhaps, in retaining them. Mirella Anstey reports

T

he choice for consumers co is perhaps more v varied than it ever has bee been from time immemorial, an and it is certainly not uncommon for folks to have really done their homework before purcha purchasing and often even stand in a bricks and mo mortar outlet with smart smartphone to hand ready to price check.

B But if it was based on price alone very few retailers would sti still be open! “It is no not and will never ju just be about price ffor a toy shop.

Our category is lucky in some ways, in that perhaps more than most other types of shops, toys are spontaneous

1

purchases and more importantly than that, toy shops have an emotional context. People reminisce about the toy shops of their childhood - the excitement, the fun, the Aladdin’s cave feeling. This is where toy retailers can really shine” explains Gary. But how can toy retailers capitalise on this warm fuzzy nostalgic feeling?

Gary feels the success of retaining loyalty in his 120 locations is multilayered: “Customer retention is obviously the key for any business and for me, I aim to give us much opportunity for customers to buy as possible. So we offer four core ways to buy: ■ The Community Shop - rather like the Amersham store ■ The Traditional High Street Shop - the Harlow store is a good example ■ The Shopping Centre Shop the White City Westfield store is one of these such outlets ■ Online

toysnplaythings.co.uk

The Community and Traditional High Street Shops engender a great deal of repeat business because of the location”. I remind Gary of a time I was in the aforementioned Amersham store with him (being his first store it is unquestionably his favourite shop) and a mature lady chatted away with him saying she hadn’t seen him for some time.

They exchanged pleasantries about each others families and bid one another goodbye. He turned to me and explained, “That lady has been coming here for more than 30 years!

She was a young mum when she started coming here and now she is buying for her grandchildren”. That exchange was really illuminating - not only did Gary remember her (he’s great with faces, less so with names), but she did not consider going elsewhere for her family purchases. Gary feels that it is his investment that underpins the loyalty. “I am in good locations at the heart of the community or on the High Street. I cannot afford the top notch positions that other categories can - ladies’ fashion for example - but my locations are quality and guarantee big footfall, which is why the 120 rents I pay to landlords are expensive. But I can deliver excellent shop windows, with superb numbers of people waking past them day in and day out. That is why our shop windows are beacons for new products - our shop fronts are brilliant marketing tools”. So the money spent on securing those top locations is the most obvious way The Entertainer works hard to keep loyalty - they are in the consumer’s face a lot. And in addition to this, they have their Shopping Centre locations and their excellent online offering - so at every turn a customer

APRIL 2016

has the opportunity to go back in The Entertainer and purchase again and again. Gary calls it “making life easier for the customer”, and unquestionably he is. But it is also a great loyalty strategy that other retailers cannot replicate.

Other more subtle ways that Gary and his team at The Entertainer keep people coming back is to create that magical space and toy buying journey where kids and grown ups are dazzled by toys. Staff play with toys and, actually, more than a lot of other shops, both toy and nontoy, staff wow customers with a caring, helpful and

“

That lady has been coming here for more than 30 years... now she is buying for her grandchildren

”

happy attitude. Gary explains that this all comes at a price. “The fact is at most times of the year, my shops are ‘over-staffed’. However, the toy demonstrations are so compelling, the in-store theatre is so important, the character appearances are a great boost, the swap days for collectables are really brilliant in getting kids in the shop and buying more collectables - but this all costs money. And these are all things we do very well and are very well-known for.” I ask Gary if he would have it another way? “Not a chance”!

25

RETAIL

OPINION

Toy talk Retailers are important to us here at TnP. We love chatting to them each month to get industry insights into what is selling well and we ask some key questions...

TnP loves to hear your views. This month we chat with retailers around the country to see what is selling well and how Easter boosts their business

TIM BROAD Lighthouse Toys, Histon, Cambridgeshire Educational play specialists Lighthouse Toys have been recommended by education and healthcare specialists for local parents to find the toys best suited to their kids.

SUSANNE YOUINGS-CLARKE Little You, Barnstaple, Devon Susanne is busy building her range for infants. A recent survey she conducted on social media told her that customers were crying out for appropriately aged toys for little ones, so she hopes to fill that gap.

What is currently selling particularly well for you?

Creative lines are doing well, but it’s STEM toys that are really taking off. Engino’s Discovery STEM lines are selling well - they’re a new addition to our shelves but they’ve almost all gone already.

Magformers is another STEM range that is doing extremely well, plus Thames and Kosmos’ range of science kits.

What is currently selling particularly well for you?

We’ve been expanding our ranges for babies and nursery-aged children, adding lots of plush for little ones from Manhattan Toy Company and Rainbow Designs - they’re so soft.

What’s currently in your window display, and how do you decide what gets pride of place out front?

We are double-fronted, so we stagger changing the window displays, changing one each week so they both get a fortnight. Currently one window is a STEM window, with some Learning Resources products and more. The other has a seasonal Easter theme, with creative products, and some chicks and duckling decorations.

What’s currently in your window display, and how do you decide what gets pride of place out front?

One had an Easter theme with Bigjigs’ Rabbit Ride On, and some cute plush toys from Manhattan and Cloud b. We change it quite regularly to reflect what celebrations and seasonal events are going on, even those like Mother’s Day that aren’t tied to toys. It just keeps things fresh and inline with what shoppers are out looking for at that time.

Are more parents ditching the chocolate eggs and picking up a toy for their kids for Easter instead?

Yes, and we sell more toys at a gift price point around this time of year too. Easter was very early this year though, so it’s going a bit slower than usual.

Are more parents ditching the chocolate eggs and picking up a toy for their kids for Easter instead?

Definitely for younger ones; parents just don’t want to give them sugar. We do sell a lot of toys to grandparents and gift-givers over Easter.

Where do you stand on the Brexit and how could it impact your business?

People are saying it’s bad news for Britain, but I think that’s wrong.

They wanted our stuff when we were in the Union, and that’s not going to just disappear - unless something silly happens. It might even open up new markets for export and import with manufacturers from places like the Indian subcontinent.

What does the decision to drop proposed changes to Sunday trading laws mean for you?

We’re on a small village high street, so we don’t compete directly with those big retailers.

Where do you stand on the Brexit and how could it impact your business?

I’m not sure as I’m not too up on it. German company K-Play wholesale directly to me, so that could impact prices in that type of situation.

What does the decision to drop proposed changes to Sunday trading laws mean for you?

Sunday trading isn’t that important for us, so I’m not sure how much it would change anything. This isn’t the busiest high street on a Sunday, although we do open up for most of the year apart from quiet periods like January.

Rainbow Designs

26

Magformers

LEGO

Tweet Talk Share your thoughts with us and keep up to date with all things TnP on Twitter @toysnplaythings LAURIE SMITH Jake’s Toys, Petersfield, Hampshire The Jake’s Toys team upped sticks and moved to larger premises last July, and was busy selling Easter gifts last month.

What is currently selling particularly well for you?

LEGO is always our best seller, and that has not changed. CITY always goes well for us and the new NEXO Knights are going great, particularly the pocket money sets. Star Wars flies off the shelves, with the licensed LEGO and lightsabers in big demand.

What’s currently in your window display, and how do you decide what gets pride of place out front?

We always have some kind of LEGO in the window, and during Easter I put some of Hasbro’s NERF out front too. It was a mixture of outdoor and Disney.

Other than that, and we try to change it up every week or two.

Are more parents ditching the chocolate eggs and picking up a toy for their kids for Easter?

The run up to Easter weekend and the extended halfterm break is always good for us. Lots of parents are saying they don’t want their kids to have chocolate, and want a toy instead. After the bank holiday, we sell bigger, higher price point sets as kids spend their Easter money.

CHRIS MARSHALL, Toy Crazy, Halstead, Essex Chris co-owns Toy Crazy and has been trading for the past 15 years. They sell lots of traditional toys.

What is currently selling particularly well for you?

LEGO does really well with the five to 12-year-olds, and the puzzles with older shoppers. We work closely with Gibsons on the puzzles side of things they have lots of really great products.

Where do you stand on the Brexit and how could it impact your business?

I will be voting but I don’t think it will Gibsons make a dramatic difference to my business either way.

SUE WHYMAN Childhood’s Dream, Winchester, Hampshire Wife and husband team Sue and Tony are marking eight years this year since opening Childhood’s Dream. Before that they worked in aviation.

What is currently selling particularly well for you?

Wooden railways are perennial best sellers for us, and we do really well with both Bigjigs and Brio’s ranges. And also Lottie dolls from Arklu. We’ve had them for quite a while now and they continue to sell well.

Are more parents ditching the chocolate eggs and picking up a toy for their kids for Easter instead?

Yes, but only really in the week leading up to Easter.

It came a little too early this year though. business.

What does the decision to drop proposed changes to Sunday trading laws mean for you?

Sunday is a proper day of trading for us, but I certainly

Arklu

APRIL 2016

27

THE INDEPENDENT

OPINION

Small screen dream, or scream?

A lot of the toys on our shelves revolve around kids TV programmes – so how did our columnist fare when he spent six hours watching TV aimed at pre-schoolers?

I

recently decided to give myself a bit of a test.

The task I set myself was to watch some children’s TV programmes based on the toys I sell. The idea was to see if there was any appeal in them, and also to see if watching an episode or two could be a slight benefit to my decisions in purchasing.

I consider myself to be quite a youthful guy, dare I say I’m even quite cool. Kids on our street often wave and say hello – they wouldn’t do that if I wasn’t cool you know.

But, back to the job in hand. Firstly, I watched a bit of the PAW Patrol, Blaze and Teletubbies. After I was satisfied with these, I moved on to some of the real classics

Best sellers VOLUME: 1) Shopkins 2 Pack – Flair 2) Minifigures Series 15 – Lego 3) Blaze Vehicles – Mattel VALUE: 1) Shopkins 12 Pack – Flair 2) Blaze Vehicles – Mattel 3) PAW Patrol Vehicle - Spinmaster

like Peppa Pig, In the Night Garden and Postman Pat. And finally, as a bit of a reward for getting through multiple episodes of these, I treated myself to the stuff I watched with my kids when they were younger such as Scooby Doo, Bugs Bunny and the best of them all – Road Runner!

I should mention it has given me a totally new appreciation for how kids learn these days. There are moral lessons in almost all of these programmes, but there were the odd bits that I really didn’t like.

For example, I took umbrage over how Daddy Pig is portrayed in Peppa Pig. Secondly, I can’t understand how everyone in the village looks up to Postman Pat and In The Night Garden was not my personal cup of tea.

The one thing I can say about In The Night Garden is that I did find it calming, and from speaking to a few of the parents in my stores, that seems to be the appeal.

Believe it or not, apart from Road Runner, my favourite was Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom. There were parts of the episodes I watched that caught my attention and I ended up wondering how they were going to get out of the sticky situation they

seemed to be in, and other times where I laughed at some of the jokes.

In total, I think I spent about six hours of my free time watching various programmes. Mind you, it felt a lot longer — so I’m pleased I wasn’t actually enjoying myself too much.

Ultimately, my TV experiment was worthwhile. For example, I noticed that there are loads of channels, but some of them are not exactly popular.

I always figured that if something was on TV, there would be some sort of appeal for toys as there is bound to be some kids watching it, but it would appear not. I noticed episodes of certain programmes were still showing but I had to reduce any leftover stocks from these ranges years ago simply to get them off the shelves.

There was an interesting side to it too.

I did find myself able to see the appeal in Teletubbies, Peppa Pig, Blaze, PAW Patrol and In the Night Garden.

I’ve now decided it would be helpful to see an episode of a TV series related to a toy range before I place an order. You get a better grasp of the concept, rather than viewing toys and guessing if the supplier has accurately represented the series.

THE SECRET SUPPLIER

Flying high with Postman Pat Keeping up with what kids are watching is crucial, but is a hit on TV always a hit toy?

I

quite tightly defined demographic profile.

What makes the children’s media market highly complex is that we have gone from having just one commercial station plus the BBC to a multitude of different broadcast platforms, which children can access through a whole variety of devices at any time of their choosing. So if a young child wants to watch Peppa Pig every day at 6.30am — Peppa Pig is available.

The other complexity regarding licences is that viewing numbers are not an indication of potential toy sales. Horrid Henry, for example, was a top -ated TV show but the fact that kids loved the programme did not mean they had an appetite for the toys.

So what The Independent has touched on this month is an immensely important and complex subject, not just for retailers but also for us suppliers who have to make huge financial commitments for new TV licences, often based on seeing just few minutes of programming.

And to answer The Independent’s question as to why people in Postman Pat’s village of Greendale look up to him – it’s because he has a Special Delivery Helicopter!

28

toysnplaythings.co.uk

wonder how many retailers, and indeed suppliers, immerse themselves in the wonderful but complex world of children’s TV? Especially when it plays such an important role in the dynamics of the whole toy industry.

Full marks to The Independent for trying to understand the secret world of popular kids’ programmes in an attempt to give himself better insight into his character toy buying decisions.

An excellent objective but one I fear it will be difficult to achieve.

If we knew what makes a TV show translate into big toy sales then we would not have a situation where, despite lots of hype, a major TV character show fails to deliver the hoped-for toy sales.

But there are some key indicators worth considering. Take PAW Patrol for instance. A very successful Canadian-produced TV show that has been a big hit at the toy box office. The clue here is that the Executive Producer is Ronnen Haray, one of the brilliant founders of Spin Master and someone with a deep understanding of what makes a successful toy.

On the other hand, we learn that The Independent likes Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom with its highly commendable storyline which seems to appeal to both children and parents – but of a

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FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Embracing play Pre-school continues to be as popular as ever. TnP talks to some of the suppliers filling this category with top-quality toys

I

f you had a choice – you would choose for your child to completely embrace the concept of play. And as children grow and learn, play becomes ever more important. But undoubtedly, it is at its most important once they hit the vital pre-school years. This is when they are soaking up the most information and that is why preschool is such a huge category within the industry. Everything from licensed toys to learning aids and traditional play to outdoor toys gets a look-in, making it popular with parents, retailers and suppliers.

With some not too shabby sales figures, it is no surprise that preschool is a top priority for a healthy portion of the industry.

Certainly it is a priority for Little Tikes, with Marketing Manager Michelle Lilley revealing the company has seen significant growth in the pre-school category over the past 12

months. Having taken to TV with seven commercials dedicated to the infant pre-school arena, Michelle says Little Tikes’ combination of new launches and investment is reaping dividends. “The launch of Lil ‘Ocean Explorer in autumn 2015 solidified our position and has set a great base to build further this autumn with the launch of Light ‘n Go IPS and our Newborn line,” adds Michelle.

It is fair to say that Chicco know a thing or two about infants and pre-schoolers – and their sales figures say the same with overall figures up 25 per cent for 2015.

Chicco’s Fit n Fun and Move n Grow lines have “performed consistently well” over the past 12 months, says Toys Product Manager Holly John. In fact, Holly says the Fit n Fun range doubled in sales during 2015.

Keeping it competitive Although pre-school is a competitive

DID YOU KNOW… Little Tikes’ Cozy Coupe is now in its 37th year of production and is the biggest-selling car in the UK, with one in four kids now driving one!

30

Mattel

“

Where many preschool properties rely on character entertainment content, we utilise the classic play patterns and trusted reputation Little Tikes has built upon through the generations Michelle Lilley, Little Tikes

”

market, there is always room for quality – as Green Board Games can testify. They entered the pre-school category for the first time in 2015 with BrainBox First Colours, First Letters and First Numbers – and as it turns out, it was a wise move.

“We’ve placed ourselves in a strong position by producing the right product and allowing us to expand the range further by adding two new titles, First Animals and First Animal Homes, as well as BrainBox Jigsaws, so 2016 is poised to surpass last year,” says Green Board Games’ Marketing Executive David Harms. “We’ve certainly cemented ourselves within a sector that is massive throughout the

toysnplaythings.co.uk

MUM SAYS…

WE ASKED…

Cliodhna, aged three, takes her pre-school toys pretty seriously. Mum Suzanne tells us what gets her daughter excited.

Safety is hugely important to this age category. Tell us about your testing process and how you build safety into the design. Is this something you message on packaging and other marketing material?

“Being the youngest of two, Cliodhna has a pretty clear idea of what she wants to play with. At the moment, it is all about pretend play. Bijjigs’ Village Shop was bought for her recently and it went down a storm. I liked the level of interaction between Cliodhna, us and the toy and that is something I look for when buying for her. Although I think she might be a bit of a Del Boy!”

industry and we’ll be continuing to innovate new products to support pre-school learning.”

Given that the pre-school category is so competitive - and, ultimately, lucrative - having the right type of product is vital.

Playmobil’s Trade Marketing and Display Manager Jamie Dickinson points out: “At this age, children really enjoy playing with toys that reflect everyday life, such as our new Farm and Water Park ranges – we receive a lot of letters from children about our holiday-inspired ranges. Being able to combine these real-life scenarios with the more fantastical, such as our Pirates range, really allows them to use their imaginations and encourages them to learn through play.”

It is hard to think of pre-school and not think of Golden Bear – they came in to 2016 in a strong position.

“We’ve had a great year; the company is the number one manufacturer of plush in the UK as well as the number one manufacturer in licensed plush (NPD, FY 2015) and we’ve seen strong performances

Golden Bear

APRIL 2016

“We make sure that each element is safe to play with and that there are no sharp angles or parts which children might hurt themselves on. For example, for younger children, the 1.2.3. range is chunkier for smaller hands to hold, meaning that children aged 18months to 3 years can play safely. All of our toys are tested rigorously to ensure they are fully compliant with EU safety standards.”

across all of our pre-school brands, particularly our Twirlywoos collection, which is currently being led by the Fun Sounds Run-along Twirlywoos,” says Barry Hughes, General Manager, Golden Bear.

“The pre-school sector in general is in a strong position, with new products and innovation coming through all the time.”

Jamie Dickinson, Playmobil “Safety is one the most important factor when it comes to our products. Our toys undergo rigorous safety tests before launch – all of which are reflected in the product information and packaging.”

You can have it all Given that the pre-school category is so vast, licensed and non-licensed products all sit quite comfortably together.

“Where many pre-school properties rely on character entertainment content, we utilise the classic play patterns and trusted reputation Little Tikes has built upon through the generations. Our users are not necessarily our choosers, so we need to appeal to parents and gift givers as much as the child,” points out Michelle. However, she adds: “Our focus is licensing categories outside of our core competencies of toys (infant pre-school, outdoor, role play, ride-ons) and retaining a toyetic angle which is paramount to flexing the brand reach.

Bladez have recently launched a licensed preschool range. Bladez CEO Iain Morgan told us: “With the majority of the UK toy market being pre-school, and a large chunk of that being licensed, it made sense for us to make the move into this sector. We have the innovation and skill within our team to create toys that will not only aid in sensory enrichment, but also provide educational benefits, while forming fond memories for children and their parents.”

Michelle Lilley, Little Tikes

Posh Paws

“

The pre-school sector in general is in a strong position, with new products and innovation coming through all the time” Barry Hughes, Golden Bear

”

“All our games are sent for EN71 testing, in accordance with the Toy Safety Directive.

All our games carry a clear safety warning if they are unsuitable for children below a certain age, due to any small parts.”

David Harms, Green Board Games “All of our products have been specifically designed and carefully tested in collaboration with Osservatorio Chicco, our official Baby Research Centre, where paediatricians and parents work together to study stimuli and provide insight to ensure products support and aid a child’s growth and learning development. Also all of our packaging displays the key features of the products and how they will specifically aid a child’s development at different stages ensuring parents can make the right choice when it comes to safety.”

Holly John, Chicco

31

FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Playing mum ZAPF CREATION 01908 268 480 www.zapf-creation.com Baby Annabell is the UK’s number one large doll brand that focuses on all the caring, nurturing and interactive aspects of the role-play between a mother and baby. For younger kids, the my first Baby Annabell range has new additions such as the my first Baby Annabell Newborn Doll with refreshed outfit designs and new Little Lamb with Lullaby function and cuddly body.

My first Baby Annabell Doll and Brother Doll have also undergone a spring refresh, plus the new Rose Doll is another beautiful addition.

Perfect for pre-school fun and imaginative play, BABY born has new products across the my little BABY born and core BABY born ranges.

Zapf Creation is also marking a very special birthday as the iconic BABY born doll turns 25 this year, celebrating with new products and campaigns throughout 2016.

The magic of play FISHER-PRICE 01628 500000 www.mattel.com Inspiring little learners to be big thinkers, Fisher-Price launches its new Think & Learn pre-school learning range, teaching key foundational skills for coding and sequencing. The Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar and The Counting Colours Chameleon, will be the first innovative additions to the range, engaging preschoolers in a fun, unique way.

Building on the success of Toy of the Year 2015 BeatBo, Fisher-Price will expand the interactive range with BeatBelle, BeatBark and Bright Beats Dance Mat. Thomas & Friends steams ahead with a new brand campaign, Calling Team Thomas, and the release of the 11th feature film, The Great Race. The popular FisherPrice Thomas & Friends ranges add the TrackMaster Thomas Sky-High Bridge Jump Set, which sees Thomas fly more than two feet in the air. The Thomas & Friends Minis collectable engines will also grow with the introduction of the Motorised Raceway playset.

Fisher-Price introduces its highly anticipated Bob the Builder toy range, with vehicles from Diecast and Talking Friends to the fully interactive Full Throttle Scoop. The new range includes the 17-piece Bob’s Ultimate Toolbox for role-play and pre-schoolers can immerse themselves in the Mash & Mould Sand Playset featuring kinetic sand.

Key to the Fisher-Price Go Jetters range is the new Jet Pad Headquarters playset. Fisher-Price’s Bing range success is set to continue with new characters in the plush range and new playsets including Day at the Creche with Bing & Sula.

The popular Fisher-Price toy range based on the Nickelodeon series Blaze and the Monster Machines sees the launch of the Monster Dome Playset and an exciting new transforming vehicle Transforming Fire truck Blaze races into the line. Also look out for Imaginext Turn on Adventure with playsets and figures expanding the DC Super Friends range.

3 32

Sticking together gether GP FLAIR 0208 643 0320 www.flairplc.co.uk Stickle Bricks is back as a major focus for Flair in 2016. For toddlers from 12 2 months, Stickle Bricks promote development of dexterity and imagination with easy-to-hold, hold, brightly coloured bricks that stick together easily. The 2016 range will include a Big Red Bucket ket filled with lots of assorted bricks and the Stickle ickle Bricks Beginner’s Box. Doc McStuffins adds a Toy Hospital theme and Half-Shell Heroes adds s more for little TMNT fans.

Ship shape JOHN ADAMS 01480 414361 www.johnadams.co.uk This year sees John Adams adding new introductions to its Pip Ahoy! pre-school portfolio. The popular show has a new prime time weekend slot and more series in production for later this year and 2017. As master toy partner, the toy range reflects the characters and key themes from the TV series. New to the toy collection for SS16 is Pip’s Playground Playset, which comes complete with a host of features to engage fans, including stair ramp, and rotating steering wheel.

The Playground Playset also includes a special Alan figure which can be used with other items in the range.

Tiny Tears is also getting a makeover following the 50th Anniversary Doll last year.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Features

recognition technology

For more details please contact 01235 555545 trade_sales@vtech.com

FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

For the love of LEGO LEGO DUPLO 01753 495 000 www.LEGO.com LEGO DUPLO toys are carefully designed for small hands and big imaginations and 2016 marks an exciting year for the brand, with the launch of 16 new sets.

Featuring a range of age-appropriate, manageable builds and great play starters, the DUPLO Town collection allows children aged two to five years to create stories inspired by easily recognisable, classic pre-school themes.

Girls and boys will love this easy-to-build Horse Trailer. You and

your horse can get to all the best show jumping events in style!

First, build the jump and practice in the field. Once you and your horse have mastered the jump, hook the trailer up to the car, lead your horse carefully inside and head off to the competition.

Get your toddler excited about a family road trip with this Tow Truck. The set includes a buildable tow truck and car, tools and a turntable so that little mechanics can tow and fix cars all day long!

Making a splash

The wheel deal

PLAYMOBIL

GIBSONS

01268 548111 www.playmobil.co.uk

020 8661 8866 www.gibsonsgames.co.uk

Playmobil knows a thing or two about playtime, and with these brand new additions for 2016, the opportunity for imaginative play is even bigger. Animal lovers will find the new Large Farm irresistible, with a huge number of animals to learn about and care for. Budding farmers can muck out the pig pen, deliver bales of hay in the wheelbarrow and put the chickens away to roost at night.

Complete with stables, a tool shed and living area for the farmer, boys and girls can enjoy this set together. There’s lots of fun to be had at the Farm House and Market, where bargain hunters can haggle for their homegrown fruit and vegetables. The small lake and animal enclosure make for fun scenarios, especially as there are plenty of new animal sets to be added. All are available now.

There’s also plenty of fun to be had at the Water Park with Slides – just add water! Boys and girls can pull the rubber ring up the winch and away they go! The rotatable octopus in the pool creates a whirlpool effect in the water and, in case you get into trouble, there is a safety ring at the side. Also available now, water babies can create their own water park adventure, adding the Baby Pool with Slide, Water Play Park Area, Splish Splash Café and Summer Camper.

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The My World range teaches children about the world around them and encourages development of essential skills.

Designed with child psychologist and play specialist Dr. Amanda Gummer, each product supports early years goals and the national curriculum.

Party animals AMSCAN INTERNATIONAL 01908 288500 www.amscan.co.uk Party supplier Amscan has extended its costume collection this year to include some adorable new animal options for tiny tots! Little party animals will love these cosy new outfits.

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FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

New spin on learning LEARNING RESOURCES 07872 733 302 www.learningresources.co.uk Launched in 2016 as an early years introduction to the ever popular Gears!

Gears! Gears! range, the Build & Spin sets provide a new spin on learning for young engineers! New additions include Ocean Wonders and Flower Garden, designed to help build balance and fine motor skills.

Featuring chunky gears, themed play pieces and a sturdy plastic base, these new designs can be mixed and matched for long-lasting fun! Completed creations turn into moving works of art with a simple twist of just one gear handle. Ideal for expressive art and design skills, these friendly sets encourage creativity and the exploration of cause and effect.

Also new for 2016 is the addition of five sets to the New Sprouts, which provide engaging play for toddlers. Designed especially for little hands to grip, the bright and durable rubberised pieces feature a real-life look and feel.

The Multicultural Food Set encourages toddlers to experience food from around the globe. Little ones can help out in the garden with the Grow It! set, and the Style It! set has everything little stylists need to look their best. The Clean It! set features perfectly sized cleaning tools, and the Puppy Play! set encourages little ones to look after their very own dog name Sprout.

Sounds like fun!

HTI

Take to the skies SPIN MASTER 01628 535000 www.spinmastertoys.co.uk PAW Patrol started and ended 2015 on a roll as the Top New Toy Property (NPD EPoS 2015). Over 10 million viewers have tuned into PAW Patrol across the Nick Jr. channels and Milkshake! since launch, and with season 3 now airing on Nick Jr. the PAW Patrol team are taking to the skies for new air themed adventures.

The new PAW Patrol Air Rescue Pups will soon take to the air. Each of the six pups’ in-flight suit has a snap-on flight pack to transform them to flying pups, and an air themed badge is also included for kids to wear and be part of the team. The new Air Patroller comes with pilot Robo Dog and has space for a co-pilot in the cockpit and the other pups in the main cabin. It features lights and sounds, plus spinning propellers and rotating wings to put it into hovercraft mode. The Air Patroller can land on top of the sell-out Paw Patroller for even more adventures.

To re-create even more scenes from Adventure Bay, the new PAW Patrol Rescue Sets come complete with an animal to rescue and scenery from an episode of PAW Patrol. This spring, fans will also be able to take home Apollo, the super hero pup, Robo Dog, Cali the cat, and Chickaletta in the core range of products. Meanwhile Rocky, Rubble and Skye will join Chase and Marshall in the larger manually transforming Jumbo Action Pups.

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01253 778 888 www.htigroup.com HTI launches Teletubbies role-play and musical instruments toys for 2016, including My First Kitchen and Tea Set, a Guitar, Xylophone and Keyboard.

HTI also has an extensive range of toys for top pre-school licenses such as Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bing, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Disney Fairies, Doc McStuffins and more.

Walkies!

KD UK 01727 827194 www.kdplanet.com/uk KD UK’s pre-school offering expands with the launch of new ELAs for PAW Patrol, including new pink Walkie Talkies. Plus there’s new musical plush for YouTube hit Little Baby Bum, with six characters to collect.

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Brands that make Children smile

FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Whole kit and caboodle REVELL GMBH 0845 459 0747 juniorkit.revell.de/en/ Revell‘s award-winning global toy ranges have been boosted with two Best New Toy award wins in the Construction and Building Sets category at Toy Fair for its Revell Junior Kit. It also won the coveted Toy Award in the PreSchool category (ages 3–5) at Nuremberg Toy Fair 2016.

Revell Junior Kit is a new concept that introduces the world of modelling to young craft makers. Designed for kids aged four plus, it bridges the gap between playsets and construction toys. Large parts are simply connected by screws and child-friendly tools.

Once completed, each robust model kit transforms into a durable, fully functioning toy, leaving children thrilled and entertained.

Picture perfect BIGJIGS TOYS 01303 250400 www.bigjigstoys.co.uk Bigjigs is the sole UK distributor of Playcolor, a paint stick that allows for all the creative fun of painting without the mess. A brilliant pre-school learning tool, which takes away the need for water or paintbrushes, the solid poster paints are a welcomed addition to the arts and crafts sector.

The paint sticks are suitable for kids three plus, and the paint is quick drying, fuss free and easy to clean. Parents can easily store the sticks away and pop the lid back on to prevent drying out for use again and again. The range is vast with a paint for every eventuality, including paints for use on paper, card, glass, clothing and even for face painting. Plus, all of the paints come in a variety of colours including basic, metallic and fluro.

Keen2Learn.com, an education specialist, recently reviewed the product and said: “Kids love to paint but now the messy preparation and clearing away of paints is thing of the past”.

Pride and joy POSH PAWS 01268567317 www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk The Lion King made a welcome return to TV screens this February with the special TV movie launch of The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar. The feature-length episode introduced viewers to a whole new cast of characters, as well as some classics from the original movie. Off the back of the TV premiere success, Posh Paws is gearing up for the series launch this April with the release of its awesome new Lion Guard plush range.

The high quality plush collection features all the key characters from the new Disney Junior pre-school show, including Kion, the leader of the guard and Simba’s son; Bunga, a honey badger and the bravest of them all; Ono, the egret who is the keenest of sight; Fulli the Cheetah, who is the fastest of the pack; and Beshte, the loveable hippo who is most certainly the strongest of the Guard.

The Lion Guard soft toy range from Posh Paws is available in a variety of different sizes from an 8” assortment, to 10” items, plus some extra-large and extra-cuddly characters.

The plush is beautifully soft with fantastic detailing, making these toys perfect for both imaginative play and to cuddle up to at night.

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Imaginations In Motion™ Call us: 0845 0533 333 Email us: Uklittle.tikes@mgae.com www.littletikes.co.uk MGA Entertainment UK Ltd, 50 Presley Way, Crownhill, Milton Keynes, MK8 0ES

FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Moving forward PRINCE LIONHEART 020 8997 7054 www.princelionheart.com An adventure awaits the intrepid traveler with the yetiZOO, a fabulous ride-on that’s perfect for little ones who are keen to get moving! The brightly coloured toy has a secret compartment for little ones to hide and carry their favourite things while on an adventure. Children can enjoy the YetiZOO’s manoeuvrability and comfort, with a steering handlebar that is constructed to ensure maximum safety for kids while riding and turning.

Good Toy Guide approved, the yetiZOO comes in two designs, Joey the Smiley Hippo and Jerri the Happy Elephant, and is available in three colourways: red, blue and green.

The YetiZOO helps improve the motor and emotional development of children, and provides great exercise indoors and out for little ones aged one to three years.

Shaping up MAGFORMERS 01582 545330 www.magformers.co.uk Magformers magnetic sets make the perfect pre-school toy. Because of their unique and award-winning design, Magformers pieces always connect - however they're brought together - making them simple for younger kids to build, fun to smash down and rebuild, and super-easy to tidy away.

In its educational line, the Edu Puzzle Set includes a beautiful and high quality book with different magnetic story cards included. Children complete the fun storyboards and instantly recognisable animal outlines like fox, rabbit and kitten by using the Magformers pieces included.

Also designed for the younger audience, My First Buggy Set is a wonderful set with solid-colour shapes in blue, yellow, pink and red. Each piece has one colour on one side with white on the other and includes wheels. Set cards give design ideas on buggy builds, but the emphasis is very much on children using their imagination to build vehicles in their own way.

Magformers delivers an award-winning learning and fun experience by successfully combining education and play.

Every set contains various pieces in simple geometric shapes like triangles, squares and rhomboids, which connect easily using the power of the built-in and safe neodymium magnets.

Tools for learning VTECH 01235 555545 www.vtech.co.uk VTech’s range of pre-school and toddler toys were up 4.8% in 2015 (Value, Jan-Dec 2015, NPD), and the company is set to have an exciting year in 2016 with a number of great new product launches. Each product is specifically developed to teach basic curriculum, including phonics, letters, and numbers. The colourful and interactive range of toys help to enhance a child’s learning experience, develop imaginations

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and encourage language development.

Brand new for AW is the My 1st Toolbox, for children two to five years. This cute role-play toolbox comes complete with a mechanical two-way drill, role-play hammer, spanner, nails and screws. It also includes two doublesided cards that feature different projects to read or to use to discover colours, spelling, letters, phonics, numbers, and more. It features three light-up tool buttons that introduce the tool, tool facts and colour. Kids can drill in the screws or hammer in the nails to answer questions. There are three modes of play, three turning gears and seven sing-along songs.

VTech is also unveiling the Alpha-Gator, a cute pull-along alligator for kids aged two to five that teaches phonics, facts, and more! Pull Alpha-Gator along to see its head shake from side to side and play three songs. There are five modes of play, including phonics, fun facts, quizzes, silly sentences and music, and it features 26 letters and object buttons.

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Stepping up the BEAT in Fall 2016

Š 2016 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Easy as 1,2,3 GREAT GIZMOS 01293 543221 www.ggtrade.co.uk Great Gizmos has expanded its pre-school offering with a brand new own branded Wooden Range.

Each toy is designed with learning and development in mind to encourage social skills, motor skills, creativity and more while having lots of fun.

The Wooden Teach the Time Clock Game is a puzzle and a game with three levels of play, encouraging kids to learn counting, colours, shape recognition and how to tell the time. Alphabet Blocks feature a colourful collection of lower case letters, numbers, counting dots and a puzzle.

From Meadow Kids, the Build a bath toy range welcomes four new additions: Build a Farm, Build a Castle, Build Your Own Tractor Mini and Build Your Own Fire Station Mini. Build a Castle comes with 17 pieces to create a colourful castle. All the pieces join together and to the bath tub and float on the base.

Also new to Meadow Kids are the My First Words books. With colourful illustrations and 20 cards for interactive learning, the books help children to learn a selection of simple first words.

The Write on, Wipe off books come in two titles, Alphabet and Colours, and Numbers and Shapes.

The Early Learning Box Set has four titles: Learning Numbers, Learning the Alphabet, Learning Colours, and Learning Opposites. This is a beautifully illustrated set housed in a compact and handy storage book tidy.

From Kid O for bath time is the Pour and Spin Submarine. Pour the water over the wheel and watch it spin, blow through the periscope to create water bubbles and use the two sieves to create rainfall.

The Mix and Match Animals allow kids to mix and match their favourite zoo animals in brightly coloured pieces to produce fun combinations.

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Breaking into pre-school BLADEZ TOYZ 02392 658 259 www.bladeztoyz.co.uk This year marks the beginning of a new venture for Bladez Toyz, as the company takes its first steps into the pre-school market.

Following the release of a brand new Teletubbies series on Cbeebies, Bladez unveiled an entire new range of pre-school lines during the early trade show season. Available to retailers this summer, the range includes Inflatable Boppers, Sleep Trainers, Tummy Time Playmats, Nightlights, Outdoor Activity Toys and Radio Control Inflatables. The pre-school collection not only features Teletubbies, but also Peppa Pig, George, and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Block party CLEMENTONI 020 320 613 www.clementoni.com Clemmy Plus is the new line of blocks designed for kids aged 18 to 36 months. They are brightly coloured and perfectly safe thanks to the special soft material they are made from, plus they are now smaller and improved with new shapes and sizes to fit together easily. The playset also has lots of accessories with realistic human and animal characters. The Clemmy Plus is designed to stimulate kids’ manual skills, imagination, creativity and role playing.

Baby T-Rex, which was a huge success for Clementoni in 2015, is now available in a pink version. The interactive dinosaur is an adorable electronic toy that speaks, sings and moves. By pressing the three shaped buttons on its back, the baby bab T-Rex will respond by walking forward and a turning around. Baby T-Rex in pink is an educational electronic toy to that introduces children to numbers, num first words and animal sounds. soun The Sandy Cuddle and Learn Lea Bear is an interactive, app-enabled app-enabl development plush plu for babies six months m plus.

ttoysnplaythings.co.uk oysnplaything

FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Growing above and beyond CHICCO 020 8953 6627 www.chicco.co.u After a hugely successful 2015 that saw Chicco’s year-onyear sales rise 25%, the company is set for another exciting year with the launch of the Fun of Development concept, which promotes fun and happiness at every developmental stage.

Chicco’s Fit ‘n Fun combines motor development and new skills with social play allowing children to improve balance and coordination, and enhance their self-esteem and self-confidence. New to the Fit ‘n Fun range is the Jungle Rugby, a 3-in-1 toy which encourages motor and socialising skills through three different play training mode modes. The rugby match format, traini function work session and stacker toy fun fun-filled toy that together to create a fun fans will love. any budding rugby fan Rodeo can be Chicco’s innovative R

used as a rocking horse, sit-and-ride toy or interactive activity centre to provide hours of fun. The character comes to life with interactive sensors, which activate moving eyes, jaw and neighing sounds.

The bright and cheerful 3-in-1 Shopping Trolley is the perfect toy to help get little ones on the move. The removable shape sorter helps to develop cognitive skills and the interactive scanner offers melodies and phrases.

Robo Chicco is the latest addition to Chicco’s popular Turbo Team family and is the first transformable RC car in the pre-school range. The slick and stylish toy converts from a car into a futuristic looking robot in three simple steps.

Pre-scho Pre-schoolers love Peppa!

CHARACTER OPTIONS 0161 633 9800 www.character-online.co.uk www.character-onlin pre-school portfolio, the A star in Character Option’s O Peppa Pig collection has seen major development popular demand in autumn is the for 2016. Back by pop of figures, vehicles and playsets.

Classic Peppa range o Always a favourite is Peppa’s House Garden & Playset, Grandad Dog’s Pirate and other favourites include i Train, plus many more. The freeBoat, Miss Rabbit’s Tr wheeling Air Peppa’s Jet, with new moulding is true to the show’s cute styling. s range has been the most successful Peppa’s Princess ra history and is back once theme in the toy brand’s br more. The hero of the t collection will be Princess Peppa’s Palace, and new to the range is Peppa’s Peppa’s Carriage. From Rose Tower and Princess Pri SS16, Peppa’s Arts & Craft range offers little ones a selection of Softee Dough sets, plus the Magna Doodle, and the Deluxe House Easel for AW to complete the line-up.

The Ben & Holly range continues to grow and will launch to the skies this autumn with the Elf Rocket Playset. Ben Elf is set to go on a space adventure as an astronaut in this triple-tiered toy.

There will also be exciting additions to the Teletubbies collection, following a highly successful launch of the range in January.

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The new guard GP FLAIR (JUST PLAY) 0208 643 0320 www.flairplc.co.uk GP Flair’s Just Play division is excited about the launch of its innovative master toy range for The Lion Guard.

With the pedigree of Disney’s The Lion King behind it, the new characters from the Lion Guard TV series will resonate with younger children.

As a toy collection, The Lion Guard characters will be available to collect in a variety of ways. The foil bag minis are a great entry price point, and from there, collectable figures and accessories will create perfect gifts and are the ideal size to play with the Pride Lands playset, which has lots of great features including a waterfall, vine lift and boulder launcher.

A range of high quality plush and feature plush with roar and pounce features will add to this delightful 2016 collection.

Just Play’s master toy collection for pre-school show Kate and Mim-Mim will launch this year. Plus the toy range for Sheriff Callie will allow fans of the show to sing along with musical accessories and dress up.

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FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Lighting the way MOOKIE 01525 722 722 www.mookie.co.uk Mookie has an exciting year ahead in the pre-school category, with the launch of a wide range of new products including Story Stars, which is aimed at children three plus. The app-based storytelling night-light plush, allows children and parents to upload stories, melodies and personalised messages to from their tablet or phone. Each character has a night light that projects a starry sky onto the ceiling.

The range will consist of five skus, each with their own personality and back story, and will be supported by a heavyweight TV campaign, marketing and PR. FluffiMals will target girls aged three plus, offering a creative craft plush where kids can design and produce their own teddy with its own personality and sparkling heart. The range will be expanding throughout AW 2016 and SS 2017 with more Fluffimal Friends for kids to make and collect. Fluffimals will be supported with a full marketing campaign including a TV commercial.

Mookie will also continue its success with ScuttleBug and ScrambleBug. The unique foot-to-floor folding ride-ons finished 2015 as the number three and nine in total ride-ons in NPD respectively. New Disney Cars and Disney Princess ScuttleBug and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Minnie ScrambleBugs join the main range in 2016.

Making a splash INCY WINCY 01189 560295 www.kesvir.co.uk In 2010 Kes-Vir Swimwear was born. KesVir Incontinence Swimwear was designed to provide fashionable as well as functional swimwear, providing adjustability, especially around the girth of the upper leg and around the waist, where snug fitting is crucial – to prevent leakage. It is also perfect for children who are not yet potty trained, but love swimming and splashing about in the pool.

In May 2012, Kes-Vir Boy Wrap Swim Shorts received second prize and Kes-Vir Girl’s Halter-neck Swimsuit received third prize for the Look Good Feel Good Award, at the ACA and Promocon Conference in Brighton. It is promoted in the disability sector too and is very popular.

The complete children’s range includes Girl’s Designer Halter-neck and Waterfall swimsuit and Boy’s Swim trunks and Wrap shorts.

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Racing ahead LE TOY VAN 020 8979 2036 www.letoyvan.com New for 2016 is the Woodland Race, collectable, solid rubber wood cars that are safety tested for kids 12 months plus. Kids can choose from a rabbit driving a carrot, a wood worm driving a pencil, a mouse driving a cheese slice, and a raccoon.

A quality toy at the perfect price point, it comes in a CDU to capitalise on impulse buys.

Also new this year is the Forest Stacker Tower and Bag, tasking kids aged one to two to stack the nine wooden animals as high as they can before they tumble down.Toddlers love to play with the animals, and fill and empty the included drawstring fabric bag before stacking them all up. It’s a great toy for social play and language development as it prompts conversation between children and their parents. The Forest Stacker Tower and Bag is the perfect fits, with lots of play value for its price point.

Fun on the farm SCHLEICH 01279 870000 www.Schleich-s.co.uk For 2016 young farm fans can look forward to a whole host of new products such as the My first farm animals and Feeding on the farm playsets. From August, the centrepiece of the Farm World range will be the Large farm with animals and accessories playset which will turn little animal lovers into big farmers.

Animals large and small will feel right at home on this farm, which includes a detachable roof for inspecting the sheds from above. Little ones can look forward to new figurines in the coming year, from cute dogs to large bulls.

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NEW PRE-SCHOOL BRAINBOXES! Supporting S pre-school p learning 5 titles within tthe range!

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FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Early learning GREEN BOARD GAMES 01494 538999 www.greenboardgames.com

On a roll LITTLE TIKES 0845 0533 333 www.littletikes.co.uk Little Tikes presents an innovative new pre-school range for autumn 2016 with Light ‘n Go – the range which lights the way to active play. The five wild animal-themed infant toys use lights to inspire babies from six to 36 months to walk and cruise. The cute characters, including a monkey, tiger and panda, each have their own fun interactive play elements, while the 3-in-1 Activity Walker and Activity Garden Treehouse are jam packed with unique features to keep baby entertained for hours.

Lil’ Ocean Explorers continues to cement its place in UK homes. Using eight adorable sea creatures, the toys help babies from six to 36 months develop motor skills, coordination and confidence. With a variety of price points, there is something for every budget. Character favourites include Catch Me Crabbie, and Crawl n’ Pop Turtle, plus the awardwinning 3-in-1 Adventure Course, which develops and entertains baby throughout three key developmental milestones: sitting, crawling and standing.

Little Tikes Wheelz unveils a unique range of fast and fun vehicles, including the Tyre Twister RC. The biggest, baddest, wildest tyre ever is powered by a RC car, and can go back and forth, spin 360 degrees, and even doing back flips!

Alongside this is the brand new My First Flyer Helicopter for pre-schoolers that flies, turns and lands with one-touch control.

Tumble Train has been a runaway success for Little Tikes. Supported by a heavyweight TV ad campaign, digital activity and parent website partnerships, it’s proved to be a best seller in the pre-school category.

It’s the craziest, wackiest toy in town guaranteeing hours of unpredictable fun as it twists and turns across the floor.

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The BrainBox First range launched late 2015 and includes First Numbers, First Letters and First Colours and has proved extremely popular in the pre-school arena. Following its huge success, the range is extending with two further titles for 2016, First Animals and First Animal Homes, along with two jigsaws, Alphabet and Numbers.

BrainBox made simple is a logical progression to underpinning the educational benefits that the BrainBox concept can deliver to the preschool sector. Developed to help young children, from nursery age, these titles support many of the early learning goals in the the Early Years Foundation’s Stage Framework.

GBG’s pre-school puzzles cleverly combine the gameplay of BrainBox with the satisfaction of completing a jigsaw puzzle.

Each box includes 22 cards, plus a card from each of the other titles so that parents can try all five and begin their BrainBox journey.

Who keeps whizzpopping?!

RAINBOW DESIGNS 01329 227300 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk Pre-schoolers will love Rainbow Designs’ feature plush character line up for 2016 that spotlights all of their favourite characters, including Paddington, Roald Dahl’s The BFG, Miffy and Shaun the Sheep.

Whizzpopping BFG produces eight different hilarious sounds when his tummy is pressed.

Need the ‘Doh TRENDS UK 01295 768078 www.trendsuk.co.uk Trends UK is launching a completely new range of Peppa Pig Electronic Learning Toys for summer 2016.

The new Play-Doh Play and Put Away range from Perpetual Play Group is a great way for kids to get creative with little mess. The launch range, including the Create N Store Big Bucket launches in June.

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LEARN, PLAY, DEVELOP www.ggtrade.co.uk

FEATURE

PRE-SCHOOL

Inkredible selection RE:CREATION 01189 736 222 www.reacreationltd.co.uk

Featuring the ever popular PAW Patrol pups and evergreen hit Thomas & Friends, Inkredibles

by Hinkler is a range of innovative activity books with exciting proprietary ink effects. A key item is the Inkredibles Magic Ink Activity Set, which includes a 96-page colouring and activity book, 6 markers and more.

Additional individual titles are also available. individ The Stretchkins Stretchki success story continues with a purple and pink bear refreshing the line-up.

Joining Re:creation’s plush portfolio, Pop up Re:cr Pets bring un unique fun as each one delivers three times the t fun. Simply flip inside out to reveal another anoth animal or again to reveal a third. Four Pop Out Pets are available at launch in popular animal themes.

Innovation comes to the pre-school Innova outdoor arena as the Razor Junior portfolio portfoli is set to grow this summer with the addition of four new junior scooters. add The new T3 scooter range shows Razor’s new tilt-to-turn technology with its fun window bubble.

The talk of PlayDoh Town!

HASBRO 020 8569 1234 www.hasbro.com Pre-schoolers can create and celebrate with the PlayDoh Cake Party, making the most outrageous pretend cakes imaginable for any occasion. Whether it’s hot or not, everyone comes running to the super cool PlayDoh Town Ice Cream Truck Playset. Kids can deliver colourful Play-Doh creations all over town, pressing out pretend soft-serve from the ice cream cone. If there’s a fire in Play-Doh Town, kids can squish out the Play-Doh flames with the Play-Doh Town Firehouse. In Play-Doh Town, kids make the rules with customisable figures, vehicles, and playsets, all powered by hands-on PlayDoh fun.

Kes-Vir Incontinence Swimwear • The swimsuit has waterproof swim pants made from breathable PU coated polyester.

• Chlorine resistant and UVF 50+.

• The leg cuffs and waistband are adjustable with a pull of the elastic tape.

• Available in 6 sizes from age 3 to 14.

• Machine washable and quick drying.

Our range of swimwear includes: Boy’s Swim Trunks; Boy’s and Men’s Swim Wrap shorts; Girl’s Waterfall swimsuit; Men’s Swim shorts and Ladies sash swimsuit.

For more details: contact Daksha on 01189560295 or enquiries@kesvir.co.uk Visit our website: www.kesvir.co.uk’

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Scratch Traditional onal Toys is a much-loved loved brand from DKL offering high gh quality pre-school toys with attractive packaging. The new Wooden Pull-back Cars will entertain pre-schoolers for hours. The timeless toy cars come in a set of three with fun designs and characters on each car to engage children’s imaginations.

From the new range of Scratch Retro toys is the fun Spinning Top, a classic pre-school toy which children will return to throughout childhood. Perfect as a pick-up item, the tin tops come in a CDU of six. Also don’t miss the best selling Scratch Puzzle & Rollercoaster Circus, a fantastic 2-in-1 block puzzle.

New from Hama Beads is the fantastic Maxi Stick range for kids three plus. Children can create imaginative designs by placing the colourful pins into the pinboard, while developing key skills such as hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

Miniland’s pre-school range The Educational Corner continues to meet the demand for competitively-priced educational toys. With redesigned packaging, the range is stronger than ever. The best selling Activity Clock helps children to tell the time in relation to daily activities, and includes 24 activity cards for hours of educational fun.

The Play Miniland website gives the Miniland pre-school range extra play value, providing parents with additional digital games to accompany their Miniland toy.

Also new from Miniland is Emoti Blocks, a set of interchangeable blocks which help children to become familiar with various emotions. Emoti Blocks is the ideal developmental toy for the pre-school category.

Galt Toys has added to its iconic range of Ambi Toys, designed by world renowned toy designer Patrick Rylands, by launching the Ambi Ted-ina-Box pop-up toy.

Suitable for children aged 10 months and older, the bright red box has a friendly teddy hidden inside, waiting to pop up with a squeak when the big blue button is pressed before going back in his box when the lid is closed.

As with all toys in the Ambi Toys range, the Ted-in-a-Box encourages learning while having fun. Pressing the button encourages hand-eye coordination, while Ted popping up to say hello gives children an understanding of cause and effect.

Scooting ahead H. GROSSMAN 0141 6132 525 www.ozbozz.co.uk My First Scooter continues to pick up awards for its unique design which makes it the perfect starter scooter at a very affordable price. Starting off on a sturdy four wheels, young children can get to grips with the speed and feel of a scooter. Parents can reduce the scooter to three-wheels and then they can progress to two wheels as their confidence grows.

Welcome to Justin’s House GOLDEN BEAR 01952 608308 www.goldenbeartoys.com As the number one manufacturer in licensed plush in the UK (NPD, FY 2015), Golden Bear is well-known for its pre-school plush collection. The popular Twirlywoos range will expand further this autumn with Interactive Musical Chick and Chickedy plush toys which feature poseable arms, music, sounds and twinkling lights.

Also joining the range is Dancing Peekaboo which spins and dances to music as well as playing the theme tune and sounds from the show.

The In the Night Garden line will also see introductions this autumn, led by the Explore and Learn Musical Pinky Ponk. Packed full of features including music, sounds, rotating picture window, moving propeller, shape sorter figures and lots more, the product remains true to the iconic Pinky Ponk from the TV programme. My

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Best Friend Igglepiggle is also new.

The Hey Duggee collection has expanded with a new Duggee Talking Soft Toy, along with Duggee and Enid the Cat joining the soft toy assortment. Later in the year, Super Duggee will fly into the collection along with the Squirrel Club Activity Set. The Justin’s House playset launches later in the year, sitting alongside the Something Special toy collection under the overarching Mr Tumble brand. The playset includes lots of interactive features, reflecting the fun theme of the TV show.

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Baking learning fun LEAPFROG 01895 202840 www.leapfrog.co.uk LeapFrog has expanded its pre-school toy collection. Designed by learning and development experts, the LeapFrog toy collection teaches important school-readiness skills like counting, sharing, spelling and collaboration, while encouraging skill-building, exploration and pretend play.

Number Loving Oven is the first pre-school toy to bake early maths into fun and engaging play focused on cooking and sharing, giving toddlers a first glimpse into how numbers and early maths skills are part of everyday life. The Number Loving Oven talks, sings and gets number skills cooking through 30 plus songs and phrases, 16 fun ingredients and many ways to explore.

Children can divide the pre-sliced food and learn about sharing, and parts that make up a whole. The number slider allows children to practice number recognition and learn about the value of numbers through cooking times and temperature.

Arresting toys FUNRISE

Oodles of fun VIVID 01483 449944 www.vividtoysandgames.co.uk My First Crayola Light Up Sand Scribbler lets little ones draw in the sand wherever they go! Use the magnetic easy grip stylus to scribble in the sand then just shake the unit to start again! With endless drawing and 12 different coloured background lights, little ones will be kept busy and amused for hours.

Chuckle Ball is a motorised, self-rolling ball for preschoolers. Set it off and it will roll erratically around the floor making lots of silly sounds as it goes. Little ones will love chasing after it and trying to keep hold of the brightly-coloured ball which is covered in moulded funny monsters. Chuckle Ball wobbles and wiggles – bring on the giggles!

Oodlebrites are light-up plush characters which magically come to life and change up to seven different colours when tapped, making them perfect for a game of catch.

There are five super soft characters to collect: Moodles the Mouse, Choodles the Monkey, Foodles the Dog, Noodles the Unicorn and Purdles the Cat.

01908 555640 www.funrise.com With an array of chunky vehicles from Tonka, My Little Pony feature plush and gadgets from Gazillion suitable for young kids, Funrise has plenty of pre-school fun for little ones.

My First Tonka collection is a chunky range of vehicles made with little hands in mind, and includes the Mini Wobble Wheels, Flashlight Force, Soft Walkin’ Wheels and Strong Arm vehicles. The Mini Wobble range features super chunky wheels and designs such as a garbage truck, police car and fire engine. The Flashlight Force lights the way for fun playtime with a built-in working torch – just squeeze the handle to shine the light to the next adventure.

Funrise’s range of My Little Pony feature plush continues to grow and are available in many price points, from favourites such as 3’’ Ponies with clips to impressive 20’’ large Ponies ideal for cuddles.

For a nighttime toy, the Twinkle Star Light Plush can also be used as a nightlight.

“I’m forever blowing bubbles” will be the song of the summer thanks to the array of bubble gadgets from Gazillion that are perfect for small hands. Little ones can get ready for continuous bubble action with the Bump-n-Go Bubble Bot that moves across the floor on its tracked wheels or the Bubble Car that emits hundreds of bubbles as it zooms along.

APRIL 2016

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Bliss for the buyer The AIS Independent Toy & Gift Show is back and buyers from both sectors will be descending on Solihull for the two-day affair – and they are not just there for the famed free lunch!

T

he Independent Toy & Gift Show may not be the biggest toy show in the world –but it has quality in abundance.

LEGO, Mattel, Hasbro, Flair, Spin Master, Character Options and MGA – they are all there. And that's merely the tip of the iceberg.

Organised by the AIS buying group, the show’s headquarters, Cranmore Park, plays host to some fantastic toy and gift buyers who have access to a knockout selection of exhibitors – that sounds like a recipe for success, doesn’t it? Well, it is.

In fact, it's so compelling, Jumbo Games are planning a return to the show having not attended in a number of years.

Victoria Allen, Jumbo Games’ Account Manager says the company is returning to Cranmore Park having “heard such positive feedback over the years”.

Victoria adds: “The show is well-

“

The show is well-timed as all the exciting new autumn/ winter releases are now confirmed, meaning we can showcase products not seen at the shows earlier in the year”

timed as all the exciting new autumn/winter releases are now confirmed, meaning we can showcase products not seen at the shows earlier in the year.

We’re also looking forward to meeting new retailers that we might not usually meet at Toy Fair or Spring Fair earlier in the year, as we have a wide range of gift type products available in our adult and children’s portfolio’s, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase these.”

Le Toy Van’s Export Sales Victoria Allen, Manager Sophie Bonnett agrees Jumbo Games that the timing of the show works well.

“It’s a great time to get out and about to refresh the memory about what was seen at toy and gift fairs This is our strongest line up of earlier in the year.”

Toy and Children’s Gift suppliers Sophie adds: to date, with the inclusion of “We have exhibited Spin Master UK, Bandai and every year since it began and see it as a Jumbo Games to last year’s valuable opportunity exhibitors. All the suppliers in to see people in attendance are approved suppliers of plaY-room, the AIS toy a smaller friendly division, with good track records in the independent toy and environment. The children’s gift trade. central location,

”

Miles says…

54

excellent free food and drinks plus free parking makes it a real pleasure.”

Quality time with customers Bigjigs Toys’ UK Sales Manager Carol Bradshaw explains that one of the benefits of AIS is having time with customers.

“While we find AIS a busy show, there is a calm atmosphere where you don’t feel you’re hurrying with customers - they have plenty of time to get to all suppliers.”

Carol adds that the decision to open the doors to non-AIS members helped to increases the show’s popularity while the location and the timing are also “perfect”.

Unlike Jumbo who are making a return to the show, Bigjigs exhibit every year.

“We can see all the AIS members at one show, we are unlikely to miss anyone which can happen at the trade shows at the beginning of the year. It’s a good time to follow up

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with those we did see at the earlier fairs too,” Carol says.

Sophie agrees, saying: “For visitors there is the opportunity to get round the whole fair and see a wide variety of items. There is also a chance for “The AIS plaYroom Show is a must on my buying calendar with over 80 suppliers us to showcase our toys to a wider exhibiting and the 'big three' Lego, Hasbro and Mattel all under one roof. It gives me a audience.” complete picture of all the must have products for the year.” Su Gill, Buyer, Morleys This quality time with clients is invaluable and Miles Penhallow, “If Carlsberg did toy shows then this would be it!” Alan Simpson, SMF Ltd Head of Toys & Children’s Gifts of show organiser AIS says that making “As a toy buyer in the independent sector, the AIS show is the most important date in independent toy and children’s the calendar for both assessing ranges and placing orders. All the key suppliers are gift buyers feel welcome is key to present at a convenient location and in a relaxed and professional buying environment.” their success. But not only that, David Fynn, Toys-UK he says: “We attract a variety of buyers from many different retail sectors including garden centres and Rubik's Cube World Champion in commemorative 40th Anniversary tourist attraction gift shops. These action and meet Mr Monopoly!

Puzzle. There are plenty of the new are often buyers that our suppliers We have also encouraged our products that will make their debut at find difficult to make appointments exhibitors to offer all visitors single the show – so don’t miss out!” with and hence they value the From Bigjigs’ perspective, Carol says product show stoppers, which are opportunity to meet them at our only available at the show and are the company is very product specific show.” while stocks last.” at the AIS show.

AIS makes it easy for exhibitors “We know the too, as Miles explains: audience we are “The exhibitors appreciate the seeing and are able Don’t forget… The Independent Toy & ease of set up, the good food and to cherry pick our Gift Show is open to non-AIS members the genial atmosphere. It is, after products to suit all, their show as much as ours too these customers. It and we encourage them to gives the customer We attract invite their own customers from an easier time when Did you know… AIS exhibitors a variety of outside the AIS membership. visiting our stand as showcase their ranges in two ground buyers from More of our own members are they aren’t searching floor showrooms, offering ease of recognising the importance of many different through thousands access to visitors toys in attracting families into retail sectors of SKUs for the lines their stores and are now also including garden that are of interest attending the show.” to them. We have Did you know… Free refreshments

Retail corner

“

centres and tourist attraction gift shops.

These are often buyers that our suppliers find difficult to make appointments with”

Cherry picking product For Jumbo Games, AIS works as a show because it targets both toy and gift buyers, as Victoria explains: “The show is the perfect mix because our product range fits into both categories. We’re launching lots of new products this year, especially within our Falcon de Miles Penhallow, AIS luxe Adult Puzzle range. Falcon de luxe celebrates 40 years this year, so we’re launching over 40 brand new puzzles in the range with new XXL, 500, 1,000 and 1,500 piece puzzles and a special

”

Essential Info What: Independent Toy & Gift Show Where: Cranmore Park, Cranmore Avenue, Shirley, Solihull, B90 4LF When: Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 April Register for Independent Toy & Gift at: www.independenttoyanddgift.co.uk

APRIL 2016

launched three new are available to visitors both in the distribution lines Scrabble Courtyard Café and also the this year on top of restaurant which serves a delicious the new innovation complimentary hot lunch in the Bigjigs range, so will be proudly showing those... there is something new in the pipeline too that we are hoping to be able to show - watch this space!”

And lots of ‘new’ from the exhibitors isn’t the only thing visitors can look forward too.

Miles says the AIS team has something up their sleeves too.

“For the first time we have decided to give this year’s show a games theme. Visitors can expect demonstrations of games, see the

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y t i v i t a e r c g n i Build BIGJIGS TOYS 01303 250400 www.bigjigstoys.co.uk Bigjigs has some lucrative offers for AIS show visitors to save on Bigjigs Toys ranges and a growing range of distribution brands including Green Toys, Gowi, Playcolor, Petit Collage and the new Gigi Bloks.

A top pick for this show is Playcolor, a range of solid poster paint sticks for creative art without all of the usual mess associated with painting. They are also a brilliant match with Gigi Bloks, the newest distribution brand recently introduced by Bigjigs. Gigi Bloks is a building block all the way from Latvia now available in the UK and Ireland through Bigjigs. The oversized plain cardboard blocks and are a blank canvas ready for painting, drawing and motivating the imaginary process to help children create a play world from scratch. See what grand designs can be built using the large blocks including houses, boats and animals and create your own personalised works of art and design at the show. The perfect gift from Bigjigs’ portfolio, Petit Collage is an eco-friendly toy, beautifully designed and printed with soy and vegetable inks.

Shake your pom poms!

CHARACTER OPTIONS 0161 633 9800 www.character-online.com Not to be missed from Character Options is a new creative concept called Poppit! With the special tools in each Poppit kit, kids can make their own cute mini clay creations that they piece together and decorate, from bunnies to cupcakes and more.

Character is adding to the Cra-Z-Sand range with Glow in the Dark Sand and Glitter Sand. With the Glow in the Dark Space set, kids can make a galactic landscape or what could be better than creating a sparkly pony parade with the Deluxe Glitter Pony playset?

Pom Pom WOW! received rave reviews from retailers and was a hit at Toy Fair. The brand is set to open a whole new style statement for girls who will go pom pom crazy.

A world of colourful bead accessories is just a spray of water away thanks to the new Beados B-Sweet theme.

There are three to collect, Smoothie Bar, Ice-cream Parlour and Tasty Bakery, with each kit containing 500 beads plus templates. The Beados Pick ‘n’ Mix Candy Store has 900 candy coloured beads and a pick ‘n’ mix display case, plus accessories to make the sweet creations complete.

Following on from the success of Teksta Robotic Puppy which received Toy of the Year in 2014, Character is to introduce the new voice recognition G5 Teksta Robotic Puppy. With multi-coloured LED eyes, realistic ear movements, sensitive voice control, new apps and multiple command led features, this pup will be a kid’s new best friend! Kids will also be able to play with the brand’s new ultra-intelligent Teksta Toucan who tells jokes, plays games and even do magic tricks!

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Puzzle it out GREEN BOARD GAMES 01494 538999 www.greenboardgames.com Green Board Games will be displaying a host of new products, including family games and the best selling BrainBox range. In addition to new, brand new concept BrainBox Bounce has hit the shelves. Consisting of four titles this new game has a great BrainBox twist!

The success of the BrainBox First Pre-school range will be extended with two further titles for 2016.

GBG will also be showcasing its recently acquired Flights of Fancy range, consisting of a wonderful variety of giftled educationally bias products. There are two specific Show offers, so visit the team!

Simon says visit the stand!

HASBRO 020 8569 1234 www.hasbro.com Hasbro will have a host of new games on display alongside new Nerf Blasters.

The new edition of Bop It! prompts players to Hammer it!, Sing it!, Selfie it! In the new Simon Air Game, classic Simon gameplay gets a modern twist with touchfree technology.

Take aim with Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire blaster - it’s the fastest motorised Nerf dart blaster, unleashing five darts per second to rain down a deluge of darts onto targets up 90 feet away. Boys can build their own blaster for each mission with the Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike blaster, which features three different ways to blast.

New for 2016, there will be a chance to see the new range of products from the world of Yo-Kai Watch. Kids discover new Yo-kai to add to their collection with Yo-kai Medal Mystery Bags.

Each includes three Yo-kai medals, which can be used with the Yo-kai watch.

On form MAGFORMERS 01582 545330 www.magformers.co.uk Magformers has unveiled over 30 brand new lines in the UK this year, but it’s the company’s specially themed midrange magnetic construction sets that are proving to be the strongest sellers with retailers.

Magic Pop has 25 unique Magformers magnetic pieces and two twin-wheeled blocks and a single bike-wheel attachment. For car lovers, Magformers WOW Set forms part of the company’s 11-strong Vehicle Line. Containing 16 unique Magformers pieces, children can follow up to 20 recommended vehicle builds - or let their imagination run. Magformers sets foster brain development through fun and education. Full stock of the complete Magformers UK range is available and the company also offers retailers a suite of bespoke, British-made metal FSDUs and shelf display units, both with media players.

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Hitting the target VIVID 01483 449944 www.vividtoysandgames.co.uk

It’s all popping off!

CHEATWELL 02392 524098 www.cheatwell.com Alongside some generous show deals, Cheatwell Games will be showcasing a selection of new products launching in 2016. Among them are brand new board games Pass The Pen, Telepaths and Get The Picture. Perfect for the gift market is pick-up line Sack of Moustaches.

For children Tell-A-Tale, is a fantastic game that introduces the art of storytelling to pre-schoolers. Tell-a-Tale is available in three themes, farmyard, fairy tales and pirates, and all feature a stage, backdrop and characters. The game is non-competitive and designed to spark imagination while encouraging cooperation and vocalisation.

The animal squeeze popper range has also expanded with two new characters, Orca and Unicorn, plus the introduction of the Atomic Power Popper range.

Choose from the Wild West themed Pocket Poppers or the super modern Atomic Power Popper range which includes the awesome Double-barrelled Power Popper.

Already known for its trivia range, the best selling Top Trivia has had a makeover - updated content and bright new packaging Cheatwell will be promoting a fantastic board game offer for Q4 and a show stopper deal featuring the best selling Family Fun Range.

Best buddies MOOKIE 01525 722722 www.mookie.co.uk Mookie Toys will be showcasing all of its exciting new lines for 2016, alongside already successful ranges.

With a particular focus on plush in 2016, Mookie will be launching Buddy Balls, the premium plush that magically transforms into a soft colourful ball.

In addition, Mookie is also launching Peeka Puffs, the non-stop popping furry toy, Fluffimals the craft plush which allow children to create, design and bring to life their very own fluffy friend, and story telling companion Story Star.

The youth electronic category sees the launch of Kazooloo and Big Robots.

Kazooloo allows children to battle against robots and dragons by scanning the Kazooloo board with their devices to become immersed in the augmented reality. Big Robots are remote control battling robots, with motion sensing technology that allows them to emulate player’s punches and attacks.

3D Magic had a great year in 2015, finishing as the number one Arts & Crafts toy for Q4. For 2016 the range is set to develop further with the 3D Magic Freestyler and 3D Magic Spinner. These new expansion packs allow children to design and create 3D models that are bigger and better than ever before. Skwooshi will see the launch of the Fun Lab, allowing children to create a range of incredibly detailed Skwooshi toys and models ranging from a moving car to a glittery fairy.

Plus the already hugely successful ScuttleBug and ScrambleBug are set to become even more popular in 2016 with Disney licenses.

58

New to Vivid’s Thunderbirds Are Go range in AW16 is the 50cm Supersize TB3 Playset with amazing launch smoke!

Nocto is the light-up bat with batitude, boasting over 50 interactive features. There’s brand new feature plush with Oodlebrites, which magically light-up and change colours. Meanwhile, there are two toys in one with Flip A Zoo, simply flip to transform one furry friend into another and little ones will love the motorised Chuckle Ball which bounces around. Zippeeez are cute collectable characters full of miniature magical movement, whereas there’s over 60 charms to collect, wear and display with new collectable Charm U. The microscopic mayhem continues with Fungus Amungus as a further 100 plus new figures are launching for Batch 2.

Kids can improve their skills with the Paper Plane Shooter! And let’s not forget kids can battle to victory with Batman V Superman Laser Battle, create emojis in seconds on-the-go with PiXL Generation 2, fire virtual arrows at opponents in Laser Arrow andbake with the Real Baking range!

There’s also exciting extensions from evergreen brands AniMagic, AniMagic Rescue Hospital, Care Bears and three new Crayola games for all the family.

Vivid Group’s Drumond Park Division continues to live up to its reputation as the UK’s leading independent games brand with four new kids games in AW16.

Pre-schoolers paradise GOLDEN BEAR 01952 608308 www.goldenbeartoys.com Golden Bear showcase the Run-along Fun Sounds Twirlywoos lead the way for the Twirlywoos, alongside In the Night Garden Musical Pinky Ponk packed full of interactive features. The new Justin’s House playset will be present at the show, plus the newly rebranded Mr. Tumble’s Something Special collection.

Golden Bear showcase an in-house development called Sleep Tight All Night, a versatile 4-in-1 product that offers a sleep aid system for children. The Go MINI range will see new vehicles, and the established My First JCB range will also see an exciting introduction with the Stacking Stanley Mega Truck. The company’s new Oddbods range will also be on show and the Hey Duggee collection will add Super Duggee to its plush line.

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Independent Toy and Gift Show 2016 Stand Number 40 | 12-13th April Come along to see the Bigjigs team and new toys!

Plus lots more from...

All NEW products for 2016 GE

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More items available in the Pirate range TE RAN

BJT038 - Pirate Train Set

trade.bigjigstoys.co.uk

bigjigstoysltd

@bigjigstoys

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Fairy popular

Keeping it cool GP FLAIR 0208 643 0320

INTERPLAY UK

www.flairplc.co.uk

01628 488944 www.interplayuk.com

Fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are in for a treat with new figures and accessories across Movie, Animation and Half Shell Heroes. Sculpted in a style true to the characters from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Out of the Shadows film is an assortment of 11 figures. There are also the Super Deluxe Figures, the most detailed figures ever with multiple points of articulation. The Half-Shell Heroes range is for the youngest of fans and roars into action with the addition of a Turtles and Dinosaur theme. For Creative Play, the award winning IDO3D has plenty of development coming up in 2016, with a new vertical spotlight to make 3D creation even easier. Autumn will also see the introduction of neon inks along with the exciting new IDO3D Go! sub category. Flair’s best-selling Cool Cardz range has the new Cool Cardz Scratcheez which includes everything to design and create laminated cards in a bright Boho Chic style! Also available in the Cool Cardz range are licensed themed versions with Shopkins complementing the existing Frozen version. Back with a fresh new look in spring, the much loved original Mr Frosty and Spirograph too - set for a revival, and 2016 promises to be superb as children discover one of their parents’ favourite toy brands.

Interplay launched its brand new range My Fairy Garden earlier this year to an extremely positive reaction from the industry buyers, press and end-user.

There are currently five skus in the range: Fairy Garden, Lilypad Gardens, Fairy Flowerpot, Secret Fairy Door and Woodland Fairy Door. All these products are designed to encourage children to learn more about nature.

Interplay scheduled a TV advertising campaign for My Fairy Garden, which started on 11 March and will deliver heavyweight TVRs throughout 2016. The brand will also be sponsoring the lunchtime Fairy Tale Hour on Disney Junior TV Channel from June to September 2016. My Fairy Garden promotes a positive and healthy lifestyle of getting outdoors and respecting our environment.

Interplay has developed the unique Grow & Play concept in the My Fairy Garden toy range, which has a mission to help children to discover the magic of nature through play.

Let’s draw!

Jumbo is back!

JUMBO GAMES

STABILO

01707 289289

01753 606 656 www.stabilo.co.uk

www.jumbo.eu

Stabilo’s range of colouring pens and pencils has been repackaged for 2016 and now features a clever new 3D app that brings pictures to life. Printable colouring sheets from online use the app to magically bring pictures to life with a smart device, animating the images so that they appear to move on the page before kids’ very eyes. The new Stabilo Trio Frutti fibre tip pens set features delicious fruity scents. From a strawberry-scented red to a lemon-fragranced yellow, each of the 18 colours correspond to a different fruit.

Stabilo Cappi are the ideal choice when out and about with kids as they come with a plastic loop and each pen also has a unique tube shape, so that it won’t roll away, and features technology that prevents the pen from drying out.

Stabilo Woody is a unique 3-in-1 pencil that can also create crayon and watercolour effects. The chunky pencils are ideal for little hands and have a thick lead and can draw on glass, metal and leather, and wash off easily.

The beYou! range of pens features 15 different designs with a smooth writing action.

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Jumbo Games is returning to the show for the first time in over six years, and will be exhibiting a number of new and popular puzzles from its number one adult puzzle brand Wasgij. The range continues to be a preferred choice for puzzlers that are looking for a unique, addictively collectable twist to traditional puzzles. There are five hugely entertaining concepts in the range and over 20 puzzles to choose from, including four new releases to be seen on stand. Jumbo’s Falcon de Luxe brand of traditional adult jigsaw puzzles, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, will be proudly on display. New releases in the range cover popular themes of nostalgia, cottages, scenery, transportation, animals and more – all of which are available across a variety of piece counts from 200XL, 500, 1000 and 1500 pieces to cater for puzzler’s demands.

Jumbo also specialises in high quality jigsaw puzzle accessories. Puzzle Mates offer puzzlers a solution to any of their storage or puzzling-space needs. The range includes the number one selling portable case Portapuzzle Deluxe, and the number two selling Puzzle & Roll jigsaw mats, plus much more.

In Jumbo’s Children’s portfolio are a variety of puzzles and games across hit pre-school and Disney licenses including the new and exciting Peppa Pig Party Time Race Game, launching in June. Visitors will also be able to see products from Jumbo’s newest Disney properties, Lion Guard, The Jungle Book, Miles from Tomorrow, and the highly anticipated Disney/Pixar Finding Dory.

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POCKET MONEY COLLECTION

R

info@letoyvan.com

Come and see us on stand number 44 to see our newly re-branded colouring range supported by online advertising, social media and PR.

www.letoyvan.com

0208 979 2036

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SUPERSTARS SCHLEICH

On display LE TOY VAN 020 8979 2036 www.letoyvan.com Le Toy Van has a fantastic, brand new point of sale display unit for retailers to showcase its products in-store for 2016. The island display unit allows retailers to display large items like the Cherry Tree Hall or Honey Kitchen alongside the accessories. Easy to build and robust, the new display unit is an ideal way to enhance brand awareness in-store and also offers a new way to display playmate. Bricks and mortar stores can get eh display unit for free with an order placed to fill it.

New in 2016 is the Woodland Race, collectable, solid rubber wood cars that are safety tested for kids 12 months plus. Kids can choose from a rabbit driving a carrot, a wood worm driving a pencil, and mouse driving a cheese slice, and a raccoon Xit comes in a CDY to capitalise on impulse buys for little ones.

Also new this year is the Forest Stacker Tower and Bag, tasking kids aged one to two to stack the nine wooden animals as high as they can before they tumble down.Toddlers love to play with the animals, and fill and empty the included drawstring fabric bag before stacking them all up. It’s a great toy for social play and language development as it prompts conversation between children and parents. The Forest Stacker Tower and Bag is the perfect fits, with lots of play value for its price point.

01279 870000 www.schleich-s.co.uk Schleich will be highlighting new additions to its distinguished play worlds at AIS, as well as showcasing new branding, POS and trade marketing to the independents.

Farm Life is one of Schleich’s most evergreen collections and for 2016 will receive a major overhaul, as for the first time, the horses will move out of the Farm Life collection and becomes its own range known as Horse Club. This new brand will offer a standalone range that includes all the favourite breeds, accessories and playsets such as the Horse Stable in new branding and colouring.

The pre-school offering from Schleich is also a key focus for the year ahead as both the Farm Life and Wild Life collections now focus on this younger age group.

For DC Comics, further characters will be available with Batman v Superman leading the way in the first half of the year, along with Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Cyborg. The Justice League superheroes will meet more of their arch enemies from July as Batman vs Bane and Superman vs Lex Luthor Scenery Packs become available.

The favourite Dinosaur range shows impressive sales season after season and will strengthen its offering even further in 2016 with many new dinosaurs to collect plus a new Mini Dinosaurs with Puzzles range. In addition, a Giant Volcano playset will explode onto the scene in the second half which is the first playset for dinosaur portfolio.

Seek them out!

Need for speed

THE PUPPET COMPANY

H. GROSSMAN LTD

01462 446040 www.thepuppetcompany.com

0141 6132 525 www.ozbozz.co.uk

The Puppet Company has been designing a collection of puppets called Hide-Aways for a few years now. As the name suggests, these sets of puppets all have somewhere to hide and live, from the Mouse Family in a big slice of cheese, to the wonderful Grey Rabbit hiding in a lettuce. The latest addition to this range is the fantastic Tree House with Pond, which features a gnarled old tree with seven residents including a Tawny Owl, Frog, Mallard and more, plus a Blackbird sitting very proudly on its nest.

This puppet has a carrying handle in the form of an old ivy-covered branch. All the seven birds and animals are finger puppets and create a delightful educational toy. The surface of the pond gives the impression that a breeze has just rippled the surface on which the Mallard can go for a swim. The Kingfisher can perch on either branch so it can keep an eye out for some lunch. The Tree House with Pond is a fab addition to the Hide-Aways collection. Other new additions to this range include Rabbit Hill, which comes with four delightful finger puppet rabbits; Coral House, which features four under the sea creatures; and the Dinosaur Volcano, complete with three delightful dinos!

If you don’t know who to call about the new Ghostbusters movie – call Grossmans! The show will see a great line up of scooters, skateboards, pogos, helmet, bike and a spectacular range of pocket money items from whoopee cushions to wobblers. Continuing the movie theme for 2016 is the Secret Life of Pets, the hilarious new offering from the guys that brought you Despicable Me. The cast of pet characters has something for everyone and as a nation of pet lovers the UK is going to fall in love with these quirky movie stars. HGL has the license for wheeled goods and pocket money toys with a full selection from scooters to sand sets on offer.

The Ozbozz brand is renowned for great outdoor products and this year sees a whole selection of new offerings including scissor scooters, Speedy folding scooters (with speedometer) in new colours, satchel scooters, light up scooters of all types, a new pro scissor scooter and lots of great new styles across pogo sticks, hog trikes and the best-selling Nebulus, Torq and Elektra ranges. The award winning My First Scooter has been revamped with a new folding system and new colours. For older children check out the brand new Mannix Stunt Scooter in a variety of colourways.

Dinosaurs will never go out of fashion and 2016 sees even more introductions in the mighty Megasaur range. The brilliantly priced gift sets have always been popular with consumers. 2016 sees the introduction of a Mega Megasaur set which will present 30 Megasaurs in one pack.

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toysnplaythings.co.uk

License to thrill!

HTI 01253 775544 www.htigroup.co.uk HTI’s stand 25 at AIS show will offer a selection of domestically stocked lines across licensed and pocket money categories.

From the no.1 new toy property in the UK, HTI will be showcasing a range of Paw Patrol musical toys and battery operated bubble toys.

There will also be new Blaze wheeled and musical toy lines as well as battery operated bubble toys.

Successfully combining favourite everyday toy lines with some of the biggest brands in the market, HTI shall also have available an extensive selection of pocket money toy ranges with Disney Frozen, Peppa Pig, Thomas the Tank, Avengers, Star Wars and Finding Dory.

HTI will have some fantastic deals available at the show.

Game on!

JOHN ADAMS 01480 414361 www.johnadams.co.uk John Adams Leisure will be showcasing hero items across their expanding portfolio at the Independent Toy & Gift Fair 2016!

Continuing to build on its hugely successful heritage within its creative play craft range, the portfolio boasts over 20 new and refreshed product lines. Leading the new introductions is eZee Beads - a fantastic new line of bead picture making kits, which magically stick together with water. All kits offer great play value as well as value for money. Sands Alive - the multi award winning, super-soft modelling sand - is also expanding with a new themed Sweet Treats kit, plus an amazing Glow-in-the-Dark set. These join the existing Sands Alive range which includes Starter, Classic, Animals, Castle and the Super Sets, ensuring all key price points are covered. The Disney Princess collection is also extended with a range of magical glow and light-up products to make and display, under the successful Jelly Stickers brand. Bangle Blitz - the cool collection of ‘make your own’ blinged-up bangle kits had a great 2015 and this year sees the range growing with Neon and Glam kits.

The BloPens range will also see new introductions in the form of a new Disney Princess Rapunzel Creative Case set which turns the packaging into a handy mini easel, plus a new Star Wars activity set. The Animal and Super Activity sets are also being refreshed. As the UK’s #1 manufacturer within the science category (NPD Data 2015), the company will be showcasing new lines joining its successful science portfolio, which teaches boys and girls the fundamentals of science via fun and immersive kits.

John Adams’ range of Ideal branded games and puzzles continues to grow in strength and volume. New for 2016 is the Rubik’s Spark – an electronic cube with six different games that can be played on both single and multi-player versions. Joining the Action Games category is Soggy Doggy and Splashy the Whale – players need to make sure they don’t get wet! The popular Total Action Football will be getting a fresh new look ready for the 2016 European Championships and hilarity is guaranteed with new family game Silly Sausage.

APRIL 2016

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IEW V E R PS

AI

Coming up Trumps WINNING MOVES 020 7298 9507 www.winningmoves.co.uk

Offers aplenty TOBAR 0844 573 4299 www.tobar.co.uk Tobar will have exclusive show offers for customers during the show. New lines from Tobar including Pocket Money, Outdoor, Wooden will be on display. The fantastic wooden Cupcake Stand and Tea Set are incredible quality. Bestselling Maisto, Bburago and Syma’s incredible R/C models are perfect for demos in store. Zuru’s exciting Finding Dory range, Thunderbirds Flexi Figures and Schylling’s Star Wars tin collectibles are sure to impress and sell well.

A world of new opportunities and new beginnings awaits as Winning Moves adds more super licences to its alreadyexcellent portfolio. Among them are are hot movie licences such as Finding Dory, Star Wars Force Awakens and The Secret Life of Pets among them! Add to the mix everyone’s favourite four-legged friends, the PAW Patrol and there is sure to be plenty for everyone to enjoy!

Winning Moves UK Ltd is an independently owned games company which owns and/or distributes a range of classic game brands such as Top Trumps, Regional MONOPOLY, Waddington’s Number One Playing Cards, PIT, Bananagrams and Pass the Pigs. Winning Moves is also the exclusive licensee in Europe, Middle East, Australia and Africa for limited editions of Hasbro games including MONOPOLY, Cluedo, RISK and Twister.

Scents of humour DKL 01604 678780 www.dkl.co.uk DKL is delighted to be exhibiting at the AIS show with a fantastic selection of products from across eight top brands! Not to be missed is the new Striped Beads range from Hama, which includes 10 exciting new lines including an activity box, small blister packs, and six assorted bags of beads.

Also look out for the new Diamond Animals gift box and the popular large Disney Frozen gift box.

There will also be plenty to see from the Scentco Scented Stationery range. New Gel Crayons, scented paper clips, Smanimals toys, and new licenses including Disney Princess, Frozen, Tsum Tsum and Finding Dory join the line-up.

SmartLab Science Kits is not to be missed, with the best selling Squishy range, the new Crash Test Lab and the fantastic Demolition Lab all available to see and order.

The newly revamped PlayMais range will also be on display with new boxing, new products and the exciting new FSDU. AIS visitors will also be able to see the new and updated Scratch Traditional Toys, Miniland Educational and Anamalz ranges.

DKL will have exclusive deals at the show across all ranges for AIS members to take advantage of!

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Game of skill LEARNING RESOURCES 07872 337 302 www.learningresources.co.uk See award-winning science ranges such as Primary Science™ and GeoSafari® Jr. as well as the popular Nancy B’s Science Club® range, designed by a real life scientist.

The Primary Science™ range has expanded with new sets for 2016. New additions include Wow and Wonder, Outdoor Discovery and the Shining Stars Projector.

The versatile range is suitable for ages three and up, encouraging scientific discovery with hands-on tools.

The GeoSafari® Jr. range is designed to encourage outdoor discovery and exploration from ages three and above. New additions for 2016 include My First Telescope, Subscope™, Great Excavations Turtle and Bugnoculars. Magnifying products within the range feature the unique innovation of a two-eye goggle piece, keeping eyes focused without the need to adjust. The company will also be exhibiting their new STEM range, launched in January 2016, featuring five unique sets that encourage hands-on learning and problem solving for ages five and above in the areas of science, technology engineering and maths. Each set focuses on a different skill set.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

TNP

AMBASSADORS

Who is a brainbox?

Green Board Games’ new BrainBox Board Game got the TnP Ambassadors treatment recently when nine-year-old Samuel and his mum Shu Ling got to grips with the game – and naturally, they both felt extremely brainy afterwards!

Here, Shu Ling tells us how they got on Samuel has just turned nine years of age and is starting to get into board games so playing with the Green Board Games BrainBox Board Game was a real treat for us all!

The game is really easy to understand, Samuel read the instructions himself and got the gist of it very quickly. The board is part of the box which is quite clever – just lift the lid off the box and the sides and bottom will unfold to form the board from which you play the game. The game is simple; the winner is the first player to collect one BrainBox card from each of the eight categories. Just roll the dice, move your token on the coloured squares on the board to match the number rolled. Take a card of the corresponding category colour and answer the question.

The catch? Well, you have a limited time to memorise the data on the card and thankfully, there is a timer.

You then have to pass the card

back to the other player, roll the dice again and the other player will ask the question listed under that number from that card. Get the right answer and you get to keep the card. Easy peasy? Well, Samuel and I agreed that to succeed you will need one of two attributes: good general knowledge (card categories include: entertainment, sports, art & literature amongst others) and/ or a photographic memory. Neither of which we have unfortunately but maybe practice makes perfect! This is a great game for all the family. The rules are straightforward which is always a bonus and it’s educational too, which is even better. It’s a thumbs up from Samuel and mum!

This is a great game for all the family. The rules are straightforward which is always a bonus and it’s educational too, which is even better

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toysnplaythings.co.uk

Spotlight on Mookie Make a favourite fluffy friend with Mookie’s Fluffimals Personality cards allow children to pick the personality of their Fluffimal

A glowing heart brings the Fluffimal to life

tificate, Fill out the birth certifi giving the Fluffimal a name and birthday

Add magic fluffy stuffing to the Fluffy Factory

Turn the hopper handle on the top p to mix the magic fluffyy stuf stuffing

Tu the Turn Fluffy Factory F side handl h handle to filll the Fluffi fimal mal

Use the hairbrush to take care of the Fluffimal and keep them fluffy

FEATURE

POCKET MONEY LEGO

The price is right Lower price points and novel play make pocket money toys a hit with parents and kids. TnP takes a look at the hottest toys at the lower end of the price spectrum bringing kids into toy shops day in, day out

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pocket money craze can make the difference between a good year and a great year for toy retailers. These are the toys that keep footfall and sales ticking over day in, day out.

Products like the brightly coloured, low-priced Loom Bands came to define 2014, and last year was dominated by talk of Flair’s Shopkins collectable phenomenon.

In fact, for the full year 2015, the overall best-selling toy in the UK according to NPD was LEGO Minifigures. The presence of these toys prove the

NPD: Top 10 selling items up to £10 FY 2015 by value • • • • • • • • • •

pulling power of a great product at a price point that is both attractive to parents as impulse Additional purchases, and affordable for kids play value is key to pick up a new toy each week. with a pocket For Laurie Smith, owner of toy money toy shop Jake’s Toys in Hampshire, pocket money toys are a must for Gemma meeting the demands and wallets Lewington, of her local customers. “LEGO Mookie Toys always sells well for us, and in particular it is the sets that are below the £10 mark,” she explains. “We do also have Top Trumps, pullback cars, and a range of other toys that sit under the £5 mark. Generally children seem to have around two or three pounds to spend on a weekly basis, so we have a good selection of toys at this price point.”

Mookie Toys is entering the pocket money market for the first time this year with Peeka Puffs. Marketing

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LEGO Minifigures - LEGO Shopkins 2 Pack - Flair Hot Wheels Basic Car Asst Mattel Star Wars ARC-170 Straighter - LEGO Shopkins Pack of 12 - Flair Play Doh Classic 4 pack Hasbro Shopkins 5 Pack - Flair LEGO Mixels - LEGO TMNT Basic Figure Asst Flair Minecraft Mini Figures blind pack asst - Mattel

Manager, Gemma Lewington, says that the launch ensures “there is great play value within a lower price point item” for the company.

“Children can not stop popping the Peeka Puff once they get their hands on one,” she adds, “but in addition to this, we have included a cute comb and hair clips so they can style and brush their Peeka Puff time and time again. This additional play value is key with a pocket money toy.”

MGA is also launching a brand new pocket money collectable line for 2016, which are feature rich and packed with lots of novelty and play. The company introduced Num Noms for Easter, and Nicola Mellor, EME Brand Manager at MGA Entertainment says the launch brings a “whole new way for kids to play and collect.

“Characters can be mixed and matched to make endless surprising flavour fusions and with multiple ways to play. The fun never ends!”

GP Flair (Just Play) are reintroducing a classic brand to the counter top this month, which will be familiar to anyone that grew up in the 90s. Marketing Manager, Kirsty MacKenzie says its a personal favourite that the company expects to perform very strongly.

“I’m already fond of it for nostalgic reasons... It’s such a great collectable range and I’m sure the new generation of kids are going to love it!”

As with all toys, in-store display is vital for maximising sales of pocket money lines. “With Peeka Puffs we are offering FSDUs to make the insert experience great for the consumer as well as making the merchandising easy for retailers,” says Gemma.

Mookie

APRIL 2016

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FEATURE

POCKET MONEY TOYS

Treats galore TOBAR 0844 573 4299 www.tobar.co.uk

Peek at these!

MOOKIE 01525 722722 www.mookie-toys.co.uk

Tobar has increased its best selling pocket money lines which include creepy crawlies like the fantastic Pop Eye Snake, Flashing Water and Dinosaur Water Snake, Slime Monster and the roaring Dino Hand Puppet.

Who can resist the new Amazing Running Elephant?

For something more dainty the Pretty Tin Purses and Cupcake Wooden Watches are charming. Bath time is fun with the Clockwork Mermaids, Toothbrush Timers and Water games. New games and puzzles include the Tangle Fuzzies, Whirl-O, Wooden Critter Catchers and Owl Miragescope which combine classic design with fun.

Mookie is excited to introduce its brand new pocket money range, Peeka Puffs. The collectable range hit shelves this Easter and is being launched with a heavyweight TV campaign, supported by a strong in-store presence with FSDUs available for retailers.

Peeka Puffs are the fuzzy cuddly toy which can’t stop popping.

Pop a Peeka Puff to reveal its smiling hidden face from within its fur, and then pop it again to hide it away! Peeka Puffs come with a comb and hair clip so children can style their Peeka Puff however they like.

With three to collect the fun never stops.

Shooting stars ESDEVIUM 01420 593593 www.esdeviumgames.co.uk Esdevium has started 2016 on a massive high with brand new collectable craze Star Monsters! The pocket money collectable has been flying off shelves since launching at the beginning of February, and reaction from both consumers and retailers has been outstanding.

Star Monsters are bright, colourful, tactile, and above all collectable.

Each character has been formed from a s-tar that has fallen to earth and transformed into a Star Monster, taking shapes and characteristics from the environment it lands in. Series 1 Star Monsters come in an array of shapes and styles, and combine collectability and playability. An equal appeal to both boys and girls adds to the reasons why Star Monsters is a must have collectable for 2016.

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Pocket money people PLAYMOBIL 01268 548111 www.playmobil.co.uk Look forward to hours of fun with Playmobil’s new pocket money collectables for 2016. O-friends are the latest addition to join the collectables range, with a fun array of new characters. Available from July, Playmobil welcomes the Tech Guru, Flame Warrior and Indian Princess, among others.

The tenth instalment of Playmobil’s most popular collectables range, Fi?ures Series 10, has arrived a brave Knight, a Soccer Fan and a sporty Karate Student. Playmobil Fi?ures are centred around three key features: assembly, collectability and interchanging components.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Outbreak!

VIVID 01483 449944 www.vividtoysandgames.co.uk

Saddle up SCHLEICH 01279 870000 www.schleich-s.co.uk From favourite farm life and horses, to prehistoric dinosaurs and DC Comics superheroes, Schleich has many collectibles that make the perfect pocket money purchase.

Farm Life is one of Schleich’s most evergreen collections and it will receive a major overhaul for 2016. For the first time, the horses will move out of the Farm Life collection and become its own range known as Horse Club.

The favourite Dinosaur range will strengthen its offering even further in 2016, with many new dinosaurs to collect. The Mini Dinosaurs have proved extremely popular and include eight figurines to collect .Further characters will also be available in the DC Comics collection with Batman v Superman leading the way, along with Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Cyborg.

The Fungus Amungus outbreak is underway with the Batch 1 Specimen & Vac Pack Collections. Fungus Amungus will continue to be supported with a heavyweight TV campaign, and online and digital activity throughout 2016.

There are over 60 charms to collect, wear and display in kids collectable range Charm U. There’s Gen 2 of PiXL, Animagic Rescue Hospital launch Series 3 and 4 collectables in 2016, Kitty Club is the cute new collectable brand, with 21 kitties to collect in Blind Bags and Accessory Packs.

Stacking up TY 01329 829828 www.ty.com Ty is more than a teeny bit excited to introduce the pocket-sized, stackable Teeny Tys. Ty unveils twist on the tech accessories market with the adorable Peek-A-Boo range, which brings devices to life by holding them upright for users during play. Let Pups the Dog and Penni the Penguin make eyes at you over the top of your device. PeekA-Boos will be backed by Ty’s first ever TV campaign and a catchy song.

Value High

Great

quality

Value

Our April arrivals are in big demand!

Avoid disappointment - contact us today to secure your stock. sales@tobar.co.uk APRIL 2016

01603 397105

www.tobar.co.uk 69

RETAIL

OPINION

Trade talk

TnP loves to hear your views. This month we speak to key wholesalers and suppliers to learn what’s on their minds. We explore this month’s hottest topics.

This month, Team TnP catches up with some of the industry’s finest to discover how the year has been so far, their stand-out products for the coming year and support for retailers MARY WOOD Marketing Director, Vivid Imaginations

PHIL RATCLIFFE Sales & Marketing Director, MV Sports Which of your products are retailers loving right now?

At the moment Batman is doing really well in advance of the movie. Also in demand are Shopkins, Finding Nemo, Paw Patrol and our own outdoor play brand Hedstrom is well up on prior year.

What’s standing out for 2016?

There are a lot of big hitting movies this year (Batman v Superman, Captain America, Finding Dory, Angry Birds, Star Wars, Trolls) which will drive the our sector forward. Also in the pre-school sector we are seeing some new properties breaking through which hasn’t been the case in previous years. For older kids there is a demand for wheels with a technological edge. We have an excellent quality lithium powered product launching for A/W which we hope will be a big hit this Christmas.

ANDY COOPER Commercial Development Director, Worlds Apart How is this year going?

We have invested heavily in our new product programme for 2016 and thanks to the creativity output our team, strong licensing partnerships and retail/ distribution partners the stars are aligning for us. s.

How do you keep up to date?

TV shows are only one way that kidss now engage with a property and success can no longer rest on this platform alone. This makes the job even more challenging. We focus on bring new product platforms to the market – that means we have less direct competition when approaching licensed properties, butt does mean bigger investment in ongoing product development.

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Which of your products are retailers loving right now?

Fungus Amungus has got off to a great start and we have excellent support from retailers across all the different channels both in spring and for the autumn/winter period. TV advertising for the Exgerminator is also starting now that we have good stock levels out in the market.

What are the early indicators as to how 2016 will pan out?

We are now getting in selections and confirmation of store distribution and promotional slots and it’s looking really positive. Thunderbirds is holding distribution and the ITV/CITV Simulcast programming restarted over Easter. We’ve seen a tremendous start to the year with Crayola - sales are significantly up year on year.

We’ve had a few crazes recently, what’s standing out in 2016?

Shopkins continues to be very strong, Star Monsters has had a good start but we are hoping that Fungus Amungus is just one that could break through.

Time will tell!

NICOLA MELLOR Marketing Manager, MGA Entertainment How are you tracking so far in 2016?

It is already panning out to be a strong year for MGA. We have a host of new brands in new categories as we launch our first collectable range Num Noms plus a new arts and craft brand later in the year.

This year is also about building our highly successful fashion doll sector. Bratz will play a role this year, as will Lalaloopsy – now in its sixth year.

As S.T.E.A.M continues to be a huge trend for the whole toy industry, our Project Mc2 brand goes from strength to strength. Little Tikes, Baby Annabell and BABY born also continue to grow and dominate their sectors.

We’ve had a few crazes recently, what’s standing out in 2016?

The collectables category is looking like it’s going to have another strong year this year.

We’re really excited to be launching Num Noms and feel it has the potential to be something special in the world of playground crazes.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE SIMBA SMOBY

DON’T MISS…

Here’s our Simba Smoby Don’t Miss special, bringing to the fore a selection of the company’s hottest and newest products that will help you sell more. Get in touch on 01274 765030 or sales@simbasmoby.com Product: Masha and the Bear Plush 35cm Bear

Product: Bob the Builder Safety Set Product: Bob the Builder Mechanical Drill

Product: Disney Cars 1:24 RC Lightning McQueen

Product: Masha and the Bear Masha Doll

Product: SpongeBob Submarine Bus Playset

APRIL 2016

Product: Transformers Optimus Prime Light & Sound Battle Truck

Product: Smoby Funny Slide

Product: Smoby Builder Max Tractor

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REVIEW

NURSERY FAIR

Oh baby!

Harrogate International Nursery Fair took place in March and TnP was on site to discover the latest playthings and products for infants that are perfect for toy retailers

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influence on goods for younger children and toddlers.

Toys 'n' Playthings' sister magazine Nursery Today published the daily paper at the show and sponsored the Baby and Nursery Trade Awards, fondly known as the BANTAs, along with Clarion Events.

BabyStyle’s Hybrid Edge stroller scooped the Best New Product award. In the toy category, the winner was Greenover Sports with their Globber 5in1 scooter, while East Coast Nursery’s Say Hello Tummy Time Discover Toy, was highly commended by judges.

arrogate is a familiar place to many of us, and in March the Yorkshire town played host to the Harrogate International Nursery Fair.

Familiar names such as Golden Bear, Casdon, Cloud b, Halilit and East Coast Nursery all had stands at the show which attracted global buyers, with a particularly strong Chinese contingent.

The event took place from 20 to 22 March with a healthy portion of products suitable for toy retailers, although - as the name of the fair suggests - there was an obvious

Speaking to TnP at the show, Golden Bear’s John Nicholas told us that the company was investing in their nursery division and their Sleep Tight All Night range – which includes In the Night Garden’s Iggy Piggle, along with non-licensed characters – is to be TV advertised.

Golden Another exhibitor which you might find in an indie Bear’s John toy shop is Myweeteepee, a Nicholas said company run by Kate Janach the company and her husband Gali. Kate was investing in very kindly jumped into one of their nursery her lovely teepees for TnP to division and demonstrate just how roomy their Sleep Tight they really are. She explained that she began the company All Night range – which includes several years ago by handmaking a cosy enclosure In the Night for her daughter, who was Garden’s Iggy born prematurely, and things Piggle, along spiraled from there. with nonCasdon’s Sales Manager, licensed Roger Howard was also characters – is to on-site with the company’s range of toys. In particular be TV he demonstrated the lovely advertised Annabel Karmel range to TnP. Cloud b’s International Account Managers David Green and Cesar Leon showed TnP around their stand too. One product in particular really stood out!

Torsten the Giant Turtle really is huge.

Not only does he make soothing lullaby sounds to calm baby, he also lights up and is lovely for kids to have a little rest on after a hectic day. The Golden Bear's John Nicholas Cloud b team also demonstrated their best-selling Tranquil Turtle range. nursery nursery today today At the time of going to press, the DAILY DAILY dates for next year’s show have not been confirmed, but make sure you Spotted...

The royal Cutting Edge log onto www.nurseryfair.com to keep up to date. connection

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Growing your business

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Growing your business

nursery today

NEWS Sunday 20th March 2016

Happiness is Harrogate W

Scandi way to stay warm For the first time in UK and Ireland, the BeSafe team will be officially launching the luxurious Scandinavian Voksi Footmuffs and IDA ISING Changing Bags at Harrogate this year.

Visit them in Hall C, Stand C40 Tel: 01606 814 638 Web: www.carseat.co.uk

Growing your business

Suncrest

interesting industry facts with a great line-up of speakers planned for the BPA’s 2016 Seminar Programme. These include a talks by GfK, B Baby Magazine, Generation Media, Intelligent Retail and the Institute of Mums.

The BPA’s Concept & Innovation Awards finalists also warrant a visit.

These budding entrepreneurs have battled through a gruelling judging process which included nerve-racking presentations to a Dragons’ Denstyle panel in London and were chosen from hundreds of entries. The two Concept Award finalists are Milk Monster and Babythrone, while the Innovation Awards Finalists are KiddieRail and The Rockit, all of which can be viewed in Hall H. On the subject of awards, the BPA’s Baby and Nursery Trade Awards (BANTAs) judges will be conferring today over the shortlisted product entries.

These awards are open only to companies exhibiting at the show and hundreds of entries were received.

The categories for 2016 are Travel, Travel Accessories, Sleep Accessories, Toys, In Home, Safety, Feeding, Cleaning & Changing and Best New Product.

This evening the winners will be announced at a very glitzy party and BANTA night at the Majestic Hotel.

This is a ticket-only event, so if you would like to attend, check at the Organiser’s Office for availability.

Those of you at the show tomorrow keep a look out for the BANTA Winner certificates on exhibitors’ stands (and all the details will be in tomorrow’s newspaper) as this will give a good indication of what, in the judge’s opinions, are the best products at the show.

Here’s to a happy Harrogate!

Don’t miss a great line up of speakers Join the BPA in Hall H at Harrogate International Nursery Fair and discover some interesting facts which can help boost your business.

Monday 21st March 2016 11.30am–12pm: Anthony Williams, GfK Find out what are the hot products that UK parents must have for their babies; how much they are prepared to spend and where they are buying.

BabyStyle’s Hybrid Edge scoops top prize at the BANTAs

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2.30-3pm: Sally J Hall, editor of B Baby Magazine (also editor at Emma’s Diary and former consumer editor at Pregnancy & Birth) These days it’s not enough for a push chair to be practical, it must also be fashion-forward. Discover how push chair companies reflect current catwalk trends in their products and learn how to make a sale by reflecting a customer’s personal style by steering them towards the perfect push chair for them.

Tuesday 22nd March 2016

12.30pm–1pm” Nadia Khaldi, Generation Media A review of how the media landscape has changed in recent years, plus insight into the factors that have influenced the shift. They will share latest research on media habits among pregnant women and mums, as well as how it may change in the future. This presentation is essential for marketers hoping to gain top tips for consideration when finalising their media plans for 2016/17.

Tuesday 22nd March 2016

Don’t miss a great line up of speakers

Join the BPA in Hall H at Harrogate International Nursery Fair and discover some interesting facts which can help boost your business.

The lovely Kate Janach from Myweeteepee grabbed a quiet moment in her - you guessed it! teepee. You can catch Kate and her husband Gali in Hall D, Stand D7.

Monday 21st March 2016

he industry was on tenterhooks as judges deliberated who would pick up the prizes at this year’s Baby and Nursery Trade Awards. This year there were eight categories, and judges had a tough job picking just one winner from each category’s shortlist.

“This year’s entries were exceptionally difficult to judge with so many fantastic products covering many categories,” agreed the panel. “After spending the morning contemplating, and putting the products through their paces, we all agreed on our final winning selection. We believe these will be fantastic sellers at retail and appeal to new mums and dads as they embark on their parenting journey.”

Winner of the coveted Best New Product award was the Hybrid Edge stroller from BabyStyle UK, the second win in as many years for the company. Readers will recall last year BabyStyle won big with its new The Egg range.

The BANTAs are a much sought-after accolade – so a huge congratulations to all the winners and those who achieved the highly commended status. All of these products can be found in the show halls today proudly displaying their winning certificates.

The good news didn’t end there - with the winners of the Concept & Innovation awards revealed. The judging panel revealed to the Daily News that all of this year’s finalists “have been outstanding throughout the whole process, from the initial paper entry to the Dragon’s Den-style presentations. All four finalists were considered to fill a gap within the industry where they have managed to identify and fulfill a need.”

The winner of the Concept award i s Babythorne; a showering aid the panel believe will revolutionise bathing. The winner of the Innovation Award is KiddieRail – an adjustable rail to make climbing stairs easier and safer for small all children.

Both of these products are on display in Hall H, Stand H9 and H10. Congratulations to all the winners. Turn the page to find out who won what!

1pm–1.30pm Jessie Wilson, Institute of Mums (IOM Research Ltd) Like it or not, parents continue to buy second-hand baby products. IOM created a Second Hand Market Report in 2015 and will give an overview of this market. What products parents are buying second-hand, where they are buying and at what cost to new product sales.

11–11.30pm: Osiri Weithers, Intelligent Retail In store, online and telephone orders simplified, find out why so many people are moving to an EPoS system to help them run their businesses.

Learn how managing your stock in the shop, online or over the phone can be done at the touch of a screen.

Centralised stock control for multichannel does really make a difference.

Celeb e!

11.30am–12pm: Anthony Williams, GfK Find out what are the hot products that UK parents must have for their to spend and where they are buying.

1pm–1.30pm Jessie Wilson, Institute of Mums (IOM Research Ltd) Like it or not, parents continue to buy second-hand baby products. IOM

Iggle Piggle is no stranger to TV, after all In The Night Garden is one of the UK’s most-watched pre-school TV shows, but Golden Bear’s Sleep Tight All Night range will be putting the Iggle Piggle sleep aid on the box soon! The company is investing heavily in its nursery division and is making its mark with a heavyweight TV campaign to promote its innovative and super cuddleable sleep aid range.

created a Second Hand Market Report

Golden Bear D12 Golden Bear’s John Nicholas shows off the Sleep Tight All Night range

Clogs stand C18.

Join the BPA in Hall H at Harrogate International Nursery Fair and discover some interesting facts which can help boost your business.

ther than being members of the world’s most famous family, what do Prince William and his children Prince George and Princess Charlotte have in common? Well, they all slept in cots from the iconic German company Leipold Collection. “We’re very proud of our royal heritage,” International Sales Manager, Marianne Krug told the Daily News. “We’re a 100-year-old family run business based in the Bavarian town of Coburg, which is very connected to the Windsor family and royalty.”

Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert who was born in Coburg – and that is where the connection to Leipold began. Prince Charles bought Prince William’s Leipold cot in Harrods, while Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s cots were purchased in London’s Blue Almonds. But it is not just royalty, we’re also told that some very famous celebs have Leipold Collection cots in their homes too – but we’re sworn to secrecy over who! Pop over to see Marianne and her team in Hall C, Stand C32.

this market. What products parents are buying second-hand, where they are buying and at what cost to new product sales.

2.30-3pm: Sally J Hall, editor of B

chair to be practical, it must also be fashion-forward. Discover how push chair companies reflect current

Marianne Krug on the Leipold Collection stand

and learn how to make a sale by reflecting a customer’s personal style by steering them towards the perfect push chair for them.

Winning in style BabyStyle reigned supreme at the Baby and Nursery Trade Awards in the Majestic Hotel on Sunday night. Their Hybrid Edge scooped the Best New Product award. Pictured is the victorious BabyStyle team along with Nursery Today editor Penny Franks and the awards’ host Christine Scippo.

See

11–11.30pm: Osiri Weithers, Intelligent Retail In store, online and telephone orders simplified, find out why so many people are moving to an EPoS system to help them run their businesses.

Learn how managing your stock in the shop, online or over the phone can be done at the touch of a screen.

Centralised stock control for multichannel does really make a difference.

12.30pm–1pm Nadia Khaldi, Generation Media A review of how the media landscape has changed in recent years, plus insight into the factors that have influenced the shift. They will share latest research on media habits among pregnant women and mums, as well as how it may change in the future. This presentation is essential for marketers hoping to gain top tips for consideration when finalising their media plans for 2016/17.

Pregnancy & Birth) These days it’s not enough for a push

catwalk trends in their products

Tuesday 22nd March 2016

Did you know…

Baby Magazine (also editor at Emma’s Diary and former consumer editor at

Beyonce’s blooming favourite!

Chrome is a perennial favourite – especially with world famous singers and iconic footballers, and the folks over at Bloom know all about it.

Boasting Beyonce and Jay-Z, and Wayne and Colleen Rooney as fans, Bloom’s oh-so-sleek and stylish Fresco Chrome Contemporary Baby Chair is making an impact over in Hall C. “We’ve got a large celebrity following,” reveals Bloom’s Mark May. “We know Beyonce and Jay-Z love the product as do the Rooneys.”

Fancy yourself as the next Beyonce?

Pop over to see Bloom on the Clever

Don’t miss i a great line up of speakers

O

in 2015 and will give an overview of

Exclusiv

Silver Screen for Golden Bear

Leipold Collection reveal their historic links to the Royal Family to the Daily News

babies; how much they are prepared

more inside for

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

NEWS

Monday 21st March 2016

The doors open this morning to the Harrogate International Nursery Fair with over 150 exhibitors waiting to greet you. elcome to Harrogate! This year promises to be yet another bumper event with over 150 exhibitors and more than 300 brands participating. In addition, there will be a greater international presence than ever before with a delegation of almost 40 Chinese buyers attending as well as numerous visitors and exhibitors from around Europe.

While the primary reason for most visitors attending HINF is to view the latest new baby product launches and plan and place orders for the coming year, the show also offers visitors an all-encompassing experience with a number of networking opportunities and the chance to find out what is happening in the nursery industry.

This year you most certainly won’t be disappointed and are guaranteed to find some exciting new stock ranges.

In addition, many exhibitors are offering Babystyle some great show exclusives, so by attending you can make huge savings on orders placed during the show.

You’ll find these fantastic show offers throughout the newspaper!

Adrian Sneyd, the show organiser, comments: “We have a surprising number of brand-new exhibitors at the show this year — in fact over one third — which means that visitors can expect to find some exciting new brands and products during their visit.”

As the UK’s only nursery trade show visitors will find numerous new companies exhibiting products for the first time.

Many of these exciting new brands can be found in The Hub (Hall H) and stretching across five further halls — covering everything from toys, clothing and bedding to accessories and gifts.

Hall H will also be the focal point for anyone wanting to find out

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

NEWS

DAILY

Toys 'n' Playthings’ sister magazine Nursery Today publish the daily paper at the show and sponsor the Baby and Nursery Trade Awards, fondly known as the BANTAs

On yer bike!

If it’s a bike ride you’re after, Thule have just the thing for you - as demonstrated by our lovely models.

Thule’s UK Sports Retail Key Account Manager, Alan Gear took UK Area Sales Manager, Neil Sellers for a spin on the company’s very impressive Thule Chariot. Suitable from birth, the Chariot allows active parents to jog, cycle, walk, hike and even ski - it’s pretty impressive! Drop by Thule’s stand in Hall A, A26 and let Neil and Alan tell you all about it themselves.

The ladies from Hardenberg & Co were thrilled to pick up not one, but two awards at the BANTAs

toysnplaythings.co.uk

BabyStyle win the night

Greenover Sports

ant

Team Bébéleph

Did you know…

At the time of going to press dates for next year’s Harrogate International Nursery Fair had not yet been confirmed so make sure you visit www.nurseryfair.com to find out more

Casdon Baby&More

The Twistshake gu

ys

Tidy Freak s

Mywee teepee

Cheeky Chompers

Cloud b Hippychick

JANUARY 2016

Thule

51

LICENSING OPINION KELVYN GARDNER

The force is with him Kelvyn Gardner is back!

Not that he ever went away – but this time, he is wearing his licensee hat. Here, Kelvyn tells us about his new venture with AC Worldwide

E

arlier this month I ‘came out’ as one of the team behind a new consumer electronics company, AC Worldwide. I’ve had a lot of flattering comments come my way since we broke the story, and a few questions. As the launch of AC Worldwide effectively marks my return as a licensee after a gap of almost eighteen years, I thought you’d like to know a little more about this: especially as, sooner rather than later, we may have products that will find a home in the UK toy trade. Firstly, it’s important to stress that I’ve always liked to practice what I preach. I spend a great deal of time travelling preaching the virtues of licensing. I often speak to absolute newcomers to try to de-mystify the licensing process. I go out to other trade associations and business forums to encourage new and fledgling product sectors to try adding licensing to their marketing mix. I’ve even spoken at universities and business schools to catch them while they are young, so to speak. If it’s a mission, then I’m pleased to be on it, as I see no better marketing tool anywhere in the modern business world. I often cite my own seventeen years (1981- 1998) as a licensee in support of my stance. Against this background, what do you do when you are introduced to a potential start-up team that is not planning to look at licensing? Pretty clear, huh? When AC Worldwide didn’t even have a name, I was already thinking about how

licensing could be the key to succeeding in a very competitive and vibrant product sector, and that’s just as it should be if I really do believe what I’ve been saying all these years.

So we start from there, and then we add music which is my artistic passion. Some of you will know that I’m a keen amateur guitarist, with a band of like-minded dudes all fifty plus, occasionally treading the boards as blues/rock outfit No Guarantees. as 30cm, incredibly detailed and So music, and sound generally, has accurate iconic-character audio always been a close companion. speakers, and your correspondent The opportunity to do something is once more back in the business professionally of being a licensee. in the world So apart from of sound and the opportunity As the launch of music was too to help this new good to turn business grow, I’m AC Worldwide away even very happy to be effectively marks my on its own. in this particular return as a licensee Then you add circumstance right after a gap of almost licensing to now. Never let it the mix and be said that I ever eighteen years, I there’s only encourage business thought you’d like to one element folk to do something know a little more left: what I would not do license and myself: give licensing about this: especially a try. Is licensing what slice of as, sooner rather than challenging? Is it the market are later, we may have easy? Is it obvious we aiming for? products that will find where to look and So here we are, how much to pay and we start a home in the UK toy for rights? Can you thinking about trade pick the wrong stuff for fans, properties, as a and geeks, and licensee or as a audiophiles, retailer for whom every inch of and collectors, and fellow soundshelf space has to turn a profit? enthusiasts, and we come up with Of course, you’re right, none of a high-quality portable Bluetooth this is straightforward. As I trust I speaker concept, and that, in continually demonstrate, though, turn, leads us to Star Wars, the licensing is full of opportunity for last of my particular personal and all businesses, and I’ll never tire of professional enthusiasms to go into talking about (or practising) it! the mix. Many months later, C-3P0 and Stormtrooper hit the market

“

”

LIMA the trade association for the licensing business www.licensing.org/uk email rbeaird@licensing.org

toysnplaythings.co.uk

ne u J 21st 16 20

GOLF £95 FOR THE DAY

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LICENSING

NEWS

Get messy with Messi GP Flair is rolling out the marketing campaign for its Messi Footbubbles brand. The plan includes TV advertising starring Messi himself, a full kids’ football magazine drive, plus a number of retailer driven social media promotions. The Messi Footbubbles collection was launched in autumn 2015. Mayur Pattni, Brand Manager GP Flair, comments: “This is the perfect time to really push this footballing brand. We are also delighted to see our retail partners getting in the spirit as many saw at Toy Fair that we have some great extensions to this brand for autumn/winter and it all bodes well for a really successful long-term brand.”

It’s super to be puzzled!

Batman and his Super Friends have been given the Jumbo Games treatment.

Jumbo’s Batman range is aimed at slightly older children and there are four different, brightly-coloured 100-piece jigsaw puzzles to collect in the assortment. The newest edition, the 64-piece Batman Puzzle & Build, lets children piece together a 2D jigsaw puzzle then, using the speciallydesigned pieces, construct a 3D model of the famous Batmobile and character figurines.

Arriving in June will be a 100 Extra-Large piece puzzle that incorporates artwork taken from the movie itself – perfectly timed for the DVD launch.

Jumbo’s DC Super Friends 4in1 Puzzle Set brings all the popular characters from Warner’s Justice League together in one box. The puzzle is specifically designed to accommodate pre-schoolers with child-friendly illustrations of Batman, Superman, Wonder Women, The Flash, Green Lantern and many more superheroes. The piece counts increase in size with 16, 24, 35 and 50-piece puzzles to enjoy which are suitable for ages 3+.

Turn your shop in to a zoo Marbel are distributing uting a range of figurines based on Disney’s new flick Zootropolis.

Bullyland Made by Bullylan nd th the figures are hand painted and PVC free frree a and include the most popular characterss from m the film film such as Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, Mr Big, Chief Bogo, Flash Finnick. and F k.

Marbel Ma also has 24-piece 24-p assortment asso nt boxes boxe thatt come with a counter display count play and all the box an popular characters acters mentioned. mentione

A real dream deal DreamWorks Animation’s Dinotrux is to get the Clementoni treatment.

Clementoni are launching a range of two children puzzles under the Dinotrux licence including the 104-piece Maxi and the Classic 104-piece and the products will be available from April.

Michele Marziliano, UK Country Manager for Clementoni, comments: “We are delighted to work with such a brilliant series which is proving to be a big hit with kids. With the introduction of Clementoni puzzles to the market, we see Dinotrux being a great extension to our portfolio.”

Keep diggin’ JCB and IglooBooks have agreed a new threeyear contract extension. This follows on from an already successful partnership which has seen unit sales exceed one million. The continuation of the JCB licence will see 11 new launches by Igloo in 2016.

76

Brought to you by

licensing T O D A Y

W O R L D W I D E

Dinner is on Disney Pioneer Europe is bringing Disney to the dinner table.

Procos S.A has awarded Pioneer Europe distribution rights to its line of Disney tableware and other licensed properties in England, Scotland, and Wales.

The Disney tableware range will complement Pioneer’s popular Disney balloons collection and will significantly expand Pioneer’s partyware offering in the United Kingdom.

“We are proud to be working with Procos to expand our tableware offering,” said Marie Gransbury, Managing Director for Pioneer Europe Ltd. “We are fully committed to helping our UK customers succeed with this exciting Partyware range. It is a great opportunity for us to expand our business with our existing customers and to open doors to new customers.” The distribution rights are effective immediately and products are available to order from 1 April 2016. Initially, Pioneer will offer tableware and accessories featuring the core Disney properties as well as Lucasfilm and MARVEL properties.

The glorious sound of plush As hit YouTube channel Little Baby Bum continues its stellar rise, KD UK has announced it is to distribute musical plush.

Commonwealth Toys & Novelty has appointed the company as distributor for its range of Little Baby Bum musical plush toys in the UK. The electronic plush will feature four nursery rhymes each, with six characters to collect including Mia, Twinkle Star and other favourites from the hit Little Baby Bum YouTube channel.

Seth Bishop, MD of KD UK, says: “Little Baby Bum fits perfectly with the direction the group is taking, as 2016 will see us diversify from the typical ELAs which we have historically been known for.

We will be launching Little Baby Bum musical plush this June and will support the ongoing product programme with a targeted marketing campaign that speaks directly to the digitally engaged consumer and Little Baby Bum channel subscribers and viewers.”

APRIL 2016

Orders flood in for Shopkins Trends UK’s Kinstructions Shopkins range has hit retail and it’s gone down a storm. The Kinstructions launch closely follows that of Shopkins Season Four which features new Petkins. Graham Spark, Sales Director Trends UK, says: “We are delighted to be introducing the Shopkins Kinstruction range to the UK. The first sets are now available to buy at retail and orders are flooding in, so we would encourage retailers to secure stock as soon as possible.”

Bulldog Licensing Manager Vicky Hill adds: “Kinstructions is going to be huge!”

Science made easy Project Mc2, the science-inspired girls’ property from MGA, recently teamed up with the British Science Association to celebrate British Science Week during March.

The 10-day programme ran from 11 March to 20 March and included a host of science-themed events and activities around the UK. The brand launched last summer with its own Netflix original show and a range of dolls and accessories, including fun science experiments for fans to do at home.

Project Mc2 was the official sponsor of the British Science Week poster competition, inviting school children from all over the country to design an eyecatching poster on the theme of Space for Science.

Marian Davis, Marketing Manager at MG Entertainment, says: “Project Mc2 is all about opening up subjects such as science and technology to tweens – especially girls – so partnering with British Science Week seemed the perfect fit.”

Project Mc2 was the official sponsor of the British Science Week poster competition

”

DON’T MISS… We bring to the fore a selection of the hottest and newest products that will help you sell more.

Buyers and retailers, get in touch with your sales contacts!

Product: Batman vs Superman Tableware Company name: Pioneer Europe Tel: 01279 501090 Email: pelorder@qualatex.com

Product: Monster High Great Scarrier Reef Peri & Pearl Serpentine Doll Company: Mattel Tel: 01628 500000 Web: www.monsterhigh.co.uk

Product: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Sing-A-Tune balloon Company: Amscan International Tel: 01908 288500 Web: www.amscan.co.uk

Product: Junior Kit Company: Revell GmbH Tel: 0845 459 0747 Email: ukbranch@revell.de

Product: Toot-Toot Splash Company: Vtech Tel: 01235 555 545 Web: www.vtech.co.uk

Product: eZee Beads Range Company: John Adams Tel: 01480 414361 Web: www.johnadams.co.uk

Product: Morphy Richards Kitchen Set Company: Casdon Tel: 01253 608248 Email: roger@casdon.co.uk

Product: Finding Dory Gel Crayons Company: DKL Tel: 01604 678780 Email: sales@dkl.co.uk

Product: Disney Eye Found It! Company: Ravensburger Telephone: 01869 363800 Email: sales@ravesnburger.com

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toysnplaythings.co.uk

TNP

LOOKS BACK ACK K

Step back in time A rather personal look back through time beginning with April 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2011 by TnP Founder and MD Malcolm Naish

April 1986

April 2006

• Suppliers were bemoaning the fact that their customers, be they retailers or majors, were later than ever placing their orders. The comment from one supplier “It’s worse than last year, but better than next” neatly summed up the feeling at the time.

• A retail report claims that Easter sales across the board were the quietest this decade with shopping numbers down 7.3% on 2005.

• There is much criticism of the various buying group shows such as the Snowfold group show. As an impartial observer I suggest that if Toymaster can get their act together and persuade the groups to act as one, then perhaps one show in say May would seem a far more sensible idea, but I also add that common sense is quite often in short supply within the toy trade. I must have looked into my silver ball for that one!

• Woolworths announce a £43m investment programme to refurbish their 800 or so branches over the next 12 months.

• Terry and David Padgett buy out old established toy importers Woolman Bros. and continue to be a success 30 years later.

April 1996 • Most retailers we speak to have enjoyed excellent Easter sales and Dennis Watts of Arbon & Watts, Melton Mowbray scoops the V-Tech Electronic Learning Retailer of the Yea’ award and pockets £1,000 in the process.

• The FT reports that LEGO group profits are down 40%, but in their annual report their Directors felt that there was no need for pessimism.

• Toy Story becomes a real blockbuster for Disney, after just 4 weeks the film grosses £17 million at box office in the UK and is destined to overtake Lion King as their biggest ever box office success.

• In the wake of the Dunblane massacre, Hamleys ban the sale of toy guns and so we ask a number of retailers for their views. Virtually to a man/ woman they all told me that they had never sold many guns/pistols anyway!

• Electronic Learning Aids are big business in 1996 with eight pages of advertising from major ELA suppliers of whom only two still exist today.

APRIL 2016

• Character Group’s first six months trading to 28th February make impressive reading with sales of £66.6 million giving them an operating profit of £3.7 million.

• An American consumer toy magazine Toy Wishes is about to debut in the UK pre-Christmas with a 150,000 distribution. I am doubtful of their potential success as I have never witnessed in all my years in the industry any toy consumer title making a success of their publication. It proved to be the case with Toy Wishes.

• With the World Cup looming, football related products are beginning to pick up when we spoke to our retailers. All the regulars such as LEGO, Playmobil, Sylvanian and Power Rangers were also performing well.

• Our 30 page feature on pre-school proves that this evergreen category remains a big performer, much helped by key pre-school characters such as Bob the Builder, Postman Pat, Thomas and Noddy.

April 2011 • We are all shocked that Corinthian Marketing have been placed into administration. They had quite a number of great products and their staff are absolutely devastated. Flair pick up their In my Pocket range.

• Tomy’s takeover of RC2 is given the green light.

• The retailers that we spoke to in our Toy Talk pages are almost to a man attending this year’s Toymaster show.

• Moshi Monsters, Zhu Zhu Pets, Pin Toys, LEGO, Tomy and Chicco all receive honourable mentions regarding sales at retail.

April 2011 Volume 30 Number 7

• Trunki’s creator Rob Law receives an MBE. • The impending sale of Hit Entertainment is back in the news with a number of interested parties including Mattel, Hasbro, Disney and Chorion to name but a few.

• Rob Mann competes in the London Marathon on behalf of the Toy Trust, having to hobble the last 14 miles and overtaken by some most interesting runners in fancy dress.

79

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