Progressive Preschool - January/February 2018

The B2B Publication For Preschool Products and Retailers

ISSUE 33 JAN/FEB 2018

Fair Facts

A guide to Toy Fair 2018

Fighting The Fakes

Protecting IP with Snapdragon

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit

The iconic preschool brand

The Pick Of The Product Spring Fair highlights

Push It Real Good

Pushchairs and strollers update

Trade Publication. Sign up to our newsletter at www.progressive-preschool.com and follow us on Twitter at @prog_preschool

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www.progressive-preschool.com MARKET LEADING TRADE MAGAZINES

March/April 2013

this month JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

MARKET LEADING TRADE EXHIBITIONS

MARKET LEADING TRADE AWARDS

Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP T: 020 7700 6740 F: 020 7607 6411 www.max-publishing.co.uk

The busiest shopping season of the year is now firmly behind us and both retailers and consumers alike are breathing a sigh of relief and taking stock – whether that is of their takings or their bank balances.

The 2017 Christmas season was an interesting one, with a fortnight-long Black Friday sale bringing Above: Some of the PPS Team: Sam Loveday, Jo Pilcher, Rob Willis, many purchases forwards and snowy weather and Jacqui Parr. across most of the UK keeping shoppers inside – or at the very least, away from the shops and building snowmen.

While high streets were undeniably quieter than last year, online sales picked up the slack and were the saving grace for many retailers.

At the time of writing, much of the retail sector is still waiting to see which way the pendulum will swing, although that will become clearer over the coming weeks as trading results are announced.

In the meantime, we’ll all be keeping busy during the post-Christmas period with the preschool industry’s annual pilgrimage to the various trade shows around the globe. The season gets off to an early start with Hong Kong Toy Fair, followed by Top Drawer, London Toy Fair, Bubble London, Spielwarenmesse and Spring Fair before finishing off with the New York Toy Fair.

With retailers looking forward to placing orders which they hope will see them through much of 2018, these shows are some of the most important buying events in the calendar and will offer plenty of opportunity to browse the latest trends in children’s play products and stylish, fashionable homewares.

Traditionally, companies in the preschool sector keep innovations closely guarded until the new year, meaning that these shows play host to hundreds of brand new product launches and fresh new ranges. For our part, we have spoken to some of the key preschool exhibitors who will be showing you their latest lines at the London Toy Fair, Spielwarenmesse and Spring Fair (see pages 33, 67 and 79 respectively).

There’s a real focus on newness this year, with companies embracing the latest trends and breaking new ground, from the continued focus on traditional wooden toys to the increased demand for interactive and educational products.

While only the truly dedicated (and those with extremely strong livers) will make the journey to every single show, each offers the preschool retailer something different and it’s always worth branching out to try a show you might not have otherwise considered.

Licensed product is also the subject of much attention during the trade show period and as ever the industry has plenty to offer the preschool sector. With relatively new shows such as Hey Duggee and PJ Masks carving out a name for themselves alongside fan favourites such as Peppa Pig and enduring classics like Peter Rabbit, the category has never been more diverse. We’ve spoken to some of the major players to find out more about what’s in store for the licensed preschool sector – you can read all about it on page 61 of this issue.

As ever, there’s plenty of other great content to keep you reading, from an indepth focus on Peter Rabbit himself, a full debriefing of the pushchair and stroller market for 2018 and a fascinating interview with the founder of SnapDragon, the IP protection company.

It would also be remiss of us not to mention the launch of our new news-based website, PreschoolNews.net. Sitting alongside the magazine and the awards, it forms the final piece in our jigsaw and ensures we can keep you up-to-date with the latest news stories, with newsletters coming directly into your inbox. How’s that for service!

See you at the shows.

The Progressive Preschool Team ISSN 2515-8589

Rob Willis, Jacqui Parr, Samantha Loveday, Jo Pilcher, Ian Hyder, Jakki Brown, Warren Lomax PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

03

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contents 23

PETER RABBIT

95 35

STEP CHANGE

07 17 21 23 33 53 61 67 79 93 95 99 109 111 113 115 122

NEWS Reporting from the preschool sector MEDIA WATCH Brands making the headlines INDUSTRY ANALYSIS The latest industry statistics from GfK THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT The iconic preschool brand FAIR FACTS A guide to Toy Fair 2018 FIGHTING THE FAKES How to protect your IP with Snapdragon PRESCHOOL LICENSING What’s Hot for 2018 EUROPEAN UNION What to see in Nuremberg this year THE PICK OF THE PRODUCT Spring Fair 2018 highlights FROM HEAD TO TOE VMC’s preschool plans STEP CHANGE Introduction of the First Steppers initiative PUSH IT REAL GOOD What’s in store for pushchairs in 2018 WEARING IT WELL A look at INDX Kidswear AW18 LEE LEE LOVES Newborn essentials ASK ANNA Top tips for surviving the toy fair season SWEET DREAMS The key to a successful nights sleep BEST SELLERS Retailers’ top sellers and biggest hits

Plan Toys | MOLUK | Makii | Makedo | Scribble Down littleCONCEPTS

Spring Fair 5L34 | Spielwarenmesse Hall 3 D30 PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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NEWS TOP STORY

Right: Black Friday sales have changed the way people shop and created a structural shift in the Christmas trading period.

Seasonal Sales: The Christmas Retail Report

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he Christmas 2017 season was a challenging one for nursery and preschool retailers, with heavy snow and Black Friday sales getting the season off to a slow start while the continued reliance in online shopping saw many shoppers choosing to avoid the high street altogether. However, the last few days before big event season saw shoppers finding their feet and getting into the Christmas spirit.

With many shoppers leaving their present buying until the very last minute, the season got off to a disappointing start, with UK retail footfall falling by 9.9% over the first three weeks of December. Heavy snow in the second week also resulted in a significant drop in national retail footfall – more than 20%.

The footfall figures – measured

by Ipsos Retail’s Retail Traffic Index – also highlighted the effect of Black Friday promotional activity in November, which pulled forward some seasonal shopping and had a

PreschoolNews.net Launches

The brand new online news website for the cross-category preschool industry, PreschoolNews.net, launched to the industry on Thursday 4 January.

Spearheaded by the team behind Progressive Preschool magazine – the leading cross-category publication for the preschool sector – the website will serve as an essential online resource for the entire preschool market, bringing the industry the latest news from the nursery, toy and licensing sectors, among others.

An extension of the successful trade publishing brand, which includes prestigious accolades the Progressive Preschool Awards, PreschoolNews.net will offer

knock-on effect on December activity.

There was, however, a sharp rise in shoppers hitting the high street during the last few days before Christmas (Monday 18 to Friday 22 December) compared to the same five days of the previous week, with figures showing a boost of more then 35%.

This may have been due to a number of key retailers – including Tesco, Mothercare and House of Fraser – launching their sales early in a bid to boost sales prior to Christmas. Despite this, numbers were still down by 6% on 2016 figures.

This has been attributed at least a regular, online news resource which is able to represent the multifaceted preschool sector in real time.

“We are extremely excited to be launching the new website and news service,” says publishing director Rob Willis. “It is a natural progression of the Progressive Preschool brand and will complement both our print title and awards programme, giving both retailers and industry experts the best of both worlds.”

To find out more on submitting editorial or advertising on the site, visit www.PreschoolNews.net.

Below: PreschoolNews.net will bring the industry the latest news and views from across the sector.

The Entertainer Raises £2m

Customers at The Entertainer have now raised over £2 million for children’s charities, by rounding up their purchases to the nearest pound with digital charity box ‘Pennies’.

Customers are given the option of donating a few pence to charity when paying by card. The Entertainer first added Pennies to its tills in June 2011 and since then, shoppers have rounded up their purchases more than 4.5 million times.

“At an incredibly challenging time for retailers and the British public, we’re utterly delighted that our customers are giving so generously when they shop at The Entertainer,” says Gary Grant, founder and managing director. “This December in our stores, someone is donating via Pennies every 13 seconds – this is truly incredible.”

The Entertainer also hit the national headlines in the run-up to Christmas as it chose not to open on Christmas Eve. The store – which doesn’t open on Sundays for religious reasons, chose to give all 1,700 staff the day off instead.

Gary estimated the move could cost 1.5% of annual turnover, approximately £152million.

Right: Pennies makes it easy for customers to make affordable donations.

partially to the rise in online shopiing, which has structurally changed the way consumers shop in the run-up to Christmas, according to Dr Tim Denison, director at Ipsos Retail Performance.

“In-store shopping remains part of Christmas, but consumers tend to leave trips to the shops until later, having done some planned purchasing online.”

However, according to the CBI’s monthly Distributive Trades Survey, retail sales were growing steadily in the run-up to the Christmas period, showing solid growth despite underlying trading conditions remaining tough.

Boxing Clever

Just two days after Christmas people were back out shopping in force, with footfall peaking on Wednesday 27 December, making it the busiest shopping day of the year – although this too, was down on last year by 12.5% (Ipsos).

Analysts are expecting consumers to cut back further in the new year as inflation erodes spending power and an uncertain housing market chips away at consumer confidence.

Tommee Tippee Parent Company Acquires The Gro Company

Mayborn Group, the business behind the global superbrand Tommee Tippee, has acquired one of the UK’s leading baby sleep brands, The Gro Company.

The move will accelerate Mayborn’s international growth strategy, as the company will be able to take advantage of the shared retail channels and consumer base as it makes the move to expand its business within the baby sleeptime category.

“Gro Company has a fantastic range of well-loved and respected products which help parents get babies to sleep safely,” says Mayborn’s ceo, Steve Parkin.

“We believe that we can use our global position to help grow this business dramatically and bring Gro’s sleeptime solutions to parents around the world.”

“Mayborn’s acquisition will mark a step change for Gro,” adds Dave Gough, coo for The Gro Company, who will remain in position to support and oversee the transition. “I’m truly excited for the future of Gro Company.”

The Gro Company will continue to operate from its current offices in Exeter, UK where most of its 38 employees are based.

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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NEWS TOP STORY

Toys R Us UK To Remain In Business

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oy retailer Toys R Us Uk, which has been in difficulty for some time, has been saved from collapse thanks to a lastminute plan to save the business.

The retail chain, which includes Babies R Us, put forward a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) which was voted through, with the backing of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF). The CVA proposal was approved by a significant majority of 98%, leading to a successful resolution for the retailer and saving 2,500 jobs.

The new restructuring plan sees Toys R Us agreeing to pay £9.8m into the pension plan, while the pension deficit recovery plan has been shortened to ten years.

“We are pleased to have secured the support of our creditors and will be working closely with them in the months ahead,” says Steve Knights, managing director of Toys R Us UK. “The vote in favour of the CVA represents strong support for our business plan and provides us with the platform we need to transform our business so that we can better serve our customers today and long into the future.”

He continues: “All of our stores across the UK will remain open for business as normal until spring 2018. Customers can continue to shop online and there will be no changes to our returns policies or gift cards across this period.”

The CVA was agreed before Christmas and will see the company closing around 26 loss-making UK stores, affecting up to 800 jobs.

Below: CVA proposal wins majority backing for Toys R Us UK

Pumpkin Patch Is Reborn Online

Above: The original Pumpkin Patch went into liquidation last year, after it failed to recover from poor sales overseas, global competition and an unsuccessful online strategy.

Failed childrenswear brand Pumpkin Patch has been reborn online, although retail analyists believe it will have to work hard to regain loyalty.

Australian online retailer Catch Group has launched pumpkinpatch.co.nz and pumpkinpatch.com.au after buying the customer base and trademark in March 2017.

Chief executive Nati Harpaz said the new-look brand was ‘cleaner’, with a fresh new logo and more modern range of clothing. “We will release a new range at the end of January and have ongoing new ranges every six to eight weeks,” he added.

Pumpkin Patch began in New Zealand in 1994 and at its peak had 250 stores across New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, the UK and the US. However, that expansion (which cost about $98m and was funded by debt) failed and those stores closed in 2011.

What’s In A Name?

Top Toys

The NPD Group has unveiled the UK toy market’s top ten best-sellers for the first half of the Christmas selling period (week ending 9 December).

The last weekly sales data to be published before Christmas, the list reflects a strong interest in innovative and interactive toys. The top ten includes a wide range of toys at wildy differing price points, ranging from £15 to £166.

VTech’s Kiddizoom Duo was the standout preschool toy in the list and was joined by Hasbro’s FurReal Roarin Tyler and Zapf Creation’s Baby Annabell.

Worth £1.2 billion, the Christmas period is a crucial time for toy retailers and manufacturers alike. The fortnight before Christmas accounts for 11% of annual toy sales.

Baby & Toddler Hape and Marbel Strengthen UK Position Show Moves North Hape and Marbel Toys have Of The Border strengthened their UK offering for 2018 following last year’s acquisition, which saw Marbel acquired by Hape Toys.

In 2018 Marbel will continue to work with Pink Poppy, Nanoblock and Relevant Play, while also focusing on Hape and new brand Käthe Kruse. This means Marbel can fully concentrate on these priorities and enable greater market success.

“This allows us to really concentrate on the brands that Hape and Marbel wish to gain significant market success with,” said Christoph Bettin, md of Marbel and Hape’s global marketing director. “I want to place on record my thanks for the brands we will no longer be working with and wish them all the best in the future.”

A new edition of Mercury Events’ Baby & Toddler Show is coming to the SEC Glasgow - the only baby show to serve the Scottish market. The first show will be taking place from Friday 27 – Sunday 29 April 2018.

“We have been serving the pregnancy and parenting market with four Baby & Toddler Shows per year since 2013,” said group show manager, Clare Barker.

“In that time we’ve built a reputation for always delivering successful events that offer excellent return on investment for both exhibitors and visitors.”

Mercury Events has appointed a new exclusive hardware retailer, Glasgow Pram Centre, ensuring the event will benefit from an immediate proven route to market.

It’s the time of year where parenting website BabyCentre.co.uk releases its annual top 100 list of baby names from over the past year. Ideal for spotting trends and a good indicator of names which are expected to be big in 2018, the list has been created from a survey of more than 94,665 parents who named 51,073 boys and 43,592 girls last year.

A few names have retained the top spots, with Olivia the most popular girl’s name for the third year running. Muhammad has moved back to poll position for boys, ahead of Oliver – two names that continue to battle it out each year.

The survey also looked at naming influences, ranging from East End gangsters to reality television shows and the great outdoors.

Top 10 Top 10 Girl’s Names Boy’s Names Olivia Muhammad Sophia Oliver Amelia Harry Lily Jack Emily George Ava Noah Isla Leo Isabella Jacob Mia Oscar Isabelle Charlie

For thewww.progressive-preschool.com latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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NEWS TOP STORY

Right: The Princess Marie-Chantal Silver Cross collection is set to launch in spring 2018.

Which? publishes top pushchair trends for 2018

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rusted consumer bible Which? has published a complete listing of what it has identified as being the top pushchair trends parents will be looking out for in 2018.

Retailers looking to meet consumers’ needs in the travel system, pushchair and stroller sector should focus on three key trends; multifunctionality, removable shopping baskets and branding partnerships.

Multifunctionality has been playing an increasingly important part in the pushchair market for some time

now and Which? has now identified it as one of the main reasons for purchase in the coming year.

“Old-school strollers weren’t deemed suitable from birth because of the lack of support they provided,” said the report.”But pushchairs are changing, as urban parents turn their back on the traditional, bulky, expensive travel systems you’d traditionally have bought as the first pushchair for your newborn.”

The second trend sees Which? responding directly to consumer feedback by focusing on the not-

so-humble shopping basket, with removable shopping baskets being hailed as a game-changer for the sector.

“You’ve been telling us for years how the shopping basket is one of the key features on a pushchair,” said the report.

“It can be too small, it can be too hard to reach, it can be too shallow…”

The final trend focuses on branding partnerships such as the iCandy for Land Rover tie-up, as “collaborations between baby product manufacturers and other key brands are ramping up for 2018”.

BTHA Announces Toy Retailer Of The Year Finalists The British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) has announced the finalists for the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards 2017.

The winners of the prestigious Toy Retailer Awards will be announced at the annual toy industry awards held at Olympia, London on Tuesday 23

January 2018. The gala event, which takes place on the first evening of Toy Fair, is organised by the BTHA with the Toy Retailers Association (TRA), who will be presenting the Toy and Supplier Awards 2017 on the same evening.

The finalists were selected from a list

Unicorn Success For Usborne Books

The success of Usborne Books’ popular baby book series That’s not my... continues with two new titles entering the children’s preschool chart this Christmas.

That’s not my unicorn... and That’s not my reindeer... both did well over the festive season, although That’s not my unicorn... is still going strong in the charts, and with over 100,000 copies sold was officially the biggest baby book of 2017!

Above: That’s not my unicorn... is the 50th title in the internationally best-selling That’s not my... series.

AIS Show Has Plush Push

The Independent Toy and Gift Show returns to the impressive Cranmore Park Exhibition Venue on Tuesday 1 May and Wednesday 2 May 2018 with a plush theme.

Confirmed toy exhibitors include Mattel, Lego, Flair, MGA, Peterkin and Character Options, with new exhibitors such as Alpha Animation & Toys and Inside Out Toys.

Hosted by plaY-room, the toy division of buying group Associated Independent Stores, the show is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere and legendary lunches! Visitors will also receive complimentary refreshments from the TY Beanie Boo Café.

Registration, admission, parking and lunch are all free. Register at www. independenttoyandgift.co.uks

Green Sheep Group Is One To Watch

Nursery company Green Sheep Group – home to organic and natural baby brand The Little Green Sheep and sleep brand Snüz – has been listed in The Sunday Times Fast Track ‘Ones to Watch’ as part of its annual Virgin Fast Track 100 table.

The Sunday Times Fast Track league tables rank Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing sales over the last three years and Ones to Watch features the top ten companies who are set to grow rapidly in the future.

“What a fantastic year at Green Sheep Group,” said chief executive, Roger Allen. “The valued connections we have made and professional approaches we’ve received have surpassed anything we’ve seen in our history. [This news] has rounded off a breath-taking year.”

of nominations by an industry panel which included members of the BTHA council, toy agents, sales and national account directors as well as toy trade press.

For ticket enquiries and other information please contact Matt Jones at Matt@btha.co.uk.

Aldi’s Wooden Toy Range Value retailer Aldi signalled its intentions to take on the major players in the toy sector, by launching a new range of classic wooden toys in time for the Christmas season.

The discount supermarket – which previously enjoyed sell-out success in the wooden toy sector back in 2016 – said it was looking to capitalise on the renewed demand for wooden toys during the festive period.

Julie Ashfield, md for corporate buying at Aldi, commented: “We work hard to ensure we maintain high-quality products, which is why all our wooden toys are FSC-certified, but we also ensure they’re great-value and competitively priced.”

The toy line-up included classic and modern options, such as a Wooden Theatre, Workbench and Pirate Ship.

Jumbo Games Partners With Peter Rabbit

Jumbo Games has signed an agreement with Silvergate Media, the global licensing agent for Peter Rabbit Classic on behalf of Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK). The new partnership will see Jumbo Games adding Beatrix Potter’s much-loved Peter Rabbit licence to its portfolio of children’s puzzles.

“We are thrilled to be working with such a charming and popular brand with over 115 year’s heritage in the UK,” says Steven Russell, senior marketing executive at Jumbo Games. “Peter Rabbit is a brand that all generations will know and love, and we’re certain our ranges, across both adult and children’s puzzles, will be a big hit with fans in 2018.”

For thewww.progressive-preschool.com latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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John Lewis Makes Kids Clothes Gender-Free

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ohn Lewis has become the first UK retailer to remove gender labels from its children’s clothing in a progressive move that has been widely praised by consumers and others from within the industry.

The department store chain has removed the ‘girls’ and ‘boys’ labels from its own-brand collection as well as doing away with the separate sections in stores.

The popular classic clothing style hasn’t changed, with dresses and skirts

Pre-Christmas Rush For Harrogate

Harrogate International Nursery Fair saw an influx in exhibitor bookings throughout December as companies clamoured to firm up their preferred space before the Christmas holidays.

Exhibitors have been pleased with the new 2018 show layout and Hall Q is proving popular so far. Over 35 companies are already confirmed for this hall including MerryGoRoundUK, Silentnight, Shnuggle, Padgett Bros, Sweet Dreamers and a collection of stands from distributor bébélephant .

Meanwhile, Hall G has only two stand spaces available with favourite brands already confirmed at the show including BabyStyle, Bebecar, Cuddles Collection, Obaby, ABC Design, Venicci and Boori UK. BeBeBoo, Cheeky Rascals, Hauck Fun For Kids and Sheldon have all secured space in the Kings Suite.

More information about the show, including stand rates and booking forms can be found on the website at www. nurseryfair.com or by emailing Adrian at adrian@nurseryfair.com

Smyths Toys raises £125,000 for GOSH

Smyths Toys has raised £125,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH), donating money from the sale of its plush toy Snot (who featured in the retailer’s 2017 ad campaign) and a book of his adventures.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Smyths Toys’ support this Christmas,” says Amit Aggarwal, director of corporate partnerships at GOSH. “This donation will make a real difference to seriously ill children from across the UK being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital. We are extremely grateful to Smyths Toys and its customers for their generosity.”

hanging alongside trousers and jumpers, although the popular retailer has also launched an additional unisex clothing line for children, featuring dinosaur print dresses and spaceship tops.

“We do not want to reinforce gender stereotypes within our John Lewis collections and instead want to provide greater choice and variety to our customers, so that the parent or child can choose what they would like to wear,” says Caroline Bettis, the head of childrenswear at John Lewis.

Solution EU Turns Ten

UK-based company Solution EU recently turned ten and is celebrating a decade of business with a brand new website.

Established in 2007, Solution EU specialises in product innovation, design, manufacture and supply of private label and licensed baby feeding, toilet training, bathtime products and accessories.

“We are delighted at such an achievement,” said co-founders, Tom McKenna and Mark McLoughlin. “Although we wouldn’t be here today without the support of our customers and hardworking team. The strong, award-winning relationships we have formed throughout the industry have reinforced our aims and aspirations for the business and we are looking forward to the next ten years!”

60 Years Of Safety Leading safety expert Clippasafe is celebrating an impressive 60 years in business this year, as the company was first established in Nottingham back in 1958.

The UK-based company has consistently led the way in the child safety market, building its reputation for developing innovative products and supplying major UK nursery retailers with its instantly recognisable brand.

“We’re thrilled to be celebrating 60 years of producing products that help to protect babies and children,” said managing director Roger Cheetham.

“There are many potential hazards in and out of the home which parents may not realise, so we aim to provide them with essential tools to educate them and minimise danger.”

The John Lewis website still includes boys and girls sections, although this is currently under review and likely to be brought in line with stores.

Above: Dinosaur top from the new John Lewis childrenswear collection.

World of Dinosaur Roar Enters Games Space

Preschool property The World of Dinosaur Roar will be getting its own Top Trumps game, after brand owner Nurture Rights secured a deal with Winning Moves.

Launching in spring/summer 2018, the Top Trumps cards will feature the brand’s colourful dinosaur characters, as well as facts and figures about each dinosaur.

These will be verified by Professor Paul Barrett of the Department of Earth Sciences at London’s Natural History Museum.

“Winning Moves has done a great job in bringing this entertaining, beautifully illustrated and educational property to this iconic game,” said Nick Barrington, md of Nurture Rights.

Winning Moves also has the rights to possible board game versions of The World of Dinosaur Roar.

Cheeky Chompers Founders Win Everywoman Award

Founders of Cheeky Chompers, Julie Wilson and Amy Livingstone have been awarded a Natwest Everywoman Award.

The pair were announced as the joint winners of the Demeter Award, which is awarded to the most inspirational woman running a business (trading from three to five years).

Cheeky Chompers first hit UK shelves in 2013 and can now be found in John Lewis, JoJo Maman Bébé, Dobbies and many independent stores. It has just sold its millionth product.

“It was amazing to be recognised by Everywoman in the company of such impressive business women,” says Julie.

“It’s exciting to think about where we will be in another four years!”

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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TOP STORY

British kids TV to get £60m government boost

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new £60 million fund is being awarded to broadcasters including Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV to help increase the range of home-grown children’s programmes in the UK. Culture secretary Karen Bradley announced the investment, which will help commercial channels make more homegrown children’s programmes in order to compete with US imports, online content and BBC children’s shows.

“High-quality children’s television... plays a vital role in stimulating learning and giving young people a greater understanding of the world around them,”

Karen says. “This significant investment will give our world-renowned television production sector the boost it needs to create innovative content for a wider audience that would otherwise not be made.”

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said the £60m – which will be spent over three years – could be used to pay for up to 50% of the production and distribution costs of original TV shows. It will be available for programmes shown by commercial public service broadcasters as well as other ‘free and widely available’ channels and streaming services and could potentially

include online platforms.

Teletubbies creator Anne Wood, founder of the the Save Kids’ Content UK campaign, said she was ‘deeply grateful’ for the move, adding that programmemakers ‘desperately need more support’.

“It shows the government’s awareness of the issue and the importance of children’s television culture to children in this country,” Anne continued. “We in the children’s production sector have never had such difficult times raising finance.”

Above: The investment will help increase the range of home-grown children’s programmes in the UK.

Spring Fair Launches Nibbling Pops Up In Westfield Luxury baby brand, Nibbling, launched its very own pop-up shop in London’s premium The Atelier shopping centre Westfield in the run-up to Christmas.

Spring Fair, taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from 4 – 8 February 2018, will be launching an immersive showcase to inspire and guide visitors through the top trends set to influence their businesses.

The Atelier is a new interactive feature that frames the future for Spring Fair visitors. Big-screens will show a series of exclusive films, focusing on what’s new, what’s hot now, what exciting trends to expect in the coming years and how to make them work.

Four stunning walk-in installations will also be on display, featuring real store interiors using products from Spring Fair exhibitors and curated by an expert visual merchandiser.

“This is one of the most daring and exciting features we have ever launched at Spring Fair,” said Sophy Searight, Spring Fair’s head of content. “The Atelier will give our audience the confidence that what they’re purchasing at the show will be on-trend in the future. It will also present great examples of how to diversify into new categories and make their businesses more profitable.”

Medela Takes On Tough Mudder

The team at Medela recently got their running shoes on to tackle the ultimate obstacle course to raise funds for leading UK charity, Bliss. Competing in the infamous Tough Mudder challenge, the Manchester-based Medela UK team raised over £900 for the national charity, which works to support babies born prematurely or sick across the UK. The Medela team raised over £900 between them.

Loved by celebrities, bloggers, mums and babies, Nibbling is famous for its fresh new ideas and on-trend designs. Its first ever pop-up concept store saw the entire Nibbling range being made available to shoppers in the weeks leading up to the UK’s biggest shopping season.

“I wanted a chance to showcase the full range of Nibbling products in one place,” said founder and ex-fashion designer Emily Sunderland Sutter. “We do sell in-store in a few boutiques and premium outlets around the UK, but otherwise we sell online. The popup shop was a great success.”

Left: The premium teething products were a big hit with Westfield’s fashionable shopper.

Carry Me Fit

Award-winning, ergonomic baby carrier company Ergobaby has announced a new partnership with CARiFiT, the creator of safe, fun, results-driven postnatal babywearing workouts.

Devised by an antenatal and postnatal fitness expert and approved by leading health, fitness and babywearing authorities, CARiFiT workouts are done while wearing the baby, offering new mothers the chance to get back into shape and bond with their baby and Ergobaby’s award-winning carriers are comfortable, convenient and safe to use during the workout.

“At Ergobaby we are passionate about making carriers that support babies perfectly through every stage of development and empower parents to enjoy life with their babies to the full,” says marketing manager Amanda Loveday.

By keeping the baby in close proximity while encouraging postnatal physical activity, the bond between parent and child is reinforced and can help to reduce symptoms of postnatal depression.

PEOPLE NEWS ▶ Obaby is welcoming business development manager Karl Hughes back to the company to grow the nursery side of the business and develop the awardwinning ABC Design brand. ▶ Rainbow Designs reinforces its sales team as Alison Lakin joins Denise Carr, who was appointed earlier this year, as key national account managers. ▶ Summer Infant has appointed Matthew Lane as national account manager within the UK sales team, responsible for grocery and baby specialists. ▶ Hardenberg & Co is delighted to welcome Emma Dutton to the team as the new marketing manager, driving the launch of a brand new Angelcare website. ▶ Columbus Trading Partners (parent company of Cybex and gb) has promoted Franco Rocchio to key accounts manager, strengthening the UK sales team and improving its focus with its key accounts.

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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MEDI A WATCH

IN THE

Public Eye

In Media Watch, Progressive Preschool takes a look at the preschool products featuring in the consumer press and social media to find out what will be in demand at retail over the coming months.

JAN 2018 Zip Up

The Christmas List Making a solid case for appearing on Christmas lists across the country was Golden Bear’s In the Night Garden Wobble Train, which featured in the Daily Star’s Christmas Gift Guide on 19 November 2017. The train was the first in the list which promised to make the big day a Christmas to remember for children.

Toddler Tea Time Cheeky Rascals’ clever and fun Make My Day bibs were featured in Mother and Baby’s ‘Six Ways to Enjoy Christmas Dinner’ feature, a special feature which highlighted a number of products guaranteed to make every toddler’s Christmas dinner a breeze. The bibs were selected for their novelty value as well as their practicality and ease of use.

Clothing and accessories company Zippy Baby was featured twice in a recent issue of Childrens Wear Buyer magazine. Its blanket award win was mentioned in the news section while the fun new Christmas print bibs were featured in its Christmas gift guide, alongside a wide range of toys, apparel and other gifting lines.

A Smart Ride The new SmarTrike smarTfold 700 was highlighted in the Jan/ Feb 2018 issue of Baby London. The travelfriendly version of the original SmarTrike was included thanks to a number of clever features, including its ability to fold down to 85% of its original size for storage or travel.

The new model features eight different stages to grow along with the child.

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MEDI A WATCH

Tots’ Tuxedo

Mr. Christmas

Baby dress-up brand Lazy Baby featured in the January/February 2018 issue of Mother and Baby with its adorable range of themed baby grows.

Offering an ideal way to include young babies and toddlers in the Christmas festivities without making them uncomfortable, these babygros come in a range of different prints, with the tuxedo proving particularly popular.

There has been some fabulous Christmas coverage for familyowned company Inside Out Toys, which had its beautiful wooden My First Mr. Men shape sorter house featured in Christmas gift guides in both The Guardian and The Daily Express back in November – when all the organised people do their shopping!

Bjorn Again The December 2017 issue of Baby London magazine dedicated an entire page to an interview with the inspiring founder of Baby Bjorn, Bjorn Jakobson.

The interview highighted a number of key Baby Bjorn products, inlcuding longsleeved bibs as well as the much-loved carriers the brand is best known for.

JAN 2018

Who’s Who?

The PR companies, distributors and suppliers featured in this issue of Media Watch are: Norton PR (Golden Bear), Zippy Baby, Bump PR (Cheeky Rascals, smarTrike, Infantino, Sweet Dreamers), Nicki Hughes PR (Lazy Baby), Highlight PR (Inside Out Toys), Claireville (Baby Bjorn), Famosa (Geomagworld).

The Wish List The life section of the popular iweekend magazine (the new weekend supplement from the team behind The Independent, which comes out every Saturday) was jampacked with Christmas suggestions. It featured Infantino’s popular sensory robot toy and SweetDreamers’ Gertie the Good Goose teether in its carefully selected Christmas gift guide for babies and children.

Social Media Success An October/November/ December campaign by Geomagworld saw 14 key bloggers reviewing the latest Magicube sets for toddlers. Statistics for the initiative so far show that the campaign has made 4,300,275 total impressions, reaching 916,094 individual twitter accounts. Of these, 2,173 original tweets came from 613 different contributors, all impressed with the new, innovative range.

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I N DU ST RY I N S I G H TS

As one of the world’s largest market research companies, GfK offers retailers and suppliers valuable insight into the way people live, think and shop. Here, business group director Anthony Williams takes takes a look back at the past year in the nursery market.

Inset: The babycare market is seeing a number of changes as we move into 2018.

ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES

I

“

t has been a challenging year for nursery durables with a number of categories seeing deep declines at the total level.

Monitors, car seats and stollers saw declines between 6 and 7% in volume between January and November 2017.

There are a number of possible factors for this, which can vary between categories, from lifestyle changes to choosing secondary market places.

However, one underlying trend is common across all; the loss in volume is not coming from the higher price points.

Strollers, including prams and pushchairs are a very good example of this and prove the resilience of the premium end as the entry and mid-range pricepoints falter.

In the £700 and above price bracket, strollers grew at a phenomenal 50% in value and at a very similar rate in volume during the year to date, quickly heading towards one in ten products being sold at this pricing.

The imporance of the highAbove: Consumers end is further now commonly demonstrated at use a smartphone the topline level. As to check deals, prices volume fell by more compare and place orders than 6%, so value while instore. grew at 3% with newborn basic and 3-in-1 travel system models proving to be the most popular.

The pushchair market has grown at the top end as well – there are now 18% more puchchair models selling in the UK

at £700 and above compared to a year ago. This increase looks set to continue, giving the value market a real chance to give a margin boost to manufacturers and retailers active in this area.”

GFK’S 2017 HIGHLIGHTS January/February 2017 “Based on GfK data, the nursery hardware market is currently estimated to be well over £937million. This equates to an approximate spend of £1,342 per new birth. All categories within the industry continue to grow on a quarterly basis, bar a drop across safety and equipment categories.”

March/April 2017 “With over one third of the baby budget spent on baby mobility options, purchase of a strollers and a car seat remains the most significant spend that a parent does.

Sales of iSize car seats as well as highback and convertible booster seats continue to grow as the new regulations come into force. Online purchases continue to grow across a number of categories.”

May/June 2017 “The nursery sector is in a unique position to add a new dimension to the retail experience – this could be developmental or multi-stage. It could be done by choosing a hero product or bolt-on

bundle deals to maximise sales. Ranging on the shelves is also a good option, based on the developmental need for the nursery shoppers.”

July/August 2017 “More than two fifths of digital thermometers sold in the UK are designed with kids in mind and thermometers at the £30-40 pricepoint saw a 12% growth in value sales. While finding value is undeniably more challenging, there are clearly a number of parents who still have an appetite for trading up to the latest technology.”

September/October 2017 “The total mobility market (which covers stollers, travel systems and car seats) has seen a 2% increase in value in the last 12 months. The total value of the sector is currently £434m, with strollers making up 59% of this. However, the growth has been primarily driven by car seats, which contributed an extra £11m over the same period.”

November/December 2017 “Across nursery, average prices rose nearly 8% annually and close to 11% in the last nine months, putting a strain on spending. There is evidence that rising prices may be pushing consumers to the second-hand market or delaying purchases wherever possible, at least for the moment. Higher prices are not of course unique as much of retail has seen inflation following the Brexit referendum last summer.”

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“Hey, you got this”

Peter Rabbit and all associated characters ™ & © Frederick Warne & Co Limited. Peter Rabbit™, the Movie ©2018 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Fabulous Peter RabbitTM Movie Range from Rainbow Designs

“Hello, I’m Peter Rabbit”

“More radishes and carrots please!”

Flopsy BunnyTM Soft toy

Talking Peter RabbitTM

Peter RabbitTM Soft toy

My First Giant Peter RabbitTM

Come and see us at: Toy Fair 23rd - 25th Jan Stand E120

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Spring Fair 4th - 8th Feb Hall 5 Stand H21

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The Home of Classic Characters

14/12/2017 17:22 05/01/2018 20:33

B RA N D FOCU S : P ET ER RA B B I T

Beatrix Potter ™ © Frederick Warne & Co., 2018

It is a brand that is 115 years old, but the charm of Peter Rabbit is as strong as ever. PPS chats to Silvergate Media’s Lisa Macdonald and Penguin Ventures’ Thomas Merrington about how the Beatrix Potter character keeps going from strength to strength.

Inset: Peter Rabbit product covers toys, publishing, gifting, apparel, homewares and more. Below: JoJo Maman Bebe came on board with licensed apparel in 2017.

THE TALE OF

Peter Rabbit T here aren’t many character properties which have a pedigree as illustrious as Peter Rabbit. The Beatrix Potter favourite has been charming licensees, retailers and consumers for 115 years, and is showing no signs of stopping.

There are two licensing programmes – Classic and TV Peter Rabbit. Both complement the other, explains Lisa Macdonald, vp consumer products and TV sales EMEA at Silvergate Media; staying true to the heritage of the brand, while bringing something fresh to engage new generations.

A further boost is expected as the new film from Sony Pictures arrives in March, with the halo effect of the tentpole release continuing to

drive interest across the board.

For Classic Peter Rabbit, Silvergate is the global licensing agent on behalf of Penguin Ventures, while it also manages the licensing programme for the preschool Peter Rabbit TV series (which it co-owns with Penguin Random House).

And both strands are enjoying healthy growth, as Lisa reports.

“For Classic Peter Rabbit our strategy is to focus on mid- to high-end retailers with baby, gifting, homeware and stationery being the driving categories,” she says. “Our latest additions to the line-up include Children’s Salon for luxury children’s nightwear, Rhona Sutton for christening items and jewellery, Jumbo Games for kids and adult Left: Rainbow Designs has a successful plush range for TV Peter Rabbit.

puzzles and Smiffy’s for kids’ dress-up.”

A number of the 150th anniversary partnerships forged in 2016 also extended into 2017 and beyond, such as Mothercare and the Royal Mint. There is a strong base of core retailers that support the brand on a cross-category basis including John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Mothercare, Paperchase, Sainsbury’s and the independent sector.

“We are also increasing the business by expanding this footprint: JoJo Maman Bebe came on board with licensed apparel last year and Harrods and M&Co launch this spring, with more retailers to follow throughout the rest of 2018,” Lisa adds.

Meanwhile, merchandise for TV Peter PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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gi f t g i v i n g… a ll wrapped u p

International Spring Fair, NEC,Birmingham, 2018 4th–8th February Hall 4,

4H81

4H91

4H80-J81

4H90-J91

4H100

Enesco Limited, Head Office & Customer Services, Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0EN. Tel: 01228 404022 email: trade@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services: Tel: +44 1228 404066 email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk © Frederick Warne & Co., 2018. © GUND 2018

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19/12/2017 09:14 03/01/2018 14:01

B RA N D FOCU S : P ET ER RA B B I T

Rabbit is targeted towards

a preschool audience and includes toys, publishing, apparel and accessories.

Lisa continues: “We signed a host of new partners recently including Rainbow Designs for plush, Aykroyds/TDP for toddler nightwear and underwear, Smiffy’s for dress-up, Danilo for greetings and gift wrap, and Character World for toddler bedding.”

Over the past year, the apparel category has really stood out for Classic Peter Rabbit, growing 97% in 2017 versus 2016.

This can largely be attributed to babywear apparel partner, Paul Dennicci, says Lisa.

“Their growth has been driven by

Beatrix Potter ™ © Frederick Warne & Co., 2018

Going Live Last year saw some key live events activity for Peter Rabbit, as Thomas Merrington, creative director at Penguin Ventures, explains.

“Following the huge success of the Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground, based on the TV animation which opened at Willows Farm in Hertfordshire [in 2016], we were delighted to work with Flamingo Land on their Peter Rabbit Adventure,” he says. “This is a second immersive playground that was built by the same company, Lappset Creative, which did such a great job at Willows Farm.

This has been pivotal in extending the footprint of the Peter Rabbit brand into the North East of the country.”

The fantastic Where is Peter Rabbit? musical production is on its second extended run in the Lake District and Penguin Ventures is also looking at ways of bringing this to wider audiences in the near future.

As part of Penguin Ventures’ ongoing strategy with Silvergate Media, the company is currently working with some “incredible heritage attractions” says Thomas, to bring classic Peter Rabbit to new audiences across the UK in 2018.

“We’ll also be focusing on global opportunities for Classic Peter in 2018,” he continues. “We have identified territories where there is a clear interest in British classic characters and we are looking forward to developing the potential for Peter Rabbit with these new and emerging markets.”

Left: Orange Tree Toys is just one of the licensees enjoying success with the brand.

deeper buys from our existing retail partners alongside new retail launches such as JoJo Maman Bébé in October 2017. Testament to its success and innovation, Paul Dennicci’s wonderful range for Mothercare was named Best Licensed Preschool Apparel Range at The Licensing Awards in 2017.”

Lisa continues: “We also continue to work directly with Marks and Spencer and their latest range of babywear including sleepsuits, outfits and accessories has been really well received.”

Overall, the support at retail level has been overwhelmingly positive for both Classic and TV. The partnership with Paperchase has been running since 2015, beginning with a range that was intended to be in store for just six months. “Three years later we are continunig to expand our relationship with new lines and a new creative look for 2018,” says Lisa.

“The Paperchase range includes lovely stationery and gifting products such as baby record books, milestone cards, photo albums and much more.”

In addition, Mothercare continues to be a major supporter of the brand.

Lisa enthuses: “The 150th anniversary collection was one of the retailer’s most successful licensed programmes of the last decade and we have worked

with their team to ensure that Peter Rabbit continues to be integral to their newborn and gifting offering with engaging cross-category ranges.”

2018 will see Silvergate continuing its strategy and developing the Classic and TV strands of the brand to their full potential, ensuring both licensing programmes flourish side-by-side.

“To achieve this, we always remain faithful to the brand’s 115-year heritage while offering unique and charming products, attractions and experiences that enable us to attract newer audiences and younger parents,” explains Lisa. “For example, following the success of the Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground at Willows Activity Farm in Hertfordshire, and the launch of the Peter Rabbit Adventure at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire, we are working on how we can expand our attractions presence to cover all key areas of the UK.” “Overall, it’s going to be a hugely exciting year for the brand and we look forward to continuing our adventure with Peter Rabbit and friends,” Lisa concludes. “We expect that the halo effect of the theatrical release will significantly enhance Peter Rabbit’s visibility around the country, while also providing a great boost in retail listings across the merchandise programme.”

Below and right: Live events and attractions such as those at Willows Farm and Flamingo Land are key for the property.

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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DES EXCLUIGNED SIVEL Y FOR

©CHARACTER WORLD LTD W W W. C H A R A C T E R W O R L D . C O M INFO@CHARACTERWORLD.COM 0845 004 9217

PETER_RABBIT_AD.indd 1 026_PPS_Jan Feb 2018.indd 1

© Copyright Frederick Warne & Co. Limited and Silvergate PPL Limited, 2018.

Based on the works of Beatrix Potter. PETER RABBIT and BEATRIX POTIER are trademarks of Frederick Warne & Co, a Penguin Group company.All rights reserved.

03/01/2018 15:36 05/01/2018 20:33

PRODUCT GALLERY PETER RABBIT

SIGNATURE GIFTS The award-winning Peter Rabbit Little Guides series contains a trio of books that feature excerpts from Beatrix Potter’s original tales, intertwined with clever advice on different aspects of life. This advice ranges from the astute to the sarcastic, and Little Guides has been a popular range amongst Signature customers since its release in September 2016.

Tel: 01582 464809 www.signature-books.co.uk

ORANGE TREE TOYS Brand new for 2018, there is an array of new products added to the much-loved Peter Rabbit collection.

The additions include beautiful 3D puzzles of both Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck, a selection of development toys and pocket money toys, which also has Jeremy Fisher joining the range.

Tel: 01242 244500 www.orangetreetoys.com

HALLIGAN RABY Halligan Raby is the leading supplier of personalised gifts for Beatrix Potter. The range covers a wide variety of gift items, such as greeting cards, door plaques, name labels, placemats and mugs.

It also has two Initial ranges covering key rings and mirrors.

However, its stand out range is the innovative personalised chocolates.

Tel: 0121 4531741 www.halliganraby.co.uk

ABBEY HOME MEDIA Available now from Abbey Home Media is the Peter Rabbit: The Beatrix Potter Collection - DVD Boxset.

This beautiful three DVD box set features the complete collection of classic Beatrix Potter tales, which lovingly recreate her enchanting stories. Featuring timeless animation and wonderful music, children and adults alike will be enthralled by mischievous Peter and his friends, in these all-time classic stories.

Tel: 0207 5633917 www.abbeyhomemedia.com

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BRAND NEW PETER RABBIT PUZZLES Available for Easter

Measures 68 x 49 cm

© Frederick Warne & Co., 2018

SEE THE NEW PUZZLES AT...

LONDON TOY FAIR, STAND E46/SPRING FAIR, HALL 5 STAND K64 Contact us to book an appointment:

(T): 01707 289289

028_PPS_Jan Feb 2018.indd 1

(E): uk.saleshotline@jumbo.eu

03/01/2018 14:10

PRODUCT GALLERY PETER RABBIT

ABBEY HOME MEDIA BISCUITEERS The Tales of Beatrix Potter recreated lovingly in biscuit. Inside this beautiful gift tin all the favourite Beatrix Potter characters can be found, hand-baked and iced by the Biscuiteers’ team of icers in London.

It’s the perfect present for new babies, christenings and special birthdays.

Tel: 020 7820 3118 www.biscuiteers.com

ENESCO New to the Gund collection, the Peter Rabbit soft toy purse is an ideal size for holding coins. The fabric purse forms the shape of Peter Rabbit’s head, complete with facial detailing and his trademark long pointy ears. January also sees the launch of a Peter Rabbit and Flopsy cushion, covered in a super-soft velvet-like fabric, making them extremely tactile.

Tel: 01228 404046 www.enesco.co.uk

Available now from Abbey Home Media is the Peter Rabbit: Rabbits are brave! DVD boxset. The animated Peter Rabbit series is a dynamic re-imagining of Beatrix Potter’s timeless children’s classic. Join Peter and friends in 20 exciting adventures, with over four hours of fun and excitement. This great value, three DVD boxset contains three fantastic Peter Rabbit releases; Christmas Tale, The Great Rabbit & Squirrel Adventure and Cotton-tail’s New Friend.

Tel: 0207 5633917 www.abbeyhomemedia.com

JUMBO GAMES The Peter Rabbit licence is the new addition to Jumbo’s children’s puzzle portfolio. Jumbo will be releasing two entertaining and beautiful new classic Peter Rabbit puzzles for children in its most popular puzzle formats: four shaped puzzles box set and giant floor puzzle that will be available in time for Easter. Jumbo has also launched two puzzles for the new Peter Rabbit Movie,with a 4-in-1 puzzle box set and giant floor puzzle that visitors can see at the show.

Tel: 01707 260436 www.jumbo.eu

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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A fun filled collection n of greeting cards, gift wrap & bags

To see our new ranges please visit

published by

d Hall l 3-M16 Spring Fair,

© Copyright Frederick Warne & Co. Limited and Silvergate PPL Limited, 2018. A co-production with Brown Bag Films.

Based on the works of Beatrix Potter. PETER RABBIT and BEATRIX POTTER are trademarks of Frederick Warne & Co, a Penguin Group company. All Rights Reserved.

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Independent retailers contact Is It Art on 01926 747935

01992 702 900 sales@danilo.com www.danilo.com 08/01/2018 10:44 08/01/2018 11:29

PRODUCT GALLERY PETER RABBIT RAINBOW DESIGNS In celebration of the eagerly awaited Peter Rabbit movie, the Home of Classic Characters is launching a fun new Peter Rabbit movie range. The collection, available from February, includes plush toys styled on characters from the new movie as well as a super-fun feature plush talking Peter Rabbit toy.

Tel: 01329 227300 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

ELITE After 15 years of strong sale at Elite Tins, Beatrix Potter - and specifically Peter Rabbit - are more than deserving of the range of new products launching in 2018. The classic drawings keep on giving and it is this vintage look that is crucial to the brands longevity. Elite Tins is most excited about the new tin book, which echoes a first edition copy complete with worn edges, and is anticipating increased awareness following the release of the Peter Rabbit movie later this year.

Tel: 01603 418153 www.elitetins.com

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Come and visit us at; London Toy Fair, Gallery 400 Spring Fair, Stand 1F56 / D57 Nuremberg, Halle 12G12

032_PPS_Jan Feb 2018.indd 1

05/01/2018 16:02

TOY FA I R FOCU S

FAIR FACTS It’s the shop window to the UK toy business and is a must-attend for all those involved in the industry.

January will see the business flock to London’s Olympia for three days of meetings, networking and new product launches at Toy Fair. PPS catches up with some of the exhibitors to find out why the show is so vital and what they have planned.

Inset: This year’s Toy Fair runs from January 23-25 at London’s Olympia.

L

ondon’s Toy Fair has always been a key moment for the UK toy market to come together and do business.

With 2018’s event now just round the corner – taking place from 23-25 January at Olympia – the signs are all there that this year’s show will be another humdinger.

According to Majen Immink, director of fairs and special events at the BTHA, demand was so strong that all of the exhibitor floor space was sold out in October 2017, almost four months before the show opens its doors.

“For the 2018 show, we have had one of the largest number of new exhibitor applications which is testament to the talent in the industry, as well as the importance the industry places on the show as a key event in the buying calendar,” Majen tells PPS. More than 250 exhibitors will be on the showfloor, including 79 new exhibitors – 66 of which are first timers; and a number of these will be showing preschool product.

“As ever, I expect that preschool

products will crop up all over Toy Fair this year,” Majen continues.

“Preschool products are an important segment for the toy industry and we see constant innovation in that area.”

For Steven Russell, senior marketing executive at Jumbo

Games, the amount of new and varying exhibitors at the show is the greatest compliment to how it has evolved over the years and kept up to date with the toy industry.

The company’s big preschool launch

Left: Tummytime Ted is one of over 30 new products on show from Galt Toys. Above: Hape will be extending its toddler railway range.

PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: GP FLAIR Since its relaunch, Stickle Bricks has been flying off the shelves according to Flair, and the company will be adding a number of developments in 2018.

The new Little Builder set is pitched as the perfect entry point into the range as tots can jump right in and begin building with the brightly coloured bricks. A new Fun Tub also doubles as a storage container, while also launching at Toy Fair is the Stickle Bricks Fire Engine.

Elsewhere, Flair is refreshing its preschool line-up with the Peppy Pups range. The new Peppy Puppies Junior collection introduces super soft and fluffy mini plush pups to collect, arriving in kennel-shaped packaging with a ‘pet-me’ feature.

Stand E39 Left: Stickle Bricks Fire Engine will be one of the new lines joining Flair’s portfolio.

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TOY FA I R FOCU S

Right: Visitors to the Le Toy Van stand are in for a ‘popping’ good time.

Below right: Smart Games and Toys is expanding its preschool fairytale range.

Below Left: Green Board Games will have a host of new product additions.



at the show will be its new Peter Rabbit puzzle range, while visitors will also get a first look at the new Disney Baby My First Puzzles in Mickey and Minnie styles.

Hape is another brand which is extending its product range at a rapid rate. New lines on show will include editions to its toddler railway range of activity tables, railway sets and a variety of accessories. In addition, after the success of Hape’s first range of bath toys, the collection is being extended even further.

Joe Rushworth, sales manager at Hape, says: “Toy Fair has evolved continually, setting trends for the year ahead and has recently seen a revival in traditional wooden toys, which fits perfectly with our brand.”

Ravensburger will be using the show to launch its first range of Peppa Pig and Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom products, while it will also have new additions to its PAW Patrol, PJ Masks, The Gruffalo and

Thomas & Friends ranges. Benn Bramwell, marketing manager, says: “Our licensed children’s puzzle range continues to lead the UK market, with more than triple the market share of our nearest competitor, achieving further growth of 4% during 2017.”

PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: GOLDEN BEAR Christine Nicholls, vice chairman and director of product development at Golden Bear, believes that it’s important for Toy Fair to offer visitors the “best possible” experience of the toy industry as a whole, reflecting the changes that are happening at the moment.

“There is always an exciting buzz around the show with the latest news and views coming from industry experts,” she says.

Golden Bear will be showcasing new introductions across it portfolio of licensed preschool brands, including its range of Mr Tumble Something Special toys. In addition, it will be refreshing its evergreen In the Night Garden toy line in 2018. Following on from the tenth anniversary, the new line will see restyled plush toys made from even softer fabrics, while there is also a new Playtime Activity Play-set.

Bathtime will also be a key theme with the introduction of Thomas bath toys and a new In the Night Garden Igglepiggle’s Light Up Shape Sorting Boat with an underwater light show.

Stand E69 Left: The Domino Train is part of the Mr Tumble Something Special line-up.

The company will also be introducing new additions to the My Home Town range from BRIO, as well as a Cogwheel Puzzle, the Ball Pounder Set and the Tumbling & Stacking Tower. “Toy Fair is both a showcase for our products and our best opportunity to talk to the widest range of customers,” Benn adds.

Galt Toys will be showcasing an impressive 30+ new products across all of its ranges. The company has been exhibiting at Toy Fair since it began, with md John McDonnell saying that there is “nothing in the UK to compete with it – the show is simply the most vital business hub for the UK toy industry and we love being part of it”.

Two key new preschool launches from the company will include Follow Me Ball and Tummytime Ted, as well as two new Water Magics and two Giant Floor Puzzles.

Fiesta Crafts will be unveiling a new preschool activity toy called Sort, Lace & Build, as well as new licensed Roald Dahl Finger Puppets and Hand and Finger Puppet sets.

Marketing assistant Laura Barr tells PPS: “Apart from meeting new and existing customers, the main benefit [of Toy Fair] is that people can actually see and get a real feel for our products.

They’re so much better in real life!”  PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Le Toy Van’s marketing and product development manager, Marie Bureau says that the PR the company receives from the show is great, while the live TV and product presentations are a dynamic addition. Marie highlights the Honeybake Popcorn Machine as one of her favourite new items which will be launched at Toy Fair. The compact vintage wooden popcorn machine features a ‘pop handle’ and

PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: RAINBOW DESIGNS “Toy Fair provides us with the primary platform of the year to display our entire 2018 collection,” says Anthony Temple, md of Rainbow Designs.

The company has a host of new launches in store for the preschool market including the Peter Rabbit Movie range. Arriving in February, the collection will include soft toy characters from the film, as well as a feature plush Talking Peter Rabbit. 2018 also sees the arrival of Disney Baby, a colourful collection of characterled developmental toys featuring Disney’s most iconic characters.

“Toy Fair is the most important show in the UK calendar and we are seeing a greater number of international visitors attending year on year,” Anthony adds.

“It is the one show that is consistently well attended by buyers from both major retailers and independent retailers.”

Stand E120

comes with five felt play popcorns, while the packaging features show tickets and sweet/salty popcorn tickets to cut out for extended play value. There may even be some popcorn to try for those customers pre-ordering the machine at the show, hints Marie.

Meanwhile, Smart Games and Toys will be revealing a new addition to its top selling preschool fairytale range with the launch of Sleeping Beauty. The popularity of the SmartMax collection also continues to grow with the new My First range.

Karen Clarke, brand director at the company, explains: “At Toy Fair this year, the brand will be introducing a SmartMax range with LED lights, as well as expanding the My First collection. Children as young as 12 months can safely discover the magic of magnetism with the new My First Farm Animals set, which features four extra large farm animals which are soft to touch, easy to grab and connect using the signature magnetic bars.”

Green Board Games’ marketing director, Karen Nunn says that one of the main benefits of Toy Fair for the company is the opportunity to engage with buyers and demonstrate new products. “In an ever tougher market, the toy industry seems to be pulling together, now more than ever, as one, with an increase of businesses working supportively to

Top: Fiesta Crafts has a new preschool activity toy called Sort, Lace & Build. Above: Jumbo Games’ big preschool launch will be its new Peter Rabbit puzzle range.

achieve a common goal – an annual profitable result,” says Karen.

New preschool lines from the company include Fat Brains range of Tobbles, Squigz and Peek-a-doodle do. In addition, visitors should look out for GBG’s launch of its own preschool ranges to support the success of the BrainBox My First range of BrainBoxes Colours, Numbers, Letters, Animals and Animal Homes, Puzzles and Story Cards.

As a shop window for the UK industry, you can’t beat Toy Fair and the preschool sector plays a vital part and all the signs are that 2018 is shaping up to be another bumper show.

Below: Ravensburger will introduce new additions from BRIO at the show.

Above: The Peter Rabbit Movie range will be key for Rainbow Designs.

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WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2018 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair GP FLAIR

POSH PAWS INTERNATIONAL Ahead of a very exciting year for Winnie the Pooh, the classically styled Posh Paws Winnie the Pooh vintage collection will be the perfect gift for bear lovers and a great way to introduce little ones to “The most Famous Bear in the World”.

The vintage look is seamlessly brought to life and sees Pooh in his classic red jumper and a lovely heritage colourway. Available in 7” or a 10” in a stunning gift box, he is classically styled and inspired by the iconic character, in premium plush form. Super soft and fluffy he is perfect for little hands to play and cuddle.

GP Flair’s preschool portfolio will once again wow all at London Toy Fair.

With exciting developments across key ranges, there is so much to look forward to in 2018. Stickle Bricks has been flying off shelves since its relaunch and Flair is continuing to drive the range with fun new developments for 2018. Launching at the show is the exciting Stickle Bricks fire engine which will inspire countless adventures as little ones stick, stack and construct the fire engine themed pieces.

Tel: 01268 567317 www.poshpawsinternational.com Stand B90

Tel: 0208 643 0320 www.flairplc.co.uk Stand E39

BRIO Smart Tech is the latest in BRIO clever train technology. Simply set up the Smart Tech arches around the track, and press ‘go’ on the engine. As the train passes on the track, it will automatically detect each arch, and do exactly what is shown.

Depending on the icon indicated on the arch, the train could stop, start, slow down, switch on the lights or even make a sound. Each Smart Tech set is fully compatible with other BRIO sets, tracks and trains, so children can continue creating and expanding their BRIO World.

Tel: 01869 363800 www.ravensburger.com Stand E140

SHOW CALENDAR Hong Kong Toy Fair 8th – 11th January 2018 Hall 1B Stand A27

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Spring Fair, Birmingham, 4th – 8th February 2018 Hall 5 Stand L65

sales@greenboardgames.com

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WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2018 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair FIESTA CRAFTS Perfect for the bath are new Magical Island and Pirate Ship reusable and glue-free Stickabouts scenes. There are also new Stickabouts travel games – pocket money friendly and perfect for travel, children can play traditional games such as four in a row, tic tac toe, draughts, solitaire and chinese chequers.

Tel: 020 88040563 www.fiestacrafts.co.uk Stand D2

JUMBO GAMES

ZIMPLI KIDS Zimpli Kids new Gelli Worlds are two very hands-on play adventures that allow for an exciting play opportunity.

Combining its iconic Gelli Baff with a mythical fantasy world filled with faeries and frolicking unicorns - it is fit for any fairytale and fable enthusiast. It also has a prehistoric Dino World inhabited by fierce dinosaurs which is fantastically Jurassic, explore the ooze and let kids delve into their imagination as they evolve their playtime.

Jumbo Games will be exhibiting a number of exciting new products from its children’s ranges at this year’s London Toy Fair, including the introduction of 20 new toys in its high quality range of wooden GOULA products. The new wooden toys will focus on various play categories for toddlers and preschool children, including puzzles, ability and balancing toys, sensory and educational games and more.

New highlights include the Puzzle Bear Family House, Pull-Along Dog and Pull A-Long Dog, and wooden construction pack that features 40 chucky and child-friendly pieces. With over 170 products to choose from in 2018, there’s something for everyone.

Tel: 01707 289289 www.jumbo.eu Stand E46

Tel: 08454 591818 www.zimplikids.com Stand Gallery 144

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WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2018 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair SMART TOYS AND GAMES Smart Toys and Games is expanding the top-selling SmartMax My First collection at Toy Fair 2018.

For children as young as 12 months, this range allows little ones to safely discover the magic of magnetism.

The My First Farm animals set features four extra-large farm animals, which are soft to touch, easy to grab and connect using the signature magnetic bars. Little ones can ‘mix and match’ the farm animals to create weird and wonderful combinations. Best of all, like all SmartMax products, all parts are 100% compatible with all other sets.

Tel: 01903 885669 www.smartgames.eu Stand F36

K-PLAY INTERNATIONAL

VTECH The VTech PJ Masks Super Catboy learning watch is a great wearable gadget for children. Not only will this watch show children the time, there is an alarm, a timer and stopwatch functions. There are also four built-in games to introduce and reinforce the learning of numbers, shapes, counting and basic addition as they go into the night to save the day with Catboy, Owlette and Gekko! Watch includes nine interchangeable digital clock faces and a super cool glowing amulet design.

Tel: 01235 555545 www.vtech.co.uk Stand Gallery 500

Developed to overcome the challenge of giving infants medicine via syringe, Marvin & Molly are colourful dispensing figures designed to distract baby - making the experience that bit less scary. Marvin & Molly are certified EN17 safe and fit all syringe sizes. New to the UK, now accepting pre-orders.

Tel: 01469 640460 www.k-play.uk Stand 420 & 315

SAMBRO Sambro returns to Toy Fair with exciting new ranges for preschoolers with some of the UK’s hottest licenses including Sesame Street, Paw Patrol and Disney Princesses.

As well as arts and crafts products to keep little hands and minds entertained, Sambro is delighted to bring back Tickle Me Elmo as part of its plush range. Set to delight a new generation of fans, Tickle Me Elmo is just one of the exciting products in the new Sesame Street range from Sambro. In addition, Sambro also has a wealth of backpacks and apparel available that allow retailers to capitalise fully on popular licenses offering complete ranges at multiple price points.

Tel: 0845 8739380 www.sambro.co.uk Stand Gallery 400

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WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2018 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair BIGJIGS TOYS The Safari Train is departing on a Bigjigs safari adventure. This 38 piece set includes high-quality wooden tracks, a safari engine with two carriages, wild animals including an elephant, zebra and monkey, signage, trees and more. Other accessories are available to expand this set. Train play encourages creative and narrative thinking, imagination and coordination, develops gross and fine motor skills, and encourages problem solving. Most other major wooden railway brands are compatible with Bigjigs Rail. The set is made from high quality, responsibly sourced materials and conforms to current European safety standards.

Tel: 01303 250400 www.bigjigstoys.co.uk Stand H39

SKIP HOP

EDUK8 WORLDWIDE

New to Skip Hop’s award-winning Explore & More collection is the Jumpscape fold-away jumper. Its innovative Cloud Bounce Counter tracks baby’s jumps and rewards them with lights, music and applause at 100-jump milestones.

Then, when playtime is over, just fold it flat for fuss-free storage and transport.

Tel: 01582 434250 www.skiphop.co.uk Stand F66

Eduk8 Worldwide is pleased to launch its new Eduk8 n Play range for 2018. New at the show it will have two new dinosaur and mermaid designs added to its successful All Weather Scratch Resistant Playmats. The playmats have a cushioned backing, are durable and totally portable, wipeclean, rollup and secure with the attached ribbon.

Tel: 01434 672336 www.eduk8wordlwide.co.uk Stand F1

MAX MINDPOWER Max Mindpower is a product that promotes well being through play. Max is a plush toy bear that plays four guided mindfulness meditations and breathes along.

Max also has a rhyming book series that features 30 common emotions and through storytelling show children how to introduce mindfulness in everyday situations.

Tel: +353 872234097 www.max-mindpower.com Stand GH29

TOMY TOMY is playing to win at Toy Fair London as it works towards another exciting year building its portfolio of global licenses and heritage brands for the preschool market. It will showcase popular collections, including infant development toys from Lamaze, toddler toys from Toomies and farming hero Johnny Tractor, arts and crafts from Aquadoodle, preschool games and super soft friends from Molang.

Tel: 01932 338630 www.uk.tomy.com Stand Gallery 520

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Mission PAW Mission CRUISER

Products sold separately

Mission PAW VEHICLE AND PUP

Mission PAW MINI VEHICLES

Compatible with Mission Cruiser

Mission PAW ACTION PACK PUPS

©2018 Spin Master PAW Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2018 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair HOLIBOB BEAR No more “What are we doing today?!” - Holibob Bear provides a fun and interactive way for children to lean what they’ll be doing each day.

It comes with a suitcase and a range of activity cards to help reveal what parents have planned and they can document the fun with stickers in the Pawsport, encouraging writing skills. They can also add incentives for good behavior, such as the “your choice” card or “golden ticket”.

Tel: 07795 833938 www.holibobbear.com Stand GH8

SPIN MASTER

MILLY&FLYNN

New for A/W 2018 is a range of toys to support the hit new preschool animation series on Nick Jnr, Rusty Rivets, created by Spin Master Entertainment. If you can dream it, you can build it with Rusty Rivets! The Rusty Rivets Build Me Rivet system allows kids to design, build, and create just like their favourite characters, Rusty, Ruby and Botasaur.

Tel: 01628 535000 www.spinmaster.com Stand E131

Milly&Flynn is delighted to announce the launch of an exclusive range of gifts featuring the much-loved Gruffalo and other forest creatures.

The irresistible collection includes snap cards, a snakes and ladders game and a puzzle that comes with a set of little wooden play characters.

A height chart, dining set and money box complete this selection of fantastically appealing Gruffalo gifts.

Tel: 01242 241765 www.millyandflynn.com Stand B115

JUMINI Jumini is thrilled to be attending Toy Fair for the very first time this year, following a successful brand launch in September 2016. Its range of sensibly priced, beautifully finished wooden toys has grown enormously since then and its now excited to be able to share its licenced Mr Men Little Miss collection. This collection will be available to order at the show for immediate delivery. Alongside the Mr Men collection, it has also added to its existing jumini range with some fantastic foldaway toys – a fire station, a police station and a unicorn castle.

Tel: 01908 969969 www.jumini.net Stand GH25/26

BILDY Bildy Megaboards is a construction kit for kids age three plus to build and play inside lots of different structures, such as a playhouse, car, tunnel and castle. It’s easy to construct and just as easy to take down again to build into something else, or put away into its box.

Tel: 07850 005002 www.bildy.co.uk Stand GH46

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T H E TOY FA I R 2018

The Toy Fair 2018 Exhibitor List COMPANY NAME

COMPANY NAME

1 Two Kids GH54 8th Wonder G110 A .B.Gee of Ripley B40 A Girl for All Time GH11 Aardvark Swift Recruitment GH10 Accentuate Games G65 Added Smile GH9 Alphabet Pie GH59 Amerang Gallery 215 The Articulate Gallery GH57 Asmodee UK E109 Asobi Gallery 124 AugmentifyIt GH30 Aurora World D35 Bandai Gallery 600 Battlefront Miniatures Europes D98 Bertoy G46 Big Potato Games H46 Bigjigs Toys H39 Bildy GH46 BinaryBots Gallery 635 Bladez Toyz Gallery 123 Brainstorm E79 Brixies GH79 BTHA Exhibiting Members Lounge Gallery 205 Bureau Veritas GH36 Cartamundi H1 Casdon E30 Chameleon Kidz GH51 Character Options E119 Cheatwell Games F20 Chemtrac GH1 Clarendon Games F115 Clementoni Spa Gallery 140 Click Distribution Gallery 120 Click Europe Ltd Gallery 640 Cobi UK G101 Coiledspring Games E35 Creative Double Star GH18 D’arpeje Gallery 190 David Westnedge F44 Depesche UK H50 DGL Group G135 Djeco F90 DKL Marketing E66 Dracco F100 EasyRead Time Teacher GH5 Educational Advantage Gallery 149 EduK8 Worldwide F1 The Elf on the Shelf GH16 Engino.net Gallery 144 Epoch Making Toys B130

Eurofins Fandn International Fiesta Crafts Flair Leisure Products Folkmanis Forever Collectibles Funko (was Underground Toys) Funrise Galt Toys Games Workshop Geomag Getretro.co.uk Gibsons Global Industry BV Global Opportunites Golden Bear Products Great Gizmos Great Pretenders Green Bean Collection Green Board Games Green Elephant Trading H Grossman Halilit Hang Wing Plastic Industry Hasbro Headu HEO Holibob Bear Hornby Hornit House of Marbles IMC Toys Indigo Jamm Infantino Bkids Insect Lore Interplay Intertek Jazwares Jetson Electric John Adams Leisure John Crane Jumbo Games Jumini Juratoys JWS Europe K-Play K-Play K’Nex Kapla KD UK Keak Japan Co. Keak Rungrueang Co.

GH23 GH39 D2 E39 H36 GH13 E130 G90 E9 Gallery 198 Gallery 501 GH62 E40 F25 B80 E69 G20 B75 B99 E15 GH42 E49 E90 GH6 Gallery Suite Gallery 648 F101 GH8 B20 Gallery 122 F40 E129 H40 Gallery 310 G30 G10 G66 B100 Gallery 155 G100 E20 E46 GH26 B121 B96 Gallery 420 Gallery 315 Gallery 510 Gallery 143 Gallery 630 GH34 GH33 PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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The Toy Fair 2018 Exhibitor List (continued) COMPANY NAME Keel Toys Keycraft Global Kidicraft Kidkraft Kids@Play KidsOut Theo Klein Kooshi Le Toy Van Learning Resources Legler OHG small foot copany Lexibook Lottie Dolls (Arklu) Lucky Voice Magformers UK Marbel Mardles - Augmented Reality for Kids!

Marvin’s Magic Max Mindpower Melissa & Doug Melissa & Doug Micro Scooters Mightymast Leisure Milly&Flynn/GingerFox Mojo Nation Mookie Toys MTW - Thinkway MURO MV Sports & Leisure The NPD Group Orchard Toys OTL Technologies Oxford Diecast Padgett Bros PAGL Papo Paul Lamond Games Playmags Playmobil Playpress Toys Plum Products Posh Paws Progressive Preschool Pursuit NHA Push it Games Rainbow Designs Rainbow Eco Products Ravensburger Re:Creation Revell The Sales Partnership Sambro Savvy Games Schleich Simba Smoby Simbrix - Connect & Wow Sinco Toys SJD Games Skip Hop Smart SnapDragon Monitoring Snazaroo Spin Master Toys

COMPANY NAME B60 F46 H30 F50 Gallery 180 Gallery 152 B25 GH68 E10 D36 F110 B18 F16 Gallery 145 Gallery 540 B50 Gallery 108 H65 GH29 D11 D20 B45 Gallery 174 B115 GH48 E149 Gallery 105 GH28 B30 Gallery 146 B12 GH70 Gallery 195 E16 GH3 Gallery 128 E50 G40 Gallery 210 GH69 C50 B90 GH31 GH32 GH24 E120 GH49 E140 E125 Gallery 110 E21 Gallery 400 GH4 Gallery 100 E135 GH45 Gallery 162 Gallery 175 F66 F36 Gallery 505 B150 E131

Spiral Game Splendiferous Marketing Star Images Stems Stepping Stones Sure Treasure International Tactic Games Taizhou Florish Leisure Tarema/Red Robin Toys Tasma Products Teddybots Thames and Kosmos The Happy Puzzle Company The MiniMaster Sports Company The Toy Project Think Distribution Think Geek Thought Machine Titan Merchandise TKC Sales Tobar Tomy Toy Retailers Association Toy World Toymaster Members Lounge ToyNews Toys n Playthings Toyzers World Tractor Ted Trido Turner Media Innovations Lounge TUV Rheinland Ty UK Ugears Mechanical Models UL VS University Games Vivid Toy Group Vtech Electronics West Design Products Where is Moldova / About Time Wicked Vision Wild Card Games Wild Science Wilton Bradley Wind Designs Ltd Winning Moves Wow Toys Xiamen Chituo Imp & Expo.

Zimpli Kids Chaoan Hengsheng Industrial Guangdong Bana Toys Shantou Shengying Plastic Toys Ningbo Jianbei Smardo International Trading Shangtou Chenghai Hanye Toys Factory Shantou Chenghai Senbao Toys Yong Tai Plastic Toy Tai Xing Yuan Trading Shantou MZ Model Co Shantou Pengrui Electronic Tehnology Shantou City Bld Toys Industrial Shantou Zhencheng Toys Factory Yong Sheng Jia Plastic Chemical

GH71 GH72 B22 GH50 GH15 B98 D109 GH78 G25 B56 GH67 F15 Gallery 148 GH58 GH20 Gallery 147 Gallery 202 Gallery 200 C42 E99 Gallery 305 Gallery 520 Gallery 150 GH37 London Room E2 E1 Gallery 645 GH2 GH44 Gallery 130 Gallery 218 Gallery 119 GH41 B49 F10 B70 Gallery 500 C45 Gallery 165 E100 H20 Gallery 185 E89 H52 E115 G15 GH65 B35 B65 G115 B78 B82 F42 G125 B95 B85 H44 H42 GH73 GH21 G120

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UK Distributor to some of the world’s most unique children’s brands

Sale or Return

£200 Min Order On-Line Ordering

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orders@potwellstrading.co.uk / Tel: 0845 653 1493

07/01/2018 13:57

TA LKI N G TO. . .

S N A P DRAG ON Inset: Fakes can be a dangerous business.

FIGHTING

The Fakes “ R achel first came face-to-face with counterfeiting some years ago, when looking to protect her own preschool product. Rachel had invented the Totseat, a portable fabric highchair.

Unfortunately the popular Totseat was an easy target for unscrupulous counterfeiters who soon targeted the the washable, squashable highchair.

“I was so appalled to see what looked like originals online and could not bear the thought of customers receiving shoddy knock-offs of the product I had worked hard to design and manufacture to the highest standards,” said Rachel.

As proactive, creative industries, the toy and nursery trades can be rich pickings for counterfeiters looking to copy the latest clever ideas and stylish solutions. So what’s a small business to do? PPE spoke to Rachel Jones, founder and CEO of SnapDragon, to find out more about the affordable IP protection.

Being aware of infringements is so important. Search regularly and often, for ‘fakes’ and ‘cheap’ versions of your brand. Search in languages other than English. Use Google Translate but don’t just look on Google.

Awareness of the problem is a better starting point than being an ostrich.

”

“As a small business, I simply couldn’t afford the high-powered IP (intellectual property) lawyers and sophisticated services used by the luxury brands to combat counterfeits online.

However, I was so furious that just standing by was not an option!”

The counterfeits were all available on Chinese platforms, so Rachel set to work learning what was required to fight back. It was a big list which would require a huge amount of determination, tenacity and persistence; taking down illegal sellers, raising awareness of the illegal sites and defending the Totseat brand, its customers and the business.

“I think the thing about creating a product or a brand and taking it to market is you are always aware that it might be copied in some form or other,” says Rachel. “And it was! Both by high street names and traditional counterfeiters.”

Rachel claims that Totseat’s trademarks and design rights were her best ever investments,  Above: Rachel Jones, founder and ceo of SnapDragon. Left: Online brand protection is key for award-winning products such as the Totseat.

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PreschoolNews Advert 165 x 245_Layout 1 04/01/2018 16:20 Page 1

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PreschoolNews.net is the new online PreschoolNews.net thepreschool new online resource foristhe product and retail resource forsector. the preschool product and From the publishers ofretail Progressive sector. FromPreschool the publishers of Progressive Magazine and the organisers of Preschool Magazine and the organisers of this the Progressive Preschool Awards, the Progressive Preschool Awards, this new website and e-newsflash portal will new website and e-newsflash portal will views, and provide the very latest news, provide theanalysis very latest news, views, and across the preschool product analysis across preschool andthe retail sector. product and retail sector.

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A modern, easy to navigate organisers of the Progressive Preschool Awards, this A modern, easy to navigate website will provide a central new website and e-newsflash portal will provide the very website willresource provide for a central the trade too, latestoffering news, views, and analysis across the preschool resource fornews, the trade too, offering in-depth articles,product an industry and retail sector. news, in-depth an industry jobsarticles, board, retail analysis, digital issues of jobs board, Progressive retail analysis, digital issues of with Launching an unrivalled subscriber base of website is Preschool, and much much more. email All advertising on the Progressive Preschool, and much much All advertising on the website 12,087 more. readers, a twice weekly newsflash will land directly duplicated to each isand every duplicated to each andgiving every in the inboxes of everyone in this fast-paced industry.

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TA LKI N G TO. . .

S N A P DRAG ON

 as they defended the brand and

the product internationally.

“We recommend registered trademarks as the single most costeffective thing to invest in,” she says.

“Trademarks are relatively inexpensive and will defend your brand in every country in which they are registered. Without a trademark it can be very difficult to defend your brand!”

It is important to remember that any SME is at risk, not just large luxury organisations.

Lesser-known brands are frequently targeted because the infringers believe smaller businesses are less likely to have the resources, skill and intellectual property to take action.

“We had registered with the European Union’s Application for Action team, which alert Customs Authorities throughout Europe to fake goods being traded across territories,” Rachel explains.

(Google EUIPO AFA to find out more about this free service.)

At that early stage, Rachel had never seen a fake Totseat so was unable to provide an image of one.

However, she stated that they never sent out boxes of mixed colours – so when one showed up at the Border, customs got in touch immediately.

“It’s like being burgled,” Rachel remembers. “The emotional, physical and financial turmoil is very difficult to explain. But it wasn’t pleasant.”

“The problem with entering the shady world of counterfeits is that one becomes exposed to what others in the industry are also battling, and at horrific scales – far far worse than anything we experienced,” she continues.

And so, after a few years of fighting her own battles and dishing out free advice (which wasn’t popular with the bank!), it made sense to launch SnapDragon.

“After defending Totseat, and numerous other baby brands over the following two years, we knew we had a solid strategy. We came armed with empathy, knowledge, experience and the knowledge of how to stretch IP budgets as far as possible!”

Now SnapDragon works with baby and toy entrepreneurs (among others) from right around the world, allowing SMEs to exert control over their infringed IP, just as a multi-national business does, but at a fraction of the cost.

“We monitor, Above: One of this report (in a number year’s most popular of languages) Christmas toys, Fingerlings have and remove been the victims infringing goods of counterfeiters from the world’s – as this ‘Finger Monkey’ shows. busiest online marketplaces, auction sites and social media,” outlines Rachel. The multi-national, multilingual team allows SnapDragon to navigate both language and cultural barriers when tracking down and removing the fake listings.

“We also work with global e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Alibaba to help them improve how they tackle this problem. We regularly meet and work with trade bodies, making sure

The Size Of The Problem Shockingly, online counterfeit retail sales have grown at an annual rate of 25% since the rise of e-commerce, meaning that the volume of fake goods sold online will soon surpass those sold by physical vendors.

The Office for the Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) estimates that the legitimate toy industry in Europe alone loses approximately £1.4 billion of revenue annually due to the presence of counterfeit games and toys in the EU marketplace. This corresponds to 12.3% of the sector’s sales.

The Damage Done ■ W hen a customer purchases a substandard product, not realising it is a fake, they assume the brand is at fault, leave bad reviews online and take repeat custom elsewhere. The threat of reputational damage must not be underestimated.

■ L oss of revenue is also a major challenge and can have devastating implications for companies with little flexible income.

■ T hese products put children’s wellbeing at risk as counterfeiters cut costs by using unregulated materials and toxic chemicals in dyes. These fakes are not designed to meet health and safety regulations and present a genuine danger.

we are kept up-to-date on the most recent developments,” Rachel continues. “We live and breathe the industry and make sure we are always ahead of the game.”

During the last year, for one brand alone, SnapDragon identified and removed more than 180 sellers infringing the brand’s IP rights as well as over 600 links to more than a million counterfeit items from online marketplaces and social media sites around the world.

“We live and breathe this industry and work with all the major platforms, both technologically and personally, on an ongoing basis,” explains Rachel.

“We use proprietary software to monitor, report and remove infringing goods from the world’s 100 most visited online marketplaces, auction sites and social media sites. We also give as much free advice as we can at shows such as the Toy Fair, and are always happy to share our experiences of what works and what doesn’t.”

SnapDragon takes a results-orientated approach and offers a range of services to suit every budget, from online monitoring to a full offering which includes a takedown service. “We work closely with every brand to identify priorities and to protect reputations, revenues and customers – and would urge anyone worried about fakes to get in touch.

We may breathe fire but underneath we’re a bunch of passionate, friendly, knowledgeable experts dying to help!”

Get in touch with the SnapDragon team at www.snapdragon-ip.com to find out how they can help you.

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THE MULTI BAFTA AWARD-WINNING

Over 100,000 fans on Facebook

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New category launches in 2018

2017 BAFTA Award for ‘We Love Animals’ App

Series 3 has been greenlit

HEY DUGGEE™ and character logos™ & © Studio AKA Ltd 2014. Licensed by BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC logo ™ & © BBC 1996.

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That’s not my....

The That’s not my.. books from Usborne are aimed at babies and young pre-schoolers The series features over 50 books and is a gifting favourite for new-borns as their first book Over 5m books sold in the UK alone UK sales worth £25m+ Over 20 million books sold worldwide Author Fiona Watt is the 8th biggest selling Children’s author in the UK since BookScan UK records began That’s Not My Unicorn has sold over 92k copies since its publication in July reaching the Sunday Times Top 5 Children’s Bestsellers Chart In Nov 2017 That’s Not My Reindeer entered the preschool charts at Number 9 Mothercare range, including baby grows, pyjama sets and booties launching in SS18 www.usborne.com

2018 © Usborne Publishing Ltd.

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04/01/2018 16:10

P RES CH OOL LI CEN S I N G FOCU S Inset: Teletubbies has seen good year on year growth, says DHX Brands.

Brand AND DELIVER

T

he licensed preschool sector saw a number of stand out successes in 2017. From evergreen classics like Peppa Pig, Thomas & Friends and Winnie the Pooh; new favourites making their mark including PJ Masks and Hey Duggee; publishing classics like The Gruffalo and The Snowman; and ambitious new launches such as Nella the Princess Knight; through to simple white rabbits (step forward Miffy) – all seemed to be firing on all cylinders, commanding attention from both consumers and retailers.

All of this means that the sector enters 2018 in pretty rude health and perhaps more diverse than ever.

“Two or three brands have recently dominated the preschool market,”

Below: The BAFTA winning Hey Duggee is a top performer on Cbeebies and a growing force in a number of other markets.

It remains one of the most competitive sectors for licensed properties, but the preschool category is thriving with retailers and consumers practically spoilt for choice. From big TV hits through to classic publishing properties and ambitious newcomers making their mark, 2018 is shaping up to be another bumper year. PPS talks to some of the major players.

Left: Peppa Pig and PJ Masks will continue to drive the eOne slate in 2018.

begins Jason Easy, head of licensing at BBC Worldwide.

“Last year, however, we began to see more brands on shelf as consumers begin to crave the new. The preschool environment remains very competitive – offering a distinct point of difference is essential.”

Jason believes that Hey Duggee certainly offers something different to consumers – and this is backed up with two BAFTA awards and a top performing slot on CBeebies.

BBC Worldwide has been working with UK master toy partner Golden Bear for a couple of years now, supported by TDP, Aykroyds, Blues, VMC, William Lamb, Blue Sky, Trademark, Roy Lowe & Sons, Kinnerton, DNC and Dreamtex.

2018 is all about building on the existing success,

explains Jason: “We’re expanding on the fantastic nightwear, essentials and daywear ranges and extending our toy distribution is a focus. With some fantastic retail support and events planned, 2018 will no doubt be another great year for Duggee.”

Focus will also be given to the growth of Go Jetters this year, with the brand rolling out into several new product categories. TV Mania, Aykroyds and TDP will be launching apparel, DNC is expanding its dineware and VMC will be adding dress-up and accessories.

In addition, Mr Tumble Something Special will be looking for further growth in the toy space with Golden Bear, while newly appointed partners include Princes Food and Trends UK. Penguin Ventures, meanwhile, is keen to build on the Elmer brand, which it represents for Andersen Press on  PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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P RES CH OOL LI CEN S I N G FOCU S

Trend Spotting As with any licensed category, preschool thrives on innovation, so what are the trends we should be looking out for in 2018?

“I believe the key to success lies with product innovation,” says BBC Worldwide’s Jason Easy. “Having product on shelf that stands out with kids and parents is the best way to cut through a crowded market.” eOne’s Andrew Carley believes that SVOD platforms will become increasingly important in helping to cement a property, although traditional TV still underpins preschool. “The key will be creating and developing an integrated offering that pulls together TV, digital and traditional marketing,” he says. “The days of simply assuming a major broadcast platform is enough to drive a licensing programme are long gone.”

Penguin Ventures’ Susan Bolsover agrees that there has been a shift away from traditional forms of media consumption by families who are seeking their entertainment across a range of new platforms, particularly SVOD and on-demand services.

She says: “This puts the end-user or viewer at the heart of the business, meaning that consumers are now driving decisions around content creation. It also means that the window of opportunity from fans initially engaging with a brand to making a purchase is becoming much shorter.”

“This has been most noticeable across adult fan-based brands and we see similar trends emerging in the preschool space, which is heavily influenced by media driven properties.”

 non-apparel. “We’re really excited by

the opportunity to take the brand and widen its footprint in the preschool area both in the UK and other key overseas territories,” Susan Bolsover, director of licensing and consumer products at Penguin Ventures, tells PPS. Key licensees for the property include Rainbow Designs which has a newly developed toy range, plus melamine, puzzles and stationery from Petit Jour.

On top of this, a new style guide has been developed for Spot and Penguin Ventures sees this as a key opportunity to refresh the brand, beginning with apparel from Paul Dennicci launching into Sainsbury’s in spring/summer 2018. There will also be a new range of publishing from Puffin.

Peter Rabbit remains a key focus, of course, while The Snowman will be marking 40 years in 2018. “The Snowman is an important cross generational property and there is a very strong preschool element, particularly with the Snowdog character,” Susan continues.

“We’ve seen some great success already with Snowdog-focused product and the infant and baby range My First

entering the preschool sector.”

Another classic property, Miffy continues to thrive in the nursery and preschool market. “Retail space for preschool is characterised by strong competition from entertainment properties which consistently secure large and prominent retail areas,” says Alicia Davenport, licensing director at DRi Licensing. “However, there remains a strong demand in the baby,

toddler and early preschool sectors for classic and traditional brands that are steeped in heritage and have stood the test of time. This is where Miffy flourishes and where there is a great opportunity for evergreen brands.”

Another retail shelf staple, Thomas & Friends will be a key focus for Mattel in 2018, with a number of changes in store. As well as changes to the episodic series, there will be the release of the Big World, Big Adventure film, while new products will include additions to the Adventures, TrackMaster, Minis, Wood and My First segments.

Meanwhile, Fisher-Price will continue to build brand affinity with mums with its Let Kids Be Kids campaign. Wendy Hill, brand activation director at Mattel, explains: “It’s also about demonstrating how Fisher-Price offers different approaches to learning for different personalities, with toys to benefit all sorts of children across babygear, newborn, infant and preschool.”

One brand on the fast track to becoming a true classic is Peppa Pig. The theatrical release of Peppa Pig My First Cinema Experience grossed £3.6 million at the UK box office and generated a significant rise in toy sales in 2017. This year, the brand is likely to get a boost from the opening of the new extension at Peppa Pig World in spring, as well as the continued launch of new episodes throughout the year.

Meanwhile, PJ Masks was something 

Right: Vivid will be launching Nella the Princess Knight product this year. Below: Miffy continues to thrive in the nursery and preschool market.

Below right: New Clangers nursery product is a focus for Coolabi in 2018.



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P RES CH OOL LI CEN S I N G FOCU S

A Roaring Success The Gruffalo will be marking its 20th anniversary in 2019 and the Magic Light Pictures’ brand is likely to have been further buoyed by a successful 2017.

Last year saw the launch of the world’s first Gruffalo Theme Park attraction at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, while the BAFTA nominated Gruffalo Spotter App reached number one in the App Store and attracted two million visitors to Forestry Commission sites.

Further success has come from licensee Brand of Brothers which launched Gruffalo ‘Iced Tusks’ into Morrisons, Ocado and Asda. In addition, long-term licensee Aurora World diversified its category, launching nursery plush under The Gruffalo Baby banner in the summer.

Both The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child were also part of a Magic Light BBC1 takeover during Christmas, with the programmes among seven shown on the channel over the festive period.

 of a breakthrough licensing hit last

year, with new partners set to launch product in 2018 and the launch of series two in spring. These will introduce new characters and locations that will expand the PJ Masks universe.

Andrew Carley, head of global licensing at eOne, says: “While the preschool market is very competitive, it is also very buoyant with a number of relatively new shows gaining significant and sustained momentum.

The key to success is managing expectations and driving design, development and innovation across content, product and marketing.”

For Coolabi, the impressive performance of Clangers to date has put the brand in a strong

position heading into 2018.

“Clangers has an incredibly strong heritage,” says Michael Dee, director of content at Coolabi. “We have big plans for both the nursery and nostalgia markets to announce for 2018. These are all the start of a drive to capitalise on the Clangers’ 50th anniversary in 2019.”

Coolabi has also opened up a number of conversations on Poppy Cat, following its successful premiere on Channel 5’s Milkshake last year. “I think all brand owners face the same challenge,” Michael continues. “It’s a crowded market and retail has finite shelf space. We have to continue to evolve, innovate, meet and exceed customer expectations.”

Meanwhile, Nickelodeon currently boasts its widest ever preschool range. Nella the Princess Knight and Rusty Rivets both enjoyed successful debuts in 2017, while PAW Patrol, Shimmer and Shine and Blaze and the Monster Machines continued to enthral audiences.

Marianne James, vp commercial partnerships, consumer products and experiences UK and Ireland, says: “Preschool shows that have strong storytelling and distinct and unique attributes will always shine through.”

Left and above: Big plans are afoot for both Elmer and The Snowman in 2018.

Above: The Thomas & Friends franchise is a big focus for Mattel this year.

For DHX Brands, In the Night Garden, Teletubbies and Twirlywoos are part of a new initiative called First Steppers (see feature on page 95). “We will be launching new toy lines across all three ranges and as part of First Steppers, we are really focused on ensuring that all our products are age appropriate and meet the developmental needs of our core audience,” says Tom Roe, commercial director at DHX Brands.

“The retail landscape is as tough as it’s ever been, which is why we feel strongly that our First Steppers initiative is really important.”

In addition to this, DHX has also been busy forging mutually beneficial partnerships with charities and organisations such as the RSPB, RHS, NSPCC, Barnardo’s and National Day Nurseries Association, all of which have helped it to extend brand engagement in new areas and increase the trust parents have for its brands.

It seems that retailers – and consumers – have never been more spoilt for choice when it comes to triple-A preschool licences.

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N U REMB ERG TOY FA I R FOCU S

EUROPEAN UNION

It’s the world’s largest toy fair and numerous UK companies with preschool product will be making the trip to this year’s Spielwarenmesse – which takes place in Nuremberg from 31 January to 4 February. From newcomers in the UK Pavilion through to experienced trade fair veterans with permanent stand space, the show is ready to welcome everyone, as PPS discovers.

L

ast year saw Spielwarenmesse further increase its standing as the world’s biggest and most important toy fair.

The show attracted 2,871 exhibitors from 63 countries and more than 73,000 retailers from 123 countries. The exhibitors at Spielwarenmesse fill an area of 170,000 m² with their diverse product ideas – and visitors flock from across the world to come and see them. Among the aisles this year will be a bumper crop of new preschool line, as Spielwarenmesse’s Scarlett Wisotzki explains.

“The product groups evolve differently depending on the strength and performance of each market,” she tells PPS. “Baby and infant articles have been doing well in recent years, and are attracting ever more attention, fuelled not least by the climbing birth rates.

“We have dedicated a space of 10,000 m² to this product group in Halls 2 and 3; this is where the majority of suppliers from this segment are located along with a growing number of exhibitors in adjacent areas.”

Left: HTI will offer a mix of licensed and own brand lines.

The UK Pavilion, too, is looking set for another strong year. Stuart Whitehill, account director at Overseas Fairs, says that the pavilion sold out in record time and that the most will certainly be made of the available space. There are 30 UK exhibitors with newcomers in 2018 including Little Brian, Easy Karaoke, Chameleon Art Products and Early Years Resources.  Right: Lanka Kade’s new dinosaur line is set to be a ‘roaring’ success.

PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: LANKA KADE “Nuremberg presents us with the perfect opportunity to launch our new 2018 range to the global market,” says Millie Sibley, marketing and sales at Lanka Kade.

“Nuremberg is the biggest toy fair in the world, attracting visitors from all over the globe – and for this reason we believe there is no

better show to meet new overseas buyers. Many existing customers will be in attendance and will get the first look at new ranges, while evenings allow us to catch up with our global partners over a meal with nice German beer.”

Lanka Kade’s new products include a range of Dinosaur toys

including individual stacking animals and a variety of puzzles.

New toy ranges include pull alongs, mini toy cars and jigsaw puzzles.

In addition, following on from a successful 2017, the company will also be introducing new ranges to its ten months plus category.

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NUREMBERG TOY FAIR HALL 3 STAND E06

www.manhattantoy.com Email: infoeurope@manhattantoy.com Tel: +44 (0) 208 944 3160

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N U REMB ERG TOY FA I R FOCU S Left: Eduk8 Worldwide will be launching the Eduk8 in Play range Below: TTS Group’s award winning floor robots are sure to be a hit.

Above: Orange Tree Toys has a new educational/developmental range based on its Crocodile character.

Above right: Baby and infant articles have been doing well at the show in recent years. Right: The UK Pavilion is a popular fixture in Hall 12.0.



For Christine Lawson, md of Eduk8 Worldwide, the show is the company’s European show window.

“It gives us the opportunity not only to meet existing customers, but also to attract new business,” she says.

“Each year, we are pleased to be able to offer something new and different, and this year will be showcasing lots of new and exclusive products.”

The company will be launching its new Eduk8 n Play range with a number of products that are designed to support STEM and STEAM learning with preschool children.

Other new lines will include Trace and Learn board, a magnetic board for writing and drawing, as well as new designs to its Activity Play Mats.

For TTS Group, Nuremberg gives it the chance to showcase over 30 resources that are new for 2018. One example is the mini illuminated writing boards which feature slots for tracing card inserts which can help with pre-writing, numeracy and literacy skills. In addition, the company also has Maths Measuring Bottles to help add extra engagement to maths activities.

The company’s Polly Astill says: “There’s no other international show

PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: LITTLE CONCEPTS “We find Nuremberg one of the highlights of the year,” says Phil Nelson, co-founder of Little Concepts. “Retailers can see our brands, meet the design teams and get to know the brands inside out. We absolutely love welcoming retailers on to our brand’s stands at the show.”

Little Concepts distributes five brands in the UK: PlanToys, Moulk, Scribble Down, Makii and Makedo, with all having a presence at Nuremberg in some capacity.

The company has over 50 new products launching in 2018 and preschool

is a very strong category, says Phil. Sustainable toy brand PlanToys has over 20 new products launching in the preschool sector including additions to the pastel range. The new Beeping Ball encourages babies to crawl and push the buttons to make the sound.

Meanwhile, the Moluk brand has two new signature items launching at Nuremberg – the Boi and the Oogifant, which is all you need to turn everyday items into elephants.

Left: Oogifant is a new addition to the Moluk brand range.

that we attend that exposes us to so many visitors from such a wide range of countries.”

HTI – which has a permanent stand at the show - will be showcasing a mix of licensed product and in-house brands, as well as its Baby Born 11 in 1 Pram. Its newly secured partnership with PJ Masks, alongside Peppa Pig, includes a range of preschool toys. Lines include die-cast hero vehicles, track sets and character cases for PJ Masks, plus a Car Toaster and Shape Sorter for Peppa Pig. “Putting our products in the spotlight is important to us and we are excited to showcase our new and refreshed lines across our key categories, and preview our exclusive ranges that HTI has invested significantly towards,” says Anthony Grimaud, vp of global sales at HTI. As well as its core portfolio of products, Orange Tree Toys has a number of new designs being launched for spring/ summer 2018 which will be shown for the first time at Nuremberg. The company has developed a new educational/ developmental-based range featuring its iconic Crocodile character. “The character is hugely popular because it ticks all the boxes for everyone,” says head of UK sales, Mike Hartshorn. “It is bright and colourful so looks great on shelf; it’s gender-neutral and is also a great combination of fun and educational. The new range taps perfectly into these characteristics and also offers some great new innovative designs.”

Mike says that the Nuremberg show is becoming more and more important to the company. “We see it as a great platform where we can get our brand and products in front of a truly international audience,” he says, “attracting both new retail customers from across Europe, as well as some potential new distribution partners.”

For those toy companies looking to truly broaden their international reach, then Spielwarenmesse is certainly the place to do it. In fact the only tricky thing for visitors will be deciding what to see first!

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N U REMB ERG S EMI N A R S

SHOW EDUCATION

Integrated into the TrendGallery in Hall 3A, the Toy Business Forum 2018 offers interested toy professionals compact, free presentations. Current market developments from the toy industry and the retailing world, as well as the latest trends in the areas of marketing, sales and licences will be presented by top-class international speakers during the show.

WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY 2018

What’s next? Insights from trend experts 1.00pm- 1.45pm What’s next in toys, games and kids technology?

Reyne Rice, Toy Trends, New York/USA

1.45pm – 2.15pm The future of buying: Retail trends in 2025

Mark Sievers, KPMG AG, Hamburg/Germany

2.15pm-2.45pm The world to come and the future of play

1.45pm-2.30pm The retail trade in digital times: Where are retailers online?

Dr Markus Preißner, IFH Institut für Handelsforschung GmbH, Cologne/Germany

2.30pm-3.00pm How brick and mortar masters digital Christian Prill, Factor Design GmbH & Co KG, Hamburg/Germany

3.00pm-3.30pm The TrendGallery 2018 trends

Richard Gottlieb, Global Toy Experts, New York/USA

Dr. Maria Costa, AIJU Technological Institute for Children’s & Leisure Research, Valencia/Spain

2.45pm-3.15pm Worldwide trends in licensing

FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2018

Charles Riotto, LIMA, New York/USA

3.15pm-3.45pm The TrendGallery 2018 trends

Dr. Maria Costa AIJU Technological Institute for Children’s & Leisure Research, Valencia/Spain

THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2018

Digital or dead? Will you survive the future?

1.00pm-1.45pm Your store as a multi-media experience

Bernd Albl, Umdasch Shopfitting Group GmbH, Amstetten/Austria

Multichannel and more –many roads lead to the customer

1.00pm-1.45pm Multi, cross and omni-channel retailing Prof. Hanna Schramm-Klein, University of Siegen/Germany

1.45pm-2.15pm Best Practice: The retailer, a wanderer between the worlds

Bodo Meyer, Spiel+Freizeit Nagel, Osnabrück/Germany

2.15pm-3.00pm Marketing 4.0 – Youtube beats TV, Facebook and the followers Ralf Wendland, Agentur Servicemeisterei, Heiningen/Germany

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www.wilberrytoys.com

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N U REMB ERG S EMI N A R S

3.00pm-3.30pm The TrendGallery 2018 Trends

3.30pm-4.00pm The TrendGallery 2018 trends

SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2018

SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2018

1.00pm-1.45pm Successful buying: optimising the range, the brand and the margin

1.00pm-1.45pm Marketing trends for toy retailers

Reyne Rice, Toy Trends, New York/USA

Toy Business Academy – buy right, sell successfully

Peter Hollo, Ph – International Consultants, Ottobeuren/Germany

1.45pm-2.15pm Best Practice: Buying smart in the toy trade Wolfgang Blatt, Urmel….richtig gutes Spielzeug, Mannheim/Germany

2.15pm-3.30pm Successful selling with emotional competence Gaby Marx, Beratung für Sortimentsstrategie, Hagen/Germany

Reyne Rice, Toy Trends, New York/USA

Marketing reloaded – innovative ideas and creative concepts

Prof. Harald Eichsteller, Stuttgart Media University, Stuttgart/Germany

1.45pm-2.15pm Online marketing: How to optimise your website

Stephan Sigloch, KlickPiloten GmbH, Stuttgart/Germany

2.15pm-3.00pm Shopfit for future: 10 rules for a showroom that sells

Stefan Suchanek, RaumKunst, Munich/Germany

3.00pm-3.30pm The TrendGallery 2018 trends Reyne Rice, ToyTrends, New York/USA

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C

M

Y

M

Y

Y

MY

K

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+44 (0) 1908 288 500 sales@amscan-uk.co.uk www.amscan.co.uk ©Amscan 2018, All rights reserved

03/01/2018 13:44

WHAT’S NEW NUREMBERG 2018 Products unveiling at this year’s Spielwarenmesse THE PUPPET COMPANY The Puppet Company will be presenting a brand new collection of 30 animal hand puppets. Made in new super soft fabrics at a very affordable price. It will also be showcasing its Wilberry range of soft toys which will be new for 2018. These include over 80 different designs made from fabulous fabrics and are available at a very competitive price.

Tel: +44 1462 446040 www.thepuppetcompany.com Hall 1 F-09

ORANGE TREE TOYS

GREEN BOARD GAMES

Orange Tree Toys will be showing new additions to its Peter Rabbit collection, as well as a brand new concept which has been developed around its Crocodile Alphabet Puzzle. It’s bright and colourful, it’s gender neutral and is also a great combination of fun and educational. The new range taps perfectly into these characteristics and also offers some great new innovative designs.

Tel: +44 1242 244500 www.orangetreetoys.com Hall 3 E-14

Green Board Games will be showcasing a number of new preschool product offerings in Nuremberg. It’ll be featuring two new BrainBox Spot the Difference games - Wildlife and Holidays, as well as some fantastic new lines from Fat Brain, Re-Cycle-Me and its Flights of Fancy range.

Tel: +44 1494 538999 www.greenboardgames.com Hall 12 Stand B-03-1

K-PLAY INTERNATIONAL K-Play International will be showcasing PlayMeal which was invented by a mum to introduce healthy eating to her child by encouraging them to finish their meal and discover a hidden surprise. Microwave proof and BPA-free, PlayMeal bowls are the smart way to reward healthy eating - not to mention a fun addition to any mealtime.

Tel: +44 1469 640460 www.k-play.co.uk Hall 3a Stand B-25

PRIMO TOYS Primo Toys will be showing its Cubetto playset along with a range of add-ons. Cubetto is the world’s first screenless coding toy of its kind for children ages three to six. The playset is made up of three separate elements: a friendly wooden robot, a tangible interface board, and 16 instruction blocks that make up a programming language children can touch. Along with these, activity storybooks and 1x1-metre-squared cloth maps help to inspire play.

Tel: +44 203 0967436 www.primotoys.com Hall 5 Stand A-87

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NEW

for 2018!

Toys for every kind of role play fun!

NEW

packaging for 2018!

See us at: UK Toy Fair: Tues 23rd Jan - Thurs 25th Jan (Stand E30) UK Spring Fair: Sun 4th Feb – Thurs 8th Feb (NEC Booth 5L76) Nurnberg Toy Fair: Weds 31st Jan - Sun 4th Feb (Hall 12, Stand C-04) Hong Kong Toy Fair: Mon 8th Jan - Thurs 11th Jan (Booth 1A-F32) New York Toy Fair: 17th Feb - 20th Feb (Booth 6070)

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Inventors of Fun & Play!

Casdon Ltd., Cornford Road, Blackpool, Lancs FY4 4QW Tel: +44 (0)1253 766411 Fax: +44 (0)1253 691486 Email: toys@casdon.co.uk www.casdon.com

05/01/2018 20:35

WHAT’S NEW NUREMBERG 2018 Products unveiling at this year’s Spielwarenmesse BRAINSTORM Brainstorm returns with gorgeous new products for preschoolers. The fairytale projector and nightlight and the animal projector and nightlight each feature 24 full-colour images that can be projected onto walls and ceilings and they also double up as a soothing nightlight. The Original Glow Stars Company range will also see new lines added including glow stars and fairies and glow stars and dinosaurs to decorate a toddler’s room.

Tel: +44 1200 445113 www.brainstormltd.co.uk Hall 12, Stand B-03-02

SINCO CREATIONS

RAINBOW DESIGNS

Sinco will be showcasing its new Disney sentimental plush range and a new special edition Mickey Mouse which has been created to celebrate the 90th Anniversary. In addition to this Sinco will present the first of its exciting Shaun the Sheep and Timmy Time range after signing the master toy license.

Tel: +44 161 7377464 www.sincocreations.com Hall 4, Stand E-23

The much-loved classic white bunny, Miffy, has an appeal that spans generations. Recently launched by Rainbow Designs, the Home of Classic Characters, the new Classic Miffy collection features the adored icon and popular preschool character as a series of plush toys in a style that portrays simplicity and innocence.

Tel: +44 1329 227300 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk Hall 1, Stand E-22

GALT TOYS Being introduced to Galt’s 2018 First Years range is Tummytime Ted. For babies from 0 months plus, Tummytime Ted is a soft friendly teddy with his picnic – an apple rattle, cake with squeaker and a crinkle sandwich for the all important tummy time play.

Ideal for home or travel and fully machine washable.

Tel: +44 161 4289111 www.galttoys.com Hall 4, E-51 F-50

ENGINO.NET The new STEM Qboidz set, based on the latest pedagogical principles of STEM, combines the awardwinning snap-fit connectivity of Engino system with the effortless building feature of stackable blocks. The set encourages preschool children to develop their cognitive, social and motor skills through fun and creative play.

Tel: +357 25821960 www.engino.com Hall 4, Stand F-06

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Fiesta Crafts Ltd - 121 Brooker Road, Waltham Abbey. EN9 1JH

www.fiestacrafts.co.uk

®

New

For Cot & buggy

New

Tel: 020 8804 0563 - sales@fiestacrafts.co.uk

See us at the shows:

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S P RI N G FA I R 2018 Inset: The NEC becomes a hive of activity when Spring Fair gets underway.

T he Pick Of T he

PRODUCT The sheer scale of Spring Fair – 14 sector-specific halls crammed with over 2,500 exhibitors – means that planning your trip in advance is essential.

Taking place from Sunday 3 – Thursday 8 February 2018, the show attracts buyers looking to place the key orders they hope will see them through the rest of the year. PPS takes a look at what will be on show...

A

s the single biggest retail trade show in the UK, Spring Fair is one of the most important buying events in the preschool calendar, offering retailers and buyers everything from toys and gifts to games and greetings.

More than 58,000 visitors will be welcomed through the doors of Birmingham’s NEC over the course of the five-day show, all on the lookout for the latest in cutting-edge design,

future trends and fresh new brands.

With mile after mile of aisles to navigate, it’s impossible to see everything that’s on offer and buyers needs to plan their visit carefully. While the gift and home market offers plenty of cross-category appeal, most preschool retailers will be starting their visit in Hall 5: Children’s Gifts and Toys. With over 100 exhibitors to choose from, there is plenty of opportunity to browse the latest trends in children’s play products, from wooden

puzzles and handcrafted traditional toys to the newest high-tech gadgets.

Traditionally, companies in the preschool sector keep innovations closely guarded until the new year, meaning that Spring Fair plays host to a number of brand new product launches and fresh new ranges.

One of those new ranges for 2018 will be Makii, a new creative kids brand for preschool distributor Little Concepts. “We are launching over 50 new lines in 2018, including two completely new brands,” says owner Phil Nelson. “Makii and Moluk are both new for us and we are really excitied to be launching them at Spring Fair.”

“Although we are in the ‘traditional’ sector, we still see trends appear and have really noticed the success of well-designed and quality products,” he continues. “Although consumers’ pockets

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Left: New creative kids brand Makii will be on the Little Concepts stand at Spring Fair.

Below: Apples to Pears will be unveiling this Jake the Snake Gift in a Tin for the first time. Right: Winnie the Pooh will be a major focus for Posh Paws in 2018.

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S P RI N G FA I R 2018

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are being squeezed, they still want to know they are buying quality product.”

Spring Fair is also a crucial show for Apples to Pears, according to managing director Clive Briscoe, who says that; “Spring Fair gives us the opportunity to speak to key industry influencers and buyers like no other fair can.”

“The fair coincides with a key time for us in terms of new product development and launches and it give us the best chance to showcase new lines and network with other industry experts.”

In addition to a number of new licensed lines with the Natural History Museum, new product from the company includes a Noah’s Ark Gift in a Tin which is perfect for preschoolers.

“Our focus on preschool will continue into 2018, “ says Clive, “and we have some exciting new interactive wooden lines to launch.”

For toy company Marbel, Spring Fair provides the perfect platform for exposure to the right audience. “For us it is all about getting the chance to show off all the amazing new products we have been working on for so long,” says sales manager Joe Rushworth. “Gaining reactions and thoughts on the new ranges from the people that matter most!”

Joe expects to see trends reflecting the increased demand for combining traditional wooden toys with a platform for learning and basic life skills and will be showcasing a range of new additions to Hape’s music range at the show.

“The fun miniature instruments have been designed to inspire preschoolers to play music for real,” he enthuses.

Also focusing on traditional play patterns is Orange Tree Toys, which will be presenting its latest collection of wooden toys and gifts at the show.

“Spring Fair is always a huge event for us,” says Mike Hartshorn, head of UK sales. “It is the perfect showcase for our full range of products and is a wonderful opportunity for our customers to see our products in person” “It is also a really important time for us to be able to speak to people and hear what they have to say, whether this is getting feedback on our products or gaining a stronger understanding of what retailers need and some of the difficulties that they are facing in today’s challenging market.”

Inset: Highlights from Hape’s new music range include this Flower Power guitar.

Mike believes that while traditional wooden toys featuring an educational or development element to them are still core in this category, licensing has become more important recently and he expects this to carry on into 2018. “The nature of Left: The Wilberry soft toy range from The Puppet Company features 40 new designs for 2018.

Below: A brand new concept featuring Orange Tree Toys’ iconic crocodile character.

for 2018 is Posh Paws, which will be highlighting its new product featuring the famous bear. “Winnie the Pooh will be a major focus for us in 2018 but we will also have other preschool favourites such as Lion Guard, Mickey Roadster Races and Tangled,” says group brand and marketing director Laura Bull.

“2017 was of course a big year for collectibles we expect 2018 to be the same. Showcasing our fantastic new range to a wide range of customers is our priority at Spring Fair, which gives us the opportunity to reach a diverse mix of new and existing customers.”

Straddling the line between gift and toy, puppets sit neatly alongside plush and span a whole range of retail categories.

According to The Puppet Company’s Peter Lockey, Spring Fair allows the company to show its ranges to key buyers

Hot Brands

the licence is obviously crucial,” he says, “it must be a good fit with the target market and be suitable for both the product and end user.”

Orange Tree Toys will be adding a number of innovative new lines to its Peter Rabbit concept and new Winnie the Pooh range as well as its own-branded collection.

Another company focusing on the popular Winnie the Pooh licence

“Spring Fair gives us the space to show that we offer an extremely diverse portfolio, covering all gift-giving occasions, with unique and quality products. We tend to focus on hot brands and we expect another fantastic year with Pusheen in 2018. Our Disney portfolio is also about new film releases and key anniversaries.

It is the 80th anniversary of the original Snow-White film in 2018 and all indicators tell us that Beauty and the Beast will continue to be a top seller.”

Helen Cottrill, director of marketing, Enesco

Right: New organic bamboo dinner sets from Enesco feature classic Princess designs such as SnowWhite, Cinderella and Rapunzel.

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From outdoor rides to softer sides

www.hippychick.com 01278 434440

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S P RI N G FA I R 2018

Education Matters “Spring Fair provides us with a great opportunity to showcase our full range and really engage retailers in how the games play, highlighting all the features and benefits of our incredible ranges.

We expect to see significant growth across educational games and toys in 2018; parental focus is increasing in terms of finding products that assist their children’s learning. There is also a drive to have more quality family time away from screens and technology.”

Karen Nunn, marketing, Green Board Games

“We’ve also got more dynamic new products on the horizon, which we will be introducing to the category throughout the year,” says Gemma.

According to Kat Whittingham, trade marketing manager at Signature Gifts, Spring Fair is an essential show for the online trader. “It’s a brilliant opportunity for us to introduce potential customers to our unique personalised products ‘in Right: Highlights from Usborne include this My First Xylophone Book, which comes with a real xylophone attached to the front.

Below: Unicorn-themed Zoo product from Skip Hop is expected to continue to be popular well into 2018.

Below right: A personalised Babar Welcomes You to the World newborn book from Signature Gifts.

Sticking with the book category, Boyd Denton, Usborne’s territory manager for Northern England, North Wales and Scotland, explained why the show is so important for the publisher.

“Spring Fair is always an excellent opportunity for us to present our new lines to existing and new customers,” he says. “We are primarily known as a book publisher, so it’s a great way for us to showcase the diverse range of products we publish, including jigsaws, activity books and craft kits.”

Boyd also expects the unicorn trend to continue through into 2018 and the

Above: New preschool lines from Green Board Games include Fat Brain’s Squigz, a range of Tobbles and Peek-a-doodle do as well as the My First Brainbox range.

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from both sectors. “The diverse buyers that attend Spring Fair are perfect for our products,” he says. “We intend to meet old and new buyers and listen to their feedback regarding our extensive ranges and showcase new puppets and toys.”

For the first time, The Puppet Company will be running two stands at the show, with one entirely dedicated to its new soft toy collection ‘Wilberry’, which offers over 200 designs at retailer-friendly prices, 40 of which are brand new for 2018.

Making a welcome return to Spring Fair after their debut show last year, Skip Hop is coming back bigger and better. “We found the show was a great platform to meet a wide range of both national and independent retailers,” explains UK marketing executive Gemma Stokes. “ This year, we will be able to fully demonstrate the breadth and depth of our growing product range.”

Best-known for its hugely popular Zoo range, Skip Hop will be focusing on launching two brand new characters who will feature across the entire Zoo range of backpacks, lunchies, straw bottles and Zootensils.

the flesh’,” she said. “And of course it’s always nice to see existing customers and build upon our current relationships!”

“We have noticed that books for newborns and toddlers have grown in popularity, as they are perfect gifts for christenings and birthdays,” she continues. “We firmly believe that 2018 will see that trend continue.”

As such, Signature Gifts will be showcasing a whole range of personalised preschool books at the 2018 show, many of them featuring traditional characters that have charmed and captivated children for generations, such as Babar the Elephant and Thomas the Tank Engine.

publisher has some exciting new unicorn titles in the pipeline, following the huge success of That’s not my unicorn...

“The coming year will also see some exciting new additions to several of our established series, including That’s not my..., Peep Inside and Magic Painting,” he continues. “Our main aim is to raise awareness of the Usborne brand and showcase our wide range of products. We hope that those attending Spring Fair are as excited about our products as we are!”

Retailers and buyers of all shapes and sizes will be decamping to Birmingham this February to make sure they are among the first to see exciting new product around, so whether you are an independent specialist or part of a national buying team – we’ll see you there!

Get Dressed Up “We will be showcasing an exciting variety of our latest ranges for 2018 across the costume, partyware and balloon categories. Our fancy dress offering includes wonderful new additions such as adorable baby styles and licensed Disney Baby character outfits as well as official The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Elmer the Elephant designs.

Charlotte Cox, marketing executive, Amscan

Right: All-in-one outfits from Amscan make cute gifts for little ones.

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SIGNATURE GIFTS

Licensed Gifts

VERY SPECIAL

YOU

and many more

THE COMIC COLLECTION

CREATED ESPECIALLY FOR ROBIN

FEATURING THE ORIGINAL COMIC ARTWORK FROM THE 1960s & 1970s

•

The widest range of personalised giftware available in the UK

•

Huge range of licenses allow us to produce the best giftware available

•

We design, manufacture and distribute all our products

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SEE US AT SPRING FAIR

HALL 4 STAND D60-D61 01582 464 809 @ signaturegifts www.signature-gifts.co.uk

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WHAT’S NEW SPRING FAIR 2018 What’s new at this year’s Spring Fair HIPPYCHICK

LE TOY VAN

One of Hippychick’s most popular toy brands, Happy Hopperz is undergoing a major new image change with the introduction of a brand new range. With new animals such as giraffes, a triceratops and even a unicorn as well as brand new colours in existing favourites, they are set to be a hit.

New products from Le Toy Van will include a unique baby walker in a soft cloud shape with 45 rubber wood blocks painted in delightful water stained rainbow colours. Part of the Petilou Collection, the Rainbow Cloud Walker encourages new walkers to stay on their feet. The sturdy wooden construction offers support to develop their confidence, help with balance and stability as little ones learn to walk.

The traditional wooden rainbow blocks are a classic and fun way to stimulate psychological and fine motor skills. It encourages shape recognition, develops hand-eye coordination and imagination.

Tel: 01278 434440 www.hippychick.com Stand 5L44

ORCHARD TOYS Orchard Toys’ new Look and Find activity puzzle range for ages three plus reinforces its core values of learning and fun. Covering key preschool topics including the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colours, each box contains two jigsaw puzzles – one learning puzzle and one fun scene to match to. After piecing together both the puzzles, children can use them together by matching the items shown on both for added play value and to reinforce learning.

Tel: 01953 423422 www.orchardtoys.com Stand 5K65

Tel: 0208 9792036 www.letoyvan.com Stand 5L25

Instant classics www.hippychick.com 01278 434440

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WHAT’S NEW SPRING FAIR 2018 What’s new at this year’s Spring Fair LANKA KADE

FIESTA CRAFTS

Lanka Kade is set to launch lots of new products in 2018, however the one its keen for the industry to see is the new wooden dinosaur set, which customers have been asking about for a while. It is also introducing brand new pull-alongs, mini toy cars and a variety of puzzles which are going to make this year very exciting.

Fiesta Crafts will be launching a new preschool activity toy called the Sort, Lace & Build, and also some new licensed Roald Dahl hand and finger puppets. Plus, it will have some brand new Stickabouts to show, and Stickabouts Games.

Tel: 01858 463850 www.lankakade.co.uk Stand 5K30

Tel: 0208 8040563 www.fiestacrafts.co.uk Stand 5M57

HTI HTI will be showcasing lines including the PJ Masks’ Rocket Blaster and Peppa Pigs’ Bubble Playset, which both allow hours of fun with these popular, current characters. Also on show will be its own-brand pocket money ranges Dream Creations and woodworks which are perfect solutions for preschoolers, featuring cute dolls and various puzzles.

Tel: 01253 778888 www.htigroup.co.uk Stand 5J10-K11

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Visit the Rubie’s Stand

Spring Fair, Hall 5, Stand F110-G111 T OU A !

Y E E D S STAN R U O

Š 2018 Spin Master PAW Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved. Paw Patrol and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Spin Master Ltd, Nickelodeon and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

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www.rubiesuk.com 03/01/2018 14:24

WHAT’S NEW SPRING FAIR 2018 What’s new at this year’s Spring Fair ENESCO Contemporary gift company Enesco has announced the addition of three new dinner sets into its Disney Enchanting Collection, following the success of the initial range. The organic bamboo dinner sets are available with Snow White, Cinderella and Rapunzel themes and can be used at home, in the garden or even in the park. This fresh and natural eco-friendly dinner set includes a plate measuring 23cm, a bowl measuring 14cm, a cup measuring 10cm, and cutlery comprising of a spoon and fork made from organic bamboo.

Tel: 01228 404066 www.enesco.co.uk Hall 4, Stand H100

SIGNATURE GIFTS

PAUL LAMOND GAMES

Since its introduction 85 years ago, Babar the Elephant is still going strong. ‘Babar Welcomes you to the World’ takes the classic illustrations from the original books, and compliments them with wise advice and guidance for children, as parents welcome them into the world. With the child’s name appearing on the cover, and a page containing their very own dedicated message, this book is a perfect gift for a newborn, christening, first Christmas and a first birthday.

Tel: 01582 464809 www.signature-books.co.uk Hall 4, Stand D60-E61

A fun new Stand and Deliver board game starring Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s villainous storybook character; The Highway Rat, will be launched this year by games and puzzles specialist, Paul Lamond Games. The new Stand and Deliver board game will join The Highway Rat card game, giant floor puzzle and 4-in-1 puzzle set released last autumn.

Tel: 0207 2540100 www.paul-lamond.com Hall 5, Stand F10-G11

HALILIT Rosa & Bo’s boutique nursery collection features Baby Rosa and Bo Bunny characters. Within the range are the beautiful nesting babies, encouraging hand-to-eye co-ordination through interactive play. With bright colours, faces and surprise elements the nesting babies combine development of fine motor skills with creative play.

Tel: 01254 872454 www.halilit.co.uk Hall 5, Stand L57

JUMBO GAMES Since launching the Dessineo Learn to Draw, Jumbo has received extremely positive responses from consumers and several award wins last year. Jumbo will be expanding its educational arts and crafts range in January with the launch of four brand new Dessineo Learn to Paint items that are great for children to learn how to paint in a fun and educational way. So pop by the stand check out these new items and have a demonstration.

Tel: 01707 260436 www.jumbo.eu Hall 5, Stand K64

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Available

Available

Out in Feb

Board Books • Perfect for little hands • £5.99 each

Contact your Usborne Territory Manager to place an order www.usborne.com/uksales

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WHAT’S NEW SPRING FAIR 2018 What’s new at this year’s Spring Fair MARBEL Distributed by Marbel and new for 2018 Hape launch an exciting new collection of outdoor essentials including telescopes, periscopes and detective sets all made from sustainable bamboo. Ideal for inspiring little explorers, children now have the opportunity get up close with nature and enjoy the fresh air.

Tel: 0845 6000286 www.marbel.co.uk Stand 5K80

AMSCAN

AURORA WORLD

Amscan has expanded its costume collection to include a great mix of new licensed and generic styles perfect for preschoolers. Character styles include the popular PJ Masks, new Disney Baby, plus The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant; perfect for Book Week. Adorable new baby costumes include Magical Pony, Cuddle Bear, Wee Whiskers and more.

Tel: 01908 288500 www.amscan.co.uk Stand 5J110-K119

Aurora World is expanding its nursery range with the introduction of a super soft and gorgeous new concept called Dippity Donkey, with rattles, plush and booties in gift boxes. It will be showing a number of beautiful plush collections and is set to showcase its fabulous brand of Unicorns in Sparkle Tales.

Tel: 01256 374272 www.auroraworld.co.uk Stand 5E10-F11

GOLDEN BEAR The adorable Sleepy-time Igglepiggle joins Golden Bear’s popular In the Night Garden collection in 2018. Featuring appealing larger eyes and made from bright super soft fabrics, Sleepy-time Igglepiggle also has soothing lullabies and soft glowing cheeks to help reassure and relax little ones at bedtime. His iconic red blanket also features a printed pattern design on one side.

Tel: 01952 608308 www.goldenbeartoys.com Stand 5F80

ACKERMAN INTERNATIONAL All fairies deserve a beautiful home - part of the Ackerman International Fairy Friendship range this product will make any fairy feel welcome.

The range also includes; Tooth Fairy doors, money banks, diaries, fairy figurines and much more.

Tel: 01279 718807 www.ackermaninternational.co.uk Stand 5H100

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TA LKI N G TO : V MC ACCES S ORI ES Inset: Mickey hat and bag set by VMC Accessories, as part of a range for Next.

FROM HEAD

To Toe

B

ased in Staffordshire, VMC Accessories was first established in 2000 and prides itself on being an innovative, forwardthinking business. Creating bespoke product for its partners, VMC Accessories supplies major UK retailers such as George@Asda, Morrisons, Next and Claire’s Accessories, with a wide range of licensed fashion accessories, dress-up costumes and tech/gadget accessories.

When asked to reveal the secret of VMC’s success, Louise comes straight to the point. “We have been hugely successful in securing top brand licences, thanks in no small part to our innovative and strong designs. We’re immensely proud of the way our in-house design team is able to tap into current trends and create such a varied, successful portfolio.”

VMC is also very proud of its customer service, very recently being nominated as one of Asda’s top suppliers, which is a huge investment to the team in general. The preschool subset of that portfolio has been the subject of a great deal of attention over the past year, which has seen VMC building up its existing collection with a number of exciting new kid-friendly licenses.

“We had a great 2017 from a preschool perspective,” Louise enthuses.

“We are the market leaders in young

children’s headwear and introduced a whole range of new properties which have been extremely well-received.”

One of the most successful new brands for VMC is PJ Masks, which has been enthusiastically embraced both at retail and by consumers. “Tesco is supporting the brand particularly well and it’s starting to really take off,” says Louise. “Sunglasses and headwear have been the real sales drivers for us.”

VMC’s partnership with the BBC has seen the company creating product for two of its most up-and-coming CBeebies shows; Hey Duggee and Go Jetters, with product launching in spring 2018. “The team have been really enjoying working on these collections. They have a great understanding of the fashion market and know how to make childrenswear fashionable and trendy while still appropriate for a younger age group.”

Much of 2018 will also be taken up with working on creating fresh looks for a wide range of new brands. New Nickelodeon launches to look forward to over the coming months include Rusty Rivets, Nella the Princess Knight and Shimmer & Shine. “Nickelodeon’s big hit,

Left: Paw Patrol has been taking the preschool world by storm and these new designs are expected to do well in 2018. Below: eOne’s Peppa Pig – and George Pig too, of course – is VMC’s second most popular preschool brand.

A continued focus on the newest and most relevant preschool licences sees VMC Accessories creating everything from supercute hat and glove sets through to complete dressup costumes. PPS spoke to licensing and creative director Louise Hinds to find out more about the company’s plans for 2018 and beyond.

Left: Louise Hinds, licensing and creative director.

Paw Patrol, is our number one preschool brand at the moment,” Louise reveals, “so we’re looking forward to seeing how these are received as well.”

A strong relationship with Disney will see a number of new collections being launched. “This year will be an exciting one for our Disney ranges, thanks to both Mickey and Minnie Mouse celebrating their 90th anniversaries.”

VMC has good reason for its preschool push over the next year, as Louise explains. “We have a huge amount of expertise in this area and we’re really enjoying putting it all to use.”

“Because we have such a wide sphere of experience we are trusted to do a good job,” she continues. “Licensors and retailers know that we can offer a range of solutions across a number of specialised areas and that’s where our skill really lies, so they are happy to entrust us with their brand. They know we can do something really special.”

Getting Into Character Dress-up will continue to be a key focus for VMC Accessories, with a wide range of costumes and accessory sets making it easier than ever for young children to become their favourite characters.

“We have the complete range of Julia Donaldson costumes, from The Gruffalo and The Highway Rat through to Stick Man and the highly anticipated Zog,” Louise says. “Paddington, Mog and The Tiger Who Came To Tea are also doing extremely well at retail.”

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coolabi.com

clangers@coolabi.com +44 (0)20 7004 0980

© 2018 Coolabi Productions Limited, Smallfilms Limited and Peter Firmin

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I N CON V ER S AT I ON WI TH … DH X B RA N DS

Step change With the introduction of its First Steppers initiative, DHX Brands is confident that it has identified a new sub category for children aged six months to 2 ½ years which can not only benefit its own properties, but also consumers, licensees and retailers. LSB finds out more about what could be a game changer for the whole industry.

T

he preschool market is quite possibly the most challenging and crowded of all licensed sectors. With a multitude of brands targeting children aged up to five all jostling for shelf space, it’s no wonder that consumers can sometimes feel overwhelmed and confused about the right ones to choose for their child.

Key findings Some of the key findings from the First Steppers online survey included: ■ Parents of ‘First Steppers’ (6-30 months) said they were most concerned about dealing with tantrums (86%), safety (86%), teething (83%) and eating/mealtimes (83%).

■ Parents said they were most concerned about their child learning to use the toilet (76%), sleeping through the night (66%) and learning to play nicely with other children (66%).

Above and right: DHX Brands believes it has identified a gap in the market with First Steppers. Below DHX Brands’ Victoria Bushell.

And, with children experiencing the most rapid period of development between the ages of six months and 2½ years, how do parents know that the core preschool brands are actually delivering what they need?

DHX Brands believes it has identified a gap in the market – and it has the potential to be an industry game changer.

“From a content perspective, our three brands – Teletubbies, In the Night Garden and Twirlywoos - are full of rich content that is very much age appropriate for the six months to 2½ year group,” Victoria Bushell, vp global brand management at DHX Brands, explains to PPS. “We know that age group watch and love our shows but, what we’ve recognised is that they’re really underplayed at retail which tends to focus on the older skewing preschool brands for 2½ to five year olds such as PAW Patrol and PJ Masks among others.”

“We’ve realised there is a missing segment at retail and with consumers. We want to introduce

this to the industry… start thinking about six months to 2½ years as a sub-category in its own right; really recognise the needs of these children and the needs of the parents in this group and deliver for them.”

Having worked with Fundamentally Children to conduct research to back up its thinking, DHX Brands believes that the First Steppers category – acting as a stepping stone into preschool – has the potential to grow not just its own brands, but the industry as a whole.

“When the child enters the First Steppers stage at six months and when they leave at 2½ years, they are completely different,” Victoria continues. “In a small period of time, children are changing a lot; there is so much development. Not only does that show how important the sector is in terms of making sure the child has relevant content and products during that time, but also gives licensees a lot of opportunity as well to cater for that change.”

“It creates a much bigger opportunity for everyone… licensees, retailers. We know that at any one time, there are 1.5 million children in that six months to 2½ year window. The retailers would have an offering that parents are looking  PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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magic light pictures gruffalo baby plush now available for further licensing opportunities please contact daryl@magiclightpictures.com

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I N CON V ER S AT I ON WI TH … DH X B RA N DS Left and below: DHX believes its brands are an entry point for character.

 for and would buy into.

Our shopper research shows that at the moment they’re a bit confused, looking for guidance and desperate to buy products which help their children.”

DHX Brands has already started to work with licensees – including key toy partners Character Options and Golden Bear – on realigning product so that it falls more in line with First Steppers.

“Our three key TV programmes have been expertly crafted with a huge amount of thought and care put into ensuring they cater for the First Steppers audience with engaging and colourful characters, a suitable pace, use of repetition and educational elements such as schemas,” Victoria enthuses. “Our brands are an entry point for character – they are the first time that children really start to resonate with a character. With retail space at a premium, with First Steppers we have a fantastic opportunity to use this developmental expertise to create a cohesive offer across the board and

ensure the products are suitably matched to our content.”

It’s certainly an ambitious plan, however new sub-categories have been successfully introduced to the industry before – with the tween category being the most obvious example.

Victoria concludes: “Our ultimate vision is for the grocers to merchandise a First Steppers product mix, across a range of licences and categories that will help parents find age appropriate products that match the developmental needs of children in this important new demographic. Our research showed that mums don’t browse much when shopping with their children so creating a First Steppers section which pulls together a whole section from Above nappies, toothbrushes Fundamentally to toys and apparel, Children’s would make their Amanda Gummer. shopping experience less stressful and they would be more likely to buy more.”

“But that’s the dream – in the first instance, it’s asking them to think about this age group and getting them to recognise there is an opportunity to help drive increased sales. We’re trying to pioneer something which could change the industry.”

Left and below: Teletubbies, In the Night Garden and Twirlywoos are full of age appropriate content for ages six months to 2½ years.

Research matters Amanda Gummer md of Fundamentally Children says she is delighted to be supporting DHX in helping licensees and retailers better understand this important stage in a child’s development.

“It’s vital that we encourage people to focus on the needs of children and parents in order to help families thrive, not just in the early years, but for years to come,” Amanda says.

“Children develop rapidly through their first months and years of life.

Once the initial amazement at the arrival of a newborn has sunk in, we know parents can feel isolated and unsure of how best to support their babies’ development. Creating a First Steppers framework helps everyone understand the important developmental milestones that are achieved typically between the ages of six and 30 months, so they are able to make developmentally engaging products and support parents in what is a critical time in any family’s life.

“By providing support to licensees, retailers and parents, I hope that DHX will be instrumental in promoting holistic development and general family well-being during these formative years.”

Fundamentally Children conducted a comprehensive set of research that included online surveys, focus groups and shopper research (across grocers, baby stores and toy stores).

Fundamentally Children’s Trudi Bishop explains: “The research highlighted the many pain points for new parents of children in the First Stepper age group are primarily based around their everyday life. The parents are savvy shoppers who are keen to buy, but currently the traditional way of shopping in stores is a barrier to increasing their basket spend. ” “By adopting a First Steppers categorisation as a merchandising principle, retailers can help guide parents through this fast-paced and overwhelming developmental stage.

And by helping to make parents’ shopping experience easier and more time efficient, retailers will benefit by an increased £ spent per minute in their stores.”

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Ready for the daily obstacle course The new Maxi-Cosi Laika

Stylish, compact and urban pushchair From birth with the Laika soft carrycot Easy one-hand fold and lightweight (6.8kg) Cosy ultra-padded seat Lifetime warranty

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Find out more: www.maxi-cosi.co.uk

05/01/2018 20:42

P U S H CH A I R S A N D STROLLER S

Push It REAL GOOD

T

oday’s parents tend to be on the lookout for a number of different things when they first start researching which set of wheels they will choose for their new arrival. Some will be looking for functionality; a pushchair that will be able to fit in easily with the various aspects of their lives and will be as useful on the bus as it is on a long trek in the woods. Others will be looking for longevity; seeking out a pushchair that will be as useful for a three-year-old as it is for a newborn. Many will be looking for affordability, and even more will be sorting choices according to style, form and fashion as they want something that represents their own style aspirations.

Above: The Hybrid includes an ingenious one-handed pull car seat style harness, moving away from more traditional straps.

Right: Pushchairs are becoming more lightweight and compact, like this Cybex Mios. Below: The Joie Pact is suitable from birth with a flat recline seat and includes adapters for compatable infant carriers.

So where do suppliers start, when there are so many different possibilities to focus on? According to Andy Crane, BabyStyle’s managing director, getting to know the market is the first step. “At BabyStyle we are constantly researching the market,” he says, “speaking with retailers and consumers to ensure that we produce a range of pushchairs and strollers that will tick all the boxes.”

Out And About With space and ease of use being a real concern for a lot of parents, Joie has developed the new Pact stroller. A lightweight and supercompact fold makes it the ideal travel mate. The Pact folds in a split second with one hand, has an integral carry strap and comes with a handy carry bag. It also features a one-hand multi-position

As the most significant purchase for most parents expecting a baby, the pushchair market is fiercely competitive, with brands jostling for space in the admittedly crowded marketplace. PPS spoke to a number of key players to find out how they will be making their mark in 2018.

recline, heightadjustable handle, padded soft five-point harness, extending canopy, all round suspension, large shopping basket and raincover.

Currently focusing on two champion products for 2018, BabyStyle will be highlighting the egg (‘because of its beautiful and sophisticated style’) and the Hybrid (‘because of its functionality’).

Andy points out that key innovations in recent years have been the ability to team strollers with a growing number of car seat options as well as tandem options. Having said that, he believes that style will be the key for 2018 as; “it all comes back down to parents wanting  PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Two pint-sized travel mates pack fast and pack flat to go anywhere and everywhere. Packing in extras for fun while easily strolling along all day long.

For more information and all sales enquiries, please contact Joie on 01889 808 900 or email: uksales@joiebaby.com

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P U S H CH A I R S A N D STROLLER S Left: The Diono Quantum has a host of features and a super simple fold so parents can always be adventure ready. Now tested to 22kg.

Adventure Time Having a baby means there are challenges and new experiences around every corner. Diono brings this to life with the Quantum travel system, featuring cleverly engineered design features to keep baby safe, secure and protected.

Useful features include a complete 3-in-1 smart seat which converts from lie-flat bassinet to toddler seat in four simple clicks and a best-inclass eclipse canopy. A sun visor, peekaboo window and ventilation add to the functionality, while the extra-large basket has space for a cabin-sized luggage bag.

 a stylish and functional product.”

Cybex takes a similarly fashionled approach, combining modern design, the latest colour trends and innovative functional features.

“Ultimately, parents want a comfortable, convenient and stylish pushchair that makes being mobile with a baby easy and keeps them secure,” says Luke Burns, UK general manager of Cybex and gb. “We develop pushchairs that we believe will offer parents the complete package so they do not have to compromise on their personal style or functional requirements.”

“We have seen pushchair designs becoming bolder and more vibrant in colour,” he adds “with unique fashionable designs ensuring each parent has a pushchair that reflects their style and personality. We expect 2018 to see a wider range of colours and inspiration drawn from global fashion trends and runway-inspired collections.”

Crucially, Cybex believe that modern parents are looking for more lightweight and compact pushchairs, especially products such as the Cybex

Mios, gb Maris 2, and the Qbit+ which also combine with car seats to work as a travel system. Cybex will be launching the Eezy S range next year – a lightweight and compact system which has been developed with a wide range of smart features.

Also focusing on the importance of offering lightweight, compact pushchairs is Chicco, recognising the increasing popularity of travelling, city living and non-stop lifestyles among new parents.

“The ability to easily fold, carry and store a pushchair is becoming very important, whether it’s for use at home or while travelling,” states junior product manager for juvenile Irene Stazi.

These key innovations have seen pushchairs dropping below 4kg and folding down to very small sizes to allow for ease of transportation, both in the car and on public transport.

“Parents are always on the go and our range includes a variety of lightweight, compact and easily transportable pushchairs, such as the Chicco Miinimo2 and OhLaLa strollers, that fit in with the busy lifestyles of modern parents, while still providing ultimate comfort for little ones.” Irene contines.

Irene also points out that pushchairs have evolved in terms of their appearance.

“Colour is something to watch, as 2018 is expected to bring a pop of colour to the market. Bright blues, reds and even Below: The Chicco Miinimo2 is extracompact and when folded fits into a handy bag, making it ideal for travelling. Suitable from birth. Below right: The ABC Design Pepper has been awarded the Mother & Baby Gold for Best Travel System two years in a row and is compatible with Maxi-Cosi, Kiddy and Cybex car seats.

multi-coloured patterns are on the horizon for pushchair trends in 2018.”

However, regardless of how much fashions and trends may vary with time, parents will always require value, quality and longevity from whatever pushchair they purchase and Obaby’s Danny Green believes that the ABC Design Pepper is the perfect example of how modern technologies can be implemented into pushchairs.

“Its main feature is a three-level, adjustable suspension system,” he explains, “but it also has a memory foam lined seat unit, UPF 50+ sun protection and a lightweight but extremely strong aluminium chassis.

These are all features which would have been unheard of just a few years ago.”

ABC Design takes pride in being at the forefront of the industry by implementing these innovations into its pushchairs as early as possible and recognises how impottant it is to be able to offer them in a range of stylish solutions.

“By focusing less on the variety of models available and more on the variety available within key models, we’re aiming to provide the best pushchairs available in a range of designs to suit all parents,” Danny points out. “We expect strong neutral colours to be the most popular choice for parents in 2018.”

Phil Howe is the UK and Ireland country manager for Peg Perego, and he also recognises the importance of fashion meeting function in the pushchair market, particularly with the increase in online research.

“New parents will often enter a shop with a brand and colour in mind, only to be drawn to options they haven’t seen before,” he says. “During the sales process we point parents towards functional features, such as 

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Designed and engineered in Germany

Are you bursting with energy? Does your heart beat in tune with the times? Do you think life is for living and do you want to bond with your baby and make the family years the best time of your life?

Then experience the joy of living with the Salsa.

The Salsa is dynamic, lightweight and extremely easy to manoeuvre.

A pushchair with personality which will be a reliable companion to you and your baby from your very first day together, wherever life may take you.

Its contemporary look is in keeping with its fashion-conscious and functional design. It surprises by its very compact folding size and a exceptional maximum weight of 25 kg (seat unit). Swivel front wheels enhance its agility. Ball bearings and integrated suspension also add to the smoothness of the ride, even on the biggest adventures.

Enjoy exciting moments with the Salsa and build vivid memories to treasure for life.

Key Features include:• Stroller from 6 months to 25kg • Carrycot from birth included • Forward / Rearward facing seat • UPF 50+ Protected extending hood • Raincover, Cup Holder, Mosquito net included • Car Seat adapter included *Maxi Cosi / Cybex / Kiddy • Car seat available • Isofix base available

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P U S H CH A I R S A N D STROLLER S Left: The Push Me Fusion range from Red Kite has been a Made for Mums Gold winner for the last two years.

The Full Package Red Kite Baby has introduced a smart new addition to its awardwinning range of travel systems.

The new Push Me Fusion Galaxy features a stylish gloss finish white frame with black seat and carry cot and the package includes a newborn car seat, 2-in-1 stroller/ carry cot, front apron for cooler weather and raincover to fit over both stroller and carry cot options.

Available in both grey platinum and trendy navy denim colourways.

 the one-handed fold, the lightweight chassis and how easy the modular system is to use. It’s important they can see what living with the pushchair will be like as well as how it looks!”

Ultimately, purchasers must trust the brand and know that its products will deliver on quality and durability while also projecting a certain image. “For us, Peg Perego’s style and ‘Made in Italy’ marque is very important for consumers,” continues Phil. “It helps them understand the quality they can expect when they buy from us.”

Innovations are key to the pushchair sector, which is, as Phil says, ‘brimming with ideas’. Peg Perego’s research and development lab continuously looks at how to adapt functionality and fabrics to meet the demands of modern living.

“It’s a thorough, ongoing process and an exciting time to operate in this market,” he continues. “It keeps us all on our toes!”

Nikki Bhogal, head of marketing at Dorel UK, agrees, stating simply that; “Parents are seeking variety and the ability to choose a stroller based on their lifestyle.”

Although Nikki acknowledges that super-compact, lightweight strollers have dominated the market recently, Maxi-Cosi offers a full portfolio of strollers to meet parents’ varying lifestyle needs. “The Laika – which launches in January 2018 – is compact and lightweight, the Adorra is all about comfort and the Zelia is an all-in-one cost-effective solution,” she says.

“We know that pushchairs are an emotive purchase and a lot of consideration goes into the look, design and fabrics used,” she contined. “For us, 2018 is all about being influenced by both nature and technology. Quinny will also be launching a second limited edition with celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe on the Zapp X range, which is both stylish and glamourous and on trend with the rise in athleisure fashion.”

In striving to constantly innovate – to make things lighter, faster and smaller – it’s easy to lose sight of the basic fact that a pushchair needs to be supportive, comfortable and safe. Kevin Golding is the commercial director for Bebecar UK, and he believes that the single most important thing for anyone buying a pushchair to consider is the baby or toddler who will be using it. “Their comfort and safety should be everyone’s priority,” he says. “Unfortunately, many

parents place more importance on the appearance or price of the pushchair.”

That’s not to say the company is averse to fashion and innovation; quite the opposite, in fact. “We update our fabrics every year, so that we can offer a fresh selection of neutral tones and bolder choices,” explains Kevin. “We also constantly make adjustments according to feedback we receive from customers. These small, thoughtful innovations – like improving a hood attachment clip – can take the tiny frustrations out of life as a parent and ultimately that’s what’s so important.”

With so many options in the marketplace it can be easy get carried away with clever options or new designs. But with each set of new parents prioritising something different – from a stain-resistant fabric to a height-adjustable handle – the wide-ranging pushchair market really does offer something for everyone.

Right: Luxury pushchair the Spot+ from Bebecar has an extra-padded lie-flat seat, wheels with ball bearings, and adjustable suspension for comfort. Below: Peg Perego’s Book 51S modular system has an ultramodern and functional, compact design with sophisticated features. Below right: The Maxi-Cosi Laika is a super-narrow one-handed folding stroller (suitable from birth) which is perfect for travelling.

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WHAT’S NEW STROLLERS & PUSHCHAIRS Q1 update for strollers and pushchairs BEBECAR The new fabric range from Bebecar is coming soon, with the classic choices you’d expect and some amazing, eye-catching additions too.

Included in its Prive collection will be woven textures, glossy patents, blooming embroidered florals and beautiful sparkles.

Tel: 01692 408801 www.bebecar.co.uk

CHEEKY RASCALS

BABYSTYLE

The distinctive collection of pushchairs from Mima will see a new addition, with the fantastic Royal Blue. Perfectly combining luxury with functionality, the smart and futuristic inspired pushchairs are easy to assemble and manoeuvre, lightweight and compact. Offering bespoke packages, customised designs and unique customer service, Mima is like no other brand on the market.

Tel: 01730 895761 www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

The latest addition to the BabyStyle Oyster stable is the Atom which is suitable for use from birth.

It is super lightweight and has an extremely compact one-hand fold which leaves it freestanding when folded. As you would expect from BabyStyle the new Oyster Atom is feature packed whilst offering fantastic value for money.

The lightweight aluminium chassis weighs in at just 7.9kg making the Atom perfect for everyday use and great for travelling. Features include a spacious padded lie-flat seat with 5-point padded harness, adjustable footrest, flip out sun visor, lockable swivel front-wheels as well as allround suspension.

Tel: 01509 816444 www.babystyle.co.uk

CYBEX The fashion and design scene’s new shooting star, Anna K and Cybex are starting a journey into the world of stars and planets to introduce the Cybex Platinum Fashion Collection space rocket. The space rocket collection includes three different options for mios and priam- as a stroller with matching carry cot, as a travel system with the cloud q infant car seat and as a pushchair.

Matching accessories like a changing bag, a water-resistant foot muff and a soft baby blanket are available as well.

Tel: 0207 4264938 www.cybex-online.com

JOIE With space and ease of use being a real concern for a lot of parents, Joie has the answer with the new Pact stroller. A lightweight and super compact fold, perfect when out and about, it’s the ideal travel mate. Designed to be compact yet strong and feature rich, suitable from birth with the flat reclining seat, it includes adapters to pair with Joie Gemm, iGemm and iLevel infant carriers. Folding in a split second with one hand, Pact has an integral carry strap and comes with a handy carry bag. It also features a one-hand multi-position recline, height adjustable handle, padded soft 5-point harness, extending canopy, all round suspension, large shopping basket and raincover.

Tel: 01889 808900 www.uk.joiebaby.com

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Elegance, Style & Quality

The timeless Obaby Stamford furniture offers families the perfect combination of style, quality and practicality.

At the heart of the range is the beautiful Stamford sleigh cot bed, with its elegant scroll design offering traditional styling with a contemporary finish. For those looking for all of the great features of a full size cot bed but with limited space, the Stamford mini sleigh cot bed is the perfect option.

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WHAT’S NEW STROLLERS & PUSHCHAIRS Q1 update for strollers and pushchairs BRITAX Britax Römer is introducing its first lightweight travel system, the Britax B-Lite, to its range of pushchairs. Suitable for children from birth – 15kg (approx. 3 years), the Britax B-Lite allows parents to manoeuvre with ease in tight spaces, busy areas and on public transport thanks to its compact and agile nature. Weighing just 7.4kg, the Britax B-Lite is freestanding when folded, with a standing height of 70cm and width of just 40cm. Travel system compatible, the Britax B-Lite comes with the option of using Click & Go receivers to enable parents to attach any Britax Römer infant carrier, making it a great travel companion for the whole family.

Tel: 01264 333343 www.britax.co.uk

MAXI-COSI

ABC DESIGN

Maxi-Cosi recently launched a new 2-in-1 convertible urban stroller, the Zeila. It is a compact urban stroller that is lightweight and stylish with a seat that converts into a bassinet in two simple steps. With a reversible seat it also gives parents more flexibility in deciding how they want to transport their babies. The Zelia is compatible worth any Max-Cosy car seat, making life even easier for parents.

Tel: 0208 2367307 www.doreljuvenile.com

Part of the latest 2018 ABC Design range, the Salsa 4 offers all the best features from the ABC Design collection in one extra versatile stroller. Suitable from six months to an impressive 25kg, the Salsa 4 offers a parent/forward facing seat unit, heavy duty suspension, UPF 50+ hood with zipped extension and includes a from birth carrycot and pair of Maxi-Cosi/ Kiddy/Cybex car seat adaptors as standard. Add to this the included cup holder, raincover and mosquito net and the Salsa 4 is ready to handle anything.

Tel: 01652 641497 www.abc-design.uk.com

PEG PEREGO Team from Peg Perego is an elegant stroller in a range of colourways that simply converts into a double when using the Family Adaptor (sold separately), offering various configurations. The G-Matic System attaches the Pop-Up Seat, Navetta Elite, or Navetta pop up carrycot and the Primo Viaggio SL car seat with one click. Features also include an ecoleather handle which is extendable for taller parents, a single touch braking system, double remote front swivel wheel control, large soft ride wheels with ball bearings and rear wheel suspension.

Tel: +39 03960881 www.uk.pegperego.com

JOIE The Chrome DLX from Joie is a master multi-tasker that combines all the best features available in a multi-mode pushchair. It comes with matching hood, seat fabrics and footmuff. With a parent, or forward facing seat unit included, options to add the iGemm and i-Level i-Size infant car seats or Chrome DLX carrycot, it offers total versatility for parents. Featuring an instant gravity fold that is easily activated with or without the seat attached and in either direction, it ensures ease of use in every mode. Loaded with parent must-have features including a single-step scuff-free brake, all-wheel suspension, plus a large, integrated shopping basket, Chrome DLX comes in four stylish shades, and now includes a matching carrycot.

Tel: 01889 808900 www.uk.joiebaby.com

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REIMA

16190 Indx Kids Half page Progessive Jan Ad.indd 1

Reima’s Silda jacket is the ultimate winter jacket for preschoolers and above. Insulated, its taped seams and flourocarbon-free Reimatec technology provide waterproof protection with the added benefit of a dirt repellent finish. A safe, detachable and adjustable hood with detachable faux fur trim gives it great aesthetic and the reflective print looks good and helps keep children safe on dark winter nights. For children from four years upwards the jacket includes a pocket for the ReimaGO sensor, an activity tracking device that links to a free-to-download fun app designed to encourage children to move more.

Tel: +358 406647554 www.reima.com

LITTLE LORD & LADY

ZIPPY BABY

Little Lord & Lady glides into a new season, following summer success.

Using unique prints, luxury fabrics and intricate trims, its collection is refreshed every season with a new cultural theme. This season the focus is British culture and industry, celebrating solid work ethics and textile history, a theme very close to the team’s heart.

Zippy Baby recently launched its range of baby blankets to add to its award winning baby range. The range consists of 14 different blankets in classic stripes, contemporary polkas, stylish stars, a cute animal print and supersoft sherpa fleece blankets.

The colours range from subtle hues and classic pastels to bright and bold designs. Made of thick 100% combed cotton yarns, chenille and sherpa fleece, they are ideal for keeping babies cosy around the house or when out and about, offering different warmths for all weathers.

Tel: 07734 357865 www.littlelordandlady.co.uk

KITE CLOTHING Leading childrenswear brand Kite Clothing has launched its autumn and winter 2018 collections with beautiful designs carefully crafted to delight both big and little people alike. Included in the collection is the fabulous new Cocoon coat – a superb piece of autumn outerwear designed to feel wonderfully lightweight, but also provide all the toasty warmth needed for the season. With a special print inside, it’s the perfect way for Kite to extend its successful and wellestablished outerwear range.

Tel: 01625 569530 www.zippysuit.com

Tel: 01202 733222 www.kite-clothing.co.uk

NIBBLING New for INDX is the natural wood and silicone pram mobile - the latest captivating accessory for the pushchair, allowing baby to travel in style, providing both entertainment and relief from those troublesome emerging teeth. The vast range of colours including grey and mint, baby pink, turquoise and soft blue, means there is an option for every style-conscious parent and baby. Nibbling’s range is made from 100% food grade silicone, which is safe and soft enough for baby to chew, and natural wood. The range is heat-resistant, safe for the dishwasher, microwave and freezer - a reassuring and simple to clean solution for parents.

Tel: 07943 958860 www.nibbling.co.uk

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Free Free Free Free

Entry Refreshments Lunch On-Site Parking

I N DX KI DSWEA R 2018

Cranmore Park Exhibition Centre, Solihull, B90 4LF T: 0121 683 1415 16190 Indx Kids Half page Progessive Jan Ad.indd 1

WEARING IT WELL 28/12/2016 09:22

INDX EXTRAS Taking place across 11 and 12 February 2018, INDX Kidswear is once again preparing to take over Cranmore Park in Solihull as designers prepare to showcase the AW18 season to the independent childrenswear sector.

I

deally placed to bring the most design-forward brands to the independent market, INDX Kidswear allows retailers to select next season’s best-sellers from their favourite brands. The show will pay host to an extensive range of childrenswear including baby, boys and girls, christening, occasionwear and gifts.

A new extended and expanded format is launching for the February date, as show organiser Varsha Chohan explains. “The AW18 show will be our most inclusive so far, with more space in an expanded format. The show will be covering two ground floor showrooms,

“We are excited to be exhibiting at INDX for the first time this year and looking forward to showcasing MadPax backpacks to INDX visitors. INDX will give us the opportunity to introduce the brand for the first time to some of the best independent boutique retailers and build on our existing presence in this very important sector. It also gives us a great opportunity to present the exciting new MadPax collection for 2018.”

Anita Graves, marketing, MadPax

showcasing a bigger range of exhibitors and products and attracting more visitors than ever before. We will also continue with the highly successful Sunday opening to accommodate the demand from the smaller independent visitors.”

The show itself will be bringing together over 150 UK and international brands, whose collections are relevant and proven to sell well in independents.

Established brands and long-term exhibitors will include Kite, Frugi, Dandelion, Hatley, Lilly & Sid and Pigeon, while the newly-extended exhibition space allows over 20 new brands to exhibit. New names making their debut at the February show include EMC, Paz Rodriguez, Huggee, Bogoleta Couture, Artesania Chari and Baby GI. Buyers can also expect to see the latest new ranges from Bea Cadillac, Sarabanda, Losan, and Ricittos, who will line up alongside the likes of Mayoral, A Dee, Blue Seven and Babybol.

Christening and occasionwear lines will be on show from from Pretty Originals, Abella and Next Generation, Premier Designs and Sevva, as will gifts from Best Years, Kissy Kissy, Cheeky Chompers and Zippy and many more.

The international presence at INDX Kidswear is becoming Left: MadPax will be making their INDX debut in 2018.

Free show admission for independent retailers includes complementary refreshments, lunch, parking and show guide.

Register online at www.indxshow.co.uk.

INDX KIDSWEAR AW18 Sunday 11 February, 9am – 6pm Monday 12 February, 9am - 5pm increasingly significant, indicating the increasing influence of European styling on the UK market as it meets the changing needs of UK customers.

“The classic independent store is now a mix of well-established British brands and new, ever emerging, European and international brands” says Varsha.

Specifically curated for the independent retail sector, INDX Kidswear welcomes independent buyers from across the UK and Ireland, who flock to the show to take advantage of the special environment of this buyer-focused show. Visitors love the pressure-free environment which gives them more time to focus on their individula buying strategy in this relaxed yet business-like atmosphere.

“I thought it was a well thoughtout show with a great assortment of suppliers to suit all budgets,” enthused Emma Legge, owner of Five Little Monkeys in Wimbourne. “As a retailer selling mid-priced children’s clothing and shoes, I was pleasantly surprised to find many suited our price range. I ordered for the next two seasons!”

Register now for your free ticket at www.indxshow.co.uk PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Ardega Advert 17-11_Layout 1 24/11/2017 11:58 Page 1

The amazing Digital Humipurifier from Bo Jungle features the following: • Digital humidifier that also purifies the air and diffuses essential oils • Humidification through ionization • HEPA filer to filter the air from pollutants such as dust, chemicals, allergens, nicotine • 6l Water tank • Capacity: 350ml/h • Aroma pad tray for aromatherapy • Automatic humidstat • Nightlight with changing colours • Programmable timer • Indication of temperature, time and humidity level

Also distributors of the following brands

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Website: www.ardega.co.uk 07/01/2018 14:09

COLU MN I ST

A PARENT NEWBORN GIFT GUIDE PERSPECTIVE In her latest column for Progressive Preschool, columnist Lisa – a blogger, graphic designer and parent to two-year-old Taylor and newly-born Harriet – took us through what essentials were on her newborn gift guide as she prepared for her newest arrival.

Busy B Baby Milestone Cards “I loved milestone cards with Taylor and this baby will be the same. The designs and options have come a long way in the last three years. These beautifully designed cards from Busy B are adorable and I can’t wait to start using them!”

Honest and upfront thoughts on parenting from columnist, blogger and parent-of-two Lisa Beever. www.leeleeloves.co.uk

A

“

s we prepared for the arrival of baby number two, I put together a newborn gift guide of some my favourite baby products. From newborn essentials to adorable outfits, the great thing about this selection is they aren’t seasonal – they’re perfect newborn gifts all year round!

Skip Hop Moonlight and Melodies Nightlight Soother – Owl “This adorable nightlight from Skip Hop features four soothing nature sounds and melodies that play from within its wings. It also projects moon and stars onto baby’s ceiling and has a soft glowing nightlight tummy. I can’t wait to use this during those long night feeds!”

My First Frugi “If you know us, you’ll know we adore Frugi! Taylor didn’t wear any Frugi until he was around one but their new ‘My First Frugi’ range has arrived at the perfect time. With gender-specific and gender-neutral items, I love it all. The range oozes those cute newborn vibes.”

Lamb & Bear Zip Up Sleepsuit “Lamb & Bear produce beautiful leggings and sleepsuits for toddlers and babies. This sleepsuit features their signature Lamb & Bear print and has one of my favourite features in a sleepsuit, a zip! 100% cotton, soft and cute.”

Ollie The Owl Light And Sound Sleep Aid “We love the Gro Company, from their sleeping bags to the Gro-Egg that got us through the newborn haze the first time around. Their latest family member is Ollie the Owl, which plays four soothing sounds to help little ones sleep. He has an adjustable volume and three sensory light levels, as well as a cry sensor whch allows him to kick into action when little ones wake up.”

Above: Busy B Baby milestone cards are the perfect way to record those special moments.

Rockit Stroller Rocker “The Rockit Rocker is new to the market and looks like my kind of new parent gadget! A handy device that clips onto your pushchair to mimic the sensation of you rocking it. Now you can rock baby hands-free, and enjoy a hot cup of tea. If I get this for Christmas I’ll be drinking all of the tea.”

The Sleepyhead Deluxe “When Taylor moved from his Snüzpod

to his cot we transitioned him using the Sleepyhead Grande, he looked so tiny and lost in there otherwise. What I wish we he’d had prior to this is the Sleepyhead Deluxe! He hated having too much space around him and loved feeling secure. The Sleepyhead does just this and is approved for safe overnight sleep. It’s perfect for daytime naps and travel too.”

The Original Cuddledry “Cuddledry towels are a brilliant hands-free accessory for bathtime with newborns. The ability to wear the towel to keep yourself dry and scoop baby up into it makes bath time less daunting.”

Sophie la Giraffe Cosmetics “Newborns have such sensitive skin that I prefer to use natural products on it. Having spent the last three years continuously keeping Taylor’s eczema under control I know how important it is to care for their skin. I’ll be trying these natural organic bath products from Sophie la Giraffe with the new baby. They look and smell amazing!”

Bumbo Changing Pad “The Bumbo changing pad is a highend changing mat that keeps baby safe and secure. From its soft polyurethane material to the integrated safety strap it’s a stylish. I’d love to upgrade our old plastic changing mats with one of these!”

HELLO HARRIET! Lisa will have her work cut out for her now, thanks to the arrival of Taylor’s new baby sister Harriet Willow Clarence, who arrived on the 21 December 2017, weighing 5lb 5oz.

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COLU MN I ST

THE UNOFFICIAL TOY ASK ANNA FAIR SURVIVAL GUIDE

In her latest column for Progressive Preschool, Anna offers some top tips which will help retailers and suppliers thrive throughout the next six weeks of back-to-back toy fairs!

themselves have R and R facilities (we’ll certainly be looking out for the massage stand at London Toy Fair again this year!).

Tip #2

Anna Taylor is a research assistant at Fundamentally Children, an organisation dedicated to helping children develop skills through play. www.fundamentallychildren.com

“

W

e’ve done a fair few Toy Fairs over the years, so we’re very familiar with the chaos of flying between Hong Kong, London Olympia, New York, Birmingham’s NEC and Nuremberg in the space of just six weeks!

Drawn from experience, here are our top tips to not just survive, but also thrive throughout the trade fair season...

Tip #1

Take it easy Fighting jet lag and needing to be in bed by 7pm is not the best way to get the most from the fairs; especially since a lot of the networking goes on after the shows.

So our first tip is to avoid spreading yourself too thin. If you’re going it alone, we suggest doing just one fair, but doing it well.

If you have a team, take it in turns with your colleagues to make sure everyone gets a break. We usually have staggered arrivals so some of the team can have a lie-in, and some of them can head off a bit early.

And finally, don’t forget to take the time to relax here and there - many hotels and even some exhibitions

Know who you’re talking to Quite often you’ll have chance meetings in the aisles, cafés and bars – if you have no idea who you’re talking to, your next biggest client could slip right through your fingers. Preparation is key; do your research before each show to help you confidently network wherever you find yourself.

Get an elevator pitch ready for just such cases; share this amongst your team so that everyone is pitching your company in the best possible way.

This is particularly valuable if you have brought in extra help (see tip #5) who may not be as familiar with your company as you are.

Tip #3

Be tech-savvy with business cards Carrying lots of paperwork and business cards around can end up messy and unorganised, and you risk losing important information.

Phones and tablets are your friend – there are lots of apps and websites that make capturing contact information a little easier, plus it saves having to

Top right: Look out for the Good Toy Guide signs dotted around stands – they’re our mark of approval!

Above: Networking is one of the most important parts of the fair season, so don’t burn yourself out during the day.

translate hastily-made scribbles and type out a thousand email addresses when you get back to the office. At the very least, snap a photo of the business cards you collect so you have a back up.

Tip #4

Source your own Wi-Fi This tip links with #3, if you’re planning to use an app or website that requires an internet connection to store all of those valuable contacts. Although there tends to be Wi-Fi available in the venues, it can be temperamental and painfully slow. Take a dongle, phone or tablet with 3G or 4G, just to be on the safe side.

Tip #5

Delegate You really need all the help you can get with toy fairs, especially at the beginning and end of the shows when it’s not ‘customer facing’, and you just need to get stands up and down. Plan to have extra people on hand at these key times.

We’ve found it extremely helpful to have trainees, office juniors or students on work experience around to help with odd jobs like keeping the stand tidy or getting drinks.

Keeping on top of all these little things really helps the day run smoother. It’s also a great opportunity for them to see another side of the business and experience the fun of the fair.

We wish you all the best of luck with this year’s toy fairs, whichever side of the stand you are on. Keep an eye out for the Fundamentally Children team who will be exploring the shows this year; Amanda and the team will be going between stands and you’ll also find us at the Women in Toys drinks event. Come and say hello, we always love to chat!”

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08/01/2018 11:40

S LEEP S OLU TI ON S

Sweet Dreams Essential for both babies (development) and parents (sanity), a good night’s sleep is one of the fundamental cornerstones of parenting. PPS takes a look at the latest products promising better bedtimes all round.

R

egardless of the parenting style (and there are many to choose from in 2018), everyone from the most relaxed and permissive parent to the most authoritarian will have one thing in common; the desire to make sure that everyone in the family has a good night’s sleep.

In recent years there has been a huge shift in children’s sleep habits, driven by changes in guidance and a rise in awareness around safer sleep practices. Key points include ‘back to sleep’ positioning, temperature control and the need for a firm flat mattress and clear cot.

According to Heidi Steel, marketing manager for The Gro Company, bedtime is also a key time for bonding between parent and child. “Sometimes it is the only time a parent is able to dedicate to their child in a busy day, so it is an absolute priority to get it right.”

Safety is of course a number one concern for parents, and a recent survey

Above: The bestselling Chicco Next2Me Dream is suitable from birth up until six months, and has 11 adjustable height levels which means it can be fitted to any bed.

Left: Love To Swaddle UP from Cheeky Rascals in the new Starry Night design.

has shown that over 99% of parents said they would buy a baby sleeping bag that meets the British Safety Standard over one that does not.

“Despite the economic downturn, safety is a major driver in parents purchasing choices when it comes to sleep products,” says Heidi, “and they are willing to spend a little more on a safer, higher quality product.”

The Gro Company’s hero product, the Grobag, is a much loved ‘must-have’ for parents. It is the only baby sleep Right: The Baby K’tan newborn swaddle and toddler blanket comes in a range of on-trend colours to complement a modern nursery.

Left: New Nordic Walks design from The Gro Company.

bag recommended by The Lullaby Trust and was the first to achieve the British Safety Standard. “We go to extraordinary lengths to make sure our Grobags are manufactured to the highest possible quality standards with innovative features, multiple togs and the very best premium fabrics,” Heidi explains. “The Grobag has won over 65 industry awards and an impressive 80% of parents perceive Grobags to be the safest brand of baby sleep bags.”

Also making a big stand in the field of children’s sleep habits is Cheeky Rascals, as founder Selina Russell explains. “Recent research has shown the strong link between sleep, children’s growth and development.

There are more safety factors to consider but family dynamics have also changed, making sleep an essential requirement for the whole family!”

Regulating temperature is one of those key safety concerns. “It’s essential that babies do not overheat,” says Selina, “while remaining warm and cosy enough to help ensure a safer, longer and more comfortable rest.”

Meeting the need for both a comfortable temperature and a comforting swaddle – which Selina describes as ‘one of the first items on many new parents’ shopping lists’ – is Love to Dream’s Swaddle UP WARM, which has an in-built quilted blanket for extra warmth in cool temperatures. It features the brand’s ionic design, encouraging baby to sleep in a natural position, while still allowing them to self-soothe. 

Wrap It Up Parents that want to swaddle are looking to find out how to do it, how long they should do it for and what they should use. The Baby K’tan newborn swaddle and toddler blanket offers parents a versatile product in a selection of on-trend colours in an innovative breathable stretch fabric which provides continuous airflow so the baby will not overheat.

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

“Thanks to its thoughtful design, the award-winning Swaddle UP stands out on shelves, encouraging customers to buy into the brand before baby is born and to continue using it throughout the early years,” says Selina. “This goes on to benefit retailers in both the short and long term.”

Taking a sightly different perspective on sleep is Summer Infant’s Joe Grey, who believes that it’s not children’s sleep habits which have changed; more parents’ attitudes.

“Increasing demands on parents – from work pressures to other commitments – mean that having to function on less sleep takes its toll,” she says.

Joe also points out that lack of sleep affects mood, with tired children more likely to be grouchy and misbehave, while tired parents are less likely to be patient and kind in the way they behave and respond to their children.

“Summer Infant is renowned for its expertise in developing products to support the bedtime routine and promote safe sleep,” says Joe. “We have a range of fantastic products, including the original SwaddleMe blanket, which has

a comprehensive range that adapts for every stage of a baby’s first two years.”

The swaddle range offers four different stages, for every age, from the newborn Pod right through to the Wiggle Blanket for two-year-olds. “The whole line has been expertly designed and tested to keep babies snug, safe and comfy overnight, “ Joe continues, “ while the staged approach often means repeat purchases.”

Victoria Taylor is the brand manager at East Coast Nursery and she agrees that there’s a lot of pressure around babies’ sleep right now. “As a new parent it’s easy to assume your baby is not sleeping enough and that you’re doing it wrong,” she says. “Really though, safety should be the paramount concern when it comes to sleep. As suppliers of cribs, cots, mattresses and bedding, it’s our responsibility to ensure we supply quality products that parents can feel confident using.”

Focusing on East Coast’s Carolina cot, Victoria highlights the fact that it is 20% smaller than a standard sized cot. The space-saving design means it fits easily in the parents’ room for the Left: The Lovenest from BabyMoov is a baby head positioner which was created by a pediatrician to prevent flat head syndrome.

Below: The hugely popular ewan the dream sheep from SweetDreamers has won a number of consumer awards and seen sales of over 700,000 units.

Above The SwaddleMe Wrapsack from Summer Infant allows older babies to have their arms in or out.

first six months – in line with those all-important safe sleep guidelines – before allowing the baby to move into their own room in a familiar bed.

Where the baby goes to sleep has been the subject of much discussion in recent years, with co-sleeping becoming increasingly popular in some camps and the subject of much derision in others.

Official guidance from The Lullaby Trust tells parents the safest way to co-sleep but emphasises that; ‘the safest place for your baby to sleep for the first six months is in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you’.

“With very young babies, parents’ major worry is naturally the risk of SIDS,” says Rachelle Harel, director of Little Chick London. “However, parents are also concerned that allowing their baby to cry for any length of time might be damaging and consequently they often disregard the risks of co-sleeping in order to ensure their baby doesn’t become distressed.”

Little Chick London’s Breathable Bedside Crib was inspired by the fact that there is so much evidence that co-sleeping with babies significantly increases the risk of SIDs and yet many exhausted, sleep-deprived parents are still willing to take that risk. 

Sweet Dreams SweetDreamers’ flagship sleep soother hit the market in 2010 and since then its popularity has skyrocketed, culminating in numerous award wins. The calming, low bass frequency heartbeat sounds and soft pink ambient glow, combine to make ewan the dream sheep an incredibly effective sleep soother.

Other products in the ewan range include the award-winning snuggly comforter and a new baa baa blankie which is launching in early 2018.

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Experience the fresh new range for Spring. Lovingly crafted by experts, with innovative new fabrics to delight parents and brighten up bedtimes. The Grobag is the only baby sleep bag recommended by The Lullaby Trust.

To find out more email trade.gro.co.uk or call 01392 347111

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S LEEP S OLU TI ON S

Above: Little Chick London’s Breathable Bedside Crib folds easily for storage, so is great for parents with limited space. Above right: East Coast Nursery’s Carolina cot features a space-saving design and measures in at 20% smaller than a standard sized cot.

Right: Angelcare’s AC517 video, movement and sound monitor offers digital audio, secure video and room temperature reports.



“The Little Chick London Bedside Crib is designed to ‘almost’ give the experience of co-sleeping, but without those risks,” explains Rachelle. “The crib height is level with the parent’s own bed mattress and the sides are made from breathable mesh, so that the baby is very close to mum, she can see and speak to him to soothe and reassure him, but he is contained in his own safe space.”

Bedside cribs have been increasing in popularity over recent years, with a wide range of options available for parents to choose from. Irene Stazi, the junior product manager for juvenile at Chicco, emphasises the importance of parents having easy access to their babies while asleep.

“Parents want to be able to reach their little ones to reassure or feed them, as well as being aware of their position and ability to breathe at all times,” she says. “Side-sleeping has many benefits for both baby and parent, including helping newborns adjust to sleeping patterns, making feeding easier during the night and encouraging baby-parent bonding.”

Chicco’s bestselling Next2Me Dream is a side-sleeping crib which attaches securely to the parents’ bed, allowing them to sleep right alongside their little ones without compromising their safety. It has a mattress 50% bigger than that of a traditional Moses basket and boasts a handy tilting function to aid with reflux and congestion. A recent Gold winner at the Mother & Baby Awards 2018 (in the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category), it can also be used in three different modes: side-sleeping, standalone or travel.

The sector has introduced a number of new innovations as it strives to meet babies’ needs, with products such as baby sleep pods/nests also becoming increasingly popular.

“We have seen increased interest in sleep and products in this category and I think, in part, this is due to the breakout success of some brands,” agrees Babymoov’s communication officer Anthony Rossi. “It has become fashionable to have a Sleepyhead or other similar brand, although ultimately of course it all is about the baby feeling comfortable, secure and cosy.”

While they might not sleep through the night, babies do sleep an awful lot in those early months and so are spending a significant amount of time

laying flat. “French osteopath Alain Gauthier has pointed out that flat head deformities have been on the rise since the advice to put babies on their backs to sleep,” says Anthony. “Parents just want the best for their babies, which is where our Cosydream comes into play.”

An all-in-one solution, the Cosydream prevents flat head syndrome and helps the baby feel more secure while also helping with reflux, digestion and discomfort.

“Retailers can feel safe recommending the Cosydream as countless reviews show that it really works,” he adds.

Another significant change to parents’ attitudes surrounding sleeping habits has come with the availability of sleep data via tech-ready baby monitors. “Technology has moved at such a pace that parents can now tap into the fine detail of their baby’s sleep cycle,” explains Hardenberg’s marketing manager Emma Dutton.

“Parents are technically savvy and thirsty for any information that benefits the wellbeing of their bundle of joy.”

Angelcare’s AC517 Video, Wireless Movement and Sound Baby Monitor is designed to allow parents to relax while the baby is sleeping, with realtime digital audio, secure video and room temperature reports allowing parents to respond to baby’s needs.

“Being able to monitor up to two months’ worth of data can help parents spot patterns and make individual decisions about the best way to improve their babies’ sleep,” says Emma.

“After all, babies are all different, so it’s not easy to categorise their sleep habits – expect the unexpected is perhaps the most sensible mantra!”

Below: Mummy Loves Organics sleep products are a safe and natural way of encouraging babies to sleep through the night.

Sleepy Scents A natural and organic approach, Mummy Loves Organics is a parent-focused gifting company which offers chemical-free scented products. Developed by a maternity nurse and sleep consultant, the super-safe products include a ‘Sleepy Baby’ reed diffuser which sets the scene in the nursery and a ‘Sleepy Feet’ foot oil which helps young children fall asleep and helps combat night terrors.

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nspirational thinking

Winnie The Pooh - Hug Me

NEW

This Disney cot bed and nursery set thoughtfully combines clean and contemporary design with the delightful addition of Winnie the Pooh, Minnie Mouse or Mickey Mouse illustrations.

As your child grows, learning to sit and stand, the mattress base can be lowered, with three base heights available in total, providing extra security and reassurance. The cot bed then converts effortlessly from a cot of the highest quality into a cosy and stylish junior bed.

Mickey Mouse

Minnie Mouse - Hearts

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www.obabytrade.co.uk 01652 641491

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WHAT’S NEW SLEEPING What’s new in the infant sleeping products sector SUMMER INFANT The new Liv Cam from Summer Infant is the perfect baby monitor for on-the-go families. The Liv Cam streams live video and audio to all major smart devices without the need for Wifi or a mobile phone service and, it comes with a free app for easy set up. Key features include a one minute video replay to see and share baby’s special moments, photo sharing, automatic black and white night vision, remote zoom, 3-4 hour re-chargeable battery and 76m range. The Liv Cam also comes with a suction cup mount, height adjustable arm and outer shell suitable for indoor and outdoor use – making it perfect for home and away.

Tel: 01442 505000 www.summerinfant.co.uk

GRO

CHEEKY RASCALS

Grobags have changed the way parents put their babies to sleep.

In its latest range of award winning Grobags, The Gro Company has introduced some new fabrics such as quilted jacquard, which is perfect for those parents looking to add a touch of luxury to their baby’s nurseries. Gro has also increased its range of lightweave Grobags in gorgeous designs that have been inspired by the latest Scandi trends.

Tel: 01392 347111 www.gro.co.uk

Love To Dream has thoughtfully tailored the Swaddle UP to create the ultimate sleeping position for newborns up to four months, enabling babies to escape to the land of nod peacefully.

The one of a kind, snuggly swaddling solution encourages little ones to sleep comfortably in the natural sleep position with their arms up. With two stylish new patterns in its original and award-winning swaddle solution, parents and little ones alike are sure to sleep peacefully.

Tel: 01730 895761 www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

2012 The newborn swaddle and toddler blanket from Baby K’tan is made of an innovative breathable stretch fabric, to provide continuous airflow so that baby doesn’t overheat while sleeping. As little one grows, the swaddle can be used as the perfect sized toddler blanket, nursing cover and so much more.

Tel: 01202 303777 www.babyktan.co.uk

BAMBINO MIO Bambino Mio is pleased to introduce its new bamboo swaddling blankets and new designs of its award-winning miosquares. There’s no need to sacrifice style or substance, as both the swaddling blankets and muslin squares are competitively priced and available in a range of gorgeous designs which coordinate with its other products, such as its reusable nappies. The swaddling blankets are made from 100% bamboo, and muslin squares made from 100% cotton, making these gentle and cosy fabrics the ultimate choice for baby. From mopping up spills to using as a burp cloth, or comfort blanket and so much more, its muslin squares and swaddling blankets are ideal for everyday use.

Tel: 01604 883777 www.bambinomio.com

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WHAT’S

HOT?

Progressive Preschool spoke to a number of independent retailers, to find out what’s been selling well across the preschool market.

Jayne Rees, owner, Eve’s Toy Shop, Llandeilo, Wales An award-winning traditional toy shop in West Wales CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Arts and crafts

Djeco

We stock a wide range of the Djeco toys.

Their arts and crafts sets are especially lovely and very popular with our customers.

Their products are always quite quirky, making them different to other brands.

Role Play

Le Toy Van

They do a lovely range of wooden pretend play toys. The pretend coffee machine is a favourite of our customers and mine!

Dolls

Lottie Dolls

Parents love these as they give a really positive outlook to children and encourage children to believe they can be whatever they wish to be!

Toy figures

Schleich

The detail these toys have is amazing and they are very often collected by the children so are very popular.

Djeco

Lottie Dolls

Lorraine Hunt, manager, Next Generation Pram and Nursery Centre, Worcester A nursery retailer with a large showroom selling a huge variety of brands.

CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Pushchairs

Venicci

Pushchairs which come as a package tend to be the most popular, with Venicci being a big favourite among our customers, as it’s reasonably priced and has great colour options.

Furniture

Silver Cross

We tend to sell mostly packages again rather than individual items, so the Silver Cross furniture sets are popular – especially when we have them on sale, they fly out of the shop!

Car Seats

Joie

If customers don’t get a car seat with their pushchair set then they tend to go for the Joie 360 spin. Its so simple to install and use and is a great price point.

Changing Bags

Babymoov

When parents look at buying a changing bag they look for something which is functional with lots of storage options.

Babymoov have some lovely options, which are great value as well.

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Venicci

Babymoov

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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WH AT’S H OT

Joe Broadbent, owner, Beautiful Bambino, Manchester A recently opened independent nursery store in Manchester CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Pushchair

Babystyle egg

The egg pushchair from Babystyle seems to be the one which a lot of our customers come in asking for. I think its because its sleek looking, plus it comes in loads of different colours. The Jurassic special edition range has done particularly well.

Car seat

Besafe

The Besafe Izi Go and the Izi Go Modular is popular for those customers who don’t buy a complete pushchair package. They are stylish and fit most pushchairs we sell so are easy for customers to create a travel system.

Bedding

Baby Gi

We think the bedding ranges we offer set us apart from other stores as we have something a little bit different on offer. The range from Baby Gi is made from good quality material and lovely colours, allowing parents to ensure the baby’s room is as stylish as the rest of the house.

Furniture

Obaby

Again we like to offer furniture which is stylish and customers tend to like this.

The Obaby ranges are very popular. As a new store we are finding our feet still, however we are hoping to expand on the furniture side of things in the future.

egg

Besafe

Obaby

Kate Austin, co-owner, Spotty Herberts, Bath An independent retailer selling clothing, toys and gifts.

CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Gifts

OMM Design

We stock a wide variety from this lovely Scandinavian brand, however the Nesting Dolls were our biggest seller by far, especially over the Christmas period.

Knitwear

Tootsa MacGinty

All of their seasonal ranges do well, however their knitwear and sweats for the winter do especially well. It’s a British brand which our customers like to see in the shop.

Soft Toys

Noodull

They do a lovely range of soft toys with really quirky characters in fantastic colours.

General clothing

Boys&Girls

This is another British brand and one which does some lovely prints, including their iconic star print which is always popular with our customers.

OMM Design

Noodull PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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PETER RABBIT and BEATRIX POTTER are trademarks of Frederick Warne & Co, a Penguin Group company. All rights reserved.

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