www.progressive-preschool.com MARKET LEADING TRADE MAGAZINES
March/April 2013
MARKET LEADING TRADE EXHIBITIONS
MARKET LEADING TRADE AWARDS
this month MARCH/APRIL 2015
Around this time of year, most trade press publications will be rejoicing in the thought that ‘show season’ is over. From Hong Kong to New York, with London, Germany and Birmingham in-between, the first few weeks of the year are a ceaseless tour of new product, hot gossip - and expanding waist-lines. It’s no rest for the wicked for a cross-category publication such as Progressive Preschool though. No sooner have we lost those extra ’show’ pounds and come down from the sugar rush, before we are off again; this time to Harrogate International Nursery Above: Rob and Jacqui meet Pip! Ahoy at London Toy Fair Fair, which is running from 29 to 31 March. The show is a fantastic way to spend a few days and boasting over 80 new exhibitors this year, it is once again a sell-out event, making it a mustattend for any retailer, nursery or otherwise. With the show floor becoming much more cross-category - mirroring how the retail market has also changed - it’s worthy of a trip from toy, gift, and apparel retail buying perspectives too. This action packed issue has a lot to get your teeth (or eyes) into; the Harrogate Nursery Fair preview, running from pages 50 to 82 will give you a taster of what you can expect to see at the show - when you’re not joining us for the Progressive Preschool exclusively sponsored drinks reception on the Monday night, that is. Taking place in the Royal Hall as the show draws to a close, this is the first time the BPA has brought the traditional Monday night party in-house, and we’re delighted to be a part of it. So no excuses, we expect to see you all there! The rest of this issue concentrates on a number of other different product areas, from traditional toys to slings and carriers. We also take a trip to the farm to find out exactly why our little darlings are so infatuated with everything that oinks, moos and is covered in mud. For those with more literary tastes, London Book Fair will be running from 14 to 16 April, and we’ve previewed the preschool portion of the show on page 31. We’re also delighted to have Hamley’s Stacey Dix featuring on page 25 with her ‘value of play’ input, it’s a must-read column which really does give interesting thought on exactly what the end product has to do to meet the real needs of a real child. With end-product in mind, the news-wires will soon start to ring with updates and alerts for the 2015 Progressive Preschool Awards. Already on target to be a sell-out event, this year’s celebration of preschool product and retail will be the biggest yet. At the time of going to press, news has broken that GfK Retail and Technology are signed up as headline sponsor, in good company alongside the line up of top-level firms who have pledged to once again support this important date in the diary. See you somewhere soon!
The Progressive Preschool Team
Jacqui Parr, Rob Willis, Judy Stevens, Ian Hyder, Jakki Brown, Warren Lomax Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP T: 020 7700 6740 F: 020 7607 6411 www.max-publishing.co.uk
Our editorial wordsmiths include: Fiona Pavely, Sue Marks, Michelle Board
@prog_preschool
Progressive Preschool is published by Max Publishing Ltd. Rob Willis - Publisher. Jakki Brown Editor-in-Chief and Joint Managing Director. Jacqui Parr - Editor. Fiona Pavely, Michelle Board and Sue Marks - Editorial Wordsmiths. Ian Hyder and Warren Lomax - Joint Managing Directors. Judy Stevens - Sales and Marketing. Tel: 020 7700 6740 Fax: 020 7607 6411 Email: robw@max-publishing.co.uk, jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk, judys@max-publishing.co.uk Copyright 2012. The publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text.
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