www.progressive-preschool.com
PPS takes a look at the recent happenings in the preschool world
The Baby Brand Battle
TOP STORY
Here Comes Harrogate! Inset: Harrogate International Nursery Fair is an essential visit for preschool retailers.
With just a few weeks to go until Harrogate International Nursery Fair takes place, the bumper show, taking place from 29 – 31 March, promises more than 180 exhibitors, over 300 brands, a full seminar schedule and a packed party programme. Visitors looking for new and exciting products at the UK’s only nursery trade show will be spoilt for choice, with 80 companies exhibiting at the show for the very first time.
CFF Takes Time Out
Childrenswear trade exhibition Children’s Fashion Cologne will not go ahead for its next edition, previously scheduled for 12 - 14 July 2015. The three-day event traditionally covers children’s, baby and maternity fashion. Find out more at www.cfc- cologne.com
Toy Fair Dates Are Confirmed
The BTHA has confirmed that London Toy Fair 2016 will be taking place from Sunday 24 January to Tuesday 26 January 2016. The BTHA and Olympia have been working hard to find a resolution to the clash of dates since finding out about Nuremberg not moving to its normal week at the beginning of February. To acknowledge that there may be extra cost and inconvenience for some exhibitors Toy Fair will be offering a number of discounts and extra opening hours are planned; from 8.30am – 6.30pm on Sunday and Monday and from 8.30 – 4pm on Tuesday. Majen Immink, head of Toy Fair operations and sales said; “Toy Fair is always run with exhibitors and visitors in mind both in terms of good service, providing a platform for sales and networking and at a reasonable cost to Toy Fair stakeholders - from across the industry. We all want to work towards a terrific event in 2016 and beyond.” Visit www.www.btha.co.uk/ toy-fair to find out more.
As well as providing the perfect buying environment, an informative free seminar programme will cover a number of topics including the latest market research information from GfK; an insight into grandparents’ buying power from Studio INTO; social media and digital marketing from Secret Pie and much more (the full seminar programme can be seen at www.nurseryfair.com). For the first time, organisers BPA will be hosting a free drinks reception straight after the show on Monday 30 March 2015. Sponsored by Progressive Preschool magazine, the after-show drinks reception will take place in the Royal Hall from 6pm until 8pm. Exhibitors and visitors are all welcome to come along, relax and network with industry colleagues. More information about the show can be found in our complete show preview, starting on page 51.
Mind The Bump One of the UK’s best-known and most widely used online marketplaces, Notonthehighstreet. com, has become the first sponsor of London Underground’s Baby on Board badges in an exclusive three year deal. The sponsorship deal will generate over £100,000 a year over the three-year contract and will form a key part of notonthehighstreet.com’s marketing strategy. Left: Over 130,000 Baby on Board badges are handed out for free each year.
Flair named as Disney’s best UK infant and pre-school licensee Toy company Flair has been named the UK’s Best Infant and Preschool Licensee at Disney’s annual licence awards night, in recognition of its hugely successful Doc McStuffins collection. “Doc McStuffins is a stand out brand within the Flair portfolio that goes from strength to strength,” said Nic Aldridge, marketing director. “2013 was a great launch year, which was improved upon with 24% growth last year. This is a wonderful brand to work with and we are delighted that Disney has acknowledged the effort that we put into making it a success.”
British parents are willing to pay for the reassurance offered by a well-known brand, a survey from leading parenting site BabyCentre revealed. Speaking to 5,000 mums across the UK in a bid to find the ‘top’ baby products in 18 different categories, the research showed that modern families are happy to invest in quality products. The results saw market leaders holding top positions in their categories – from cots to travel systems – with household names such as Maxi-Cosi, Fisher-Price and Bugaboo dominating key categories, indicating that parents are buying on the basis of a solid brand reputation. “There are so many baby and child products on the market, it can be a daunting task for any new mum to choose between them,” said Julie Michaelson, vice president of sales at BabyCentre. “In terms of insight, it’s clear from our survey that UK mums are willing to invest in well-known brands they trust, when it comes to buying baby equipment. A full list of winners can be seen at www.BabyCentre.com Above right: The Fisher Price Jumparoo won the bouncers/swing category.
Hamleys Moves To Mexico Leading UK toy retailer Hamleys has confirmed plans to open a store in Mexico City as it aims to strengthen business operations throughout Central America, adding to its existing overseas network across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. According to a report in The Telegraph, the toy retailer’s deal is part of a push to strengthen British business operations in Central America. Hamleys will be joined by luxury British car manufacturers Lotus and McLaren, who have both announced plans to open showrooms in Mexico City. Below: Hamleys adds to existing overseas network.
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