touchingbase
Toy Fair 2020
Amy Saunders UK general manager, Skyrocket Toys 2019 was extremely unpredictable and, as we head into 2020, I don’t believe it will get better anytime soon. With so much uncertainty still surrounding Brexit, exchange rates and consumer buying habits, you’d need a crystal ball to accurately predict how this year will shape up. I feel 2020 will be a more cautious year, from supplier investment to retail support. The fact is that we will all need to work together more closely, take risks together and work through whatever the year throws at us as a supplier/retailer partnership. This year, Skyrocket UK enters its first full year of trading; I can’t believe we’ve only been in business for six months. We launched in a difficult climate, but thanks to some great retail support we’ve got off to a successful start. That said, product is king, and Blume has really captured imaginations. 2020 will see truly magical extensions to the Blume range, plus the launch of three completely new and innovative brands.
Nick Saunders Sales director, Brainstorm Making predictions is very hard right now with the retail scene so fluid. We’re having another solid year and our export has been particularly strong, and we hope this will continue after Brexit - if Brexit actually happens? All we can do is make our offering as strong as possible, and that’s what we’re focused on. We’ll launch new products from our own brands, licences and distribution agreements at Toy Fair; I like what I see from my co-director Rosanne Kenealy and her development team here at Brainstorm. Of course, our marketing department will continue to support our brands with TV advertising, instore display/POS, PR and promotion.
Jamie Dickinson Marketing Manager, Playmobil Over the past 12 months, Playmobil has been continuing its broader entertainment focus, growing our properties through YouTube and television and working with some of the largest studios and agencies around. This is set to continue throughout the coming year, as we release specific ranges for the likes of Scooby-Doo, Back to the Future, Spirit Riding Free and Heidi, as well as new concepts in the Knights of Novelmore and the Everdreamerz. The UK toy industry continues to be an exciting sector. We’ll be working with our retailers, whether they are nationwide or local independents, to create in-store experiences which bring the Playmobil Universe to life. For all of us in the toy market, the opportunity (and challenge) is to continue to innovate as current and future generations enjoy our toys.
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Graham Canning Sales director, VTech I think it will be a slow start to the year, until consumer confidence returns. Having said that, VTech is continually investing in product development and marketing for both the VTech and LeapFrog brands. There are over 100 products being launched in 2020, including new categories, range extensions with entertainment support and technology innovation. We’re looking forward to sharing these with our customers at the London Toy Fair.