News Tobar issues swift withdrawal of slime after boron test results Tobar moved quickly to ensure the safety of consumers after tests revealed that a batch of one of its slime products contained excess levels of boron, by removing its entire range from sale. Retailers including Amazon, Claire's Accessories and Hawkins Bazaar withdrew the Unicorn Magic Poo and Magic Poo products. The comprehensive recall means those particular products will no longer be sent to stores, and any already on the shelves have been removed from sale. A spokesperson for Tobar said: "Following a deviation from the formula in the manufacturing factory, a batch of the product did not meet the EU requirement for boron. After one batch of the product was found to be non-compliant, Tobar instigated the withdrawal of all the products from sale, not just the affected batch. We liaised with our trading standards partners and they were happy for us to take this pro-active approach."
David Allan appointed Marbel managing director Hape International has appointed David Allan as managing director of its wholly owned subsidiary Marbel, effective from 1st August. David is well known in the toy trade; as well as working with key brands in the business for over 30 years, he has spent the last 12 years as director of the leading distributor DKL Marketing. “I shall be very sad to leave DKL Marketing as it’s been a great 12 years,” David commented. “However, this is a fantastic opportunity to take my next step as MD of an international company which is ready to invest and grow in the UK market. As well as distributing its own brand, Hape will give Marbel the resources to make it a major UK distributor, and I look forward to working with our UK retailers and new suppliers.” Purity Deng, head of the European Business Unit at Hape International, added: “We are delighted to have secured David Allan, who brings with him many years of experience in the UK toy market, and of managing a distributor. Marbel (soon to be rebranded) is key to Hape’s growth plans both as a brand and as a distributor of quality brands. With David on board, we are now ready for that growth.”
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Play and display Toy World spoke to Nigel Reynolds, managing director of N. Smith - the star of the July issue’s back cover - about how it’s innovative display and packaging solutions can benefit toy suppliers and retailers. Can you tell us a bit about N. Smith, and the services and products the company offers? N. Smith is a privately-owned UK manufacturer of high-quality temporary POS and display units, packaging solutions and cartons, with a wealth of experience in the sector. Having been established for well over 100 years, we offer a service that’s second to none, from concept design through to the finished product.
What sets N. Smith apart from other display and packaging solution providers? Our continued investment in cutting edge technology, combined with a highly experienced and skilled workforce, enables us to deliver a professional, tailored and economic service to our customers. At the same time, we take pride in retaining the close relationships we have built with our clients throughout the entire process, something we consider to be fundamental to our success.
What kind of display projects and challenges do you regularly tackle? We currently work with many toy manufacturers, largely providing in-store floor standing display units and countertop solutions for impulse purchase lines. We take on projects of all shapes, sizes and weights, developing units based on suggestions from customers’ marketing teams, our own creative input and experience, and the all-important store guidelines.
The face of retail is changing – how important would you say in-store display is to physical retailers at the moment? In-store temporary display is - as it always has been - at the forefront of product exposure and sales, from promotional or seasonal lines to impulse purchases. We’ve actually seen an increase in the usage of FSDUs recently, despite the doom and gloom portrayed in the news regarding the brick & mortar retail environment.
What will you be presenting at Autumn Fair? We’ll be showcasing our entire range of cardboard products (Hall 9 & 10, stand: 9G50-F51), from basic packaging to full-colour temporary in-store promotional displays. Also on show will be our new cardboard spinner range, which provides an economic, printable alternative to traditional metal displays. Visitors to the Retail Solutions section of Autumn Fair will be able to see how innovative, forward-thinking businesses such as ours can help retain and even enhance product saleability and exposure in this ever-changing retail environment.
How can companies begin working with N. Smith? Companies can contact us regarding any temporary display or packaging project. Whether it be an existing requirement needing a second opinion, or a brief that needs development from concept onwards, we would be more than happy to demonstrate our capabilities.
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