News Fence Club continues to raise valuable funds for children’s charities despite cancelled functions Toy industry charity organisation The Fence Club held its first-ever virtual AGM via Zoom before Christmas. Over 50 members managed to master modern technology in order to attend the virtual function, including new members Frankie Lisle (Lisle Licensing), Stuart Grant (The Entertainer) and well-known sales agent Ian Faulkner. During the event, a minute’s silence was held for three Fence Club members who passed away this year: Paul Cassidy, Phil Green and Les Nurse. Current chairman Philip Richardson agreed to continue as chairman for an additional year, in order to complete his chairmanship of the functions that had to be cancelled due to Covid. This means that Character Options’ David Bramford will have to wait another year to take on the role of chairman. In addition, a new general purposes committee was elected, including – for the first time – two female members: Flair’s Nicola Bergot and Jacqueline Taylor-Foo. Those familiar with the workings of the Fence Club will appreciate that this means the Club will have a female chairman for the first-time ever, within approximately five years. The Fence Club traditionally organises several functions throughout the year, at which its members and their guests meet up to enjoy good food and raise money for a range of deserving charities which help underprivileged children in the UK. Despite being unable to hold any functions since Toy Fair this year, the Club has continued to support its longstanding charity partners, although the absence of functions inevitably had a major impact on charity donations last year. An appeal for contributions from members at the AGM by charity secretary Joe Kissane, aiming to replace the donations that should have come from the Wall Members Lunch, Christmas Ball and Toy Fair Party, was met with a tremendous response. Over £51,000 was donated by members in a matter of days, in order to help the Fence Club continue the good work it does with its charity partners. If any other toy companies or individuals from the toy community, either here in the UK or across the world, would like to support the charitable work of the Fence Club, donations can be made via its Just Giving page.
Haba set for growth in UK market
Obituary: Glyn Davies
To build its presence in the UK toy market, Haba has appointed Amaroni as the British sales distributor for its toys and games. The German-based toy manufacturer plans to build on its presence in the UK toy market and has the partnership with Amaroni will be effective from the end of 2020. Over the last year, Amaroni has been the UK sales agent for Haba and will now take the next steps towards further business growth for Haba through enhanced nationwide representation. Established in 1938, Haba has come a long way from its roots as a wooden block toy manufacturer and currently has a presence in over 50 countries globally. Whilst wooden toys remain at the heart of the company's extensive range, the organisation has diversified its offering significantly and nowadays its catalogue showcases over 2,000 educational toys and games. Ongoing innovation and improvement deliver over 400 new products each year, and all bear the hallmark of quality, safety and sustainability of materials that Haba has a reputation for. Haba and Amaroni are both fully aligned in their priorities to offer quality toy products that bring joy, inspiration and creativity to learning, and it is of great importance to both organisations that this is achieved in a socially and environmentally responsible way. For further information, please contact Amaroni on 01205 260 384 or visit www.amaroni.com.
Toy World is sad to report that Glyn Davies passed away in Liverpool on November 20th, after catching coronavirus. Glyn had turned 70 in July. Glyn worked in the toy trade for many years as a rep and national account executive for several toy companies, including Blue Box, Rainbow, Mondo and Fisher Price. His final role of a long and distinguished toy trade career was at Bandai. Julian Boyers, former managing director at Bandai, commented: “I was deeply saddened to hear of Glyn’s death, which happened very quickly and unexpectedly. I had known Glyn for many years and made his acquaintance while attending numerous stock rooms and trade shows in our early toy careers. Glyn was quite an extrovert, always ready with a joke (I remember him turning up at Manchester airport, en route to New York toy fair, wearing a pair of flip flops, as if to go on the beach) or to recount a story. Together with a lively personality, this made him a natural salesman. Apart from his love for his family, his other lifelong interests were Tranmere Rovers and visiting the casino for a flutter at the tables. Glyn was another character that the toy trade will miss but never forget.” Our thoughts are with his family – his wife Liz, daughters Lisa and Rachael and granddaughters Amelia, Sophia and Emily.
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