16 minute read
Retail Matters
Retail
matters
Online4baby’s Managing Director, Christy Foster takes a look this month at the importance of bricks and mortar stores on our high street and their upcoming expansion plans.
Reflecting on the past month’s performance it is great to see the growing sales of travel high street, this strategic decision will ensure we are able to showcase our portfolio of brand partners in a sensorial environment. Naturally, a items. I think the world is very much retail presence will also provide a ready to get back out and about platform for our exclusive products, and this is definitely evident in the giving our consumers a real reason consumer behaviour we are seeing. to come into store. That’s why we From travel systems to
travel cots, it is nice to “think of our customers enjoying the sunshine and having some adventures with their little ones during the summertime.
Although consumers are purchasing online now more than ever, this does not mean you should ignore the benefits of the high street. Bricks and mortar will always hold value to the modern consumer, with perks such as being are looking to acquire a selection of able to test, try and feel the strategically placed retail stores products before buying; something ready for launch in 2022. If you have online is just not able to compete a suitable property and would like with. We are now looking to expand to discuss this further, please email Online4baby into the great British myself at cmf@online4baby.com.
We are now looking to expand Online4baby into the great British high street, this strategic decision will ensure we are able to showcase our portfolio of brand partners in a sensorial environment. “
Join our team:
We are rapidly expanding our Manchester based teams, currently recruiting for the following roles. ■ Senior Ecommerce Executive ■ Brand Marketing Manager Apply on LinkedIn Online4Baby
Opening physical stores is a crucial move for our industry. We have a responsibility to our customers to give them an opportunity to view products in person if they wish to do so. When selling products for little bundles of joy, we have to get it right. Safety products such as car seats involve a lot of thought behind the purchase. Factors including: harness height, harness tension, correct fit for their car, and more could be tested before the decision-making purchase to ensure the customer is entirely happy with the product they are buying. This leads to the customer less likely to return an item or require a refund, leading to an overall better customer service experience.
I’ve found that this month in particular it has been important to keep our offering refreshed with new stock. In the last 30 days alone we have added 72 new items to our website! We pride ourselves on our range of great quality products at prices that satisfy the customer. We will continue to expand our range and are keen to onboard brand partners who share our values of quality products for the best possible prices. This is the logical next move for Online4baby as we continue to maintain our position as one of the No.1 Independent Nursery Retailers in the UK. By expanding our offering we aim to bring a wider variety of products to our customers which will ultimately result in a convenient onestop shopping experience! If you are interested in joining us on our journey and would like to learn more about becoming an Online4baby brand partner please contact Jenny at jbrooks@online4baby.com.
A sense of normality has washed over the office this month. We have set our 2021 targets high, and as our business continues to grow so will our team. Investing in the future of our business is an exhilarating next step, and we are enjoying plenty of new faces around the offices. If you are interested in joining the Online4baby family please contact kduffy@online4baby.com.
Add a pop of colour
Sunshine or Mono? Ickle Bubba extends colourways for Dursley Nursing Chair
Building on the success of the Dursley Nursing chair, Ickle Bubba have revealed two new colourways for this modern rocking chair and stool; Sunshine and Mono.
Enabling parents to add a pop of colour to baby’s room, the Dursley nursing chair in Sunshine makes a real statement. Meanwhile, the Mono design allows parents to build their colour scheme around its slick black and white design. Featuring a soft textured woven fabric finish and armrest pockets to keep essentials close-by, night feeds have never looked so inviting.
darren.pumfrett@icklebubba.com
Perfect hat trick
Get ahead this summer with new baby sunhats from Splash About!
Splash About has launched a cute but ever so practical range of Legionnaire’s Hats. Lightweight and quick drying these sunhats are designed to be worn in or out of the water and because they are elasticated inside, they fit comfortably and well without slipping off.
The fabric of the hat provides UPF50+ sun protection and due to its inherent design, the longer fabric covers the vulnerable neck area, while the peak at the front protects baby’s eyes from the sun’s glare!
Available in two sizes; 1-3years and 3-6years in a wide range of
Splash About’s best-selling designs.
www.splashabout.com
Perfect rotation introducing Turn2Me
Graco continues to go from strength to strength as the brand reinforces its position in the UK market for producing quality gear at the very best price for savvy parents.
Turn2Me, Graco’s brand new Isofix rotating car seat that swivel’s 360° will get parents in a spin with its high spec safety features and superb comfort. Offering extended rearward facing from 0-18kg (birth to approx. 4 years) and forward facing from 9-18kg (up to 4 years), this car seat will grow from baby to child. Graco’s welcome addition to their car seat family is designed to be at an exceptional price with no compromise on safety or quality. It is no surprise that the seat sold out at its first consignment within two weeks of launch. Graco are now gearing up to make lots of noise with the re-stock coming back in. Watch this space! For more information, contact your account representative or email us on uksales@allisonbaby.co.uk
www.gracobaby.eu/uk/turn2me
supplier snapshot
This month we question some of the industry’s finest to find out more about current promotions/stock issues, new product launches and how some are currently managing rising costs within their business.
Jonathan Feingold UK DIRECTOR, INGLESINA
Are you currently offering any promotions/offers? Yes, for August we are offering the following great deal: Order at least any two Aptica or Aptica XT’s systems during August AND at least one of the gold award winning Quid² strollers, and we will give you a Back Pack or Day Bag to match the systems of your selection, FREE OF CHARGE worth up to £94 eacg at retail. Do you envisage any particular stock issues on the horizon? We are perhaps very fortunate making our best selling items in our own factory in the north of Italy only 40mins from Venice and so we are on a two week delivery schedule from factory to store. Do you monitor RRP online or in-store to assist everyone to be able to operate on a level playing field? We believe all our retailers need the full 40% profit margin we offer so they can make money and not be faced with all that time and effort at great cost and then have to price match the internet at some uncompetitive near worthless margin. We strongly back our retailers with all our efforts to make the most use of the beautiful displays we provide free of charge. With the current increase in shipping costs, how are you managing these within your business? We had a new price level following the cost changes from leaving the EU in January this year and are so are pretty uniquely managing to hold our prices at that level. The issue is as in everything, in that we don’t know what is next! Have you any exciting product launches on the horizon? Wow! do we have something beautiful and extraordinary that we are launching at Harrogate on our stand Q2 . This is quite simply the answer to the impossible conundrum all new mums face. How can you have a beautiful full-size pram with all the features yet be extremely light weight and ultra compact when easily folded with one hand! So, I personally invite you all to come and see the brilliant new answer! Hum, better make an appointment as we have so many people coming!
Holly Brewer
MARKETING MANAGER, ERGOBABY UK
Are you currently offering any promotions/offers? Our new Metro+ stroller and our baby carriers are a dream team for parents on the go, and in order to celebrate this duo we are currently offering consumers up to £60 cashback with the purchase of a promotional baby carrier (Embrace, Adapt, Omni or Aerloom) in combination with the ultra-compact and comfortable Ergobaby Metro+ stroller. Do you envisage any particular stock issues on the horizon? We don’t envisage any stock issues at this present time although the ongoing COVID-19 issue around the world may lead to longer than usual lead-times. With the current increase in shipping costs, how are you managing these within your business? Increased shipping costs from the Far East and extra costs caused by Brexit are generating pressure which may lead to increases in cost and retail prices over time, but we will allow time for the market to settle before making any pricing decisions. Have you any exciting product launches on the horizon? Our brand new Aerloom carrier is made to fit to parents’ daily lives, empowering them to live active, on-the-go lifestyles with baby, while still feeling like themselves. Through its FormaKnit fabric and streamlined design, this carrier redefines the way consumers think of comfort through fit, lighter weight, and airflow. Formaknit is made with 87% post-consumer recycled polyester, the equivalent of about 26 water bottles (with cap) per carrier. Adjusting from newborn to toddler (7-35lbs / 3.2-15.9kg), Aerloom offers three carry positions. It is also one of the lightest structured carriers on the market, weighing less than 1.5lbs (0.68kg) and is incredibly well ventilated. www.ergobaby.co.uk
50% off Noordi Family Facemasks Donna McCullough
MARKETING MANAGER, JOHNSTON PRAMS
Are you currently offering any promotions/offers? Johnston Prams and Buggies is currently running the following promotions: • for JANE we are offering Groowy and Groowy Nest car seat at 25% off; • the JANE Minnum and Matrix car seat have 33% off; • for Noordi 2020 models there is 10% off 2-in-1 packages; • all our facemasks are half price as well!
Anyone who is interested should contact: sales@johnstonprams.co.uk Do you envisage any particular stock issues on the horizon? At the moment we have adequate stocks. We plan well ahead through the year and are grand for the next quarter. Do you monitor RRP online or in-store to assist everyone to be able to operate on a level playing field? Everyone is given the same opportunities with regard to pricing to ensuring a level playing field. With the current increase in shipping costs, how are you managing these within your business? We may have to review our position on this in the next couple of months and review pricing in Q4. For now, it’s business as usual. Have you any exciting product launches on the horizon? The team at Johnston Prams and Buggies is in the process of creating a new brand of beautiful 100% cotton sustainable baby bedding called ‘Forrest’. We are really excited about this new range which fills a gap in the market for on-trend bedding that has been designed to compliment modern day nursery décor. The colours and designs are lovely! The GOTS labelled, ethically sourced range will be available at Harrogate. www.johnstonprams.co.uk
Julie Ebrey MANAGING DIRECTOR, HARDENBERG/ANGELCARE Are you currently offering any promotions/offers? All our partners are given offers on a bimonthly basis to help them to compete in the market, we are passionate about always working collaboratively, and believe it’s important to support the nursery trade sector, especially now as we know that new parents are starting to venture out slowly and feedback has shown that there is a lot of comfort gained from shopping locally and in a smaller environment where the store owner is really working hard to protect the shopper from any risks. Do you envisage any particular stock issues on the horizon? Working through the pandemic and providing stock on time has been a challenge for everyone in the industry. But we have a strong team managing our supply chain and we envisage a heathy stock flow in this new normal. This is helped by the fact that our manufacturing sites are dedicated to the Angelcare brand globally meaning we are in a good position to be guaranteed supply. Have you any exciting product launches on the horizon? Yes, we have several exciting new product projects in the pipeline that we hope to showcase later this year, so watch this space. www.angelcarebaby.com
BPA
notice board
Robert Anslow Managing Director
If your company is a member of the Baby Products Association and you are not currently receiving members’ e-bulletins with industry updates, but would like to, please email julie@b-p-a. org who will add you to the database.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), which is the US equivalent of the Baby Products Association, is once again sponsoring the US Baby Safety Month in September. This year, the JPMA is helping to educate parents and caregivers on the safe selection and use of baby products. It is also encouraging the wider community to become safety ambassadors through civic engagement.
Parents and caregivers have many responsibilities but keeping baby safe and healthy is a number one priority. Whether people are expecting a first baby, adding to a growing family, or becoming a grandparent, Baby Safety Month offers simple steps to keeping babies safe. By following guidelines, families will be equipped with the knowledge to create a safe space for babies to grow, learn and play.
The online guide provides practical support with basic advice regarding obvious hazards such as electrical sockets and blind cords; and not so obvious items such as dishwashers, hanging table cloths which can be easily pulled down; and poisonous plants. It also advises additional hazards when expecting a second or third child such as small parts from toys and a toddler’s ability to open doors, potty lids and cabinets.
The guide echoes the Association’s advice and recommends ensuring that all products purchased for a new baby meet current safety standards and to avoid buying second-hand products if possible. If second-hand goods are used, then it is essential to check that all of the parts are available, the product is fully functional and not damaged or broken and that it hasn’t been recalled. It also advises that not only the baby’s own home is safeguarded, but any home that it may visit regularly such as grandparents, or a babysitter.
There are four concise categories of the guide: Basic Safety; Bathroom Safety; Car Seat Safety and Safe Play Time – plus an informative video.
Get involved
The JPMA is encouraging both retailers and manufacturers to get involved with Baby Safety Week and offers a number of online resources to help spread the word. This includes a social media info guide, social media messages, social media images, an ambassador brag badge, educational videos, and a template press release.
It is also organising contests such as a Best Baby Photo Contest showing products being used properly and according to instructions; plus a weekly prize bundle with the JPMA. In the past the giveaway programme has received tremendous engagement and proves the highlight of Baby Safety Month among parents. Companies wishing to participate in the prize bundle giveaway can contact: achezem@jpma.org (no later than 15th August 2021).
Concept & Innovation
The deadline to enter the Concept & Innovation Awards is Friday 27th August 2021, so if you have an innovative new product idea (this could be something already in production, a prototype or simply a diagram) then don’t forget to enter. It’s free of charge and anyone can enter from companies already working in the sector, mumprenuers, to college and university students – the only criteria is that the product must not be launched to the market prior to Harrogate International Nursery Fair in October. Again, entry forms can be downloaded from the website.
Don’t forget to enter the awards
The Association is once again hosting the industry’s favourite trade awards at Harrogate International Nursery Fair in October. All exhibitors at the show are invited to enter, giving companies the chance to really make their products stand out from the rest at the show. Judges are all nursery industry experts and the criteria for excellence is based on safety, product functionality, consumer demand and value for money, among other aspects, giving retailers an expert opinion as to whether a product is considered a good one to stock. This year, there are nine categories to enter: Travel, Child carriers, Furniture, In the Nursery, Textiles & Soft Accessories, Baby Essentials, Safety, Toys & Educational and Best New Product. Entries will only be accepted from companies exhibiting at Harrogate International Nursery Fair from 17th to 19th October 2021. Entry forms can be downloaded from the website at www.b-p-a.org
Annual general meeting
The Association’s AGM took place at the beginning of July via Zoom with a healthy turn out for the meeting. Richard Bamforth has been welcomed as a new member of the Executive Committee. Working for DCUK, he brings many years of experience in the industry and has been a staunch supporter of the Association. Andy Crane of BabyStyle UK retains his position as chairperson, Marc Hardenberg of Majuma Ltd continues as vice-chairperson and Rachelle Harel of RHSM Group remains treasurer. Other members of the committee are Luke Burns, Selina Russell, Neil Slagel, Mitch Levene and Sonia Kelly providing a good mix of knowledge and experience from the company sizes and product ranges they represent.
All members of the Association’s Technical Committee retained their places with Philip Kelly of Shnuggle welcomed as a new member and Ian Short of Turner Bianca replacing Julie Pentney following her resignation from the company.
A full copy of the AGM minutes is available for all Association members, so if you haven’t received yours, please email Julie Milne at: julie@b-p-a.org
