FEBRUARY 2019 ISSUE 5 VOLUME 22
contents the team Editor Penny Franks penny@lemapublishing.co.uk
Ad Manager Christine Contreras christine@lemapublishing.co.uk
Production Director
Re g ul a r s
FEBRUARY 2019 ISSUE 5 VOLUME 22
Contributors
News file Retailer Pro 10 p Talking Sho 14 apshot Supplier Sn 18 cts New Produ 48 roducts The Baby P 50 n Associatio
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Managing Director
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Chairman Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk
Ross Hewitt ’P’ is for Planned, Portable & Personal Emails. Ross Hewitt takes a look at why.
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The Insights People This issue Jenny Kieras takes a look at the importance of loyalty to develop sustainable businesses
Circulation Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk
Barking Mad John Barker talks a cautionary tale this month after experiencing first hand how our justice system works.
Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk
Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk
Rainbow Designs Anthony Temple gives retailers a heads up on what to look out for in the infant plush sector.
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Intelligent Retail David Fairhurst runs us through On-Page Optimisation for eCommerce in 2019.
Cover Story
Lema Publishing Ltd 1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930
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Shnuggle Taking a look at the latest innovation to market - the Shnuggle Air.
www.nursery-today.co.uk
Features 22
Bathtime & Accessories
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Nappies & Toilet Training
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Meet the Newbies
editor’s letter www.nursery-today.co.uk Twitter: @nurserytodaymag Instagram: nurserytoday he countdown has begun - it’s now less than six weeks until we experience the doors to the Harrogate International Nursery Fair opening. For those who may still be ‘sitting on the fence’ deliberating whether to attend, this year is set to excel, with many leading brand names having taken the decision to exhibit. Within the halls you will find Joie, Nuna, Graco, Obaby, BabyStyle, Uppababy, Hauck, Redkite, Bebecar, Bugaboo, Venicci, Peg Perego, Cosatto, Slumberland, Silvercross, Beaba, Microlite, Laessig and
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Cheeky Rascals, to name a few, which for those who felt brand names are not attending, you have been proven wrong! On top of this, there are plenty of new companies exhibiting this year, providing you with fresh ideas, new product ranges and perhaps that little something for your store or website which could set you apart from your competitors. By not attending you will miss many opportunities, for example, show offers that are only available to those that visit, first hand demonstration of new product launches, gaining a flavour of what’s up and coming and of course mixing with like minded people to discuss current topics and swap ideas and thoughts on our industry. Never under estimate the value of networking. Everyone who is anyone in the nursery industry and is serious about their business will be in Harrogate. Experts will be giving forecasts and information about
Looking for bathtime products - turn to page 22.
the UK nursery industry, consumer habits and trends which can help you plan for a successful future. For those who feel that perhaps it is too expensive, not only in monetary terms, but also by taking the time out of your store, Harrogate is the only trade show in the UK where you can see brand new products launching to the market for the first time. While you are manning your store, your competitors will be placing orders for the must have trending products that customers will be actively looking for in the coming months. As our only UK nursery trade e event, it is imperative to be in a attendance. This show has always g given new companies, who offer s something new to the market, a s superb platform to launch their product ranges and who could become the ‘next must have’ item for independent retailers and consumers alike. We feature some of those new companies in this issue, turn to page 38 to ‘Meet the Newbies’. For companies wishing to participate at Harrogate International Nursery Fair this year who may not have already booked their space it would be wise to contact Adrian Sneyd to discuss your options. You can contact Adrian either by phone or email. Telephone: 01902 880906 or Email adrian@nurseryfair.com. This year’s event will represent baby business as its best! Adrian Sneyd, show organiser said: organiser, “Nursery retailers said that if major brands return to the show, they will definitely be visiting to see what new products they have to offer. We now need everyone in the industry to vote with their feet to ensure that the UK‘s nursery industry is firmly on track for a successful 2019.” And he’s right - time to start voting! Registration is now open. Visit www.nurseryfair.com for more information and to pre-register your attendance online to make your visit as smooth as possible. Also if you are an exhibitor at Harrogate this year and you
haven’t already done so, then contact Christine Contreras on 01442 289936 or email: Christine@lemapublishing.co.uk to discuss marketing opportunities that may still be available, whether this be through our Harrogate Preview in the next issue or the official Show Guide. Finally, you will notice that our front cover this month features Shnuggle. In what was a record year for Shnuggle, 2018 not only saw multiple award wins, company growth through export, but also team expansion and moving into their very own warehouse, all while the Shnuggle team were also working hard to bring their latest innovation to market. You can read all about it by turning to page 12!
Get to the bottom of it, page 32.
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news Expansion of award winning g KIDFIX range The team at Nursery Today were delighted to receive a full demonstration of the n new KIDFIX2 R and K KIDFIX2 S car seats, which aare now available to order, when Britax Römer’s Jo w S Steventon (Marketing M Manager UK & Ireland) and Mark Bennett (European M S Senior Training and Technical Manager) paid a T vvisit to their offices. The new Group 2,3 car se join the award-winning seats h highback booster KIDFIX ra range. The KIDFIX2 R and i 1 child hild seats suitable i bl ffor children hild KIDFIX2 S are 22-in-1 in the Group 2/3 car seat stage (3.5 to 12 years of age; 15 - 36 kg; up to 150cm in height). They come with state-of-the-art safety features and the option to remove the backrest for children above 135cm for added flexibility. The KIDFIX2 R and KIDFIX2 S are highback boosters up to 150cm in height, modelled after Britax Römer’s popular KIDFIX XP and KIDFIX XP SICT car seats. The high backrests come with softly padded side wings for comfort and side impact safety. The upper and lower belt guides ensure the seat belt is correctly positioned, while the SecureGuard helps protect the child’s abdominal area by adding a forth contact point to a three-point seat belt. The KIDFIX2 S comes with additional Side Impact Protection (SICT) which offers superior protection to a child in the event of a side collision. Between the ergonomic headrest and V-shaped backrest, children will travel in cosy comfort from day one. The unique, V-shaped backrest provides a spacious fit for children of all sizes. For children above 135cm, parents have the option to remove the backrest of the highback booster for instances when additional flexibility is required. The booster cushion of the KIDFIX2 R and KIDFIX 2 S comes with cutting-edge safety features extensively tested in Britax Römer’s crash test centre. A unique belt clip optimally positions the vehicle seat belt directly over the shoulder of the child for the duration of the journey. The booster is installed using ISOFIX connectors and comes with the SecureGuard feature to ensure the lap belt is correctly positioned over the pelvic bones of the child. European regulations followed in the UK require children to sit in a car seat until they are 135cm or 12 years of age, whichever comes first. The KIDFIX2 R and KIDFIX2 S are now available to order, starting with an RRP from £150. For more information, please visit www.britax-roemer.co.uk
A sad goodbye: Trish Cartwright – 1961-2019
It is with great sadness that Hauck have to announce the sudden death of their colleague Trish Cartwright. Trish joined the Hauck team in 2004 and has been a key member of the Customer Service Team ever since. She will be greatly missed by everyone at Hauck and by many of their customers who came into contact with her on a day to day basis. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this sad time.
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King of incentives
Premium British baby toiletries brand Baby Kingdom has launched some exciting packages to incentivise its growing base of retailers and stockists. The Baby Kingdom range, which is manufactured and formulated in the UK, includes a baby shampoo, 2-1 hair & body wash, body cream, nappy cream and talc free baby powder. The company is currently establishing partnerships in Europe, Asia and Middle East. The business is now offering retailers free stock on minimum order quantities giving stockists the opportunity to offer enticing deals to their customers. Current promotions include a ‘Buy 12, get 3 Free’ deal and “Buy 18, get 6 Free” package. Tel 01489 781979 Web: www.babykingdomcollection.co.uk
SweetDreamers Shepherd its Global Flock Joining the Dream Team this January, SweetDreamers welcome Tanya Speakman in a new role as International Sales Manager. Web: www.sweetdreamers.co.uk
Obaby announces Brand Ambassador Obaby, are delighted to announce television personality, business women and Celebrity Mum of the Year winner, Amy Childs, as the new official ambassador and face of the brand. Obaby have become a household name for nursery furniture with award winning collections including its most recent Stamford sleigh range. This strong partnership sees the brand take its next steps in positioning itself at the forefront of the market as it introduces new collections which are ever evolving to the needs of their customers. Amy Childs said, “I am honestly so excited to be the face of such a fantastic and trusted brand. The furniture is amazing quality, useful for all parents and children alike, and is so versatile that it will complement any child’s nursery. It’s amazing. I have had for my Polly, their furniture from since she was born and it’s been great, I can’t wait for you to see the exciting plans we have for the year ahead.” Tel: 01652 641491 Email: info@obaby.co.uk
Hippychick crowned best SME at South West Business Awards The best SME in the South West Award was collected by Co-Managing Director of Hippychick, Jeremy Minchin and coincides with Hippychick’s celebration of its 20th year in business in 2019. Hippychick was also a finalist in the Employer of the Year Awards category. Hippychick, a £3.5 million turnover business, founded by Julia Minchin twenty years ago with its flagship product the Hippychick Hipseat, now employs 17 members of staff and distributes 1300 product lines, many of which are exclusive to Hippychick in the UK. Commenting on the award win, Jeremy Minchin said: “It’s been tough for the last couple of years with the market uncertainty surrounding Brexit and this continues to have a damaging impact on our business. But we are weathering the storm and have a fantastic team of people to help us navigate through it. It’s great news to win this award not only in our twentieth year, but amidst so many gloomy announcements about business prospects in the UK. Hippychick has been based in Somerset for the past twenty years. We intend to remain here and continue to be part of the UK business community for many more years to come.”
NEW
Silicone Self-Feeder
Web: www.hippychick.com
Media spotlight for Taf Toys and Shnuggle Taf Toys and Shnuggle were thrilled to spot their products on the debut episode of Spencer, Vogue and Baby Too. The gorgeous Taf Toys 3-in-1 book was spotted on baby Theodore’s changing table. The double sided soft book is brilliant for newborns due to the monochrome design on one side and for when baby is slightly older, he can enjoy some tummy time with it too! During Vogue’s first night out since Theodore’s birth, Spencer was left home alone to bath baby and was thrilled with how chilled he was in the Shnuggle bath, clearly demonstrating how stress-free bathtime can be as Spencer was able to use both hands to wash and interact with his son. For more information on both products featured, please contact:
A berry good idea! Introduce your little ones to whole, fresh foods safely.
amy@halilit.co.uk / sarah@shnuggle.com
Another win for Childhome Childhome wins the “Best Of The Fair” award at the Baby Products Fair in Hong Kong for its high chair with swivel function: the Evolu ONE.80°. “The demand of European products is growing al throughout Asia. This recognition is very important for us.” Says Cédric Rodrigues, International Sales manager at Childhome. The family owned company from Belgium that have designed and delivered baby products for over 34 years have already won multiple prestigious awards for this high chair: the Baby Innovation Award in The Netherlands, Kind und Jugend Innovation Award and Consumer Award in Germany, the Top Choice Award from Baby Maternity Magazine in Nevada (USA) and the JPMA Innovation Award in Washington DC (USA) and are thrilled to be able to add this further accolade to their trophy cabinet.
For life’s little adventures info@oxouk.com www.oxototuk.com
Web: www.childhome.com
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news Feeling plush As we leave behind this year’s busy and successful trade show season, Anthony Temple, Managing Director of Rainbow Designs, the Home of Classic Characters, gives retailers a heads up on what to look out for in the infant plush sector in the coming months. 019 has got off to a flying start with many of the toy suppliers for the nursery trade exhibiting at the early year fairs. Our new collections and line extensions have been extremely well received and we all had a great time at our Very Hungry Caterpillar themed tea party at Toy Fair. The tea party was to celebrate the momentous 50th anniversary of Eric Carle’s evergreen brand and the launch of our new ‘Tiny and Very Hungry Caterpillar’ collection, featuring nursery toys for the newborn to 18 months age range. When I think about what is on the horizon for us, one aspect that nursery retailers may wish to keep in mind, and may not always be on their agenda, is the number of evergreen brands with high profile movies that are premiering this year. For many of these there will be infant product available alongside these blockbuster films. For example, we have the Disney Baby Dumbo, Disney Baby Simba and Toy Story collections that both feature nursery toys including Ring Rattles and Comforters as well as plush toys. There are also some key gift buying dates fast approaching including Mother’s Day and Easter, so now is a good time to be seeking for those gifts that are fit for the occasion. The Guess How Much I Love You range, for example, offers perfect gifts not only for baby but also from baby to mum. There are also many cute bunnies out there that make ideal nonchocolate gifts for little ones including our own Peter Rabbit, Miffy and the Large and Little Nutbrown Hares, so keep a look out for those products that are going to fulfil the gifting opportunities and enhance sales this spring.
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New President & Managing Director Britax Römer has announced that Erwin Wieffering will assume the position of President & Managing Director, Britax Römer Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Erwin Wieffering is a seasoned professional with 22 years of experience in general management, marketing and commercial leadership assignments covering European and global roles. He recently held the position of Global Chief Marketing Officer and executive team member of Verisure/Securitas Direct. He was one of the key architects behind a major turnaround in the home security industry, tripling the penetration and setting new standards in customer satisfaction. Previously, Erwin Wieffering spent 18 years at Procter & Gamble and Gillette, leading the beauty, health and grooming businesses. Web: www.britax-roemer.com
Bravado Designs to Launch in Selfridges Platinum award-winning maternity and nursing lingerie brand, Bravado Designs, is thrilled to announce it will be launching five of its bestselling designs at the leading department store, Selfridges. Web: www.bravadodesigns.com
Face of Peg Perego Celebrating its 70 year anniversary in true Italian style, Peg Perego is looking to extend its family by launching a campaign to find its first ever UK brand rep. The much-loved nursery brand, based in Milan, is seeking a new mamma or mamma-to-be (or papa!) to showcase its range of award-winning products throughout 2019. With a sense of style, sophistication, a hint of fun and a strong sense of family, the new ‘Face of Peg’ will epitomise the Italian brand in every way. They will be social media savvy because the campaign will document the brand rep’s parenting journey online at each new milestone. In return, the ‘Face of Peg’ will be kitted out with Peg Perego products for their bambino to try out. Web: www.pegperego.co.uk
The Dadsnet Toy Awards 2019 is open! Proudly sponsored by The Entertainer Toy Shop, The Dadsnet toy awards are open for entries! They celebrate the very best baby and children’s toys on the market and offer brands the chance to have their products tried and tested by dads. Visit www.thedadsnet.com for further information.
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smoothest of swivels meet i-Spin 360™ i-Size 40-105cm, )19kg A new i-Size certified, 360° pivoting protector usable rearward from birth to 19kg, and forward facing from 15 months. Simple Swivel™ for one-hand smooth spins, auto-engaging Guard Surround Safety™ side impact protection and Smart Ride™ lock-off ensure the utmost safety and the easiest of function.
For more information and all sales enquiries, please contact Joie on 01889 808 900 or email: uksales@joiebaby.com
Share the joy at joiebaby.com
retail
PUSHCHAIR EXPERT
Expansion for the experts Nine years ago Pushchair Expert launched, now they have gone that one step further with the opening of their store Pushchair Expert the Shop. This issue we had the pleasure to question Founder Jo Studholme to find out more.
parents. The time had come for me to move away from sitting behind the computer to talking to actual people.
Since opening your doors in November, what has been the initial reaction by consumers?
The reaction has been phenomenal - we could not be more pleased. The overriding message from our customers has been, ‘why didn’t you do it earlier?’, ‘I wish you had been around when I had my other children’, ‘Lincolnshire needs a replacement large store now that Kiddicare has all but disappeared’. We offer consumers the opportunity to come and see everything under one roof and learn about products they do (and don’t) need, without the hard sales pitch.
What was the reason behind the location of the store?
“ Our exp er ien ce in th e nu rsery in dustry le ad s w h at w e deci de to stoc k. We are n ot co m in g to reta il w it hout p revi ous kn ow le dg e. ”
Two fold - it’s where the digital part of the he business is based, close to where we live and, importantly, it is a big space with ample parking and easy access. In our town we have a Halfords to buy car seats and then, apart from Baby Events at supermarkets and Argos Click and Collect, purchasing pregnancy and baby products is tricky. You certainly can’t see, touch, feel and test drive anything close to the range we have locally or in the wider vicinity.
Pushchair Expert is a known name in the nursery sector, you recently opened the doors to Pushchair Expert the Shop - what was the inspiration behind this? It has been at the back of our minds for a while, and increasingly manufacturers were asking whether we had thought about it or if we would do it, saying that they generally thought it was a good idea. On a personal level, I LOVE nursery products and, as an ex-teacher, I love talking to parents and parents-to-be and helping them through the exciting but daunting journey of becoming 10
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How do you manage your floor space?
We currently have 4,000 square feet across two open-plan areas. One area is dedicated to wheels and seats with a pushchair test track, the other area is devoted to safe sleep, baby wearing and all the other items you need, such as highchairs.
How do you ensure that your team are knowledgeable across the variety of products that you stock? We have entered retail with a large amount
of both experience and product knowledge. We have also reviewed products throughout the nursery industry through our sister site, Mumii. Having run the Best Baby and M Toddler Gear Awards for years, we have To good hands-on knowledge of products and go understanding of what different parents are un loo looking for. New staff will undertake in-house training and all the training the inmanufacturers can offer. m
W What type of customer service do d you offer?
W hope and strive to offer the best We customer service possible. It is a personal c service se for anyone walking through our doors d that we extend where practical to those t buying online. We offer loan pushchairs p if a customer has a problem and a we will store products until baby’s arrival is imminent. We also offer private a consultations c either by phone or in person if i required. We recently provided a one-to-one o consultation for a celeb (unfortunately I can’t name her - but she’s a (u regular on television as an actress and singer in a group!).
You offer a price match service, how does this work for you? Yes, we do offer a price match guarantee and will always aim to be competitive in the market. We have to price match as customers in this market expect it. It is often the first question they ask. However, we have no intention of leading price reductions beyond any available special offers as this is in no one’s best interests.
How are you currently bringing awareness to your store? We are building this slowly with a very layered approach. It started with a social media presence, including some limited targeted marketing, and we intend to build from there using our companies’ strength in video production and digital advertising.
When will your website be launched? Will you be selling the same products in your store that will be available via your website?
The website has soft launched and we are still working on it. Building such a large online store from scratch is a tall order so there is still a lot to do. Our focus right now is to build the bricks and mortar arm of the business. Once we are content that all the logistics are in place to scale, this is when we will start to focus on the online retail side.
How do you decide which products to stock?
Our experience in the nursery industry leads what we decide to stock. We are not coming to retail without previous knowledge. But if we didn’t have that insight into the industry, I think it would be a hard market to crack in the current climate!
Since opening, what has been your hero product category?
It has to be wheels and seats - it’s what we are known for. I think that our confidence and knowledge when demonstrating and talking about these product areas shines through. After all, it’s what we have been living, sleeping and breathing for the last 10 years!
What about consumer trends, is there anything in particular that you feel
will trend this year?
Wheels brands bringing out their own range of car seats in colours matching their pushchairs seems to be getting some traction with our customers. Making their choice simple helps. This seems especially powerful when built into a manufacturer-derived bundle.
Have you received strong support from your suppliers, or is there anything more they could do?
I have to say that the support has been amazing. We are lucky as we already had great relationships with all the brands we are stocking.
What has been your largest challenge since opening?
Scaling at a rate that we can cope with is something we are working hard at as this is key when looking to maintain the customer service level we are aiming for. Moving into the online world rather than just concentrating on bricks and mortar is perhaps the most challenging as we are obviously a little late to the party.
Finally, are there any further plans on the horizon?
Yes there certainly are. The website will come next but we are already working on extending the showroom even further to increase the range of brands and product groups.
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cover story Shnuggle
Breath of fresh air In what was a record year for Shnuggle, 2018 not only saw multiple award wins, company growth through export, team expansion and moving into their very own warehouse, but the Shnuggle team were also working hard to bring their latest innovation to market.
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ollowing extensive research, including focus groups with parents and parentsto-be, there seemed to be huge awareness around materials used, breathability and overall safety of sleep products for their baby, plus a real need for longevity of product. More often than not, a strong emphasis is placed on baby safety, closeness and comfort for first bed options. As baby is still so young when crib-to-cot transfer is made, parents are left feeling anxious as the same needs that were there when baby was first born are still very much present until baby is around two years old. With this in mind, Shnuggle set about delivering a vision to bring a unique sleep product to the market for baby which focuses on safety, breathability breathabilit and longevity that offers the design benefi ts parents are asking for. b The Th Shnuggle Air, the only bedside crib-to-cot from birth to beyond, crib launches at retail on March 4th is la without doubt the brand’s biggest w project to date. The Shnuggle Air combines all the key features of baby’s first bed to provide a safe, close and cosy sleep space from birth, and is uniquely designed to grow with baby; converting to a stylish cot and extending the safety and comfort for toddlers up to approximately two years of age. Designed with breathability at its core, the dual view, mesh sides help to maximise airflow as si well wel as allowing parents to keep a watchful watch eye on baby. Extremely versatile, versatile The Shnuggle Air has seven height adju adjustments to fit most bed heights
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and attaches securely and easily to most standard bed frames. The uniquely designed airflow mattress has a hypo-allergenic fibre core which is 50%* more breathable than standard foam mattresses, helping to reduce the risk of baby overheating. The Shnuggle Air also uses baby safe, hypo-allergenic fabrics which can all be completely removed and handwashed. As well as helping to maximise breathability, the Shnuggle Air features a gentle incline option to help ease colic and reflux as well as a zip down side to easily feed or comfort baby during the night. The storage hammock underneath provides handy storage space for those night-time feeding and changing essentials. In a choice of two beautifully neutral fabric colours – Dove Grey and Stone Grey - to
We wanted to design the best “ bedsi de crib on the market and spoke
complement any nursery or master bedroom decor, the Shnuggle Air is easy to assemble and can be used as a bedside crib or standalone, providing the perfect solution for parents who want safety, quality and comfort for their baby right up to cot-to-bed transition. Helping to extend the life of the Shnuggle Air Bedside Crib, the Shnuggle Air Cot retains all the safety, comfort and style of the crib, whilst helping to ease baby’s transition to a cot and into their own nursery with a familiar and safe sleeping environment. The Shnuggle Air Cot Extension Kit easily extends the crib by adding a few frame extensions, larger bed base and fabrics. Add the Shnuggle Air Cot - Airflow Mattress (sold separately) to complete baby’s new cot. “We wanted to design the best bedside crib on the market and spoke to lots of parents about what is important to them. We focused on safety, breathability and creating a safe sleep product that would last. We’re really proud of the Shnuggle Air and can’t wait to see lots of pictures of cosy babies sleeping soundly.” Sinead and Adam Murphy, Co-Founders, Shnuggle. Adding the Shnuggle Air to the portfolio for 2019 is certain to add to the company’s growth, opening up new opportunities around the globe. The product range is currently being sold in over 40 countries worldwide with Mexico, Italy and Russia being the newest members of the Shnuggle distribution network. Closer to home, the strength of the Shnuggle business and brand continues to expand the UK business and with the Shnuggle Air in particular, the team will be working with carefully chosen partners and will be supporting retailers with training
to lots of parents about what is impo rtant to them . We focused on safety, breat habil ity and creat ing a safe sleep product that would last.
materials, in store displays and resources. Shnuggle continue to be one of the leaders in making baby’s first years a safe, relaxing and fun experience. The innovation and design they bring to life within the Sinead & Adam Murphy, Co-Founders product range is second to none and is a proven concept, loved by parents and babies alike, all around the world. With even more product launches planned throughout the year and beyond, For more information and to Shnuggle are showing no signs of slowing down please contact and the launch of the Air is a true indication of the company’s passion, dedication and care in making sarah@shnuggle.co.uk family life that little bit easier.
”
The Shnuggle Air Bedside Crib has an SRP of £199.95, with the Shnuggle Air Complete Sleep System at SRP £320.
order
or visit www.shnuggle.com
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talking shop This issue speak to established independent nursery retailers to find out their views for the year ahead and what activity they will be running throughout 2019.
Amanda Heppel
A3 BABY BARN
How will you be driving awareness to your store or website this year? Most of our new customers come to us via word of mouth or from links from suppliers websites so our website is a “Shop Window” and encourages customers to come and experience our in-store service. We strongly emphasise the need to try before you buy and promote the fact that customers can park right outside the door to try prams in their boot and fit car seats. Will you be running any specific social media campaigns? We use Instagram and Facebook and we have a weekly “Feature Friday” slot which is very effective. This is used to either promote a new product or once a month we run a competition with a free give away. Do you feel there will be a particular product category that will perform well for you this year? For 2019 I think prams and car seats will again be the main product categories for us as customers still want expert advice and help when making these big purchases.
Susan O’Rourke
ANN’S PRAMS NURSERY & BABY CENTRE How will you be driving awareness to your store or website this year? Due to changes in business I have been working hard on my website to improve it along with my Facebook page as I feel this along with customer reviews and feedback is the way to advertise your services to the general public. Will you be running any specific social media campaigns? I plan on running a few Facebook campaigns in the next year pushing the sales and importance of extended rearward facing car seats and all its benefits and safety data, along with off road three wheelers due the fact we live in a very rural area and Mountain Buggy, Out n About and Jane have supported us with their amazing service and offers. Do you feel there will be a particular product category that will perform well for you this year? The product categories that work very well for us are extended rearward facing car seats, high end group 2/3 car seats and off road and running pushchairs as we take the time to inform customers of their benefits and get the right product for their needs.
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KID-NAP
Debbie Brown
How will you be driving awareness to your store or website this year? This year I will be driving awareness to my store by using Facebook for monthly competitions and giveaways. We also use this for promoting new products showing videos and demonstrations, offers in store and up to date information on car seats, travel systems, pushchairs and lots of other nursery essentialss and gifts. I also use Instagram, our website and we run an advert each month in our local Magazine (Dumfries & Galloway Life). Will you be running any specific social media campaigns? We are planning on running a Car Seat Safety campaign this year. We will be offering free car seat checks to all if anyone is unsure if their seat is correctly fitted. We will be creating demonstration videos of lots of different kinds of seats to show people how they work. We will also offer advice for next stage car seats and to check and see if the child is the correct weight/height for each seat. Do you feel there will be a particular product category that will perform well for you this year? This year the product I think will perform well will be close between Car Seats and Prams. With the constant change in designs and styles everyone likes to be up to date with fashion but not only that, safety too. The pram industry is very fashion led as all parents choose a pram for durability and also they must like the look.
Gael Bootman
BUSHBABES BABYSTORE
How will you be driving awareness to your store or website this year? Mainly via social media, Facebook and Instagram. Will you be running any specific social media campaigns? These will focus around promotional calendar sale periods, baby shows etc. and we will occasionally run competitions. Do you feel there will be a particular product category that will perform well for you this year? Hopefully prams and car seats. We also do well in babywear and furniture. I don’t see this year being any different to recent years.
BUMPSTART
Helen Hickman
How will you be driving awareness to your store or website this year? We will be continuing to drive traffic to our store using the help of William Studholme from Native Media. He approached us last July with an offer, which we have taken up. It includes the following: • Advert about our store in the display network show to the Pushchair Expert website and YouTube Audience. • Monthly traffic to our website of 500+ people (this is guaranteed). These people are within a 20 mile radius of our store - we could have opted for national traffic too, but we haven’t done so. • A 1/4 page ad about our store in the 2018/19 edition of ‘The Best Baby and Toddler Gear Magazine’ for 12 months (£500 value). • Listed as retailer in ‘The really useful email’- an email about choosing your first pushchair and car seat which is sent out to parents who request it from Pushchair Expert. Will you be running any specific social media campaigns? We are now seeing the results in an increased footfall to our shop and more visits to our website. Our next goal is to review our website. We want to market ourselves as very much a Bricks and mortar store, but with an online presence. We do sell online, but we don’t discount, so our website (at the moment) is primarily used for information purposes. We intend to keep it that way for as long as possible, but will probably end up (sadly) selling more online as we are now dealing with a generation who are glued to their phones! Social Media is still a bit of a mystery to me, as to the best way to use it properly and to gain customers. We use Facebook and Instagram. I find Facebook easier to use and I get more people to engage with us on Facebook, and then try to put across “our story” on Instagram, but it’s a work in progress. (I am not very good at self-promotion, and fear I lead a very boring, but happy life). I have actually taken on another member of staff on the shop
floor, so that I can devote more time to doing our Social Media, and today I’m busy setting up a calendar of monthly promotional events, and also finding out about National Awareness days, etc. I guess that once I have them in place, I will then be looking at putting those things on Social Media. I have been told that Facebook promotional ads are like shouting at traffic, so probably will not do them again. We are also reviewing our Google ads, as a lot of them are very ineffective. I did start to blog, but due to lack of time and again fearing I was boring people, stopped, but hopefully now that I have more time, I will be able to blog better! Do you feel there will be a particular product category that will perform well for you this year? We think that our wheeled goods and car seats will continue to do well. We are not selling a lot of sundry items now, so are planning to cut back further on them. We will still do some furniture and cribs, mattresses, some basic bathing stuff, some nursing pillows and sleep-aids and a few gift items. Nothing more.
Stylish swaddles Ziggle muslins are stylish essentials ls for when out and about. iggle’s award-winning swaddles are made in the softest, most breathable bamboo muslin – a naturally sustainable fabric, it gets softer with every wash and its light, open weave helps to regulate baby’s temperature and prevent over-heating. The large rectangular shape (110cm x 100cm) means they can be used for baby in many different ways – as a changing mat, pram shade, breastfeeding scarf or to gently swaddle new babies as they sleep. Their beautiful print designs coordinate with the other Ziggle products – don’t miss their amazingly absorbent dribble bibs, cosy hats, fun character leggings and so much more. Baby essentials made fun!
Z
Tel: 01625 569530 Email: nicole@ziggle.co.uk Web: www.ziggle.co.uk
nursery today
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interview Graco
Heritage at the heart David Welsh, Managing Director for Allison Baby UK Ltd (now the group name for Nuna, Joie and Graco brands), talks to Nursery Today about the recent addition of the Graco brand to the Allison Baby portfolio and what we can expect to see from them in 2019 and beyond.
G Graco h has undergone d g many changes h g over time to become a household name. What can we expect to see now with the brand being part of Allison Baby? We are very proud to have Graco as part of our portfolio. We don’t want to change the Graco brand – we want to build on its heritage and its core brand values which is to develop and offer products that anticipate the needs of the modern parent and baby. Products that are simple, intuitive, safe and trustworthy. Graco will be repositioned in the market place, building a consistent message of great value and quality. Nuna will remain our premium brand in selective stores. Joie will remain mid to high, available in all apart from a few restricted channels. Graco will compliment by fitting in the low to mid, available in all channels. What categories do you cover within the Graco range? Graco have always had a strong presence through all key categories – pushchairs, car seats and home products. The inventor of the first baby swing, the first travel cot and the first travel system, means Graco right from the outset have continuously set industry standards and therefore we want to ensure we remain competitive and drive our success through strong product offerings, with great quality and at an incredible value.
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How will H ill you be b supporting ti g your retailers? t il ? We treat all of our retailers, small and big, as partners. Our aim is to provide the best possible service and strengthen relationships We are committed to supporting and growing the business in the UK through a stronger online and social media presence with new marketing campaigns and new videos, stronger in-store collateral and of course with the help of a very strong and competitively priced product range. 2019 also sees the launch of a new website which is very exciting! What type of marketing campaigns will you be running to create a consumer buzz? We are in the process of appointing a new PR agency for Graco, to drive strong campaigns and ensure we have a solid multi-media channel approach. Our objective for 2019 19 is to re-establish and raise the brand awareness of Graco. Social media is as ever an increasingly asingly important tool and you will see Graco raising the bar with a much stronger nger presence and broaden our reach h with consumers. What emphasis do you place on car seats and safety? Like with all of our brands, we are passionate about Graco and child wellbeing. Safety and quality are our main focus as we expand and advance the range. Our commitment is to design and develop car seats that give the child the best in safety, security and
comfort and provides ultimate reassurance for parents comfort, when out and about in the car. Will you be showcasing the range at any particular events during the year? Yes – we want to make sure that Graco is at the forefront of our retailers and consumers minds, and so you will be able to see us at Harrogate in March, at Kind + Jugend in September and the Olympia consumer show in October. All of which are key events within nursery and will establish us further as a key player in the market. Make sure you pop by and say hello!
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Are there any exciting plans of the horizon you would uld like to share with us? As you may expect, 2019 is all about laying the foundations for a tremendous 2020 with growth in Graco. We have some very exciting projects coming through product development, new fashions and our team is expanding. In 2019 Graco is launching its first ever Gr 0+1/2/3 car seats which are rearward facing up to 18kg (4 years approx.), SlimFit and SlimFit LX. We are expanding the i-Size range with a new amazing value-formoney infant car seat, SnugEssentials i-Size. You will also see the launch of an innovative new baby swing/soother. We are truly committed to making 2019 and beyond a success for Graco. This is just the beginning!
Graco Move with Me
SlimFit-Group-0+123-Midnight-Grey
Tel: 01889 808 900 Email: uksales@allisonbaby.co.uk nursery today
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supplier snapshot This issue we asked some of the industry’s finest on how they are currently promoting their brands and what’s in the pipeline for 2019.
Paul Sirett Annabelle Cording
MARKETING MANAGER, BABYMOOV How will you be driving consumer awareness to your brand and ranges this year? An investment into vibrant new sponsored social media content will push the brand to new audiences this year on a much larger scale. Our social media platforms and online visitors have shown huge increases within nine months thanks to our stronger links and relationships with real parents as well as product placement into trusted industry awards, popular interactive media and association with leading industry names. Will you be running any specific campaigns that retailers should be made aware of ? We are very excited to have launched our new weaning product, Foodii with Annabel Karmel who has created some brand new first baby purees perfect for use with the reusable Foodii pouches. We are already seeing a hugely positive response to the concept and convenience of Foodii including our shortlist in the MadeForMums Awards 2019 which we have high hopes for a win in the weaning product category. What retailer incentives will you be offering this year? We will be launching a number of products that will be exclusive to specialist nursery stores and running promotions also. Are you launching any new products this year? At least 10 or more brand new products will be launching between now and June! We are confident that some of our key new strategic products for this year are highly competitive and very unique to the market. Babymoov UK will be launching their first ever baby nest made with fine organic cotton with beautifullyy bespoke p cover designs g and at an extremely competitive price point within the market.
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COUNTRY MANAGER, UK/IRL, BESAFE How will you be driving consumer awareness to your brand and ranges this year? This year BeSafe will add to our extensive ‘SoMe’ activities with a truly unique message to an untapped audience this year - watch this space! Will you be running any specific campaigns that retailers should be made aware of ? We will be talking in a new way to a new audience and looking for retailers to be a part of this campaign too. We will stand out from the mass of generic car seat and pushchair advertising. It will be fresh and impactful. What retailer incentives will you be offering this year? This will be the year of margin. This year more than ever success and even survival will all be done to MARGIN! BeSafe will continue to deliver a genuine and realistic opportunity to earn good margin. Retailers must prioritise this in 2019. We do not sell direct to consumers so we want the retailers to survive and in numbers. Are you launching any new products this year? We are launching more new products than ever - two totally new seats, four significant upgrades and new accessories and colourways. olourways.
Von Sy Alex Molyneux
FOUNDER, NIMBLE
M MARKETING COORDINATOR, O HIPPYCHICK H
H How will you be driving consumer d awareness to your a brand and ranges b this year? t In I 2019 we are very excited to be attending e Toy Fair and Autumn Fair. We love getting out to meet our customers in an environment where we are able to show them the amazing products we are stocking. There’s no better way to be creating brand awareness than getting out there and spreading the word ourselves. Will you be running any specific campaigns that retailers should be made aware of ? Throughout the year Hippychick like to focus on current trends and always tailor their campaigns around what is doing well. Anyone subscribed to the Hippychick mailing list will always be in the know first. What retailer incentives will you be offering this year? During an uncertain time in the UK Hippychick strive to do whatever they can to support the baby and toddler industry. In a bid to do so, Hippychick are pleased to announce they are reducing their carriage paid value from £300 net to £200 net. Customers can now enjoy completely free delivery when they place an order of £200 net value or more. Are you launching any new products this year? Absolutely! Hippychick always keep their catalogue of products fresh, and 2019 is set to be no different! Everything from new Nattou characters, stylish new Trybikes, to something completely new and different for Hippychick (watch this space!).
How will you be driving consumer awareness to your brand and ranges this year? 2019 will be the year for great PR for Nimble. We will be featured in a new BBC 1 TV show in Spring as well as in an important book for families. Our PR agency is now cooking up an exciting range of PR activities to capitalise on these two great features. Will you be running any specific campaigns that retailers should be made aware of ? We run monthly competitions on social media that help us raise brand awareness. We also have regular price promotions to encourage product trial. What retailer incentives will you be offering this year? We are offering huge discounts of up to 25% as an introductory offer to new retailers. Are you launching any new products this year? Yes, we have a surprise limited edition gift set to launch in Spring, which we’re sure that retailers would love! Do get in touch with us if you want to get involved and pre-order, we will only have limited stocks of these gift sets. We also have two new innovations coming out that will surely delight mums and dads.
Grant Koston OPERATIONS MANAGER, OBABY
How will you be driving consumer awareness to your brand and ranges this year? We are delighted to announce Amy Childs as the official brand ambassador for Obaby. Amy is a mum of two children under the age of two so understands what parents need in 2019 and has a huge following who she engages with daily. Amy will be actively supporting our brand on her social media platforms and working with us at various end user shows throughout the year too. Will you be running any specific campaigns that retailers rs should be made aware of ? Having made the announcement in January that Amy Childs is our official brand ambassador, we will be supporting retailers with campaigns around the nursery furniture that Amy is helping us promote. What retailer incentives will you be offering this year? We will continue to work with retailers across the year to provide them with support at dates that are key to them. Are you launching any new products this year? At Obaby, we are always looking for new products, following the latest fashions and trends, we therefore do not launch at specific days, this gives us the flexibility to react quickly to projects.
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feature Chicco
Full screen ahead Chicco returns to TV screens with Next2Me TV advertising campaign. he Chicco brand has long been synonymous with its award winning side-sleeping crib, the Chicco Next2Me. To celebrate the launch of the latest addition to its innovative sleeptime collection, 2019 will see Chicco return to TV screens with an advertising and marketing campaign designed to reinforce both Chicco’s sleeptime expertise and promote the benefits of side-sleeping to new and expectant parents across the UK. Chicco was not only the first baby brand to introduce side-sleeping cribs to the UK market, but remains the only baby-care specialist to advertise its award winning collection on TV. Following the success of previous Next2Me advertising campaigns, the original side-sleeping crib will once again return to TV screens as part of a multi-million pound fully integrated marketing campaign. The TV ads, which premier in March and will run for six weeks, will promote the benefits of Next2Me to millions of new and expectant parents across the country. The ads will air in prime time slots on key TV channels including Channel 4, ITV Digital and more than 50 Sky channels. The TV advertising is an integral part of Chicco’s 2019 marketing campaign, which will see a holistic and integrated approach to media, digital, in print and in store activation, designed to celebrate the entire Next2Me collection, whilst also supports the launch of the new and innovative Chicco Next2Me Magic. Holly John, Head of Marketing for Chicco, commented: “2018 was a hugely significant year for us as a brand for many reasons and it has given us solid foundations to go into 2019 and reinforce our market-leading position as the sleeptime experts. Our previous Next2Me TV advertising campaigns have proved to be immensely successful, not only increasing awareness of Next2Me but also creating a ‘halo-effect’ across every product category and the wider Chicco brand and this is something we are confident we will replicate this year. “2019 also sees the launch of our latest addition to the collection, the Chicco Next2Me Magic. This is our third generation of side-sleeping cribs and an important milestone for us as a company so we also wanted to ensure we are maximising sales
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opportunities through an eengaging and fu fully integrated marketing m ap approach. This in includes not on only print m media and on online activity bu but activity at key shows and events throughout the year such as The Baby Show and a prime in-store presence within both our national and independent retailers. “We will also be supporting our retailers by carrying out training sessions on the new Chicco Next2Me Magic to support growth opportunities and raise awareness of the key benefits for consumers, which in turn will
”
Chicco Next2Me Magic
Share magical moments with your little one with Next2Me Magic
help drive sales in store. An integrated PPC, SEO and online campaign will also support this activity and is designed to promote the benefits of the Next2Me collection, introduce Chicco Next2Me Magic and drive consumers to online retailers where they can also purchase Next2Me and other Chicco products. “We also want to ensure that we continue to reach out to and engage with our ever-increasing fan base on Facebook, rewarding them for their loyalty to Chicco. Therefore to celebrate the arrival of the Chicco Next2Me Magic, we ran a Facebook campaign at the end of last year to allow these fans to be the first to get their hands on the innovative crib. This allowed us to reach over two million people and a further 200,000 new and expectant parents were targeted via social media advertising. The mechanic was simple, to celebrate the magic element of the Next2Me, we asked parents to share their magical moments and sleeptime tricks for their little ones with other mums and dads. It was hugely popular and created a real interest in the new product. We have further plans in place to continue and build on this type of engaging social media activity with both existing and new fans of the Chicco brand throughout the year so watch this space!” Chicco’s Next2Me TV advertising campaign will air on 4th March 2019 and will run for six weeks. For more information on Chicco Next2Me Magic and the wider collection, visit www.chicco.co.uk
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focus BATHTIME & ACCESSORIES Image courtesy of Hardenberg&Co
Bathe in glory The bathtime category keeps in touch with current consumer trends, continues to grow and expand. We take a closer look. athing a baby or toddler is a time for complete one to one interaction and offers a daily activity assisting in the general development of skill sets. This routine is also one that requires parents stay with their child and guarantees quality time between parent and baby. Through great innovation, product ranges have continued to grow and develop - from towels, bath thermometers, baby baths, bath supports - all the way through to bath time toys. This category offers a great fast moving footfall generator. Parents are starting to view bathtime in a similar way to that of the nursery, perhaps wanting items that offer a co-ordinated feel, for example colourways on products such as baby baths, towels, or products that match. We asked Helen Wooldridge, Cuddledry for her thoughts. “Parents are often bought ‘sets’ of bathtime items by friends or family, but in our 12 years of trading and speaking direct to hundreds of thousands of expectant and new parents, we’ve never come across anyone actually seeking a co-ordinated set. Today’s parent does often want colours that match their décor - almost exclusively grey, white or beige - but they are seeking practicality and items that will help them in the first instance. The colour and style choice is secondary, but at that point they do like the ‘cute’ appeal of a hood on a towel, or colour such as grey, and simple designs like stars.” Are we experiencing any specific trends at present within the bath time product sector? Do brands play a pivotal role? “Brand names are very important, particularly for those seen as the leading brand. They are compared at consumer shows and questions appear on online forms debating the benefits of one over the other and it’s the brand name that’s being quoted rather than the product name. Overall brand loyalty is very important to parents and parents to be,” commented Shnuggle’s Lynsey Parkes. So what type of products can assist? We asked Emma Dutton, Hardenberg & Co. “Bath Supports have always been strong for Angelcare. We now have a pair of supports - the larger, original Support remains a firm favourite and has been joined by the
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“
Ba th time can be daunting for new pa rents and th ey want to ens ure th ey make bab y as com fortab le and safe as po ssi ble , wh ile still enc ou rag ing fun and bon din g. Parents will rely a lot on review s, endorsements and wo rd of mouth for rec om mend ati ons of wh at pro ducts to buy .
”
Lynsey Parkes, Shnuggle
Mini Support which is perfect for most small baby baths. Both offer comfortable, relaxing bathing for babies from 0-6 months.” Naturally, a baby bath support is there to support and cradle a baby to assist, however these need to be sold responsibly. We asked Emma what advice should be given to parents when selling bath supports? “It is important retailers reinforce the need for safe bathing routines when selling bath products. The support is no substitute for parental supervision and safe bathing practices must always be followed.” And what about baby baths, are these something that are bought pre-birth? “Baby baths are seen as a
must have item for parents-to-be, they are most definitely on the essentials shopping list for parents and part of their research during pregnancy. Most start buying their essential purchases from around 4 or 5 months into their pregnancy but we do see that it is also a popular gift from friends and family.” States Lynsey. Bath toys and accessories are also a great add on for retailers when selling products in the bathtime category. The range of bath-time toys has increased dramatically in recent years and they are great for helping children build confidence in water. Bathtime is also becoming a popular activity for dads. Many working dads look forward to the end of their working day when they can get home and play fun games with their little ones and bathtime offers a superb platform. This works well as it also gives the mother, who may stay at home raising the child, some time away from the constant demands of an infant and therefore children benefit from having happy, relaxed parents. Research has shown that fathers tend to play more roughly with their children than mothers do and bathtime provides a great opportunity for a bit of splashing and noisy play which fathers especially enjoy. Bearing in mind that dads are now becoming more pivotal in the buying process of goods for their babies, and are much more hands on within the family environment, bath time toys stocked by retailers should reflect this - boats, shape sorters or indeed anything that may ‘squirt’ water will always prove a winner with dad and bring endless delight to baby. Toys that have been specifically designed for bathtime are a great way to encourage many aspects
Bebe Style are designers and manufacturers of quality products for babies & toddlers Our range of car seats, high chairs and baby walkers are loved by parents and children alike. Our focus on safety, quality and value have enabled us to become one of the best trusted brands.
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Kiddi Style are global manufacturers of quality products for toddlers. Our focus on safety, quality and value have enabled us to become one of the best trusted brands.
,H Car Seats nging Units, Cha s Walkers, ats, swing and Playm cers and boun
Our passion for design and styling along with a sensible pricing policy does not detract from the most important factor of safety and fun.
Our range s: e d u l c in Furniture
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Where Quality meets Value www.styleproducts.com | trade@styleproducts.com
focus BATHTIME & ACCESSORIES Image courtesy of Shnuggle
The survey says…
of learning, for example shape sorting, colour recognition and developing motor skills. Helen told us: “When it comes to toys, parents do like to buy something simple before baby comes along and the ‘cute factor’ definitely plays a part in their choice. However following recent media coverage of the perennial problem of mould inside many bath toys, parents are seeking completely sealed items. Our Cuddleducks are made with natural latex and tested to very high standards, so they are 100% safe for babies in the bath, even when teething and they have no hole, so none of that yucky black mould! “As babies grow older and more active parents will purchase more toys with a focus on educational toys and fun. Brand is less relevant here, again choices are more about the function and quality of the item - safety being paramount.” We asked Lynsey for her thoughts on toys and accessories. “There is a big emphasis on temperature where a baby is concerned whether it be room, skin or bath. Therefore thermometers including those for the bath, are an essential purchase as they help ease some of the worry and stress for new parents. Thermometers are normally purchased pre-birth as preparation for baby’s arrival. “Toys on the other hand are not really a consideration until baby is a little older and is able to interact, predominantly because most toys are not designed for a newborn. Shnuggle did identify a need for a newborn toy that keeps baby stimulated and soothed during bath time as some babies find bathtime a little stressful and the Wishy has been designed with this in mind.” We asked Lynsey whether this is a category that is researched prior to purchase? “Absolutely. Bathtime can be daunting for new
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parents and they want to ensure they make baby as comfortable and safe as possible, while still encouraging fun and bonding. Parents will rely a lot on reviews, endorsements and word of mouth for recommendations of what products to buy.” One area that has notably seen an increase in growth is the hooded bath towel. We asked Helen if they have seen a rise in popularity for these products. “The demand for hooded towels for babies has been consistently growing for the last decade, as a result there is now standard advice from baby and health practitioners about keeping warmth in with a hood. However we have seen significant growth in the demand for hooded towels for older children, and as a result we have recently added age 3-6 to our range of ‘dress-up’ animal hooded towels for tots (previously made only for ages 1-3).” Lynsey agrees, and also that a hooded towel makes way for a great gifting item. “It seems to be a popular choice as not only does it make a beautiful gift, but also a baby towel is seen as an essential for baby’s early months, purely through the ‘wrappable’ and hooded elements. As with all Shnuggle products we like to go above and beyond when it comes to providing a solution and our towel is designed to be wearable, making it even easier to wrap baby straight from the water.” We also asked Helen if parents look at the fabrics/materials used? “Absolutely, and people are learning more about different fibres that are not only suitable for babies and young children but also sustainable. We have been using bamboo in our towels for over ten years now. Interestingly, the most sustainable fibre going forward will be polyester because it can be recycled, but educating parents about accepting it for their babies may be tricky!”
Nursery market specialists FanFinders surveyed 1300 consumers via their platform Your Baby Club focussing on bathtime. Here’s the results. Do you bathe your child more than once a day?
Yes: 317 (24.4%) No: 983 (75.6%)
Did you purchase a co-ordinated bathtime set?
Yes: 406 (31.2%) No: 894 (68.8%)
Did you purchase a bath bath support or seat?
Yes: 894 (68.8%) No: 406 (31.2%)
Was a hooded towel important to you?
Yes: 1213 (93.3%) No: 87 (6.7%)
Did you consider the materials or fabrics used in the manufacture of the hooded towel?
Yes: 998 (76.8%) No: 215 (23.2%)
Do you feel there are sufficient bathtime toys available for infants?
Yes: 920 (70.8%) No: 380 (29.2%) Were brands important to you?
Yes: 496 (38.2%) No: 804 (61.8%)
Did you research prior to purchase in relation to bathtime products?
Yes: 987 (75.9%) No: 313 (24.1%) For more information on FanFinders and the consumer insight they offer, please call: 0203 808 3011 or visit www.fanfinders.com
Babies love bathtime with Angelcare! Bath time is a special time for parents to connect with their baby. The Angelcare Soft-Touch Mini Bath Support, Bath Support and Bath Seat are perfect for creating a sturdy and comfortable experience that both parents and babies will love! For more information please call: 01785 503 305 or email: info@hcotrade.co.uk
Perfectt ffor or babies b from 00-10 -110 month months! follow us
@Hardenberg_Co Hardenberg&Co Ltd
focus BATHTIME & ACCESSORIES
Bubble action Splashing about couldn’t be more fun or safe with the products available through wholesaler Baby Brands Direct. Leading brands including Munchkin and Summer Infant are available making up a core selection of bathing solutions from inflatable on the go tubs to the ultimate in luxury with bubble action and whirlpool! The brands also offer options including sling inserts for tiny babies and secure seats affixed to the bath sides for confident handling at each stage of growth. Also available to retailers to mix and match orders from with no minimum order quantities are bath mats, kneelers, organisers and grooming kits, each at a range of price points. A best-seller includes the Munchkin Scoop Bath Toy Organiser that helps collect toys, allows them to drain and dry whilst keeping the bathroom tidy. For a scrumptious wash organic ranges by Earth Friendly Baby and Mothercare are available at trade price and there are also beautifully embroidered cuddle robes to finish off with from East Coast. Email: sales@babybrandsdirect.co.uk Web: www.babybrandsdirect.co.uk
Supporters of bath time Bath time is a wonderful way for babies to bond with parents and siblings. A safe, reassuring bathing routine can make the world of difference to both babies and those around them.
Angelcare knows little ones and parents simply love bath time with their award-winning range of Baby Bath Supports and Seat! Angelcare’s range offers two Bath Supports for babies 0-6 months. Both have soft-touch material that comes quickly to water temperature, cradling baby allowing them to relax, splash and play. Once baby starts to sit up and reach, the Baby Bath Seat is perfect and suits babies from 6-10 months of age.
Tel: 01785 503 821 Web: www.angelcare.co.uk
All in one This fantastic high quality portable Bebe Style Baby Changer and Bath Unit is the perfect multi-use station. Bebe Style Changer is perfect for changing nappies, taking a bath or changing clothes! The Low shelf, 3 removable trays, 4 compartment holder means plenty of storage space to keep lotions, potions, wipes, bath time toys, nappies, towels, clothes, creams, and blankets close at hand. The raised sides help keep baby safe during nappy changes. Beneath the sturdy padded changing table is a concealed removable bath with a drainage tube to help make bath time easier. No heavy moving! Tel: 020 3675 6988 Email: info@bebestyle.co.uk Web: www.bebestyle.co.uk
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Counting Sheep
p From the Silvercloud Counting Shee ddle range by East Coast, this pair of Cu ns in a pack. Robes offers two desig featuring printed stars, soft aplique
In a restful palette of white and grey, are a perfect unisex baby shower gift. and embroidered sleepy sheep, they and measure 75 x 75cm, with a hood The robes are made in 100% cotton ’re fresh out of the bath. they n to keep little ones warm and dry whe n and manufacture of private desig the in ialise East Coast Nursery spec ting your own exclusive cuddle robe label goods. If you’d like to discuss crea . design, contact your account manager Tel: 01692 408802 Web: www.eastcoastnursery.co.uk
focus BATHTIME & ACCESSORIES
All wishy and washy Following a fantastic year of growth and with the hugely popular Shnuggle Bath winning GOLD at the 2019 Mother & Baby Awards, Shnuggle have added to the bath-time experience with accessories ‘Wishy’ and ‘Washy’. Off to a flying start and winning several recent industry and parent awards since launch in Q3 of last yyear,, Wishyy is a o re tto ture extu ex d ttexture nd n ht aand ht light up bath toy featuring a soft light s ts t r a ar p parts h th t i Wi W With . t t. n nt. e en m development. sensory support newborn he tthe hy iiss th shy to pull apart, play and connect, Wishy ion ion naattio perfect bath toy to support co-ordination and play as baby grows. Washy is a brilliant bath time hee h accessory that is designed to take the tears and tantrums away from hair at rinsing and scalp washing! The neat little jug has a soft grip handle for parents and a flexible edge which contours gently to the top of baby’ss forehead, tipping the water safely away from sensitive little eyes. For more information on Shnuggle Bath, Wishy, Washy and the full Shnuggle portfolio, please contact Sarah. Email: sarah@shnuggle.co.uk Web: www.shnuggle.com
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Perfect temperature Aquanest bathtub - the progressive baby bath that maintains water to the perfect temperature!
The award-winning Aquanest is designed with two different ends to support newborn babies and older babies at bath time. Thanks to the addition of a removable heat diffuser pad which warms in the microwave in just five minutes, Aquanest is guaranteed to maintain baby’s bath water to 37°C for a minimum of 10 minutes. For parents tired of bending down to bathe their baby, the Aquanest bath stand provides the safest support solution – designed specifically to hold the Aquanest tub securely. To stock Aquanest or find out more contact Victoria at Babymoov.
Email: sales@babymoov.co.uk
Hands free
Quack quack
12 years of stress-free bathtimes
The ‘Cuddleduck’ by Cuddledry turns the timeless rubber duck classic into a perfect gift, and is made with 100% natural materials, so no risk in warm bathwater from BPAs or pthalates.
Remember how nervewracking it was the first few times you bathed a baby? A precious tiny person, slippery wet from the bath, who needs to be wrapped swiftly in a towel to be warm, safe and calm…..and yet you only have one pair of hands to do it! Twelve years ago Cuddledry finally solved this problem that all parents had faced – with the bestselling Cuddledry ‘hands-free’ baby bath towel, a clever design to make bathing, lifting and snuggling baby dry a pleasure, not a stressful juggling act. Made with silky soft, sustainable bamboo, beautifully gift boxed and available in a range of colours and designs, the multi award-winning Cuddledry is a proven must-have for your bathtime section. Tel: 01823 323363 Email: trade@cuddledry.com Web: www.cuddledry.com
With three lovely colourways in a polka dot design, these ducks come beautifully boxed, and also make a perfect teether. These multi-award winning little ducks are 100% natural, fully certified for safety for teething babies, and have no hole in the toy so will not go mouldy – a huge benefit for new parents. As featured by the Daily Mail and Evening Standard, the Cuddleduck is a proven bestseller for new parents who want a cute toy for bathtime, and for baby shower or new baby gifts, with a low price point to suit all pockets. Tel: 01823 323363 Email: trade@cuddledry.com Web: www.cuddledry.com
Avoid scalds at bath time Bath time should be great fun for toddlers and that’s why Clippasafe, the experts in child safety, have a range of products to ensure that bath time goes swimmingly with less risk of injury. Painful scalds from hot taps can be prevented with the help of the Bath Tap Guard. Placed over bath taps to stop little hands from turning on taps or touching hot surfaces, it’s inflatable, reducing the risk of bumps and injuries. It comes in a colourful ocean design and retails at £7.99. There are often tears at bath time when shampoo’s involved. Washing your child’s hair can be stressful if soap suds get into their eyes, leaving many youngsters dreading the process! The Shampoo Eye Shield retails at just £3.75 and has a wide peak that protects eyes from the stinging of shampoo suds, making bath time stress-free and more fun. There are lots more products in the bath time range, you can find them all on the Clippasafe website. Tel: 0115 9211 899 Web: www.clippasafe.co.uk
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nursery matters JOHN BARKER
Barking Mad John Barker talks a cautionary tale this month after experiencing first hand how our justice system works. his month I have a little cautionary tale to tell you all. Our store opened it’s doors in 1950 and during the years that followed we, and our predecessors have sold thousands of products to expectant parents. We’ve had our fair share of problems from faulty products to late deliveries and everything in between. We have however never found ourselves in a position that has resulted in us sitting in small claims court, until this month. The reasons I’ve decided to tell you this tale is it may help someone avoid a potential legal issue in the future. First I’ll give you a little background. A customer, we’ll call him Mr X ordered a 3in1 from us some time ago. At the time of order we did not carry the required colour on display. In addition to this the manufacturer had not supplied a fabric swatch, all we had to work with was our catalogue. After spending time with the customer an order was taken and placed with the supplier. Fast forward a few months and the customers order arrived (in a timely fashion may I add). When the customer visited the store to collect his order he announced that “this is the wrong colour, my wife will not be happy!”. Checking the order form and the box we reassured him that we had given him the correct items. He took some of the items home to show his wife. The following day Mr X called the store to say “my wife isn’t happy and we don’t want the pram”. The same
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day he visited the store and after lots (and I mean lots) of too-ing and fro-ing we gave him a refund for the order less the deposit he originally paid. As far as we where concerned we’d supplied what he had ordered. As you can imagine he wasn’t a happy camper and started a chain of events that resulted in me getting my suit out of storage for our court appearance. I digress, after a number of letters an official looking form arrived with details of a small claims proceeding that Mr X had issued against us. We duly completed the required documents, and readied for the hearing. Fast forward again to this very morning and it’s the day of the hearing. Mr X presented his evidence first and this included him stating that we had told him the pram in question was a certain colour yet upon collection it was not. Please remember that all of the documentation was correct – the only “fact” in question was this alleged statement that the colour would look more like the customer wanted. I know what you are thinking, “but John you have a signed order form with the correct colour listed!”. You would be right in saying this, however it appears UK law isn’t as straight forward as common sense would have you believe. Our Judge told us that due to the case being heard via the small claims track he would be assessing the case on it’s evidence and the probability of witness statements being correct and
This is our first run in with the law (for want of a better expression ) but it’s really made me question everything I do or don’t say to a customer. It’s also made me completely aware that if it isn’t written down anything goes. Sale by description, there’s a phrase I’ll remember every time a customer asks me a question.
truthful? It doesn’t take a genius therefore to work out that the case was awarded to Mr X and as a result we had to issue the balance of his order as a refund and pay his legal fees (this sounds worse than the £50 it cost). How can this be? Well it turns out that because he stated in his witness statement he was told the colour would be more like he wanted that changes the contract to a sale by description. As the item arrived differently to how he claims it was described it is not classed as him cancelling his order, in fact it’s classed as us being in breach of our own contract. For this reason Mr X was the victor on this occasion. Why am I tell you this? Simple, look at your shop floor, see that pram on
john@pramland.co.uk the stand right in front of you? If a customer wanted to see that in a different colour what would you show them and what would you say about the colour in question? Without a colour swatch the vast majority of us will fall back on the catalogue or suppliers website. This is fine as long as the customer doesn’t ask for input from the person selling the item. I guess at the end of the day when the law is so vague in relation to how much weight a persons word has, how can we, as an industry avoid such things. First this has highlighted a need for either a display carrying an example of every fabric for a given product. If this is not viable for space or financial reasons it should be mandatory to carry swatches. This eliminates any speculation regarding colouring with the customer but then we need to review how we document orders and the customers selection of colour options etc. Do we really have to get a customer to sign to say they’re happy the order is written out correctly and that they have seen the selected colours in person and they are happy to accept them? Ok so this may seem extreme given that this is our first run in with the law
(for want of a better expression) but it’s really made me question everything I do or don’t say to a customer. It’s also made me completely aware that if it isn’t written down anything goes. Sale by description, there’s a phrase I’ll remember every time a customer asks me a question. I’m just glad that we got away with paying Mr X his money. I’m not sure jail was ever on the cards but if I had ended up in a cell it would not have been good! Cute men like me are bait inside and I don’t care how many bars of soap you drop! I’m sure T-Bag Jones and I would have been the best of friends during my stay but I’m glad it never came to this. Other than our brush with the long arm of the law January has been a strong start to a new year for us. With the TV full of Brexit this Brexit that it would be easy to assume customers are frightened to spend their hard earned. Uncertainty hates the sound of a till ringing but as luck would have it 3 weeks in and 2019 isn’t as scary as we thought it would be. So until next time I hope 2019 has got off to a good start for you all and that the remainder of the year is free of Sales by description.
Image source pexels.com
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focus NAPPIES & TOILET TRAINING
Getting to the bottom of it
When it comes to changing nappies and toilet training there is a plethora of products available, making way for a world of opportunities for nursery retailers. f there’s one thing that can probably only come from first-hand experience, it’s the amount of times a baby requires a nappy change in one day – on average around seven. That’s an awful lot of nappy changes. Now think of the impact that non eco-friendly disposable nappies have on the environment – around eight million disposable nappies are thrown away on a daily basis in the UK – costing around £67 million in landfill use per year. With consumer trends ever evolving and with parents researching more than ever, we have seen a rise in eco-conscious parents and a varying approach to what they will purchase, including the nappies they are using. Placing the nappy to one side, you would have thought that changing time would be a very straightforward process, but trends clearly illustrate that mums are not content with the towel on the carpet idea and look for changing mats, changing units, storage solutions, and infant toys – a must have to keep their young one’s hands away from any potential mess that may be lurking in the nappy that is about to be swiped off and replaced with a clean one.
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Changing mats are a firm favourite with parents, as these are easily portable from room to room and can in some instances double up as a small play mat to enable mum to rest baby down to play with a colourful toy or teether. A changing bag is now seen as not only an essential item but also a fashion accessory. Modern parents are more frequently selecting stylish designs that reflect their lifestyle but still offer practical functions and benefits of a reliable, strong changing bag. Of course, every child is eventually toilet trained, and this is often the phase that that causes parents to worry. This is such a difficult time for many, both parent and child and therefore products that assist in getting children into a good routine are a must! Fortunately, this category is incredibly well catered for and suppliers and manufacturers certainly offer an array of great items for you to hold in-store. Toilet Training Equipment includes potties, step up stools, trainer seats, potty chairs, travel potties and toilet training systems and is growing steadily as a category within the nursery sector.
Feeling secure F TThe Mini Origami Wedge Changing Mat is a C bestselling design from b East Coast Nursery. E
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Wish upon a cloud Great value, hygienic, wipe clean changing mat from Red Kite.
There really isn’t much you can say about a changing mat that hasn’t been said before but this one has pretty clouds on a soothing grey backdrop. Suitable from birth and hygienic and in a wipe clean PVC, The Red Kite Baby Changing Mat gives great value and will make baby feel they are floating in the clouds.
Tel: 01454 326 555 Web: www.redkitebaby.co.uk
No sprinkle, No Splash….. The only Toilet trainer to combine a Unisex potty with a Detachable Urinal. Should potties be so colourful and made to look like toys? Why not have them look just like a conventional toilet? Why not train boys to use the urinal in the early years? ToGa 4-in-1 Potty Urinal provides the answers.
• It is a Unisex Potty trainer – For boys and girls. • It has a Detachable toilet seat. • It has a Convertible stepping stool. • It has a Detachable Urinal - Can be used on the potty or on the adults’ Toilet. Watch the magical rewards when little boy aims on the wheel. Product Benefits:
With its wedge-shaped sides, to help baby feel W a bit more secure during nappy changes and be b e being waterproof, filled with foam and easy to w wipe clean this is an ideal changing mat. The graphic print of origami was chosen to cca capture a baby’s attention with the sharp lines and little details, in a soft neutral colour.
• Cost effective: Buy one and buy everything needed for the toilet training phase. • Safety certification: All EU safety compliance tests obtained. • Ease of assembly. • Prolonged Battery usage. • Bears close resemblance to a conventional toilet. Makes toilet training easier for child and for carer.
Tel: 01692 408802 Web: www.eastcoastnursery.co.uk
Tel: 07984 558314 Email: enquiry@totsgalaxy.com Web: www.totsgalaxy.com
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ToGa 4-in-1 Potty Urinal Unisex Potty Crainer/Converible Stepping Stool
Detachable Toilet Seat
Detachable Urinal
Removable Lid
TotsGalaxy Limited
Magical rewards when boy hits the wheel
www.totsgalaxy.com
T: +44 (0)7984 558314 E: enquiry@totsgalaxy.com
www.facebook.com/totsgalaxy
Because Every Baby Deserves the Best
Eco-disposable nappies Luxuriously softer-than-cotton bamboo Naturally antibacterial Temperature regulating Breathable Sustainable and biodegradable Bigger packs suitable for nurseries and other childcare settings
Eco-disposable wipes Suitable for newborn skin 98% water and plant based ingredients 100% biodegradable bamboo www.mamabamboo.com
www.bamaboo.com
focus NAPPIES & TOILET TRAINING
Eco friendly and affordable An eco-nappy and wipe without the designer price tag! The folks at Bamaboo have been working hard to launch the most affordable eco-nappy and baby wipe range in the UK. Bamaboo nappies are made using the softest bamboo fibre and chlorine free wood pulp. Super absorbent and tested rigorously to provide the perfect fit without leaks or gaping. Bamaboo wipes are made from 100% biodegradable bamboo fibre and 98% water and plant based ingredients. Hypoallergenic. Kind on even newborn and eczema prone skin. Web: www.bamaboo.co.uk
Squishy delight The SQUISHY Changing Mat is a completely different offering to the category.
Made from a warm foam, it ensures a room temperature surface, keeping baby cosy and more comfortable during changing. Squishy has a very slight incline which helps not only with reflux, but also as a way of directing ‘little accidents’ away from baby. The Shnuggle embossed surface is easy to clean and eliminates the need for towels or muslins to be placed under baby to keep them warm – the brilliant material will do that for you! With slightly raised sides for safety and a snuggly rounded shape, Squishy is designed to fit on any changing table or unit, and can also be used on its own. Also a great mat for baby massage and tummy time, the Squishy is a perfect complement to the BumGo – the changing wrap and mat in one with the ‘always ready’ wipes dispenser. Email: sarah@shnuggle.co.uk Web: www.shnuggle.com
On the Go wipes Compact case holds everything you need for quick, on-the-go changes. The OXO Tot On-the-Go wipes dispenser and nappy pouch holds everything you need for quick, on-the-go changes. Featuring an easy pouch opening and pop-open dispenser lid for quick access; it is shaped specifically to tuck into nappy bags, purses, or stroller pockets. The fabric pouch helps to keep nappies separate from wipes for organised, clean storage on-the-go. The Dispenser with Nappy Pouch hold up to 20 wipes, 5 nappies and diaper cream. Email: info@oxouk.com Web: www.oxototuk.com
Home or away Ready for potty emergencies at home or on the go! The team at OXO understand that Toilet / Potty training can never be easy for parents. The renowned 2-in-1 Go Potty is designed for standalone use or as a training seat on grown-up toilets. Not only is this model perfectly sized for little bottoms, but it also helps to shield and prevent splatter. The compact design and smooth surfaces are easy to clean and allow for ease of use, as the legs can also be folded away neatly. The 2-in-1 Go Potty includes three disposable bags with absorbent pads and a Travel Bag that keeps the Potty clean when not in use. Email: info@oxouk.com Web: www.oxototuk.com
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Stylish changing Sudbury Changing Bag available at Red Kite Baby.
Cotton canvas, numerous storage space, detachable shoulder strap, changing mat included and a handy bottle pocket. The Sodbury Changing Bag from Red Kite Baby is the bag shoulders have been waiting for. Tel: 01454 326 555 Web: www.redkitebaby.co.uk
Skin deep Designed to make changing time as quick and pain free as possible, the Baby Kingdom range has two innovative products for parents. Their Talc Free Baby Powder comes with an airless spray pump that forms a protective layer, leaving skin soft and healthy. Cleverly, the state-of-the-art pump releases just enough product to cover the desired area, eliminating waste and mess. The Nappy Cream is rich in moisture but super light and absorbent. The Vitamin E and Nettle extracts create a natural barrier against moisture and bacteria, with Aloe Vera and Chamomile to soothe and calm baby’s delicate skin. Both products contain a wealth of natural ingredients and are dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic. Tel: 01489 781979 Email: customerservices@rocami.co.uk Web: www.babykingdomcollection.co.uk
Sit and sing-along The potty that mimics a real toilet.
Sweet smelling Eliminate nasty whiffs with Angelcare’s Nappy Bin. Let’s be honest: with babies, those stinky moments are bound to happen! And finding the balance between form and function needn’t be difficult with Angelcare’s Nappy Disposal System. That’s why they’ve worked tirelessly to create the perfect Nappy Bin to keep smells locked firmly inside. Recently undergoing a chic new design overhaul, Angelcare’s Nappy Bin not only solves those whiffy diaper dilemmas, it also looks great and complements any beautiful nursery setup. And, with a range of options including a single cassette, three pack or even six pack, there’s something to suit all budgets. Angelcare’s award-winning Nappy Disposal System is loved and trusted by parents worldwide. Tel: 01785 503 821 Web: www.angelcare.co.uk
On the Go
My Potty Friend has all the features of a real toilet, including a lid that opens and closes, a flush handle that makes “clicking” sounds and a tissue holder that slides in and out to help little ones through the toilet training milestone. Little ones are rewarded with fun sounds & a sing-along training song when they’re successful in using the potty. When toddlers are ready to transition to the big potty, remove the seat and lid and snap them onto the regular toilet seat. Other helpful training features include removable bowl for easy clean-up, flip-up splash guard and handles on potty ring to help toddlers feel secure.
The On the Go Travel Mat provides a super-sized foldable changing mat for that pit stop accident break.
Tel: 01628 500 000 Web: www.fisher-price.com
Tel: 01454 326 555 Web: www.redkitebaby.co.uk
With a clip-on strap to hang from a pram or pushchair, this travel mat is the perfect companion for daily adventures out and about. With pockets and storage enabling storage for all the essentials for changing on the go.
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feature MY CARRY POTTY
Multi-award winning toilet training solutions After many years of working with Cheeky Rascals, it is with great joy that award winning My Carry Potty announce to the Nursery trade that as of 1st May 2019 the brand will be managed and distributed by them. he dynamic new My Carry Potty team, with over 30 years combined experience in the nursery industry, will further secure My Carry Potty as ‘The UK’s Number One Go-To Toilet Training Brand’. Following repeated requests to develop specific items they are very excited to launch their collection of new and exciting products to compliment the UK’s number one potty, My Carry Potty. These new items will be available from early April 2019.
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My Potty Training Pack A comprehensive pack that includes all the essential elements to encourage and support little one as they learn to toilet train. This unique and consistent programme has proven to be 100% successful. Colourfully designed to capture the imagination of little ones, George and Hollie, their toilet-training friends, help put the fun back into potty training!
What makes them different? My Carry Potty This has secured its place as the number one potty in the UK as voted by parents. It is the only potty a toddler will ever need to use in and out of the home. It’s lightweight, leak-proof and completely bag free. It is made from high quality durable plastic that’s easy on the eye and easy to clean. Best of all, kids love the bright attractive colours and the carry handle makes it easy for them to adopt as their own possession.
My Little Trainer Seat Brings the toilet to life with cute character designs that help encourage little ones to transition to the toilet. Its unique, secure and comfortable designs have been created for both girls and boys with an extra high splash guard. Using this alongside My Carry Potty introduces consistency leading up to successful toilet training.
My Little Step Stool Helps little ones reach their trainer seat and the sink for independent hand washing. Added bonus in that My Little Step Stool comes with the same cute characters that match their My Carry Potty and My Little Trainer Seat.
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It is no longer enough just to have innovative products. My Carry Potty has created a community to assist and support parents during toilet training. They have been working with parents, retailers and nurseries to combat the increase in the average toilet-training age in the UK and worldwide. Furthermore, helping the environment by reducing nappy waste. They believe their new and unique collection of products has all the elements needed to successfully toilet train little ones: My Carry Potty + My Little Trainer Seat + My Little Step Stool, My Potty Training Pack and of course, ‘Potty Training Magic’ commissioned by Penguin Books. Together with inventor, Amanda Jenner’s continued passion, My Carry Potty will continue to be ‘The UK’s Number One Go-To Toilet Training Brand’. For more information and to become a stockist of this wonderful range, please contact My Carry Potty at enquiries@mycarrypotty.co.uk or call them on 0208 8681800 or 07842507520. My Carry Potty looks forward to welcoming you to their community.
Amanda Jenner Inventor
The multi award winning inventor of My Carry Potty, is the UK’s Toddler and Toilet Training Expert, and a mum of three. ITV This Morning’s Toddler & Toilet Training Expert Amanda is a regular in international press, on stage, television and radio broadcasts providing her professional expertise. She also attends schools chool and d universit i itiies across the UK encouraging and inspiring students to delve into the world of innovation. Amanda is excited to announce the launch of her much anticipated book ‘Potty Training Magic’ published by Penguin Books on April 4th 2019.
g otty trainin ■ I make p citing fun and ex at home, ■ Use me t and nursery, ou rywhere! e v e about... and easy to ■ I m light carry roof and ■ I m leak-p odour free eed ■ I don t n bags disposable me! ■ Kids love
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Potty training programme Reward chart Reward stickers Potty training certificate Magic reward box George and Hollie story book George and Holly animation & quiz
■ I help little people reach things ■ I m light and easy to car ry ■ I make sure you don t slip over ■ Easy carry handle ■ Non-slip rubber top des ign & feet ■ Kids LOVE my animal des igns!
www.mycarrypotty.com Email: enquiries@mycarrypotty.co.uk Tel: 0208 8681800 / 07842 507520
■ I am perfect for toilet training ■ I make the toilet look more fun! ■ I can be used on most toilets ■ I am super secure & comfy ■ I have an extra tall splashguard ■ Kids LOVE my animal designs!
focus MEET THE NEWBIES
Meet the Newbies Harrogate International Nursery Fair (24th-26th March 2019) has always been recognised as the place for new companies who are entering the nursery sector to exhibit. As such, the only UK trade event ensures that there is a great level of new Carried in innovation and products on display that may comfort have never been seen previously. AmaWrap slings are Let’s take time to meet the newbies! 100% cotton and designed and made in the UK. They have been going from strength to strength over the past seven years, and are multi-award winning.
Capsule collection Topcom are part of the Smartwares group, a global company and leading player in safety, lighting and small domestic appliances. The team at Tomcom are really looking forward to their debut in Harrogate where they will be showcasing their capsule collection of baby monitors, thermometers (including a new model for 2019), scales, night lights and accessories. All their products have been developed with safety in mind so that parents can trust Topcom and feel secure. They strive to make lives easier by designing useful and clever products which resolve problems and make parenting as enjoyable and hassle free as possible.
A brand trusted worldwide by parents, their babywearing knowledge is second to none and their high level of quality support to customers is widely known. The Amawrap has been extensively safety tested by the latest and most relevant standards, and is unrivalled in its excellent reputation for strength and softness. They are now looking for potential stockists for their wraps and upcoming ranges.
Amawrap: Hall Q, Stand: Q88 Email: shabs@amawrap.com Web: www.amawrap.com
Topcom: Hall Q, Stand: Q75 Tel: 01527 557 700 Web: www.smartwaresgroup.com
The friendly fox Awarded Consumer Choice Teething Toy for Best Baby and Toddler Gear Awards 2018. Ethan is a fun new natural rubber teething toy designed by parents to help a baby’s sense of sight, touch, sense and smell, with lots of tasty bits to chew on to ease the pain of sore gums. Ethan is no ordinary fox. He’s a super teething fox! He has been Ergonomically designed to be easy to grasp by small hands and has lots of clever features such as a long, jaunty tail for hard-to-reach sore spots, pointy ears and a naughty nose which a baby can chew on to soothe mouths as teeth grow. This friendly fox is made om 100% natural rubber from the Hevea tree. His debonair design and soothing texture will bring some foxy fun to the teething game.
Mooncow: Hall Q, Stand: Q77 Tel: 01992 301 061 Email: sales@mooncow.co.uk Web: www.mooncow.co.uk
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Easy for tots EasyTots specialises in bespoke design weaning products. EasyTots is fast becoming the UK’s parents’ choice for baby and toddler feeding. Their suction plate designs come with multiple features including four strong suction cups so meals stay put and even a lid and carry case for travel. This clever range helps parents and babies with their weaning journey by offering products that really work and help during the early feeding staged through to age three. The award-winning range includes three styles of the EasyMat (EasyMat Original, EasyMat Mini and EasyMat ‘Perfect fit’ for the Ikea Antlilop). EasyTots are also pleased to announce that they have also added two new releases in January 2019. A new marble effect silicone suction bowl and two pack bibs with cutlery set.
Hall Q, Stand: Q59 Tel: 1744334547 Email: sales@statusproducts.net Web: www.easytots.com
British Born Beautiful, British designed children’s wear Fashionable children’s clothing from birth to toddlers is Blues Babywear speciality and they are a leading supplier to many distributors and high street stores throughout the UK and Europe. Blues Babywear garments are created by their own team of British designers, influenced by global fashion trends offering a “British” feel to each quality collection.
Hall, Kings Suite, Stand: KS05 Tel: 0161 828 8730 Email: sales@bluesbabywear.com Web: www.bluesbabywear.com
Wish upon a snuggle It’s all stars and snuggles in hall Q with this versatile travel wrap. The Stars and Snuggles Baby Star Travel wrap is so versatile serving as a replacement for a jacket, shawl, snowsuit and pram blanket. It is suitable for a car seat and was crash tested in 2018. This super soft and snuggly star baby travel wrap is aimed to make parents life that bit easier. Suitable from birth to around nine months old and comes in two sizes. Keeps your baby warm from head to toe from home to pram, buggy, sling or generally when out and about – check it out, you’ll love it!!
Hall Q, Stand: Q90 Tel: 07939111834 Email: sarah.crompton@starsandsnuggles.co.uk Web: www.starsandsnuggles.co.uk
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social media ROSS HEWITT
Mind your Ps ’P’ is for Planned, Portable & Personal Emails. Ross Hewitt takes a look at why. have always assumed that most businesses use email marketing as a regular part of their digital marketing mix but tthe more companies that I speak to, tthe less I retain that conviction. It turns out that the simple assumed eequation of ‘website + email newsletter signup box = regular email n newsletters sent’ is proving false. n So where does your business sit now with email marketing? Do you collect w addresses but b never use them or did you last send sen an email out a year ago but have be been ‘too busy’ since? Maybe websi promises that people are your website signing up to a monthly newsletter, but they ge get sent one bi-annually? Perhaps th the arrival of GDPR has d yo u off ? scared you
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M an a g in g , t it w e H an d Ro ss ec ret Pi e e d i a ’. S f o r o t c M D ire vvy S oc i a l a rket in g a ‘S f o r o al m a ut h n h is d ig it h a d h is fi r st a g e b s s o R try 1 9 9 8 an d c a reer in t h e nu r sery in dus fo r a y into o f M a rket in g & a s H e a d r S ilver C ro s s in in c e fo E c o m mer set up S ec ret Pi e e g 2 0 0 8 . H d h a s b een h e lp in 2 0 10 an foun d an d lo ve d c li ents g et ever s in c e . on lin e k etp i e .c o .u k r c e .s w w w .u ec retp i e .c o | R o s s @ s 4 10 0 2 7 | 0 1 9 0 4 ec ret _ Pi e @S | Tw itter :
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Perhaps you send them regularly and enjoy the rich returns and online engagement that they can bring? Email marketing, in my humble opinion, is the best and most effective way for a nursery brand or retailer to push a message out digitally to your audience. It is not difficult to set up and started if you have never done it before. It used to be, a few years ago, but online email marketing platforms such as MailChimp and Campaign Monitor have made it very easy for beginners to get going with lots of step-by-step help and free online newsletter templates that are easy to customise for your business. You can even use MailChimp for free if you
have less than 2,000 subscribers on your list!
Planning The technology behind the broadcast has become simple to use – everything else is down to good planning and having compelling content and calls-to-action to share. Email marketing works, but it only works if you send great emails that are of interest to the audience. The best preparation for that is NOT to be thinking up content and writing it the night before or the morning of the day you are supposed to send it out. Like everything else in digital marketing, plan ahead. If you do
already send a monthly email newsletter out, then you should know in February what your March and April newsletters are going to cover and WHY you will be sending them. A great plan and great content make up most of the email marketing recipe for success. There are a couple of other important considerations I’d like to share with you that do need some attention if you haven’t reviewed them in a while.
Think Portable Your email newsletters need to work perfectly on a mobile device now as well as in Outlook or Gmail or Hotmail, so be sure to test your newsletters by sending them to yourself and viewing them on your mobile. A recent study from Campaign Monitor has shown that around 53% of email newsletters sent are now opened on a mobile device. The same research has suggested that 69% of mobile users delete emails that aren’t optimised to view on their device! The online templates that the main email marketing platforms provide are mobile ready, so if your
®
newsletter template is a few years old now and doesn’t work well on mobile then ditch it and start again with a new one.
E m ail m arketin g, in my hu m b le op in ion , is th e b est an d mo st effect ive w ay fo r a nu rsery b ran d or reta iler to push a mes sa ge out d ig itally to you r au d ien ce .
Get Personal Research also shows that a personalised subject line makes an email 26% more likely to be opened by the recipient. Personalisation is easy to do in email marketing, if you have the email recipient’s name! If your email data capture only records the email address, then change it to also capture their name as well. If you are not ready for personalising emails yet, then review your subject lines anyway as that is the biggest barrier or enabler to your emails getting opened…and that is always the first hurdle in getting clicks and results. ‘Company X February email newsletter’ is NOT a great subject line. ‘Great giveaway this month’ is better. ‘Hi Ross, there’s a great giveaway for you this month’ is spot on. So, the main takeaway this month is that an email that looks bad on a mobile device with a bland or non-personalised subject line is not
going to be opened or read by many people, and all that well planned and wonderful content gets wasted. That’s no fun. I’ll leave you to get testing your templates and thinking about your future subject lines…but don’t fear the GDPR monster. You can still collect data, but you just have to be very explicit about collecting permission to
use it and more thoughtful about how you store it. A lot of businesses have stopped sending newsletters because of GDPR, so there is more of an opportunity to get into someone’s mailbox now and hopefully from there into their heads and, in advertising land, the corner of someone’s mind is the most valuable real estate in the world…
The new Madrid furniture range from Obaby .SVZZ ÄUPZO *OLZ[ PUJS\KLZ OHUNPUN VW[PVU :SPKPUN KVVYZ ;^V JVSV\Y VW[PVUZ 3\UHY HUK ,JSPWZL 4\S[P \ZL JOHUNPUN [VW
www.obabytrade.co.uk 01652 641490
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focus VENICCI
Touch of magic with Venicci The Venicci brand was created in 2011 in the UK. Their range of prams are committed to offering outstanding value for money while still ensuring the highest standard. enicci is a known European brand offering an extensive range including prams, travel systems, strollers and car seats, all of which have helped to make the brand a trusted household name. Their range has been developed using all their knowledge and skills with love and care, so every little explorer is able to perceive the world closer at the early age.
V
Futuristic with Insevio
This 3in1 travel system offers futuristic looks and unique design. Everything feels beautifully engineered, with the pram being easy to steer and adjust. In their LUXURY line, there is a characteristic feature carrycot with a beautiful, shiny, diamond form, while in the SYNERGY collection the carrycot will be trimmed with the highest quality artificial leather. Insevio prams meet the highest standards and have certificates confirming their compliance with European standards. Insevio makes every effort to ensure that all their products are well-refined and that they are fully ready for use upon opening the box. This collection aims to provide 100% satisfaction. They want children to enjoy their prams when out and about, while also providing the highest level of comfort. This collection may not be the smallest of the prams, but they are surprisingly compact when folded and are roomy when used along with the adjustable foot rest – making way for a super-comfy ride both on and off road, perfect for town or country use. The handlebar is comfy and adjustable and suitable for people of different heights. The hood is
extra-large and the seat is reversible. Mosquito net, rain cover and cup holder are also included in the changing bag which comes with each set.
Email: info.uk@insevio.com Web: www.insevio.com
All will be revealed at Harrogate
Check out the latest offering from Venicci at the Harrogate International Nursery Fair 2019, where they will present their newest collection - Asti. Here’s a little teaser of what you can expect. One of the main differences with Venicci prams is technology, standard of engineering and the luxurious level of materials used. The results can clearly be seen as the Venicci team know that the overall visual impact is just as important as the design. When you choose their prams, you’re not just buying a pushchair – you’re choosing the utmost in quality, safety and functionality. The major focus of the Asti range is the modern travel collection, which includes a 3-in-1 travel system. This type of pram is characterised by its ability to be converted from a lie flat pram, to a pushchair, to a travel system (with the addition of an infant car seat). The Asti collection is made from graphite and eco-leather giving a modern and unique style with incredible attention to detail providing a touch of luxury for everyone. One of the main details is the braided handle offering a sophisticated style - making it outstanding, stylish and beautiful. Asti prams are a dream to manoeuver, even on rough terrain, due to the large wheels. Available in three colourways. Suitable from birth.
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Enjoy the Venicci event
The team at Venicci would like to say big thank you to all their clients for working so hard enabling them to achieve last years goals and would like to invite everyone to stand G11 in hall G at the Harrogate International Nursery Fair on 25th of March from 5.30pm to 8.00pm. They want to make this evening to be an unforgettable experience, filled with positive vibes and motivating ideas. With live music, cocktails and appetisers, this party will be a great opportunity to discuss thoughts about new products which will be on display. They’re looking forward to see you there – pop over and celebrate the evening with them. It will be an occasion to remember.
Š2018 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.
focus
THE INSIGHTS PEOPLE
Creating loyalty TThe importance of loyalty to develop sustainable businesses his generation of parents have limitless information and resources available at their fingertips, not only when it comes to self-educating w around parenting topics, but also a when it comes to find sources of w entertainment and engagement with their children. However, media fragmentation leads to everincreasing choice and consumption via a range of media platforms and channels, including web, mobile, TV and YouTube. Media fragmentation creates difficulty in reaching target audiences, meaning that it’s now more expensive to reach your audiences through traditional media. However, the advantage is that brands now have access to smaller, more defined groups of fans, consumers and audiences as content becomes more aligned to people’s specific passions. Defining your audience properly means you can have more relevant conversations and engagements in the right places. Getting this right means lower failure rates and resource ‘wastage’. Here at Parents Insights, we look at some of the ways in which brands can maintain their advantage with expecting parents. By delving into their world, we can gain information on what they are consuming both in terms of their digital environment, media, products and services. This enables us to provide comprehensive insights into the parent and family ecosystem. Collecting data every single week enables us to not only identify the “global trends” in the industry, but also quickly identify the emergence of “flash trends”. Despite the pace of change and technological developments, our latest set of Parents Insights reports, issued in November, found that many traditional properties still hold such significant sentimental value that parents actively seek them out to introduce their own children to them. One example of this is The Very Hungry Caterpillar which a third of parents have bought, making it the most popular title, overall, amongst
T Jenny Kieras Product Manager Experienced in product development and both B2B and B2C marketing, Jenny’s focus at Parents Insights is expanding the products offered by the business, which currently surveys 10,000 parents each year to give brands valuable insights into emerging trends. Jenny has worked for brands and with buyers and retailers in this industry for many years, so also knows it is more important than ever before to be able to stay ahead of trends and back product decisions with data and insight. Parents Insights was launched by Manchester-based The Insights People in 2018 to give companies direct access to flash trends and key data to enhance their knowledge about their target audiences’ attitudes, behaviours and consumption.
About Parents Insights Parents Insights is the most comprehensive and dynamic market intelligence resource on all things expecting and new parents in the UK. Every week we survey 200 expecting and new parents (up to the age of 4), which is more than 10,000 every year – which enables brands and agencies to provide significant insight what is influencing into the attitudes, behaviour and consumption of this generations of parents. For more information on Parents Insights, a sample report and a demo of the Parents Insights award winning portal visit www.parentsinsights. co.uk/nurserytoday or call Jenny on 0330 159 6631.
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the 2,500 parents surveyed over the 3 months August – October 2018. This book is a great example of brands taking advantage of narrowing ecosystems, where consumers want to be able to engage with a favourite character or brand through numerous different platforms. The Very Hungry Caterpillar was adapted into an animated short film in 2006, which now has over 21.7m views on YouTube.
slowing down as it celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. In fact, of the Top Ten books bought by parents, nine titles were first published before the millennium. The popularity of titles published so long ago implies that book buying is based on the experiences and recommendations of older generations. Almost two thirds of parents agreed that their buying process in general was influenced by
Defin ing your audi ence prop erly mean s you can have more relevant conversati ons and engag ements in the right places. Getting this right mean s lower failure rates and resou rce ‘wastage’. In the last decade alone The Very Hungry Caterpillar has seen over 8 spin-off books published, and it now even has its own stage show being performed in six different countries across the world. Combined, these factors are aiding the book’s popularity by keeping the familiar little face at the forefront of parents’ minds - and therefore, shopping baskets. This is even more relevant as The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the oldest book to feature in the list of favourites, showing no signs of
friends and family, so this group is likely to be having an impact on book, or toy or clothing or grocery buying too. Peer communities mean parents can advocate their choices to other parents on a wide scale, increasing loyalty as nostalgic suggestions spread through social groups. For more information, a sample report and a free trial of Parents Insights award winning portal visit visit www.parentsinsights.co.uk/ nurserytoday or call 0330 159 6631.
BABY CARE INDUSTRY STRATEGIC MAP Do you want to be visible on foreign markets? We recommend those with whom you can talk business. Get in touch with the representatives of the best nursery trade magazines.
BELGIUM K-BOETIEK
N O R WAY B A B Y, H O B B Y & L E K E T Ø Y
CHINA NURSERY CHINA
POLAND BRANŻA DZIECIĘCA
E N G L A N D N U R S E R Y T O D AY
R U S S I A PA R E N T S ’ C H O I C E
GERMANY BABY & JUNIOR
S PA I N P U E R I C U LT U R A M A R K E T
NETHERLANDS BABYWERELD
SWEDEN LEK & BABYREVYN
BCM I P r es i d en t Ta n j a Kra e m e r t e l .: + 4 9 (0 )9 5 1 8 6 1 1 1 9 , b c m i @ b a byc a re m a g a z i n e s . co m www.b a byc a re m a g a z i n es . co m
retail TECHNOLOGY
Checklist for online success This issue David Fairhurst runs us through On-Page Optimisation for eCommerce in 2019.
David Fairhurst Head of Creative Online Marketing - Intelligent Retail here are those in the Online Marketing community who will try to convince any potential new client that ‘Search Engine Optimisation’, especially on-page optimisation is some kind of mystic art form, the knowledge of which is only available to a tenth level monk who lives on the top a mountain in the Himalayas. The guy (or gal) trying to sell you optimisation services for your eCommerce website has probably spent the last three years studying with this very monk… In truth, on-page optimisation requires a mish-mash of common sense, psychology and a little bit of knowledge on how search engines work. If you have the time, I can tell you what you need to get the very best results from your eCommerce website. Let’s get started…
T
On-Page SEO Checklist for 2019 There are a couple of hundred different ranking factors for Google’s
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search engine, the content and structure of your pages covers a good portion of these. What you need to concentrate on for your pages can be covered with three questions: 1). How easy is it for search engines to find your content? 2). How good is your site’s user experience? 3). How good is your content? Whilst there are varying answers to these questions depending upon who you ask, Google do have a fairly lengthy document snazzily entitled ‘Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines’ which can usually point you in the right direction as far as content quality is concerned. Structuring pages so that content can easily be found takes a little bit more knowledge, but if you have access to the structure of your eCommerce website this isn’t a blocker to success.
Making It Easy for Search Engines Making it easy for search engine bots or ‘spiders’ to find your content sounds like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how many people mess up this most basic of steps. Here’s a quick checklist: • Is each page within the website linked from somewhere logical? – A well laid out site navigation as well as strategically placed links to important pages using natural, focussed anchor text can tell search
A bad eCommerce user experience can sound the death knell for sales. If you’re serious about making money from your website then you really have to give users the very best experience. engine spiders a lot about your website • Are you using Schema.org tagging? – This can direct spiders from search engines and social media sites like Facebook to your important pieces of page content quickly. These tags power everything from Google News to local snippets. Tag your content for best effect! • Is your site secure? – Google are slowly ramping up the importance of site security and will penalise sites which are hacked. Going fully https on your website (instead for just basket and checkout pages) is an absolute must in 2019.
David Fairhurst Head of eCommerce, Intelligent Retail, www.intelligentretail.co.uk David has been involved with Search Engine Optimisation and web development since 1999 and has spoken at many different retail and SEO conferences including Spring Fair and SES London
Making It Easy for People A bad eCommerce user experience can sound the death knell for sales. If you’re serious about making money from your website then you really have to give users the very best experience. Think about:
• Which device are people using to access your site? If you haven’t already, install Google’s own Analytics package and look at the devices people use – you will probably see that more than half your website visits come from a mobile device. As this is the case, you definitely need a Responsive website. Responsive websites give the best user experience outside of an expensive dedicated app and as Google now use mobile rendered pages to index for every device it pays to make mobile experience a good one. • Page load speed. This is massively important as not only do Google use this in their ranking algorithms but research has shown time and again that page load speed has a huge effect on both page and basket abandonment. • Making it easy to buy – clear calls to action that are consistent throughout the site have a major impact on both ‘add to baskets’ and basket completions. If you want a good example of how to do it properly then take a look at Amazon’s website, this is the result of years of research and best practise layout to get to the kinds of profit levels that Amazon now enjoy. • Make it easy to share – Do you really want to do all your website marketing yourself ? Why not get your website users to do it for you! If you integrate social media sharing functionality then your website users and the
sense of community on your website can give all of this and more. You need to:
Image source, Pexels.com
people who buy your products can effectively share their experiences and purchases with their friends, increasing your potential website users in the process.
Making Content Shareable Poor quality content on any page in
your website gives a bad user experience. For an eCommerce website, it’s the equivalent of having a rude person serving at the till! Content on an eCommerce website has two functions. First of all it helps you to get people into your website from search engines if done correctly and secondly, quality, well thought out content can help you to sell more.
In an eCommerce shop, you don’t have assistants to help sell the products with reassurance and sales patter. The content and user experience that you provide must do the selling for you, re-assure website users that you are the people to buy from and also give clear messages that your shop can be trusted should something go wrong. Top quality, unique content backed up by a
• Keep content fresh – this doesn’t mean re-writing category and product descriptions every five minutes but adding useful guides, information and anything else which can help customers make informed decisions will help you sell more. • If you want to rank for shorter keyword terms then don’t think you’re going to do this with a couple of paragraphs of text and a couple of images. Competitive keyphrases will require top notch, lengthy, unique and authoritative text as a starting point, backed up by an array of rich media. Only once you have this resource can you start to share this content and get the authoritative links you need to get top search engine placement. • Make sure all the basic optimisation for your pages are covered. Page titles, meta descriptions, ALT tags and proper HTML page structure should be geared for accessibility and should be focussed on the things people are searching for so do your keyphrase research beforehand! If all of this is done then you will be on the right track for eCommerce success.
In the know Subscribe today to receive your daily news feed from Nursery Today
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Sponsored by
new!
Perfect plush Hippychick have just launched not one but two new Nattou collections. Mia the bunny & Basile the bear and Fanny deer & Oscar the fox. extremely safe being one of These cuddly characters are a neutral hue – perfect for any expectant parent and come in many different guises, from soft comforters to growth charts sofas. Nattou’s attention to detail in their plush toys and nursery accessories is what really sets them apart. The first toys a baby is given are often treasured for years to come, a companion that they will never be able to bring themselves to part with. The perfect first birthday gift are Nattou’s rockers, not only do these soft ride ons look the part, they are also
the only rockers on the market to have a safety harness and non-tip feet.
Tel: 01278 434440 Web: www.hippychick.com/nattou
Comfort for all
New rose gold Priam and Mios The details are not the details. The details make the design. Cybex has released an all new rose gold edition, strengthening its popular Priam and Mios collections. Inspired by the timeless design of Ray and Charles Eames, the Priam and Mios are perfectly adapted to the challenges of a modern parent. With aesthetic lines and sophisticated features, the new rose gold chassis offers a classic and functional design for stylish parents. The rose gold trend is very current and has been a key feature of renowned catwalks around the world. Not only has it made an impact on the runway, but it is also playing a part in home fashion, with rose gold accessories featuring heavily. It is not only the frame of the Priam and Mios that are rose gold, but all the finer details have been considered and made to match. The buckle, Cybex emblems, the stitching and even the wheel trim all follow the rose gold colour scheme, giving the Priam and Mios pushchairs a sleek and sophisticated edge. The 4-in-1 travel system can be individually customised by the different attachments on a single frame. With the addition of the LITE Cot or LUX Carry Cot, the system transforms into a cosy bed for little ones to relax while out and about. The LUX Carry Cot also features panorama and sky view mesh windows, offering improved air circulation and a great view for little ones. Paired with an award-winning CYBEX infant car seat, such as the new Cloud Z i-Size, both pushchairs transform into a fully functioning travel system. Web: www.cybex-online.com
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For the modern parent always on the go, you can now wear your baby with style and confidence thanks to the new Boppy ComfyFit Carrier from Chicco.
Designed to make getting out and about with baby even easier, the go. carrier is a unique and easy way to wear baby - simply click, strap, tie and secure, and safe a in bonding baby and parent The stylish carrier encourages both mum, ready to use baby carrier and Boppy ComfyFit offers a one size fits all for dad and baby. one in a The unique design provides an easy way to wear baby by wrapping little carrier id semi-rig and wrap a between bridge a g Providin soft hug for total comfort. d by allowing for baby to be correctly supported, Boppy ComfyFit has been approve growth. hip healthy ge encoura the International Hip Dysplasia Institute to of a wrap The stylish carrier provides the best of both worlds with all the comfort It solution. simple and use to easy an it making carrier, a of ness intuitive and the ‘Easy an and feel apparel yoga features a soft fabric with spandex, providing a comfy off. and on take to simple it making s shoulder Wear System’ with pre-formed into Fitted in three easy steps parents can simply click, strap and tie the carrier t to waistbel the in pocket place. For extra convenience the carrier includes a zippered portable and small carrier your makes Pouch store loose items and the Stash n’ Go when not in use. and To protect baby at all times it features a structured seat and the central section correct a eing guarante comfort m head and back support are padded for maximu carrying positioning for legs, back and head. 6 Boppy ComfyFit can be used as a parent facing up to 6 months and from and is world the see to ready is months outward facing carrier when your little one 15kg. to up babies to ideal for newborns of at least 3.5kg ht, Available in Heathered Grey the carrier is machine-washable and lightweig making life that little bit easier for new parents. Web: www.chicco.co.uk
new!
Sponsored by
Bit of magic Introducing the latest side sleeping crib in the award-winning range, Chicco Next2Me Magic offers maximum comfort for both parents and baby.
one hand Featuring a new premium design, the enhanced s bed, adultâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the to xed fi when used be can panel sliding side g durin one little making it even easier for parents to reach smart a es includ also c Magi the night. Chicco Next2Me standing rocking mechanism that can be operated in free adjustable t heigh 11 With n. butto a of touch the by mode levels and versatile legs, the crib adapts to any bed feet. The including divans thanks to the auto retractable stion conge and ux refl with baby rt suppo to tilts crib also ate gener ws windo while the 3D mesh mattress and side soothe and rt comfo to night the g extra air ventilation durin home the d aroun d move easily be can baby. The crib ed with thanks to the four swivelling wheels and is design make to cover outer stylish zipper detail on the soft before. removal and cleaning of the cover easier than ever Grey. Cool The Next2Me Magic is available in Sand and
Fine dining Eco-friendly, educational and so cute! These bamboo fibre tableware sets from Mama Bamboo are sure to delight little ones at lunch times. Dishwasher safe and durable they make a great alternative to standard plastic sets. Each set comes with a little card from chosen characters, introducing themselves and their home. Encourages a brilliant first discussion with the children about endangered animals and the environment. Web: www.mamabamboo.com
Web: www.chicco.co.uk
Commit to ditch the plastic!
The world is waking up to the plastic nightmare. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in everything from our tea bag to our wet wipes. these
developed Fortunately the clever folk at Bamaboo have ies and wipes so we can napp sable dispo oo bamb y luxur ous gorge romising on quality all reduce our plastic mountain without comp or our choices. Chlorine free Latex free and Mama Earth! Cleaner! Greener! Healthier for your baby Web: www.bamaboo.co.uk
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BPA notice board Do you have a stand-out product? The UK nursery industry is about to embark on Harrogate International Nursery Fair seeking new product lines to excite their customers in the coming year. But how can they tell which items are just a novel passing phase; and those which are pretty much guaranteed best-sellers? The Baby Products Association’s Baby and Nursery Trade Awards – BANTAs – are designed to help buyers attending the show to pick out the products, which in the opinion of the judges (who are all independent industry experts with no financial or personal gain from being
Robert Anslow M anaging Director If you r company is a me mb er of the Bab y Pro duc ts Ass ocia tion and you are not cur rently receivin g me mb ers ’ e-bulletins wit h industry upd ates , but would like to, ple ase em ail juli e@ b-p -a. org wh o will add you to the databa se.
Innovation at its best Entries to the Association’s annual Concept & Innovation Awards have now been shortlisted and a group of budding entrepreneurs will be meeting with judges in London this month to present their new baby product ideas to a panel of industry experts. Four finalists will be announced shortly and these will be attending Harrogate International Nursery Fair to share their ideas with the entire industry. The winners will be chosen and announced at the show.
www.thebpa.eu
Chinese birth rate 1 lowest since 196its low est number
cy, China recorded Despite lifting the one-child poli y 60s. famine under Mao in the earl at gre the e of births in 2018 sinc lion mil 3 15.2 only t tha ced oun cs ann The National Bureau of Statisti year a 7, 201 n 2018 – two million less tha Chinese babies were born in the e sinc e gur fi s is the third lowest already showing decline. Thi 1949. in na Chi of c People’s Republi a na have been allowed to have Chi in ples cou all 6, 201 Since s to ear app sing of education and hou second child; however, the cost . be discouraging many parents s on na could eliminate restriction Chi t tha eve beli erts Some exp family size entirely this year.
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involved in the BANTAs), are outstanding in terms of design, functionality, market need and value for money. Entry to the BANTAs is only available to exhibitors at Harrogate International Nursery Fair. More information and d an entry t fform can b be downloaded from www.thebpa.eu (awards). The deadline is Friday 8th March 2019.
UNICEF calls for better worldwide healthcare for newborns According to UNICEF, whilst people celebrated the start of a new year on 1st January 2019, approximately 395, 072 babies entered the world and a quarter of these were in South Asia alone. The four highest new year birth s were in India (69,944), China (44,940), Nigeria (25,685) and Pakistan (15,112). In 2017, around 1 million babies died on the day they were born, and 2.5 million in just the first month of their life. Among those children, most died from preventable causes such as prem ature birth, complications during delivery and infections such as sepsis and pneumonia. Over the past three decades, the worl d has seen remarkable progress in child survival, cutting the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday by more than half. Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, UNICEF deputy executive director, comments; “We can save millions of babies if we invest in training and equipping loca l health workers so that every baby is born into a safe pair of hands.”
Spain’s economic generation gap to impact childcare industry The economic gap between generations in Spain is having a great impact on demographics, consumption habits and the evolution of industries such as childcare. Spain currently experiences a significant social fracture caused by inequality in wages, wealth, the labour market and the home, which clearly separates two generations – the young and the elderly. The birth rate in Spain continues to reduce and by 2033 one in four Spaniards will be over 65. This causes young people to have to pay higher taxes to pay pensions and care for the elderly and consequently purchasing power of generations such as the Millennials will be much lower than the elderly. The impact of this phenomenon in childcare is one of the most widespread concerns among companies in this sector. The evolution of the housing market serves as an indicator to understand that young people have much less money, less ability to emancipate themselves and consequently fewer plans to form a family.
Buyersdirectory Coordinated Bedding
Textiles
Ambassador Textiles are a major supplier to the Nursery manufacturing industry, we stock an extensive range of top quality Baby Care fabrics in popular pastel colours:-
Baby Clothes • Caroline Jane International ltd • Dandelion baby clothing • Spanish design pastel babywear • Designed in the UK • Manufactured in Portugal. • Garments essential for all seasons • Made from 100% Cotton and gorgeous Knitwear.
Telephone: 01908-690726 / 01455-844469 Email: sales@dandelionclothing.co.uk Website: www.dandelionclothing.co.uk
• Soft & Cuddly – Velboa, Dimple, Stars and Coral Fleece Circles • Cotton Waffle & Cotton Interlock • Moisture Absorbing – Bamboo Towelling & Woven Towelling • Lightweight & Pretty – Dobby Spot Polycotton & Brodierie Anglaise • Warm & versatile – Anti Pil Fleece Our Anti Pil fleece range has over 50 colours and 20 prints which can be made to order into Fleece Blankets in Cot, Pram and Picnic Blanket size (minimums apply) Visit our website to view the full range at www.ambassador-textiles.co.uk Or contact our experienced helpful team on 0161 624 4167 info@ambassador-textiles.co.uk
Wholesale
Reserve this advertisement space now in the UK’s only monthly nursery trade magazine, features as follows: March 2019 – copy deadline 21st February Harrogate Nursery Fair preview Wheeled Goods a& Accessories Wooden Toys Safety products/Home Safety/Stairgates Safety Testing • Wholesale
April 2019 – copy deadline 8th April Baby Carriers/Slings Compact Folds Sun, Sea and Sand Harrogate Review – ‘Stars of the Show ‘
Call Christine on 01442 289936 or email christine@lemapublishing.co.uk for more information.