Nursery Today by Lema Publishing

APRIL 2017 ISSUE 07 VOLUME 20 Independently audited. ABC circulation of 4402 Independently audited. 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 ABC circulation of 4443 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

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acknowledged as a "hip-healthy" product by

contents the team Editor Penny Franks penny@lemapublishing.co.uk

Ad Manager Christine Contreras christine@lemapublishing.co.uk

Re g ul a r s

APRIL 2017 ISSUE 7 VOLUME 20

Contributors

News 6 file Retailer Pro 12 p Talking Sho 15 apshot Supplier Sn 26 cts New Produ 56 cts Baby Produ 58 n Associatio

Shop matters with NSG

Ross Hewitt

Intelligent Retail

Features

Design Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

Publisher Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

Carriers/Slings

Harrogate International Nursery Fair

Managing Director

We take a look at the 2017 show and highlight

Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

products of interest

Circulation Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

p16

BANTA award winners announced

Travel time

Traditional toys

p40

Lema Publishing Ltd 1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930

www.nursery-today.co.uk

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A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Introducing the new Tiny Tatty Teddy range by BreathableBaby, featuring the adorable grey bear. Tiny Tatty Teddy is the perfect choice for a gift for both boys and girls

For further information, please contact rachelle.harel@breathablebaby.com

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editor’s letter www.nursery-today.co.uk Twitter: @nurserytodaymag he doors to the Harrogate International Nursery Fair closed last month and from speaking to exhibitors and visitors the general consensus was that the show was a success. Visitors who were in attendance were there to conduct serious business. Although the show this year may have been more compact and no-one is stating that the halls were packed with footfall, however those who did attend found that this gave a very positive approach for them while visiting the show this year. Examples of this can be found within Talking Shop in this issue (page 15) and also on the NSG, for example, Tracy Williams, of newly opened BABI Pram Shop visited for the first time this year and wasn’t disappointed. Tracy commented: “It was our first time attending as we only opened our store last October. We found it very beneficial to make contact personally with both large and small brands and left with many new ideas for 2017 stock.” Many visitors commented that they felt they were given quality time by those exhibiting, gain a great understanding of products being showcased and were able to experience quality product demonstrations.

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Coupled with this, the show also offered fantastic seminars for anyone who wanted to get a better understanding of many topical industry subjects. For example, Gfk looked at touch points between brands and consumers, while Generation Media shared information from their recent study which identified key lifestyle variations amongst mums with children under the age of five and more importantly, how this information can be used to strengthen communication strategies to create a better engagement between us, the industry, and our target audience, the consumer. For those who wanted to get to grips with social media, Harriet Shearsmith of Toby & Roo gave a fantastic insight into how to use social media platforms and engage with social media influencers to grow reach across, for example, Instagram and Facebook. Also, for those who (like many of us) are still confused about the new car seat regulations, visitors were able to head to the Baby Products Association’s Car Seat Advice Centre. Industry experts were on hand to explain the ins and outs and give valuable advice with regard to this product category. The show was also, the perfect venue to announce the BANTA award winners (sponsored by Nursery Today). During a packed drinks reception the winners were announced at the

close of the first day - a huge congratulations to all the winners. We bring you a full round up of the show within this issue, starting on page 28, where you will find many highlighted products that were on display during the three days. This issue we also take a look at the baby carrier and sling sector (page 16), products relating to travelling with baby (page 40) and traditional toys (page 52). Carriers and slings are fast becoming a staple product for retailers and at the moment we are experiencing a level of growth in this industry sector. Carriers and slings offer a perfect solution to being able to travel with baby in a hands free manor and also provide an opportunity for dads to have an opportunity to ‘bond’ with baby. Our feature also contains information received from a targeted FanFinders survey, which you may find of interest. On a final note, can I draw everyone’s attention to our annual golf day. The event will again be held at Puckrup Hall, near Tewkesbury. This is a Hilton hotel course which is beautifully maintained. The date to put in your diary is Tuesday 27th June. Why not drop Malcolm Naish an email: Malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk, telephone him on 01442 289930 to secure your space.

The easiest, thinnest and lightest full-size folding travel cot

www.hippychick.com

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news 2017 set to get sassier! An array of new toys, full of creativity and innovation, have been launched from Sassy and are now available. Sassy is focused on stimulating and developing the four key senses in baby’s first year and beyond. Offering a range of age-appropriate toys this beautiful collection really will awaken anyone’s imagination. One of the key changes you will notice is that many of the toys are equipped with soft plastic features to make them more appropriate for baby and softer to touch and play. Web: www.hardenbergco.co.uk

Cheeky Rascals welcomes new sales director Good news at Cheeky Rascals with the arrival of Debbie Grant as Sales Director. Debbie’s appointment will bolster the award-winning team to support the brands overall plans for strategic growth. With more than 16 years experience within the nursery industry, Debbie brings with her a wealth of knowledge and key skills she has nurtured in sourcing and marketing innovative brands from all over the world. The role will see Debbie focus on leading the Sales and Customer Service teams to deliver the company’s sales strategy. Working Russel, Selina and Debbie closely with Business Development Manager Jane Johnstone, Debbie will also maintain and develop relationships with key customers nationwide and suppliers across the globe. Web: www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

p Perfect npartnership

ErgoPouch, the Australia company renowned for their skin-friendly and natural sleeping suits are proud to announce a partnership with The Kensington Wing at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. ErgoPouch will be gifting a selection of ErgoCocoon swaddles, 2.5 tog exclusively to patients of The Kensington Wing. Chelsea and Westminster said: ‘‘It is important for us to ensure our babies are cared We love for with the highest regard for safety. made from only the highest quality and nic orga fully is that the ergoCocoon es have a fully breathable and secure natural fibres which ensures the babi oon transitions to a sleeping bag Coc ergo cover. It is also a bonus that the parents) as they grow!” which is very useful for our babies (and

flavour? What’s your in 2016, award-winning weaning brand

Following a successful collaboration once again to Tidy Tot and author Zainab Jagot Ahmed are joining forces here. everyw s offer advice and guidance to weaning parent hout Via a series of online Q&A and Facebook Live sessions throug will Zainab and rth Unswo r Jennife r invento and r founde April, Tidy Tot any ask to unity be offering parents direct expert access and the opport questions they might have about weaning and the benefits of Zainab’s ground-breaking new Flavour-Led Weaning approach. The Tidy Tot Bib and Tray Kit in Grey, Tidy Tot Bib & Tray Kit in Green and Tidy Tot Bib product lines are available from Hippychick.com. Tel: 01278 434 440

nursery today

Dr Brown’s appoints Bertelli Communications Renowned baby bott

le brand Dr Brown’s has appointed Bert elli Communications as its retained PR agency. Distributed by Central Medical Supplies Ltd, this move comes as the company brings all its PR support into one agency. Bertelli already man ages PR for the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Support & Feeding Pillow and Cantaloop’s range of Maternity Lingerie, CMS’s other successful nurs ery brands.

Kiddicare add a touch of pink to its car seat offering

This year, the team at CuddleCo, the exclusive distributor of Doona, unveiled an exciting limited edition version of its revolutionary car seat with wheels. The pink Doona has been very well received since its launch and the CuddleCo team is pleased to announce major retailer Kiddicare is now stocking the product. Commenting on the news, CuddleCo’s Managing Director Marc Kelly said: “We are very pleased to announce that Kiddicare is now stocking the pink Doona. It’s been fantastic to see how popular the new limited edition colour has been and sales are certainly showing no signs of slowing down. Pink will always be such a popular colour choice for families, so it’s great we can offer this to parents across the UK.”

sponsored by hardenbergco.co.uk 01785 503 305

Chicco plan YouTube takeover In order to showcase its innovative NaturalFeeling range, baby specialist Chicco is going digital introducing their all-new YouTube advertising campaign. Launched in April, the YouTube Campaign will emphasise how the NaturalFeeling range is designed to support mothers as it easily combines breast and bottle feeding. NaturalFeeling instinctively replicating the way a baby feeds thanks to its angled teat, the bottles mimics the ideal position for baby’s first latch, making feeding as natural and easy as possible. The campaign will run from mid-April for four weeks and will appear before a variety of pregnancy and maternity videos.

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Web: www.chicco.co.uk

Gro partners with Books ren’s book Walkera book at bedtime, child

To celebrate the joy of brand The Gro publisher Walker Books and baby sleep ime Book Club. Bedt a te crea Company have teamed up to ime Book Club will focus on a Bedt each , year the ut Running througho with Benji Davies and Maggie off ed key Walker Books picture book. It kick is’s funny follow-up to Alan’s Jarv ch; Mar in Tokuda Hall’s Also an Octopus e, in June; picture book classic Owl Big, Scary Teeth, Mrs Mole, I’m Hom versary in 2017, in August and a Babies, which celebrates its 25th anni er. Christmas gift selection in Decemb be paired with a product from Each book selection and giveaway will ic Grobag, a Gro To Bed set or, in The Gro Company range, be it the class Gro Company’s brand new Ollie The the case of Owl Babies, the launch of the Owl! on Walker Book’s picture book blog, The Bedtime Book Club will feature be promoted across both The Gro www.picturebookparty.co.uk, and will nels, reaching over 337,000 chan l Company and Walker Book’s socia consumers collectively.

Best Buy accolade for mimzy lx Joie has been awarded the Which? ‘Best Buy’ for its mimzy lx, affirming the baby brand’s commitment to creating products that meet the needs of modern parents. Testers praised the chair for its effortless assembly, useful features and comfort. The mimzy lx high chair earned five-stars for comfort, the highest comfort rating possible. Which? parent testers praised the seat for its ‘easy to feed’ features as well as making it fuss-free for their babies to feed themselves. David Welsh, MD at Joie said: “Reviews play a key role in the decision making process for any parent so we are thrilled to receive this recognition from such a respected, trusted and impartial organisation. At Joie we aim to provide products that make parents lives easier and the mimzy lx embodies our values and design credentials.” Web: www.joiebaby.com

Cosy little slipper socks!

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...Become a stockist of our award winning range... www.sockons.co.uk All products are supported by a comprehensive press and pr campaign.

nursery today

news

Cuddledry bags another gold award Cuddledry is delighted to announce they have scooped another award to add to their extensive collection. Their hands-free towel was awarded GOLD for Best Baby Bath product in the Made For Mums Awards. Since the launch of the innovative Cuddledry handsfree towel in 2006, parents and babies have been enjoying a decidedly more enjoyable splash in the tub. The super soft towel makes bath time both easy and stress free. A welcome solution to a slippery problem!

Internationally speaking Catina Filado, International C Sales Development S Manager, Gro, gives some insight into the value of an international presence for a UK brand.

orking with a product that is successful and popular in the UK market it is easy to make the assumption that what works here will automatically work abroad, as parents across the globe all want

the best of their children. Culturally, however, they may have different priorities and ways of consuming media and messages which is why, as a brand, it is important to us to make sure that while we may take a UK message, we apply it locally so it resonates with new mums in different parts of the world.

Web: www.cuddledry.com

Commitment to a healthy workplace Frugi is celebrating two new award wins that the team are especially proud of, as it’s announced that Planet Frugi has not only been awarded Silver from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Workplace Health Awards, but its Managing Director Tracy Carroll has also been crowned Workplace Health Champion of the Year for 2016. Passionate about keeping its workforce happy and healthy, team Frugi are thrilled to have achieved this prestigious accolade following its assessment by Cornwall Council.

Sleep practices differ in different parts of the world and for us choosing distributers that understand and are passionate about our product, is crucial to supporting our brand and product abroad. Gro has been lucky enough to have worked with several key distributors from the very beginning of our Grobag days and success in their markets has been a very important building block to international success. Using the experience and knowledge of their home markets has helped us enormously when developing new products. Enabling us to take a wider view and implement more innovations into new products than we would perhaps have done if purely looking to supply a UK market, leading to stronger more robust products for parents and enabled Gro to think big, bringing benefits to UK consumers.

Online strength for Mothercare which covers the 11 week Mothercare plc has issued their Q4 trading update, period to 25th March 2017.

• UK like-for-like sales up 4.5% during the quarter driven by online sales growth of 13.6%. Online sales now represent c41% of UK sales. of • Fourth quarter ended with 152 stores (147 Mothercare and five ELC) format. which c70% are now trading in the new, modern

Access to an international market enables us to create greater choice for UK retailers and consumers. Having demand for 0.5 and 3.5 tog Grobags in hotter and colder climates such as Asia and Canada has enabled us to provide them for the UK market at a competitive price which we would struggle to achieve if purely relying on UK sales. An instance of a supplier having the experience and access to an international market benefiting retailers and consumers in providing wider choice. Our goal in the UK of providing safer sleep information and creating products that help parents implement safe sleep practices is also something we work to promote in other markets. Our charity partner The Lullaby Trust work closely with International SIDS programmes sharing research and advice and keeping babies safe is relevant in any culture or part of the world. So while we may approach markets differently, our fundamental goal of making parenting easier is the same wherever in the world we are.

nursery today

International

• Many international markets are now in growth, while the Middle East remains challenging. 15.4% • International retail sales were down 1.7% in constant currency and up s. tailwind in actual currency, reflecting the ongoing currency in 21 • Ten transactional websites opened during the year. Now trading online and currency constant in 64% of growth sales online year countries with full 86% in actual currency. with • Opened 144 stores and closed 116 during the year, ending the quarter space. retail 1,338 stores and c3.1M sq.ft.of Mark Newton-Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Mothercare plc, said: “Following a solid final quarter, our overall Group performance remains broadly in line with market expectations for the year. “We have made further progress in the period, with the UK performing particularly well on a like-for like basis. Customers’ response to our spring/ and summer ranges has been positive, as has the feedback on the new website lly successfu have we years two past our new store environment; over the r refurbished 70% of the store estate to our new, modern format. Our custome to us allowing rs, custome active million three over at stands now database communicate seamlessly between our digital and physical channels.”

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Full steam ahead with Baby Brands Direct

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With established brands, Baby Brands Direct continues to offer products that shine for retailers. Here they tell us more. t’s been a great few weeks at Baby Brands Direct with huge accolades coming through for key brand partners including Fisher-Price and Tommee Tippee. Fisher-Price has outshone tough competition to be named Best Baby Toy Brand at the 2017 Tommy’s Awards for the third year running with 36,000 parents participating in votes! Tommee Tippee has been awarded Consumer ‘UK Superbrands’ status for 2017 with consumers judging the brands on three key criteria: quality, reliability and distinction. We’ve also had a vast range of new product launches including the nursery range of In the Night Garden plush, manufactured by multi-award winning manufacturer Golden Bear in pastel shades, detailed embroidery and soft fabric. The range includes loving characters Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka and Upsy Daisy, and offers ring rattles, chime toys, plush and comfort blankets. Also just in is the new complete starter set from Tommee Tippee that includes everything a parent needs to make feeding a breeze, from bottles to sterilisers. This is available in black, white and the new on trend colour for 2017 - cool blue! Also available in this colour is the Perfect Prep machine that serves a fresh bottle at the right temperature in less than two minutes. The in-built filter system also removes impurities from water and dispenses the correct amount of water for an accurate formula consistency. We are also delighted to expand the Vital Baby range to include their full range of toddler cups and also the Vital Baby Ella’s Kitchen Weaning Spoon Tips. The latter are not only compatible with the very popular Ella’s food pouches but also most other ready-made food pouches. Dr. Brown’s PreVent orthodontic soothers are also now available to purchase and feature a unique suction free air channel that helps to reduce suction and palatal pressure in the mouth that can create dental issues such as cross bites. Retailers can offer three size options in two colourways plus glow in the dark variants. We also celebrated Barbie’s Birthday last month alongside the Brand’s 2017 ‘#DadsWhoPlay campaign’ that encourages Dad’s involvement in play and the positive effects it can have on her confidence as she grows. We also remembered the birth anniversary of Albert Einstein and some of his great quotes including, ‘imagination is more important than knowledge’ and hence the importance of play available through the toys within the range of Baby Einstein products stocked that stimulate exactly that.

nursery today

Celebrity favourite

Sleepyhead has been spotted once again on Instagram by Kimberley Walsh (Girls Aloud) and Amy Childs (former TOWIE cast member). Now also used in an NHS hospital in London, the Sleepyhead deluxe + is the ultimate newborn must-have (premmies included.) and it’s clear the celebs agree. Web: info@ridgebacks.co.uk

Maxi-Cosi take to radio

Are you aware of the change in booster seat legislation that came into effect in February? Maxi-Cosi spent the day on air speaking to radio stations across the UK, clarifying exactly what the changes mean. Andrew Ratcliffe, Managing Director Dorel UK Ltd, said: “There has been an exceptional amount of bad reporting on the new booster seat regulation creating confusion. Maxi-Cosi plays an active part in creating car seat standards and wanted to help clarify the position for consumers via a number of radio interviews. Booster seats are not banned, consumers can still use them and retailers still sell them. The change only affects manufacturers, but retailers would be wise to convey the added safety benefits of high backed today rather than selling cheaper basic booster seats.” Web: www.maxi-cosi.co.uk

All about the bump Amy Childs (former TOWIE cast member) was spotted paying a visit to Body Bump. Launched by mother and daughter, Jane and Lucy Saunders, Body Bump is an innovative new maternity slip. The Body Bump has been created to keep bumps safe and secure and to offer total comfort for mums from early pregnancy. The Body Bump is a non-ride up pregnancy garment that is designed around the mother. Jane explains: ‘Our maternity slip is designed to move with you. So many pregnancy bands or vests for bumps can be an instrument of torture, but The Body Bump is perfectly designed to give your bump a hug.’’ Web: www.myfabody.com

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02/03/2017 09:59

retail

LITTLE PEAS

Give peas a chance This issue we had the pleasure to question Alan and Amanda Peacock, founders of Little Peas, Dunfermline. After nearly ten years’ trading, what is the secret to their success? Here we find out more about this established independent nursery retailer. Tell us a little about the store. When did you first open your doors?

We Opened in November 2008 and I can’t believe it’s been almost 10 years! When we opened our doors, it was in the local shopping centre as we were still renovating the current store location. We’ve since been through a shop move, had two children, launched a website and have established ourselves as a friendly, knowledgeable local business. However, that said, we have miles to go yet with lots of exciting plans for the future of little peas.

What was the inspiration to enter the nursery retail sector?

Alan: I’d been working in the corporate world for a number of years in finance and Amanda has a customer service background, but we both wanted to work for ourselves. I’d been made redundant and after a short time pottering, we looked to see what opportunities there were in Dunfermline for new businesses. There was a noticeable void in the nursery sector for a large town, with so many families and people moving here to start families, so we did our research and business planning and it all went from there!

What product category currently performs well for you?

Alan: We actually have quite a level playing field here. Currently we seem to be selling some of everything from wheels, furniture, car seats and accessories. We’re becoming quite well known for our car seat service and expertise - especially to extended rear-facing car seats and fitting advice. We’re fortunate to have a large car park here which many don’t, which sets us up nicely to be able to demo easily and safely.

Do you have a ‘hero’ product at the moment that parents just can’t get enough of ?

Alan: There’s no specific standout at the moment, but we’ve found that hero products 12

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“ We’re beco m in g qu ite w ell kn ow n for ou r ca r se at ser vi ce an d expert ise esp ec ially to exten de d rea r- fac in g ca r se ats an d fittin g advi ce . ” are often new product launches. There seems to be a lot going on just now with ‘future proofing’ prams and we’re excited about the number of new tandem possibilities there are on the market just now.

How important are brands to you and your customers?

Amanda: Our customers do tend to be brand-focussed when it comes to wheels and car seats and will often recognise the name of a product that’s been recommended to

“ O ur customerr s

them without having seen it themselves. We’ve laid out our shop via brands for that reason, so I’d say it’s important for us to be aware of the trending brands as well.

Do you think nursery suppliers/ manufacturers keep in line with current trends?

do ten d to be br an d- foc us se d w hen it co mes to w heels an d ca r se ats an d w ill often rec ogni se th e na me of a produc t th at ’s been rec om men de d to th em w ith out havin g seen it th em se lves. ”

Amanda: Very much so, I think mothersto-be in particular are generally very style conscious purchasers and want to remain trendy and relevant after becoming a parent. I think the industry reflects that - it’s a fast paced, fashionable business these days.

Do you think that new parents now conduct more research before making their buying decision?

Amanda: Certainly online at least; I think people travel around shops less and come into the store once they’ve had a good browse on Google etc. They’re typically coming in to our store to have a look at something they’ve found online and want to see it in real life before buying. Either that, or we find people are total novices and haven’t done much research at all.

Are you finding that your customers are confused when we talk about car seats?

Alan: More and more are educating themselves before they come in now, but those who haven’t, tend to be willing to learn from us and use our knowledge. We find that a lot of the

cconfusion comes aafter they’ve been to a national (r (rather than an in independent), or if a friend/family m member has given the them ‘advice’.

Would you W sa say there is suf sufficient innovation inn at present pre with nursery? nu

Am Amanda: I would say it’s an innovative indu industry by nature, ther there are so many great examples of grea nurs nursery products that have been introduced in the last few years that highlight this - extended rearfacing seats, future proofing prams, teething bibs and bedside cribs are all great examples. I think the one area that the industry could look at further is the ecological impact of the fast-paced, innovative nature of nursery retail today. There are a lot of nursery products that come in excessive, non-recyclable packaging as well as products that are themselves unable to be recycled. Cotbed mattresses are just one example of this issue. We’re recommending parents to purchase a new mattress for each child, but despite doing a thorough search, I’ve struggled to find anywhere that would break down the mattresses for recycling after use, meaning we’re encouraging health and safety for infants, which is obviously of the highest priority, but creating a lot of landfill waste in the process.

What about trade shows – which do you attend?

Cologne and Harrogate, as well as the nursery today

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LITTLE PEAS

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regional BabyStyle and Dorel show.

You also have an online presence, how does this operate alongside your store?

Alan: Quite neatly. Our site and store work hand-in-hand and we do currently share resources. We made a conscious decision against discounting online, as we know it has a negative impact on the wider industry. We do carry a strong level of stock of the strongest brands and find that we gain these sales when there are stock issues at the supplier.

Do you operate on social media? How important is this to you?

Amanda: Yes, it’s a must! The demographic we’re pitching to are constantly attached to their phones. Social media is ‘crucial’ to every-day living now and an excellent source of free advertising.

What about consumer spending trends, what are you noticing at the moment?

Alan: There’s been talk of a quieter start to the year in 2017 both at Harrogate and generally about the country. We’ve noticed a slight slowdown in footfall over recent months and notice more people interested in reusing their products/upgrading colour packs etc. We’re unsure if it’s an impact on the

nursery today

economy in general as a result in the weakened strength of the pound that’s causing a reprioritisation pause for people, or if it’s just a ‘blip’. We do find though that those who are coming through the door are serious buyers.

Do you feel well supported by your suppliers, or is there more they could be offering?

are a th at th e industry could look at furth er is th e eco log ica l impa ct of th e fast- pa ced , inn ova tive na tu re of nu rsery retail to da y. There are a lot of nu rsery produc ts th at come in ex ces sive, non- rec yc lab le pa ck aging as we ll as produc ts th at are th em selves un ab le to be rec yc led . ”

Alan: Mostly yes. We’re extremely fortunate to have very strong relationships with most of our suppliers, which encourages support. I do think, however, that suppliers need to focus on margin and pay serious attention to discounting. Times are tough, but turning a blind eye to this is going to aid a decline in the industry, and ultimately hurt their brand. I think it’s one of the biggest bug-bears of the independents. While we often hear that there’s “nothing they can do about pricing”, there really is. Some suppliers have allowed their stance to weaken on this again over the last couple of years and it will sadly take its toll on some of the smaller ller shops. We know of at least three Indies that hat are sadly closing down right now as a

direct result di l off these h price i wars ((online li and in store).

What about product d demonstration by your ssuppliers - how important a are these to you?

Amanda: It’s something we really value A at little peas. Even if we’re very familiar w with the product, it’s always worth ha having a supplier demo. You can always pic pick up a new technique or learn som something new you didn’t previously kn know about it.

What do you think will be the W ne next must have by mums?

Am Amanda: No idea! But I would guess it’ll be ssomething designed to make mums’ lives live easier. I think once you’ve had a child you know if you can find something to help your life with your little one running smoothly, smo it’s extremely appealing.

Fin Finally, are there any exciting plans on the horizon? pla

We’v always got exciting plans! The We’ve biggest problem, as everyone reading this bigg knows, is that when you have your own know business, you’re already spinning about ten busin plates at once. Finding the time and budget are always the trick for a small business!

talking shop This issue we catch up with independent retailers to find out their views on the Harrogate International Nursery Fair this year.

Emma Charlesworth

WH WATTS

Gary Watts

What did you find of interest this year at Harrogate? The new ranges from Venicci were fabulous and well worth a look with some great deals to boot. Also BabyStyle had some great new furniture ranges on show. Bebecar were also well worth a look.

BABY BIRDS

What did you find of interest this year at Harrogate? I came back full of inspiration and ideas. It’s what the show is all about. Personally I connected with suppliers for our new Amy Childs’ Collection. Did you notice any new trends emerging? BabyStyle and Venicci in particular shone out. Their new colours will sell very well. D you feel there Do were sufficient new w product launches and p new companies? n Yes Y absolutely, I was there for two full days - I t could have easily spent a c third day there. t Did D you attend the BANTA evening event B and a visit the winning companies the c following day? f Yes. Y I thought the Bebecar Spottech which won the S Travel award was awesome - I’ll be ordering that.

Did you notice any new trends emerging? Not really but Bebecar have some wild and wacky fabrics and Venicci had a more deluxe range of product which added to their price points. D you feel there was Do sufficient new product s launches and new l companies? c From the suppliers that we F deal with and went to see there were new ranges, new fabrics, etc. and there were lots of great products on the smaller stands. This year though we were very much focussed on furniture, car seats and wheeled products and therefore we had not gone to view or purchase any smaller lines. But for most retailers who do there certainly were lots to see of interest.

Derek Bavaird JAN STEWART PRAMS

How was Harrogate for you this year? ere Jan and I thoroughly enjoyed Harrogate this year. We found that there was a more relaxed atmosphere enabling us more time to chat with many exhibitors. All in all we secured good business but we never felt the need to attend the last day as we had managed to get everything done within our two full days there. We briefly attended the BANTA party but had to leave quite quickly as we had a dinner appointment. Overall, we felt there was a good atmosphere with from talking to exhibitors the general feedback was very positive with serious buyers in attendance.

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Handsfree parenting rands play a crucial role when we look at baby carriers and slings and with consumers weighing up the benefits of their use as a way to transport baby in a simple, hands free way, these products are now becoming a must stock product for many nursery retailers. There are many factors which make baby wearing popular. These enable parents and babies to bond closely but also give parents a hands-free solution to better multitask – essential for juggling modern parenting, busy lives and older children. We have notably seen an increase in the popularity of carriers and slings, and in part this could be due to the level of media surrounding the benefits of babywearing. “There has certainly been a rise in the level of interest for babywearing and we are hearing from more and more parents that a carrier is a must-have item when planning for a baby,” said Daniel Lucas, managing director, We Made Me. “We are seeing it is now given priority as a key bit of kit to get before the baby arrives, alongside the pushchair and car seat. This is not just in the UK, as we are also seeing more traction in our international markets, especially across the USA, Canada and Asia, where we are experiencing significant expansion.” What else could be attributed to driving the growth in this category? Daniel feels that this is primarily due to parents being more aware of their benefits and also the level of choice and information that is currently available. “There is certainly a general increase in awareness of the benefits which is getting many parents on board with the idea, and with the added bonus that there is now such a great

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choice in both style and functionality, there really is something for every family.” This is also a category that is primarily dominated by brands. We asked Amanda Loveday, marketing manager, Ergobaby her thoughts on why we are seeing an increase in popularity. “Parents are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of using a carrier or sling which is helping to aid the growth in this category. “It is great to see the number of retailers focussing on their carrier category both in-store and online helping parents make the right decision for both them and their babies. There are an incredible number of styles, designs and budgets available for all parents which help make carrying more comfortable for both parents and baby.” We asked Michelle Smith, marketing manager, Close Parent, how brands are viewed within this product category. “Because of the growth achieved in the past five years, the market is more crowded, with more non carrier specific brands trying their hand within the category as an add on to travel and therefore there has been an influx of products. “I think more consumer choice of safe welldesigned product is only a good thing but as it is such a specialism, the trusted brands with longstanding reputations for safety are still a go-to product for most parents wishing to carry. “ Michelle also feels that a carrier or sling isn’t an impulse buy. “A carrier is a well-considered purchase and word of mouth and endorsement carries much weight with a purchaser. Parents are more likely to try something for themselves if they have seen friends using a product or if it has been

Picture courtesy of Close Parent

The baby carrier and sling sector continues to show signs of growth, but why are they growing in popularity or is it a finite market?

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b er o f ta iler s focuss in g on t hre ei r ri er ca te go ry b ot h inr-ca an d on lin e h elp instgo re p arents m ake t h e ri dec is ion fo r b ot h t h gh t e an d t h ei r b ab ies. m Amanda Loveda

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recommended to them by a peer or expert.” Are there notable differences between consumers who choose a carrier or a sling? We asked Michelle for her thoughts. “I think traditionally they were a more distinct customer but as the design gap is narrowing between more structured carriers and slings and education is rising amongst parents there is more fluidity between these customers, and a growing number are making multiple carrier purchases based upon either intended use, different wearers or different stages through to independence.” The length of time the product can be used for is a major aspect, we can see this when we take a look at the responses gained by the Fan Finders’ survey, which clearly illustrates this as a point of concern for consumers. Therefore, is it important that a carrier or sling can grow in size along with the baby, with another main focus being on comfort, both for infant and parent? It may be about brand awareness and aesthetics, but it’s also about functionality. We asked Amanda, what, in her opinion, is currently driving growth in this category. Is it perhaps that we have more information readily available when we look at Babywearing? “We truly believe in the benefits of Babywearing and are continuing to invest in educating both retailers and parents on these benefits. Making sure everyone is aware of how beneficial using a carrier or sling can be is super important.

“Brands are also playing a massive role in this increase by developing products that are easier to use, providing different styles and designs which also helps encourage parents into the category by making products available that they want. Innovation is still a key driver too and key brands who invest in research and product development are helping aid this growth. “A lot of retailers are also allocating more space in-store to develop a carrier category with the right brands and products for their customers. Communication on their social media channels encouraging parents to use carriers has also been part of the mix in driving sales for those retailers and the category.” Could it be said that there are two types of consumer? One who will be drawn to a baby carrier, the other who is interested in Babywearing and the benefits? “It is really important to understand why parents buy into one of these products over another. They are very different products and it is super important for retailers to understand the differences and what it is the customer needs,” said Amanda. “Some parents prefer the likes of a stretchy wrap as the fabric is soft and comfortable and it helps facilitate skin to skin contact, they can be pre-tied and can be more affordable but they are outgrown quite quickly. Buckle carriers such as Ergobaby can be used in a number of positions from birth until toddler age, they provide great weight distribution and support for the parent and offer additional features such as sun hoods or criss-cross shoulder straps and lumbar support.” Daniel, feels, like most things, it’s also all about personal need and lifestyle. “Just like when choosing a pushchair, every parent is looking for certain things that the product will offer. For carriers and slings first

“

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aniel Lucas, W e Made Me

The survey says… Nursery marketing specialists, FanFinders surveyed 3,000 consumers via their Platform Your Baby Club focusing on baby carriers/slings. Here’s the results.

Q. What stops you ‘baby wearing’ Baby carries/ baby wearing is uncomfortable: 1,059 or 35.3% Baby Grows Too Big too fast: 983 or 32.7 % Worried baby will be cold: 938 or 31.2%

Who is the baby main baby wearer: and foremost parents will weigh up how often they will use it. “Also age makes a big difference, as someone with a toddler will be looking for something more robust compared with parents with a newborn wanting to cocoon baby close with something like the Wuti Wrap. Certainly first time babywearers, compared with the avid fans, will be looking for different things and, of course, affordability and how it looks will impact the final choice individuals make.” Finally, we asked Amanda what advice could retailers give their customers who are looking at these products? “Being confident is one of the most important elements with carriers. They can quite often be overwhelming with so many options and variations. Reach out to all the brands and ensure you and your team have the right tools and are trained on each of the products.”

Mum 1,555 or 51.8% Dad 536 or 17.6% Both equally 909 or 30.3%

What type of carrier do you use: Soft structure/ Buckle carrier (BabyBjorn as example) 896 or 29.8% Hard structure – With Hip seat (I-angel as example) 102 or 3.4% Ring Sling – 720 or 24% Mei Tie – 634 or 21.1% Wraps - 648 21.6%

by Picture courtesy of Ergoba

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focus CARRIERS & SLINGS

A wrap without the wrapping!

An easy fit The new Easy Fit carrier from Chicco is exactly as it sounds – easy to wear, easy to fit and easy to use! The clever design perfectly adapts to your body shape, allowing you to comfortably carry your baby close to you and putting it on has never been simpler as you simply pull it over your head just like a t-shirt. The ergonomical seat has also been specially created to keep the baby in the correct position at all times, whilst providing a comfortable and safe place for them to sit. The carrier also features additional support for the head and neck of the baby in those first few months and can then be easily adjusted to perfectly suit their shape as they grow from 0months to 9kgs. Web: www.chicco.co.uk

The award-winning Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is an innovative blend of a sling, wrap and carrier all in one, providing the positions and benefits of all three. Smart and simple, the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is a wrap without all of the wrapping - perfect for first-time parents. Its unique double-loop design is lightweight and compact like a sling, yet supportive like a structured carrier. Offering multiple positions, the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier provides added security for carrying baby and privacy for mum while nursing. It does not require any wrapping or buckling, simply slips on easily like a t-shirt to comfortably carry baby from newborn to toddlerhood (8-35 lbs). The International Hip Dysplasia Institute has acknowledged the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier as a “hip-healthy” product when used as directed. Machine washable, dryer safe, and comes with a matching sash that converts to a carrying bag. The Baby K’Tan Carrier comes in five ranges – Original Cotton, Cotton print, Natural Organic, Breeze and Active and RRP s are from £49.99 - £59.99 For more information please contact UK & Irish distributors 2012 Ltd. Tel: 01202 303 777 Email: info@2012ltd.co.uk Web: www.2012ltd.co.uk

New product launch

British roots We Made Me is excited to launch the highly anticipated Deluxe Pao Carrier suitable from birth. Not only launching in three classic colours with matching buckles including, Charcoal Grey, Racing Green and Navy Blue, the brand is also unveiling the Vintage Jack, a striking design and a fantastic way to recognise the brands British roots. Fast becoming the brands flagship product, the soft structured Pao Carrier is a truly uncompromised product that has been thoughtfully designed to consider function, safety and style, whilst retaining an affordable price tag. The 3 in 1 multi-directional carrier enables parents to carry baby on their front in both world-facing (forward-facing) and parent-facing positions, as well as on their back, and promises the most ergonomically correct world-facing (forward-facing) sitting position ever! Email: helpme@wemademe.com Web: www.wemademe.com

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10 years of Caboo hugs oo +organic has reached double digits,

Close’s much loved Cab ving brand they are launching and in celebration of their ever evol Spring, comprising of 5 new a limited edition print collection this Sofia, Oliva and a special printed carrier designs – Orla, Emily, exclusively through sling lable avai is h 10th Anniversary print whic libraries in the UK. All RRP £69.99. Tel: 01992 554045 Web: www.caboo.info

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The Hip r carrying ch lt designed fo cally supporting be e years. Specifi onths and thre of m x es si us n ca ee ot tw be the ro essing one of shelf rm fi a es id made for addr ov e Hipseat pr th , ly in ng pa si ck ea eir incr adult ba , supporting th on t si to of d by ea ba st for th. In from undernea heavy weight back stays rs re ea w e ine, th into the chest twisting the sp ed e child is tuck th d an , ht ig stra curity for both comfort and se th bo g in id padded seat ov pr Hipseat has a he T . ild ch d adult an a comfort. p pad for extr with a non-sli 0 4 44 Tel: 01278 43 /hipseat ppychick.com hi w. w w : eb W

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For life’s little adventures O ne of Lifesystem’s bestselling carriers, the super-lightweight Ranger weighs just 1.7kg yet offers no compromise on comfort for you or your child. Perfect for family adventures, the ultra-portable Ranger makes it easy to escape the confines of your pushchair. A fully-adjustable backsystem and pivoting hip belt ensure the Ranger is comfortable to carry while an anatomically-shaped child seat with patented X-buckle harness means your baby is snug and secure. The Ranger has many of LittleLife’s most popular features including an Anchor Point to make loading your child easier as well as a soft printed face pad for sleeping passengers. Tel: 0118 981 1433 Web: www.littlelife.com

Ergobaby Comfort, Everyday cool Keeping baby close can get hot, no matter the season. Ergobaby is committed to providing a carrying solution for every baby, every family and every adventure, even on warm sunny days. The Cool Air collection carriers are made with wonderfully supple, yet durable, soft mesh fabric that provides Ergobaby’s renowned ergonomic support for baby while allowing for ultimate breathability and airflow. Keep comfortable and cool with their new Cool Air mesh collection!

Best Practice Want an easy way to help your consumers shop Ergobaby in-store? Make sure you order an Ergobaby floor display stand, just mix and match!

What makes an Ergobaby carrier so special? Maximum comfort & support for the back Padded shoulder straps work with the extra wide waist belt to evenly distribute baby’s weight. Built to last 20

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Quality materials and machine washable. Ergonamic for baby Wide, deep seat keeps baby in an ergonomic position, with legs in “M -shape” position and spine in a “C-shape” position. All Ergobaby carriers are acknowledged as “hip-healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. Don’t miss out, order your 360 Cool Air Mesh in Carbon Grey or their NEW Icy Mint. Email: service@ergobaby.co.uk Web: www.ergobaby.co.uk

Celebrating 10 years of Caboo hugs...

Be a part of the 10 year Caboo success story, to stock our anniversary range contact Leah leah@closeparent.com 07801 255378 www.closeparent.com

NEW

focus CARRIERS & SLINGS

The one The #dadstories Spring Collection sees limited editions of the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One, available in three mesh options: Powder Pink, Cocoa, Anthracite, and three cotton options: Classic Denim, Pale Blue-Leaf Print and Midnight Blue-Leaf Print. The One carrier can be used from newborn, all the way up to three years, with four carrying positions for optimal comfort and ergonomics for baby and parent. To mark the launch, they will be donating baby carriers to organisations that work to support vulnerable families all over the world. The Baby Carrier One has a number of features, listed below are a few: Luxurious padding in the shoulder straps An ergonomic wide leg position Lockable zips A sturdy waist belt for back pressure relief All BabyBjörn Baby Carriers comply with the strictest Öko-Tex Standard 100, Class I. This means that they are completely free from harmful substances and are safe for little babies to even chew on. Web: www.babybjorn.co.uk

Easy bonding with Carramio

The Carramio from Clippasafe, allows parents to keep baby close and snug with a carrier that’s as stylish as it is comfortable! Designed to offer optimum comfort for baby and wearer, it features a lightweight, soft fabric lining to keep baby cool, with wide padded straps and lumbar support to spread the baby’s weight evenly across the wearer’s body. It also includes a detachable and washable dribble bib. The Carramio is a two-way carrier, so as soon as babies can support the weight of their own heads (at around three months) they can then face outwards and enjoy watching their surroundings. The Carramio safely carries babies of 3.5kg to 9.0kg and meets UK and EU Safety Standards. The Carramio is available in black, grey and oatmeal. Web: www.clippasafe.co.uk

Adapt to Every Baby kg –

Easy. Adjustable. Newborn to toddler. 3.2-20 No infant insert needed. The ADAPT baby carrier offers Ergobaby’s renowned comfort and ergonomics in an easy-touse, three position carrier (front-inward, hip, back) that adapts to a growing baby, from newborn to toddler via three different seat width settings with no insert needed. Ergobaby has worked with baby wearing educators and doctors to develop an innovative seat that gradually adjusts to a growing baby. With extra-padded shoulder straps with a crisscross option and double-adjustment waistbelt with lumbar support, offering a new level of convenience and comfort for parents. Email: service@ergobaby.co.uk Web: www.ergobaby.co.uk

eedom CompleteCarrfr ier means that, for the first

The launch of the new Izmi soft intimacy of a time, parents and babies can enjoy the of a buckled fort com and fabric sling, with the support carrier. consultant, and Designed by an expert babywearing Institute, the lasia Dysp approved by the International Hip slings and of best the s bine com ier revolutionary Izmi carr to keep baby nts pare for way ect perf the ting carriers, crea comfy, safe, and close all day. grey, purple, Choose from four stylish colours, mid for only £75. The self your treat and teal, midnight blue, and ge bag. stora and carrier comes with booster cushion, Web: www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

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Accessible to all

Staying committed to making babywearing accessible to all, We Made Me is launching a brand new, truly affordable, carrier that will bridge a gap within the category. Introducing the Kaatu Carrier collection, a striking and colourful design with simplicity at its heart. Equally dedicated to style, functionality and affordability, this carrier comes in two sizes for baby and toddler. This carrier will support front and back carry from newborn up to 36 months. With prices starting at only £39.99 this playful design with bright colours and lively fabric patterns, is sure to be a massive hit. Email: helpme@wemademe.com Web: www.wemademe.com

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Red Kite’s 3 Way Carrier is a great carrier which gives full support to young babies with the additional head hugger. Front and rear-facing positions although for both comfort and practicality when out travelling with Baby. Easy to fit and adjust to suit varying size and age of baby. New to the range is the essential 2 Way Carrier – simple and effective carrier to carry baby at a great every day price.

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Tel: 01454 326555 Web: www.redkitebaby.com

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3 simple steps to get started.

design by d Ergonomiic b E ergonomic position, providing The Hana Baby Carrier carries baby in an comfort for both baby and the wearer. Features: Padded waist belt and shoulder straps, that evenly distribute baby’s weight over shoulders, back and hips. The carrier can be adjusted in width and length, and therefore accommodates babies from 3.5kgs / 7lbs without the need of an insert and grows with them into toddlerhood until 20kgs / 44lbs. The shell and lining is made from high quality certified organic cotton fabric and does not contain any harmful chemicals or dyes. Web: www.hanababy.co.uk

Place the carrier over your head.

Place one arm through each loop.

Lower the outer loop to your waist.

Tel: +44 (0) 1202 303 777 Web: www.2012ltd.co.uk

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talking shop NURSERY SUPPORT GROUP

Shop matters with NSG nother Harrogate Nursery Fair wrapped up and done…we ain’t getting any younger guys! What a fair it was! With it being mid-week it was a bit weird, going in we didn’t know what to expect, because we thought it was going to be small, yet the halls were all jam packed, full of brands, old and new. I spent three days, met some lovely friends, made new contacts, ordered new things, opened new accounts and met with existing suppliers. For me, every show has a stand out. One supplier that I think made my show worthwhile and gives that excitement and buzz, was Cuddles Collection. The team had a big stand, jam packed with goodies: baskets, bedding, nursing cushions, bags and footmuffs. The ‘sitara’ range – sequins on the baskets and the footmuffs were new and exciting; being true to myself I put images straight onto my shop social media and it went all a bit mad. The girls in the shop were inundated with calls and people coming in asking about these new products, and they didn’t have a clue! I travelled home by train and my phone was going off constantly and I was harassing poor Lak all the way home (sorry!). Because my customers were excited so was I. It’s all a bit contagious, isn’t it? All of this is what Harrogate is about for me, exciting, fresh and fun. My other stand outs; Venicci – of course. Stunning, stylish stand, with gorgeous new additions; in stock straight away, newer lines coming soon, unreal offers and lovely goody bags. Venicci have gone from s strength to strength over the y years and the product has b become a solid favourite w independents. I can’t with r recommend the brand e enough; exclusive, not in nationals, not discounted online, good margins and a strong range of prams. The new Stone Grey and Midnight blue additions in the Pure range are selling well already, and we look forward to the new ‘Gusto’

Yasmin Ali, Babyland, Fife

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range – which is classy, new and just something a little bit different. The team also had new blankets, which were lovely, thick and soft – great add ons. The lovely Mrs Dabek had her own designed clothing range available to view as well – building on solid foundations. I hope you had a great show. Indies champions BabyStyle had as usual, a huge; jam packed stand. New products everywhere, where do I start? They told us to expect new things, but wow! New Oyster chassis, new Oyster Zero (the perfect summer stroller, so cool and stylish). New Prestige chassis and fabrics, pink by far my favourite – and my dear Uncle Bob morphed the bright yellow into a ‘Bat’ pram for his favourite Princess and I think it’s a must on my shop floor, I’m gutted they aren’t carrying the colour! The four new furniture ranges, range in price and style, with the usual quality we know and love. I think there is something there now to suit every customer, alongside the staple Bordeaux, Aspen and Hollie ranges are the new ones, Marbella was my stand out – absolutely solid and just stunning. The displays were lovely so already consumers can visualise how fabulous their nursery is going to look. Egg…Gilly! I love the new gold and the blue croc. So bold, daring, so different. Hats off to the team. The Jurassic is flying, and I think the new styles will be no different. Thank you to the BabyStyle Team for their wonderful hospitality and as always for looking after me. The Bébécar/East Coast stand was mobbed every time I walked past, so I was super excited to get in and see the new range. Never do they disappoint – the new colourways, mermaid is stand out. Wow. Show stopper. Waiting for someone in the family to have a baby, no longer a problem we have the pram! The new sparkle is stunning and already on the shop floor, creating lots of interest. I was also impressed with the new stylo packs. Some secret talks went down with Bébécar and hopefully I will be reporting some news soon! Supporters and passionate about indies, offering a stunning product with little to no issues and a lovely team – if you don’t stock this, what are you waiting for? A solid product that sells well. This should be on every independent shop floor. The East Coast bedding I thought was so cute

Ob aby had me with th eir new furniture ran ge. and the toys no brainers – the Sensory range is exactly the kind of niche product we need. Obaby had me with their new furniture. The Eton mess range, which is pink and white furniture just got me. There was a lovely baby blue also, talk about pushing the boat out and going for it. Kudos to this company because I do think that pink and blue are a big risk – I hope it sold well because I thought it was lovely. There are good promo cycles and little to no issues, I’ve dealt with them personally for years now. Hi to the lovely Michaela who looks after me. After talking to them on the Nursery Trade Facebook page, I was looking forward to meeting Rachelle and her team at Little Chick – I’ll admit when I first saw the BANTA winning bedside crib in pictures etc. I had my reservations. However in the flesh, it’s a lovely product, with breathable mesh sides which I think parents are looking for now – the crib is a lovely size and comes in white and grey. Also in the range, I loved the 4 in 1 cushion, which is made of bamboo. It’s already come in, and I bought one for a friend who has just had one, and she’s finding uses for it daily for herself and for little one. Great pick-up lines were the star night light, which is washable – make contact. MJ Mark had a big stand, with lots of new lines. The new grey Ophelia with the grey and white bedding was a winning product for me. I had the Ophelia for my own little Mini Yas, so

it’s one that is close to my heart! The grey is so classy and is already selling well – stock isn’t too far off, so get ordering! It’s beautiful and I think a definite for shop floor display. It’s for sure a product that will be an instant hit- yes it’s the £300 mark but such a pretty crib. It’s not hard to imagine it as the first bed for your little bundle of joy. After sharing some images with us on Nursery Trade page and getting a positive response, the team over at Dolce, armed with their new agents now on the road; arranged last minute to show. They had the most fun; high quality multi-sensory toys. I felt they were different and great for indies, because people don’t want run of the mill when they come to us – the guys are keen to work and build with the indies so please do get in touch with them. Peg Perego had a big stand, with a now solid UK range. The Joie/Nuna boys brought their own solid UK range, with new car seats and great quality products we know and love, and that is shared by the consumer. Hippychick had retro teethers that got me excited – Nintendo SNES controller and Gameboy teethes where were so cool and ‘retro’ – don’t use that term with the customer, calling a Gameboy retro just adds fuel to the “mummy were dinosaurs around when you were wee?” fire…let’s not do that. One brand working hard on the ground, building up is Mutsy – I’m impressed with the current team and their energy for their range. Indies only, indies should love it! Get Sean in if you are unsure. It’s so refreshing to meet someone who you can tell loves the

product, loves talking about it, selling it, demo-ing it and shows a real passion for what he is doing. With its price, colour range and quality.,. The Evo should be a no brainer for the consumer. I also love the Nexo stroller, it’s so stylish and sleek. Cheeky Rascals have a funky swaddling range that is for indies only. They have a lovely range available now - consider it, we want products that aren’t plastered everywhere, I also loved the IZme carrier, so so easy to use. Imagine selling a carrier you can actually demo without requiring a degree! Finally, because I am now pretty much out of space ...Rosy Fuentes had stunning new ranges. Much respect to someone I respect highly, Hugh Millar; looking at the new styles I could see his ideas and excitement for the new styles. The range is fresh, pretty, and bang on trend, exactly what customers are looking for, and of course…bling! Big love to some lovely people I got to spend time with. The guy that dreams about me (hee hee) …and of course Emma, Ian, Annette, Adele, Helen, Barry, Mark, Tristan, Jan and Derek – and huge respect to Derek for his mention of the legend that was Mr Eric Snook last month. I was moved to tears, what a lovely man he was. It was an honour to have met him and hear his stories, A true gentleman. RIP Mr. Snook, may we do you proud. Gone, but in our memories, always.

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supplier snapshot We spoke to some of the industry’s finest to find out how Harrogate Nursery Fair performed this year.

Paul Sirett BESAFE

How did you find Harrogate this year? Once again most of our key Independents visited our Stand and our order book exceeded last year’s total, so we are very happy. How else can you meet 100 key retailers in a quality way in just three days! Did you have new products that you launched at the show? On BeSafe we showed a new Infant Carrier and two new Melange fabric colours. On our Voksi Footmuff brand we showed three new luxury footmuff designs. Was there a particular product that visitors were interested in this year? Retailers particularly picked up on the New ‘Sea Green’ BeSafe Car Seat colour

(pictured) and Light-weight footmuffs for the Spring/Summer season.

How did you find Harrogate this year? As you know BabyStyle absolutely love Harrogate Nursery Fair. It’s great to be able to catch t h up with everyone in a friendly relaxed environment, we did wonder though how moving the show to midweek would impact on the visiting numbers and subsequent business. In our opinion the show overall was quieter than it has been in previous years with less visitors in attendance but this certainly had no detrimental effect for BabyStyle who welcomed many buyers onto the stand placing substantial orders actually making Harrogate 2017 one of the most successful for BabyStyle ever!

What type of visitors i did you experience on your stand? The visitors are clearly serious about their business, coming to Harrogate seeking and valuing new or continued close partnerships with brands like BeSafe that want to truly contribute to long term sales and profit growth together. How important do you feel the show is for exhibitors and visitors? The Show offers an amazing opportunity to have a higher quality meeting with our retailer network over a shorter period of time than ‘on the road’. For visitors the BeSafe Special Offers alone would have paid for most people’s travel costs and significantly more, but the value of coming and having a thorough discussion with your suppliers is of course much, much greater. Why wouldn’t you visit?

Was there a particular product that visitors were interested in this year? As mentioned above the Quail and the new Prestige range prompted much interest on the stand although we always like to try and take as much of our range as possible to Harrogate and it would be fair to say that this year was no exception to that! For BabyStyle it is difficult to pinpoint just one particular product of interest as to us they are all of equal importance, naturally though visitors like to see the new ideas and colour ranges that they will be stocking later in the year and hopefully we did not disappoint in that respect!

FOUNDER, CHEEKY RASCALS How did you find Harrogate this year? Harrogate International Nursery Fair is always a fantastic place for us to catch-up with our customers, explore new opportunities and showcase both new and existing brands. This year was no exception with the launch of Izmi, a hybrid baby-carrier and Fred, our new range of innovative home-safety products. What type of visitors did you experience on your stand? We enjoyed visits to the stand from a range of independent stores, current and new accounts, as well as national accounts and key press. Thankfully, our sponsorship of the café in Hall B meant we could treat all our customers to a well needed caffeine fix whilst catching up. Overall, it was a brilliant show, we were particularly delighted to see that visitors had an excellent reaction to Fred and thanks to its stylish, easy-to-fit design that exceeds safety standards, its not hard to see why!

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BABYSTYLE

Did you have any new products that you launched at the show? We did! BabyStyle took with them a variety of new items to gauge the retailers’ valued opinion, stand out favourites this year were the new egg Quail and the rejuvenated Prestige Collection. The Quail was shown against some new stunning egg collections in the egg room whilst on the main BabyStyle stand we had the new Prestige, new Oyster2 colours, the special edition Oyster Zero, the Oyster Side By Side Bed and four new fully coordinated furniture sets.

Selina Russell

Andy Crane

What type of visitors did you experience on your stand? BabyStyle were delighted to be able to welcome a diverse range of visitors onto the stand this year, from representatives of small independent retailers through to key buyers from the national accounts and overseas distributers. A highlight for us though was without doubt our drinks party where it was great to be able to spend quality time chatting to long-standing friends but also meeting up with fellow exhibitors of the show whilst enjoying some liquid refreshment! How important do you feel the show is for exhibitors and visitors? It is absolutely vital! Harrogate is the essential Nursery show in the UK, it is the place that you can go to and see larger companies sitting alongside much smaller brands with their new ideas bringing fresh blood and breathing new life into our amazing industry. Should Harrogate Nursery Fair no longer exist then there is a possibility that some of these smaller enterprises may never get a foot in the door and who knows they could become the next best sellers?

Sylvia Kulawiak SALES - VENICCI

How did you find Harrogate this year? Harrogate was really good again this year. We had a lot of existing and potential stockists on our stand which kept all of us very busy. Did you have new products that you launched at the show? We had a few new products on display at the show. We had our new Gusto h range which is available in three colours: navy, cream and black. We also had our lleatherette range on display as well which included the new Pure model and Shadow models Was there a particular product that visitors were interested in this year? There was a lot of interest in our new Gusto range. These were very well received by everyone who came to the stand. We think these will be a big hit this year. What type of visitors did you experience on your stand? Most of the visitors that came to the stand were existing stockists which is nice as you get a chance to catch up and see how they are doing, as well as showing them what we will have coming in the next few weeks. How important do you feel the show is for exhibitors and visitors? I believe the show is really important for exhibitors because it’s a place where we can show our new models and the visitors can get a feel of how our products work.

Richard Bamforth DCUK LTD/UPPABABY

How did you find Harrogate this year? With new range launches and new brands to the UK market, Harrogate 2017 was a successful show for DCUK. A steady flow of visitors kept us busy for the full three days. What type of visitors did you experience on your stand? We were very pleased that the show was well supported by the Independents and although daily footfall may have been down, this was driven by most customers coming for a day rather than two or three. How important do you feel the show is for exhibitors and visitors? A good national trade show is vital for the growth of the UK nursery industry. Without one, how would brands come to market and promote their products to time short retailers looking for fresh ideas and new products?

Victoria Taylor

BRAND MANAGER, EAST COAST NURSERY LTD B H How did you find Harrogate this year? The T show was notably smaller and quieter than previous years, but it managed to retain r the atmosphere that it’s always held for us, and it was undoubtedly the right thing for us to do this year.

Did you have new products that you launched at the show? Yes. We always like to launch something new at Harrogate, and this year we managed it again. We showed three new furniture sets – one of which is available only to our independent customers, plus new bedding from Silvercloud, Bebecar’s 2017 fabric collection, new additions to our mattress range, and some fantastic changing mats.

Phil Howe COUNTRY MANAGER, UK AND IRELAND PEG PEREGO

How did you find Harrogate this year? We had a great show at Harrogate, catching up with familiar faces and were delighted with the positive responses and orders we received from customers who attended our stand. We were also thrilled that the Book modular system received praise and recognition receiving Highly Commended at the BANTAs. Did you have new products that you launched at the show? Yes, we launched three new products. The Siesta Wood highchair. A highchair suitable from birth with hand finished wooden accents which puts it into the premium category. We also launched the Book Scout, a three wheel Book chassis which caters for the complete modular system and the Team, a new chassis configuration that adapts for a growing family. All these products will be available to the consumer in Autumn. Was there a particular product that visitors were interested in this year? Being new to the market, it was encouraging that we received such a positive response to the whole portfolio. The Luxe Opal colourway received a lot of attention and interest along with the Book Modular, the Primonido Elite, and our complete high chair range sold very well. What type of visitors did you experience on your stand? We had a real mix of visitors. From bespoke businesses to the largest national retailers. We also had an incredibly busy time with the media who were interested in seeing the complete Peg Perego portfolio and learn more about the brand heritage. It’s important that we work hard to educate families on where we come from as we know that this is a draw to parents looking for products with substance and style. How important do you feel the show is for exhibitors and visitors? Harrogate is an extremely important event for us as a newcomer to the market. It allowed us to showcase our product ranges and new releases to key customers and media.

Was there a particular product that visitors were interested in this year? The new changing mats were really popular! Changing mats are such a huge part of our company and its heritage, so everybody was pleased to see that we’ve expanded the range with some lovely new prints and shapes. What type of visitors did you experience on your stand? We had a brilliant mixture of visitors – major retailers and independents, from customers that we’ve worked with for decades, to some brand new accounts. How important do you feel the show is for exhibitors and visitors? It’s very important to have a presence at Harrogate. The show gives us a unique opportunity to connect with our customers and let them see and feel our new products, while we provide hospitality.

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Harrogate was Happiness The 2017 show concluded with fantastic feedback from many exhibitors and visitors who were in attendance. ome may say there was a level of concern for the show this year – but as our only UK nursery trade fair any worries that may have been in place were quickly forgotten as the show went into full swing during the course of three days. The doors closed on the 2017 fair and early feedback from a number of exhibitors suggests another successful show. Although the halls may not have been brimming with visitors, it was quickly apparent for many exhibitors that those who realised the importance of the show, both independent retailers and major buyers, were there for one thing – serious business. Comments were notable about the simple fact that time is of the essence for everyone and visitors this year felt able to visit exhibitors and give a higher level of time spent with each. This gave visitors the ability to gain valuable knowledge across entire ranges that were being showcased by exhibitors. Of course, by having time to talk and gain a better understanding of companies and their ranges, receive production demonstrations and getting a clearer view of the support offered to retailers this led to a higher volume of orders in comparison perhaps with previous years. An example of this, comes from Andrew White, manager at Lister Baby Shop who commented: “Harrogate was more compact this year, but that meant there was more time to look at other products. I attended on the Thursday was able to speak with many exhibitors and was given plenty of time with everyone. In my opinion, it was worth it for that reason alone. Here’s to next year’s show!” Andy Crane, managing director, BabyStyle is one such company who felt that orders were more considered this year by visitors and experienced first hand the serious nature of business that was conducted through the three days. Andy told Nursery Today: “We had some initial concerns about how changing Harrogate to midweek would impact on both the show and orders taken, but any such fears that we had soon disappeared when it became apparent to us that those who had made the effort to visit the show also came prepared to support the companies attending Harrogate. “I am pleased to report that although the retailer numbers were slightly down from last year BabyStyle had a most successful show and received some exceptional orders.” Sinead Murphy of Shnuggle, added: “Every year, people spread negative rumours about the show, but we’ve been really surprised by how well it’s gone this year – we have made lots of quality contacts.” Ian Green of IGSM, which distributes several

nursery today

brands, said: “We decided quite ite late to book a stand as we had d some new products to launch and comments on social media ia had encouraged us to give Harrogate a try. We were open-minded about whether it would work for us – but it hass been a really good show.” With all product categories covered and many new exhibitors showcasing new and innovative products for the first time, it wasn’t long before everyone was quickly chatting about their positive day at the show. The show delivered in every aspect, if you were looking for wheeled goods, car seats, nursery furniture, bedding, toys, nursery décor, safety products, or indeed any nursery related product then this year Andy Crane, certainly had it all covered. With many brand names in attendance, for icci, example Joie, BabyStyle, Venicci, UPPAbaby, Hauck, Bebecar, Obaby (to name a few) the show perfectly balanced brands well with newcomers across halls. First time exhibitor and known household name, Slumberland, were also in attendance and received a positive response. “Harrogate has been a fantastic launch pad to debut our new award winning cot mattresses, it was clear retailers were already very aware of the Slumberland brand and we have managed to increases our stockists significantly.” Lynda Harding of Sweet Dreamers said: “We’ve had a great show. The first day we had people waiting to get on our stand to speak to us, the second day was quieter, but all of the visitors to our stand were quality buyers; and on the final day lots of major retailers came to speak to us. We took a good quantity of orders and have opened a host of new trade accounts with independent retailers.” Victoria Seagrim of Milk Monster, who recently launched a clever time tracking device for bottle feeding, said: “We’ve spoken to a lot of independent retailers and have gathered some very promising contacts.”

The positive r responses from e exhibitors continued t flow. Tiffany NG, to as associate marketing m manager of Bravado D Designs’ told Nursery To Today: “We had a very pos positive experience exh exhibiting at Harrogate Inte International Nursery Fair, where we had the oppo opportunity to build on custo customer relationships and m make new ones. Than Thank you to the Harro Harrogate team for being so wonderfully won organised and he helpful in making sure we had everything we needed for a successful show!” The show organiser, stated: ““The show has been smaller this year, but has still offered a good variety of BabyStyle quality p products. There are fewer ind independent retailers in the UK now and many major retailers have smaller buying teams – however a good number of stores turned up and according to many exhibitors were placing lots of orders. “The Harrogate team would like to thank everyone for participating in the event and hope to see you all again next year.” For more information, visit the website at www. nurseryfair.com

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g h ly i H TA d BA Nm men de C o ro duc t p

Totally entertaining

Red Kite made the most of the Harrogate fair to present new additions to their popular Baby Go Round range of walkers and entertainers. Also introduced was a new range of nursery interiors in a soft grey linen design which is both on trend and gives a premium look with co-ordinated fabrics and characters. The range includes the new Snoozi Nursery Crib with its multi height position options, the ever popular Cozy bounce vibrating and musical bouncer and the re launched lullaby Swing which softly rocks baby to sleep. A refresh on colour options on their Gold Award Winning range of Travel Systems, Push Me Fusions also will surely prove to be a winning combination for 2017. Tel: 01454 326555 Web: www.redkitebaby.com

Bedtime bliss Silvercloud had reason to celebrate at Harrogate this year – their beautiful new Moses Baskets were Highly Commended in the BANTA Awards! The hoodless basket gives a modern shape to a classic item, and improves air flow around the sleeping baby. On their stand, Silvercloud showcased two new coordinating bedding ranges – Sweet Dreams and Little Star. They looked beautiful on display, and the reaction from customers was wonderful. Both collections include a four piece Bedding Set, Lined Curtains, Cuddle Robe, Chenille Blanket, Changing Mat, and of course the award-winning Moses Basket. Tel: 01692 408802 Web: www.silvercloudnurserybedding.co.uk

Grow and tell The award-winning Grow & Tell, the milestone babygrow, from Products Helping Parents created a storm at Harrogate. A great giftable item, the set includes two babygrows with a special chalkboard panel allowing parents to record precious milestones and messages using the chalk pen. These moments can then be captured and shared on social media. The chalkboard panel can be wiped clean with a damp cloth so parents can record as many messages and milestones as they like! RRP: £24.99 Email: claire@productshelpingparents.co.uk

Give a bit of Gusto Meet Venicci Gusto - their brand new Travel System. Available in three classic colour variations, giving the choice as to which one is the prefect one for you and your baby. The stylish brown finish along with the new black gloss chassis gives the Travel System an elegant and distinguished look, that will bring you and your baby to the centre of attention wherever you are. Email: customerservice@venicci.co.uk Web: www.facebook.com/VenicciUK

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Individually packagedbaby brand of innovative products making life easier, Mimi and Mago is a new UK r that fits ready-made baby milk designed by parents. Launching the Formula Feede ow teat 3m+ and spout for 6m+, and water with a new slow flow teat 0m+, vari-fl whose contents can be tailored pack multiall individually packaged and in a new to use, the Formula Feeder easy ng, winni d -awar Multi . for your customers’ needs safe bottles of water for easy fits directly to major ready-made formulas and baby feeding. Email: hello@mimiandmago.co.uk

ds o m b s oun A c tu a l w

Firm favouriterange of UPPAbaby

The stars of the show for DCUK were the new products. From the initial UK launch at Harrogate 2010, the brand has become a firm favourite for new parents. 2017 sees new softer fabrics and real leather handle and bumper bar covers giving the range an air of sophistication. The original values established back in 2010 of a simple offer, putting everything a parent would want packaged in one box and a product that can be expanded to meet the needs of a growing family, are maintained. Tel: 01422 383555 Web: www.dcukltd.com

Naturally yours Harrogate Nursery show provided a great opportunity to debut Slumberland’s first cot mattress collection. The products were extremely well received and they achieved excellent distribution with independent retailers. Winning the award for ‘Best Safety Product’ helps to re-enforce their commitment to Safety. Slumberland cot mattresses offer a unique sleep surface which features a 100% natural anti-allergy protection which is also inherently FR, providing the safest sleeping surface for babies with no chemicals. Independent retailers love product made in the UK and it most definitely ticks that box too! Email: steve.birds@steinhoffukbeds.co.uk Web: www.slumberland.co.uk

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Centre stage for Bebecar

Bebecar were thrilled to be taking home a trophy, after winning the Travel category at the BANTA Awards. The judges said the Bebecar SpotTech was “Stylish and practical, with longevity from birth into late toddlerhood with easy umbrella fold.” Their new 2017 fabrics took centre-stage on the stand, drawing a fantastic reaction from customers. From classic black and timeless navy, to holographics and bold florals, the range drew lots of attention and had everybody talking. Bebecar would like to extend their thanks to everybody involved for their Award, and to all their customers who visited the stand.

n in g in w A T N BA p ro duc t

Tel: 01692 408801 Web: www.bebecar.co.uk

Mum scoops top innovation award ock, who designed

Have a shnuggle

Shnuggle unveiled three key lines for 2017 which are available to pre-order now. The Squishey Changing Mat is made from a warm foam ensuring a room temperature surface. Squishy has a very slight incline helping not only with reflux, but also as a way of directing ‘little accidents’ away from baby. To complement the Shnuggle bath, Shnuggle are launching the Pebbly – a completely clever and super stylish room and bath thermometer with instant readings. Also launching this spring is the Shnuggle Towel – a clever design keeps the towel in place on parent’s shoulder meaning hands are free to lift baby and snuggle them dry. Offering great value for money, this beautifully soft, luxury cotton is also a lovely gift. Email: hello@shnuggle.co.uk Web: www.shnuggle.com

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More 2 Explore founder Lucy Bost Product the Adventure Belt, scooped the Baby rogate Har at rd Awa n vatio Inno Association’s Fair. sery Nur l iona rnat Inte elt system The mum of two invented the Belt-to-B about. and out are lies fami n whe safe to keep children am “I At the awards ceremony, Lucy said: rd, to be delighted to receive this prestigious awa on is a great ciati Asso uct Prod recognised by the Baby al of the Adventure Belt.” honour which validates the wide appe displays. up to six years of age. Think fireworks’ kids for The Adventure Belt is perfect airports. festivals. And shopping. BENEFITS loved by kids belt to belt, the fun Adventure Belt is • Physically linking parent and child and adults alike. can easily pass from child to child, the • Designed to be gender neutral, so you to keep kids close and connected. way Adventure Belt provides a revolutionary store treasures while giving a sense of • For kids’, it provides a fun place to independence. g the hands free piece of mind, whilst givin • For adults, the system simply provides compromised assurance that the child’s dignity is not Web: www.more-2-explore.com

Hand made fashion Venicci clothes are made from the finest materials: 95% cotton and 5% elastin. The fabrics used have been carefully selected to ensure they are child friendly. This range of clothing is OEKO-TEX certified giving a sign of the products’ safety. Venicci clothes are hand-made, with unique and hand-painted designs. Email: customerservice@venicci.co.uk Web: www.facebook.com/VenicciUK

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Mummy Loves Organics gave the Nursery Fair a feel good atmosphere Beautiful melting essential oil body candle created an amazing scent throughout the Fair this year Mummy Loves Organics range of therapeutic body candles are hand poured using the very best organic shea butters and soy wax along with the purest pregnancy safe essential oils. Containing no nasties. They are non toxic and burn clean due to our 100% cotton wicks The candles melt into a magical massage oil which burns at 2deg above body temperature making it just perfect to apply to your skin for the ultimate luxurious hydrating experience that soothes both body and mind. Our body candles help with anxiety, stress, insomnia and balancing hormones as well as the incredible healing power they have for eczema, stretch marks and scar tissue.

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mummyloves.co.uk info@mummyloves.co.uk 07734 20 65 11 HANDPOURED IN HARROGATE • QUINTESSENTIALLY BRITISH

Be Comfortable. Be Supported. $G %QPƂ FGPV Innovative technology available in M - XXL. Award-winning Padded GelWire® Nursing Bra, reassuring support and superior comfort.

info@carriwell.com

+44 (0) 20 3637 6385

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Maximum exposure The all new Pepper and Mint pushchairs proved perfect for those looking for maximum features ready for anything or a compact pushchair ideal for transport. Now in its 10th year, the Zoom tandem was as popular as ever with its latest revision adapting perfectly to today’s modern parents’ requirements and with the most dynamic range to date, the 2017 ABC Design line up is their strongest yet. Tel: 01652 641491 Web: www.obaby.co.uk/abcdesign

ion ons on their stand t c a e r e v i t i s o P Nursery showcased three new furniture colleelmctiingly positive. The East Coast ers was overwh aker ction from custom rea e th d an itors praising its Sh ar, ye this ry popular, with vis ve s wa ite wh . in Acre collection three piece room set of £799.97 for the re received very style and the RRP o” range of toys we ell H ay “S e th to s g new playmat and The new addition Time – the engagin my m Tu NTA To o” ell t reaction at the BA well too. “Say H shion - had a grea cu ed ap sh noo y. m or supportive the Toys categ ly Commended in Awards, being High 02 Tel: 01692 4088 oastnursery.co.uk stc ea w. ww b: We

Quintessentially British

Mummy Loves Organics is a range of therapeutic body candles which are hand poured using the very best organic shea butters and soy wax along with the purest pregnancy safe essential oils. Also within the range are matching room scents and reed diffusers. Their candles contain no nasties, are non-toxic and burn clean due to their 100% cotton wicks. When lit these beautiful candles melt into a magical massage oil which burns at two degrees above body temperature, making it perfect to apply onto skin for the ultimate luxurious hydrating experience that soothes body and mind. These candles can assist to reduce anxiety, stress and insomnia as well as provide a healing power for eczema, stretch marks and scar tissue. Hand poured in Harrogate, these are quintessentially British. Email: mummyloves@mail.com Web: www.mummyloves.co.uk

gear Sun smart, cooldesigned for anyone

Hip products for parents and kids Blue Celery is a lifestyle brand for parents, babies and kids. Their products are designed, crafted and produced in the small town of Stratford, Ontario Canada. They have been created with a passion and desire to make the world a better place, while meeting the everyday needs of families. During the show three fantastic new organic cotton products will be presented. Chic Lunch it: A durable, re-usable, eco-friendly, organic canvass Lunch Bag; Chic Shopper: A re-usable, durable, eco-friendly organic cotton canvas bag. The Chic Totez: A perfect versatile bag suitable for use as a diaper bag or for shopping, groceries, even day trips. All Blue Celery products are manufactured using only fabrics and materials that meet CPSIA, Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and EU Reach Standards. All products are entirely made in Canada. Tel: 0 519 508 8400 Email: info@bluecelery.com Web: www.bluecelery.com

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Shaidee unveiled two revolutionary new products concerned with protecting their baby from the harmful rays of the sun. Shaidee Sun Cover - a lightweight, sleek visor that fits easily around any person carrying a baby in most front baby carriers or slings. It also can be used on many pushchairs. Shaidee Bug - an ultra-light SPF50 cover for strollers, carriers, slings and car seats that provides full insect protection to protect children for mosquito borne viruses. Double Pouch Sling - a fabulous new babywearing option for mums and dads. Baby wearing that is versatile, without fussy rings, clips or complicated tying. All Shaidee products are made in Canada and have been third party tested to meet UK, EU, CPSIA and other safety standards. Tel: 0519 508 8400 Email: infoshaidee@gmail.com Web: www.shaidee.ca

BabyStyle shines bright Harrogate 2017 saw some fantastic new products displayed on the BabyStyle stand, so many in fact that it’s pretty tricky to select a stand out star from amongst the collection, but we think that the new Quail shone especially bright and was received incredibly well by all who saw it. A very close second however would have to be the rejuvenated Prestige collection, the new active chassis and contemporary colour range received much favourable attention. Tel: 01509 816444 Email: info@babystyle.co.uk Web: www.babystyle.co.uk

Exciting new prints This year at Harrogate, aden + anais presented their three brands with great success. aden by aden + anais successfully launched a new range of soft brushed muslin flannel while ideal baby unveiled exciting new prints. aden + anais launched a new spring/summer collection including oversized muslin swaddles, named a Mother & Baby “Best Product for Newborns” in 2017. A show favourite, the edgy “lovestruck” collection, features metallic prints, bold designs and oversized, statement-making illustrations. Tel: 0203 735 7576 Web: www.adenandanais.co.uk

Everybody loved ... Timeless and classic, Breathable

Baby’s Twinkle Twinkle range of cot liners is beautifully simple and bang on trend. This soft star print in grey, pink or blue complement’s any nursery décor. It has quickly becom e BreathableBaby’s bestselling fashion since its launch last year. Available as a Full Wrap, two sided for cots with solid end, and a mini version sized to fit cribs and cradle s. Available from BreathableBaby direct, or their nominated wholesalers.

Tel: 07976773486 Email: rachelle.harel@breathablebaby.com

Totally smitten

atcrdh pular, but MiexxpectedntheiM range to be po fo am St w r ne r ch range, thei

Obaby Mix n Mat ut e of their new e intimate layo with the releas The new, mor r . fo ed t ed en ce nm ex e ro er perfect envi e th expectations w ed id ov y man this year pr ensured that as of Harrogate new lines and With e . th ts uc ch od un pr la r Obaby to rience thei pe ex d Match ul co ix le ib amford M n visitors as poss placed, the St ucts to g od in pr be g y in ad is re r most prom ei pre-orders al th of e on g to be range is lookin date. 1491 Tel: 01652 64 aby.co.uk ob w. w w : Web

Visitors felt inspired by Smitten Baby, a new exhibitor at this year’s show, exhibiting high quality products entirely made and manufactured in Canada. On their stand there were a number of practical products that are perfect for parents and babies covering a variety of nursery categories, including: bibs, breast feeding covers, car seat accessories, nappies, pushchair accessories and more. All of their products are made to keep babies and their parents happy by offering safe, long-standing, eco-friendly baby gear. All of their products are made in Canada meeting all safety and conformity standards (including EU Reach, UK and CPSIA standards). Tel: 519 508 8400 Email: info@smittenbaby.com Web: www.smittenbaby.com nursery today

feature BANTAS

Bit of a BANTA During a packed drinks reception within the Royal Hall, exhibitors and visitors at Harrogate International Nursery Fair joined in celebrations as the Baby Products Association announced the winners of its Concept & Innovation Awards and Baby and Nursery Trade Awards (BANTAs, sponsored by Nursery Today magazine). isa Walford of Baby Safe Ltd was announced as winner of the Concept Award for Safe Sleep Seat – a baby car seat that reclines by remote control; and Lucy Bostock of More-2-Explore for Adventure Belt – a fun safety belt to keep parents connected to their children when out an about in busy areas. These were both presented with trophies by Sara Ludlam of 3Volution – official sponsor which will be offering the winners £750 of legal advice. Judges of the BANTAs (sponsored by Nursery Today magazine) had a difficult job choosing the winners this year as the quality of entries was so high. Penny Franks, editor of Nursery Today presented the awards as follows:

Travel

Winner: Bebecar UK (East Coast) – Spottech Highly Commended: Peg Perego – Book S Elite Modular System

Travel Accessories

Winner: Hippychick – Tron Highly Commended: Hippychick - SpaceCot

Sleep Accessories

Winner: Cloud b Cloud Beebop Highly Commended: Super Undies – Nightime Bedwetting Underwear 36

nursery today

Toys

Winner: Halilit - Musical Rings Highly Commended: East Coast Nursery, ‘Say Hello’ to Tummy Time

In Home

Winner: Red Kite Baby Co Ltd – Red Kite Panda Booster Highly Commended: Silvercloud (East Coast) – Silvercloud Moses Basket

Safety

Winner: Slumberland – Slumbertime Luxury Pocket Sprung Mattress Highly commended: Shnuggle Pebbly

Feeding, Cleaning & Changing

Winner: Carriwell Aps – Carriwell Padded GelWire Support Nursery Bra Highly Commended: Little Chick London – Swaddle Robe

Best New Product

Winner: PHP Gift & Baby Ltd – Grow & Tell Highly Commended: Orby Swim Ltd – Orby Jetsuit

feature TOMY

Simply clip and go Lamaze will be introducing some very exciting products to their popular Clip and Go range in July, the collection will be expanded with new characters Phillip Pelican, Waddling Wade and Flipping Felipe – all perfect for playtime on the go.

“d Des igne d w it h

eve lop ment in m in d , Wa dd lin g Wa de is fille d w it en g a g in g fe a tu res h t h a t st imula te a ll t h e sen ses ” he Lamaze Phillip Pelican will keep little ones engaged and entertained for hours. This friendly bird has a surprise peek-a-boo mirror in his beak that is revealed when you squeeze his belly. Phillip also includes a tethered fish teether that encourages put-in and take-out play. Bright colours, contrast patterns, multiple textures, and fun crinkles encourage baby to explore. Designed with development in mind, Waddling Wade is filled with engaging features that stimulate all the senses. Pull the Lamaze clip to make Wade’s duck feet waddle along. Baby can hear a chime when shaken. The bright, contrasting patterns will fascinate your baby as eyesight develops. His layered wings include a peek-a-boo mirror for interactive play and a surprise squeaker to capture baby’s attention. Multiple textures, shapes and crinkles encourage baby to explore and encourage sensory development. Baby will love to watch Flipping Felipe flipping his tail! Pull the Lamaze clip to make his vibrant, patterned dolphin tail flip back and forth. Baby can also discover his squeaker nose and crinkly fins. The teether ring accessory will help soothe baby, while the bright colours, contrast patterns, and multiple textures encourage baby to explore. The Lamaze Clip n Go range hook to prams, car seats and changing bags for on-the-go fun. Available from July onwards.

Web: www.tomy.com

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Profile PEG PEREGO

A history of intuition Intuition has always been at the heart of Peg Perego’s success. It was this sentiment that brought the business to the UK at the end of 2016, embarking on this market as a stand-alone brand because it felt like the right time. ollowing a fantastic start to 2017, the family’s intuition has certainly paid off once again, first smashing sales targets at the Baby Show, ExCel and now taking impressive orders throughout Harrogate. In addition the Book 51S chassis and modular system received praise and recognition receiving Highly Commended at the BANTAs. The future is certainly

Peg Perego - at home and abroad Peg Perego is a global brand, trading in 100 countries. The company is committed to designing and manufacturing from its two factories in Italy (Arcore and San Dona). In addition to this, the company has a manufacturing plant in Brazil and an assembly plant in America (Fort Wayne). Peg Perego is focused on growing its market share in the UK. The company has invested in a 4,000 square foot warehouse, sales and service centre in Huddersfield.

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looking bright for Peg Perego in the UK. Since Giuseppe Perego designed the first Peg Perego pram for his son Lucio in 1949, the business has gone from strength-to-strength, distributing quality products around the globe, while holding firm to its family values. Much of its success is down to the huge amount of emphasis its founder placed on intuition. In the 1960s, it was intuition that drove Giuseppe Perego to expand the product range to toys. Giuseppe’s son, Lucio Perego, who now runs the business from their ancestral base in Arcore, Milan explains: “In 1960, Dad knew that it was time to diversify, and he purchased the equipment for manufacturing plastic pedal cars in a new, specially built Lomagna plant.” The raw material of the time was, however, very expensive and difficult to work. Before long, a new material was introduced to market which was less expensive and much more elastic, making Giuseppe’s vision a reality. “Dad’s idea,” continues Lucio Perego, “was spot-on: he was just a few years early. When the right material finally arrived, sales took off.” The 1960s saw international development. Another of Giuseppe’s son’s, Gianluca Perego, recalls: “Dad learned German during the war. I remember that, starting in the 1950s, every Sunday evening Dad would go by train to Munich, and I often drove him to the Milano train station: he was going to Germany to sell his products and would return to Arcore on Monday evenings.” The company’s first foreign factory opened in Munich in the 1960s, followed in 1965 by Toronto, which still exists today, and in 1968, another in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Since its launch in the UK, Phil Howe, Peg Perego’s Country Manager, UK and Ireland, has shown similar intuition and the brand looks set to take the market by storm. Phil comments: ‘Peg Perego is a quality marque with a fantastic range of products. We’re an established business, coming to

challenge the UK market. We have bold ambitions to become the fastest growing market globally, with a strategic approach to the market to ensure we stand out from the crowd.” The company’s main focus is to grow its UK and Ireland business through baby specialists, so independent retailers are therefore an integral part of Phil’s strategy. The company demonstrated a huge commitment to the trade by exhibiting its iconic toys and juvenile ranges at Harrogate’s Nursery Fair. Phil continues: “Harrogate remains an extremely important event for us. It allows us to showcase our product range and new releases to key customers and media. It is important that the trade is aware of our complete range portfolio, our premium features and unique qualities, as well as the heritage of this excellent brand and the values of the family business. We see growth coming from independent retailers and are investing heavily in those relationships as this is a key route to market for us.” Peg Perego also recognises that key to its success in the UK will be educating parents about the brand values and used the ExCel Baby Show as an opportunity to launch to the consumer market. At

Pere g o e p p e s iu G e c in S g Pere g o e P t s r fi e h t d des ign e L uc io in n o s is h r fo pra m h a s g on e s s e in s u b e h t 1 9 4 9 , n gt h - to - stren gt h , fro m stre qu a lity p ro duc ts d istribut in gg lob e , w h ile h o ld in g a roun d t h e y va lues . il m a f s it o t fi rm

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the show, parents were welcomed in true Italian style with an espresso and a warm welcome from the attending team who invited them to take a closer look at the finer details that characterise the brand. It seems it wasn’t just the parents that enjoyed the launch - for the kids there was a specially designed circuit where children were able to experience the best-in-class ride on toys at ‘Drive & Go with Peg Perego’. The toys were a real draw, with the Vespa being photographed by many passers-by. Commenting on the launch, Phil said: “The reaction to our juvenile and toy ranges was amazing and we are looking forward to attending the NEC and Olympia Baby Shows later in the year.” Most notably, it is the Peg Perego Book Modular System that has, to date, received a fantastic response from consumers and the trade. The key benefits of the chassis being easy and compact to fold down, and the unique Navetta Pop Up Carrycot

which can be folded and unfolded on the chassis has proved extremely popular with parents looking for space saving options. There is also a thriving traditional pram market in the UK as the brand’s Primonido Elite received a fantastic response. The buzz however, isn’t just around Peg Perego’s strollers and travel systems. The company also benefits from a very strong profile in the highchair market, with the Siesta Highchair – which is suitable from birth and compact when folded away - really resonating with parents. Looking to the future, watch this space. Peg Perego promises exciting ways to showcase its products and to put them directly into the hands of the consumer. Showing again, that innovation and intuition are really at the heart of this brand.

The man behind Peg Perego in the UK and Ireland: Phil Howe is responsible for bringing the Peg Perego brand to the UK. Previously he worked as Sales Director at Joie and prior to that, held a number of senior roles at Chicco and Mamas & Papas.

Email: uk.customerservice@pegperego.com Web: www.pegperego.com

Wise words of wisdom from the founder of Peg Perego, Giuseppe Perego, showing that intuition is at the very heart of the brand: “It is important to place trust in others.” “We need to concentrate on what we do well, and always strive to do it better.” “Even if it seems difficult, when something ought to be done, you do it.” nursery today

focus TRAVEL TIME

The season to travel ummer is approaching and with that comes the thought of travel. Some may opt for a staycation here in the UK while others will be sun seeking abroad. Whatever the choice, that also means potential footfall when it comes to ‘impulse buys’, whether it’s for smart travel solutions such as baby carriers or slings, buggy accessories, such as parasols and shades, through to UV protection, swimwear, towels, backpacks and infant sunglasses. Summer can represent an additional revenue source for retailers. Holidays, either abroad or within the UK, can cause exceptional stress to parents, who often feel anxious about leaving the comfort of their home - where everything they use on a day to day basis for the care of their baby is close to hand. Fortunately, many items that are required are easily transported either within the car or can be packed to use whilst abroad. Something that is always a consideration is a lightweight stroller, but in the current economic climate parents may not be willing to spend on these as many would have recently made the investment into their wheels of choice (travel system). Andrew White of JD Lister Baby Shop feels that many of his customers just aren’t prepared to spend when looking initially at a lightweight stroller, but through guidance and demonstrating products that suit their requirements, this can quickly change once they are instore. “Customers come looking for a cheap lightweight stroller for use during their holidays, but after guiding them through the options, they normally leave with something a bit more upmarket. Also the age of the child can make a

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Picture courtesy of Prince Lionheart

It’s that time of year where many are thinking about their holidays and of course the products they may need to survive with little ones in tow.

C usto mer s co me lo “ ok in g fo r a c h eap li

gh tw ei ro ller fo r use du rin g t h ei r hgho litd st a gu id in g t h e m t h rou y s, but after t h ey n o rm a lly leghavteh e op t ion s, w it h so met h in g a b it mo re up m arket . Andrew White, JD Lister Bab y

difference as to what they buy. “We don’t sell really cheap holiday buggies, we tend to leave those to, for example, Argos. For us as an independent retailer and with our knowledge cheap strollers just aren’t worth the hassle.” Are products however in this category something that consumers will research prior to making a purchase, especially when we consider the smaller items are perhaps more ‘impulse’ buys. “In our experience, parents tend to research and get advice from other parents before purchasing larger items like child carriers and travel cots,” said Dan Marett, Sales & Marketing Director at Lifemarque. “However, the smaller travel accessories tend to be a bit more of an impulse purchase product and this is where colourful, character designs play an important role.” We asked Dan for his opinion as to what parents are looking for to assist them when travelling away from their home? “At LittleLife we believe that parents are looking for great quality products that they can rely on to keep their children safe and happy on the move. “Travelling with kids can make it hard to travel light so we aim to make all of our products as portable and lightweight as possible, without compromising on comfort or safety,” commented Dan. “I would also say anything that makes travelling a bit easier is a big plus for most parents. Whether that’s a fun suitcase that keeps the journey exciting or a beach shelter so you have peace of mind your baby is safely in the shade. As parents ourselves we design products that make it easy to

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continue having adventures even when you have a young family.” It is around this time of year that parents can easily be encouraged to turn to products that will help them in the care of their little ones with regard to protection from the sun. Examples of these are products that offer UV protection ranging from stroller shades, through to swimwear. Beach holidays have always been a firm favourite for Brits and we are now seeing an increase in awareness of the harmful effects that the sun can have on our skin and therefore caution is far greater in today’s society with many being better educated about the effects of the sun, or at least that’s what we would like to think. Andrew, who stocks products that offer this level of protection feels that although there are products designed to offer protection and there is an abundance of information available for parents, awareness is sometimes still lacking. “Sun protection is a strange one, we do stock parasols, UV nets, sun shades for cars, etc. however, it’s an area in the UK that needs (pardon the pun) a lot more exposure. Manufacturers are much better these days with fabrics that offer UV protection, which always helps sell a product, but the lack of common sense from parents and grandparents always shocks me.” Products within the travel, sun, sea and sand sector can largely be used all year round. So while the summer tends to be a time to promote products, all related products can also be pushed all year through. Take a look at the following pages where we showcase some great product inspiration for you to peruse.

New Buggy Accessories A practical accessory range, commercially priced and neatly presented to give a clear and obvious choice for your customers.

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littlelife.com | LittleLifeUK | LittleLifeUK | LittleLifeUK

To ďŹ nd out about these products and for information on how you can stock LittleLife, contact us today. Email: sales@littlelife.com Tel: 0118 981 1433

focus TRAVEL TIME

s un A ustr a l i anb r an d s p rotec t i on

Bring on Summer We are finally shaking off the last of winter, and it’s time for that great old Aussie mantra - Slip, Slop, Slap! Slip on a shirt, Slop on some sunscreen and Slap on a hat. It may have changed since the 1980s original with some adding ‘Slide on the sunnies’ and ‘Seek shelter’; but the message remains the same – UV protection for your skin and eyes is vital. Sunproof supply the best Australian sun protection brands, so you can help your customers do just that. Tel: 01460 258040 Email: sales@sunproof.co.uk

Ready for the outdoors

Make playtime anything but flat with the Prince Lionehart playMAT range. Create a safe and clean space for children to lose themselves to imagination and do what they do best: PLAY. The range that started it all comes 5.8’ 6.5’ large and 5mm thick, dual sided with interactive illustrations to engage the imagination, folds like a map (carry bag included), is waterproof and easy to wipe clean. More cush needed for newborns? The developMAT with high-contrast colours to encourage visual development; the Everywhere playMAT folds like an accordion with scores that allow it to adjust to narrow, big and wide spaces and finally the squishiest mat yet, the awesomeMAT which rolls like a rug (carry case included). All with dual sided illustrations and 1cm thick. Tel: 020 8997 7054 Email: uksales@princelionheart.co.uk

Summertime strollinhereg! Make sure n n in thensiosu Habe fu hugely this of n SS17 collection sees the expa

The Pop-in of their baby popular swim range, with the addition all-in-one suit h beac suit, snug ler todd cosy suit, and peaked sun hat. The new swim suits (RRP the £19.99/£21.99) are ideal for either baby the d, roun beach or the pool all year cosy suit contains an integrated swim y nappy to keep any little accidents safel over a swim worn be can snug ler todd the st contained whil ly poppers open for nappy if needed and the gusset simp s. quick and easy change time their brand Close have got swimming covered with 50+ and an of new beach-in all-in-one suit, with a UPF ection from prot ate ultim integrated hood, it provides the time quick ge chan es mak et guss ered the sun and its popp in Pop- peaked sun and easy too! (RRP £21.99) whilst the nnaire style legio rous hat has a UPF of 50+ and a gene ears (RRP and neck the of back the panel to help protect £7.99). Tel: 01992 554045 Web: www.closeparent.com

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Summer will soon be rs you stock up on the seasonal best selle Push The for those happy holidays. Me Lite Buggy is a great holiday buggy being lightweight and easy to travel with. Protect baby from the sun’s rays with the additional sun parasol. Easy to fit onto most strollers with the universal clamp. Also available are the car essential folding sunshades. Supplied as a pack of two sunshades that are simple to fit onto car windows and include a cute character print. Tel: 01454 326555 Web: www. redkitebaby. com

the award winning hands-free baby bath towel for safe baby bathtimes

Voted ‘Mumsnet Best Gift’ for a Newborn 9 years running

New Packaging for 2017

The Original Cuddledry® is the ‘hands-free’ babysafe bath towel loved by thousands of parents and their babies since the day it was born. With the Cuddledry®, every baby bathtime is special and happy.

www.cuddledry.com Tel: +44 (0) 1823 323363 | Email: customercare@cuddledry.com

focus TRAVEL TIME

Love to Dream There is nothing like bringing your duvet with you when staying away from home and little ones will be able to do just that with Love to Dream. The pioneering Swaddle UP is the only arms UP swaddle on the market. This warm and snuggly sleepsuit enables little ones to sleep comfortably in the natural sleep position with their arms up. The unique wings design means babies can still self soothe themselves to sleep, by sucking on their hands safely through the Swaddle UP breathable fabric or gently rubbing their cheeks. Web: www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

Blind Gro Anywhere for families on holiday that are

The Gro Company have the perfect solution hoping to not be up at the crack of dawn. The Gro Anywhere blind is a fantastic blackout blind that adjusts to fit most windows with easy to use suckers. Made from lightweight material it’s perfect to take on holiday and create a dark sleeping environment to encourage little ones to stick to a sleep routine when away from home.

l e ep s e l b a Exp ansdo lut i on

Web: www.gro.co.uk

Mobile fun The Travel Mobile is a soothing little rain cloud, for providing sensory fun whatever the weather. The clasp attaches easily to a stroller or car seat, and it’s suitable from birth. Cute and fun, this entertaining mobile has a variety of sensory activities to explore. Baby will love the friendly faces, bright colours and fascinating patterns and batting the dangling characters helps to improve coordination. The “Say Hello” range of intelligent toys was developed by East Coast Nursery with Dr Lin Day of Baby Sensory, and based on over 25 years of research into the way babies learn and develop. Tel: 01692 408802 Web: www.eastcoastnursery.co.uk

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grow Sleep, relax, minute, the Lullago Zip

Super compact and folded away in just one is the perfect travel companion to be used day and night in even the smallest of spaces and the extra padded mattress is also foldable too. This teamed with the practical carry bag means it is the perfect travel companion to take with you and your baby. The clever crib features an expandable section, which allows it to act as a crib from 0-6 months and a first baby bed from 6-18 months. Simply unzip the additional material to give your baby a new space to sleep and relax as they grow. Web: www.chicco.co.uk

nce Exuding elega ir from Chicco, the Sleek, compact and stylish, the latest pushcha MiniiMo, exudes practical elegance.

The ultimate bedtime pal Zoe the Penguin, available in blue, pink or neutral grey, features five pre-set melodies including a heartbeat, white noise and waterfall sound, as well as wireless speaker technology, enabling parents to play their own choice of music or children’s stories. Also providing a soft, reassuring glow with two adjustable brightness settings, Zoe activates automatically upon baby crying and will begin to play and light up to comfort little ones, helping them to fall back into a peaceful slumber. A soothing nightlight, portable music box and wireless speaker in one, Zoe is one clever penguin! Web: www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

At only x25cm when 55x48.5 5 the MiniiMo folded, f is i the answer for seeking a parents p ir that you pushcha p need to think don’t d With a long about. a sshoulder strap that makes it comfortable m tto carry, the MiniiMo is excellent M for travelling. Weighing in at only 6.2kg, its diminutive size means it fits easily into small spaces, ideal for planes, trains and cars alike. Suitable for babies right from birth, the MiniiMo houses a fully reclining back rest, manoeuvrability. m maximu for wheels front g along with swivellin gy to ensure technolo sorbing shock-ab possess wheels four All complete safety and comfort for children. It also comes with a raincover for those wet weather days! Web: www.chicco.co.uk

tion Bit off iinnovati on new launches of

The folks at Shnuggle have been working hard clever baby products which will be perfect category extensions to their multi award winning product range – including the BumGo! The BumGo is all about convenience - at home, when out and about and for travel. It is a handy little changing ‘wrap’ which is big enough for storing all essential baby items when nappy changing. Lots of storage pockets and a slightly padded mat included, the BumGo’s innovation lies in its ‘always ready’ wipes dispenser. Pop a pack of wipes into the top of BumGo and just grab when needed. BumGo has a handy loop which means it can be hung from a stroller for quick wipes access and grab and go changing. BumGo is perfect for any type of travel and it is also handy to keep in car seat back or door pockets, meaning BumGo is great for car journeys too! Versatile and stylish, BumGo really is a little wrap of essential innovation! Email: hello@shnuggle.co.uk Web: www.shnuggle.com

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focus TRAVEL TIME

rd e r o r u o y 10 % o ff

Sweet sleep The Snugglebnudl solves the age old problem of moving a sleeping baby without waking them. It is a wrap that works like a hammock so it offers full head support and even allows a parent to take a child out of a car seat fast asleep! It can also be used as a discreet breastfeeding cover and play mat, and is great for soothing colic by gently rocking. Visit the website and quote this code at the checkout - LP10 - for 10% off your order! Web: www.snugglebundl.co.uk

Space technology

SpaceCot’s arrival heralds the beginning of a new era of baby travel. With its use of innovative space technologies, SpaceCot is one of the lightest and easiest folding travel cots on the market. SpaceCot has been designed using space technology to make it light to carry and simple to use. At just 6kg and with a compact carry case, it gives parents the ability to travel easily with baby. The unique design means SpaceCot opens and closes in under three seconds without the need to bend down, so it is quick and easy to set up. With baby’s comfort in mind, it is designed with all the strength, safety and comfort of a permanent cot, giving parents that extra reassurance. With two detachable levels, SpaceCot grows with baby and is suitable from birth to three years, making it great for travel or to use as a playpen at home. Web: www.alittlebitbrilliant.com or www.hippychick.com

Travelling toilet Mosquitos away , then

If it’s holiday planning time Squitos are a fun design of mosquito repellent patches. The patches are la 100% natural comprising of Citronel t. Dee no g ainin cont oil, s and Eucalyptu are and s 72hr to up last hes patc The suitable from 0+. Simply peel off the protective film and attach the adhesive side to your clothes or a location nearby, such as a table or bed. Each ned travel sized tin contains 24 fun desig ctive attra in lable avai are and patches POS stands from UK distributor, bébélephant. Tel: 020 8202 1467 Web: www.bebelephant.com

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Kids will love the funky and cool design of My Carry Potty. Leak proof, hygienic and easy to carry My Carry Potty makes it both easy and fun to potty train while travelling! Hermetically sealed so only parents can open it, the ingenious potty is a must-have for all families. Available in solid block colours or playful animal designs including a bumblebee, cow and ladybird. Web: www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

feature LITTLELIFE

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L ittle L iffe a im s to tr an s it ion fro m s o le ly a tr ave l o r b ein g a dventu re b r an d faanm ily in ste a d b ec o me an d every d a y, h ouse h o ld n a me w it h in t h e nu r sery sec to r

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Little adventures made easy Family-travel expert LittleLife continues to build its presence within the nursery industry for 2017 with a new assortment of accessories that make getting out and about with your little one easier than ever. dding to the brand’s ever-popular range of animal and licensed character daysacks, child carriers and essential safety products, the latest collection includes a number of new travel accessories that are perfect for use with a buggy or pram. A natural expansion for LittleLife, the new accessories are developed with the signature quality and attention to detail that has proved so popular in the rest of its award-winning range. Although the company continues to focus on its bestselling carriers and toddler backpacks, by offering a selection of products designed to be used with a stroller or pram, LittleLife aims to transition from being solely a travel or family adventure brand and instead become an everyday, household name within the nursery sector. Each of the new products has been carefully created to help parents make the most of the day to day adventures with their children.

Buggy Cup Holder

The buggy accessory product assortment is completed by the addition of a convenient Buggy Cup Holder. Featuring a universal design, the Buggy Cup Holder can be easily attached to all types of prams and pushchairs using the secure Velcro strap. The Cup Holder incorporates a large plastic cup holder making it ideal for storing coffee cups or children’s bottles while on the go. LittleLife is inspired by a belief that adventures don’t have to stop when children come along. With more than 25 years’ experience developing great outdoors and travel products, plus over 30 children between them, the LittleLife team have developed all of its products with first-hand experience of what really works for young families. Email: sales@littlelife.com Web: www.littlelife.com

Buggy Clip

Made from robust stainless steel with a smooth carabiner-style closure, the practical Buggy Clip features a soft, foam surround that means it is easy and comfortable to hold and operate. Simple to clip on to any type of buggy or pushchair, the Buggy Clip is perfect for securely attaching shopping or toys to your pram while out and about.

Lockable Buggy Clip

For parents wishing to deter opportunist thieves, the new Buggy Clip will is also available as a lockable version. Featuring the same robust construction as the original, the Lockable Buggy Clip benefits from an easy to operate, three-digit combination lock that is ideal for locking prams and pushchairs to railings or outside shops. nursery today

focus TRAVEL TIME

w Ne nc h l a u ro m f oie J

Food to go

The Pop N’ Sit Booster Seat from Summer Infant supports on-the-go lifestyles and makes feeding time even easier with a removable, BPA-free tray and innovative pop and fold set-up. With its lightweight design, compact fold and over-the-shoulder carry bag, the Pop n’ Sit Booster is perfect for dining on-the-go whether it be in the garden, park or beach. When baby needs a seat and place to eat, parents can easily just remove it from the carrying bag, pop and go! The Pop N’ Sit is also suitable for indoor use and includes chair safety straps for use on an adult chair – so perfect when visiting friends and family or holiday homes that aren’t geared up for little people! It’s recommended for babies sitting up to 17kg and has a suggested retail price of £29.99. Web: www.summerinfant.co.uk

Stylish – Functional – Practical – Durable Protect your car upholstery and keep everything in its place with the comprehensive range of car accessories from Prince Lionheart: family owned since 1973. Be organised on-the-go with the Prince Lionheart Travel Organiser: easy adjustable inner compartments, insulated drink holders and six side pockets with rear anchors to prevent sliding. The long-standing favourites live on: 2 stage seatSAVER (protects from every day litter and crumbs and also from the compression damage caused by infant and booster seats) and also Baby viewMIRROR. Baby in need of a bottle feed and nowhere to warm it up? Make this a thing of the past with the Prince Lionheart On-the-go bottleWARMER. Travel light with Prince Lionheaert’s Pushchair Organiser Bag or Pushchair Organiser Tray: • Pushchair Organiser Bag comes with a large mesh bag for holding nappies and wipes, a zipper pouch to hold keys, money, phones and other valuables and two neoprene bags to keep liquids warm on-the-go. • Pushchair Organiser Tray comes with four adjustable hook and loop straps to fit all pushchair bars and handles, two cup holders, one mesh pocket, one large inner pouch and one outer pocket with Velcro seal. Keep irritants away from child whilst out and about with the Prince Lionheart UV/ Mosquito Shield. Finally, make a double pushchair in a snap with the Prince Lionheart old favourite, the Pushchair Connectors. The plastic connectors snap easily onto pushchair tubes to turn two pushchairs into an instant double and remove with squeeze release when not in use. Tel: 020 8997 7054 Email: uksales@princelionheart.co.uk

Prevent bumps in the night Moving from cot to first bed is an exciting milestone for most toddlers, but can also be daunting if a roll-over causes an inadvertent midnight bump onto the floor. Little Chick London has just the solution with its incredibly versatile Bed Bolster. Unlike some bed guards, the Little Chick Bed Bolster provides sleep time security. Positioned under the existing bed sheet and held in place with grips, it provides a raised barrier to prevent little ones rolling out of bed – but still looks like a ‘big boy’s’ bed. Its handy quick inflatable design makes it extremely portable and ideal for holidays or visits to grandparents – simply use the hand pump provided or inflate by mouth. The Bed Bolster is available in two sizes to fit either a cot bed or single bed and is designed to work with all bed types including slated bed bases. It comes complete with travel bag, repair patch and a hand pump and folds into such a small package, it is even ideal for holidays abroad. Email: hello@littlechick.london Web: www.littlechick.london

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All aboard The unique Lascal BuggyBoard Maxi Plus attaches to 99% of pushchairs, prams and strollers, providing an easy way to travel by foot with more than one child. Little ones can ride along while holding on and when those little legs get tired from standing, they can have a little rest thanks to the ingenious saddle - a foldable seat enabling little ones to sit down whilst looking towards mum or dad and watching the world go by. Ideal for minimising luggage while travelling! Web: www.cheekyrascals. co.uk

feature CUDDLEDRY

Cuddledry - ten years strong Celebrating their tenth anniversary this year, Cuddledry have come a long way since they first launched and we can expect to see more exciting ranges on the horizon. en years ago two dads struggled to hold baby towels under their chins, whilst attempting to wrestle slippery babies from the bathwater and into their towels, before the inevitable yell! Leaning against the doorpost (wine glasses in hand), two mums watched them and thought there had to be an easier way. Ten years on – the solution they created, the Original Cuddledry baby bath towel that has won over seventy awards, is sold all over the globe and is recommended parent to parent as one thing you just ‘must have’ with a new baby. Cuddledry is a brand which has grown up around this core product – achieving a place in the Tots 100 alongside brands such as IKEA and Tesco and firm recognition in the minds of new parents. Cuddledry has worked in an award-winning partnership with Aardman animation, as well as Water Babies, Bliss, Worldwide Fund for Nature, SeaLife Centres and the Child Accident Prevention Trust – to name but a few. However the time has come for the Cuddledry brand to really move forward and to mark its ten year anniversary the team behind it are making some very major changes. “Up until now Cuddledry has been a lifestyle business for us,” says Polly Marsh, one of the two founders. “So while we have of course worked hard and seen great success off the back of that, we have never taken any risks, worked full time, or invested in range expansion. But that is no longer the case and 2017 marks the start of dramatic growth for our company, brand and range. It is an exciting time, with lots of major developments coming during 2017 and 2018. These will gradually be revealed to our customers, starting with a few private meetings and then made more public month by month.” The team at Cuddledry has already expanded, with the appointment of a new Financial Director, new customer service manager, new social media ‘correspondent’ and web promotion manager. Cuddledry is recruiting now for the senior role of Sales and New Business Development Director and also Marketing Manager (both Somerset based) – so watch this space for announcements as the team develops. Most importantly for Cuddledry customers, there are some significant changes coming in the

Cuddledry range. Range extensions will be announced to existing customers during the next month and announced publicly in May and June – with a variety of price points to cater for everyone’s needs, as well as new gifting options. Kind und Jugend in September will also see more unveiling of new products – all in keeping with the bathtime, swim and beach theme, but also showing how important baby bathtime is in terms of good baby sleep. Supporting the range development is a full set of beautiful and highly effective marketing materials for Cuddledry customers. “Our brand has always been strong,” says Helen Wooldridge, also a founder of the company. “But we know we need to support our customers better with merchandising in-store and increasingly online. So we are really ramping up our provision of marketing materials, to get the messages across about the brand, and really drive sales.” However despite all the growth, Cuddledry

remains true to its humble beginnings and will be making sure it retains the key assets which have made the brand so strong – ethical, high quality products; charitable partnerships; and supporting flexible hours for working parents. And most importantly – making life easier and more fun for new mums, dads and babies, cheeky toddlers, and children who want to splash! Tel: 01823 323363 Email: trade@cuddledry.com Web: www.cuddledry.com

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social media ROSS HEWITT

It’s all about the people, people This issue Ross takes a look at the importance of people within the nursery industry – face to face communication is imperative in this emotive industry. he core principles of marketing revolve around what is known as the four P’s. They are: 1. 1 Product – the thing(s) you make or sell 2. 2 Place of Distribution – where the products are sold 3. 3 Promotion – the actual communication & advertising undertaken 4. 4 Price – how much it sells for and its position positio in the market All thos those four core elements combine to create a marketing position. Ideally Id it is via a strategy that combines those four Ps into a t symbiotic and a successful harmony that leads to products being sold in the ‘right’ brand environment in response to efficient consumer messaging messagin at a price that manufacturers and retailers make manufac profit on. on

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It seems quite simple when it is put like that. There is a fifth ‘P’ that I believe is always the most important part of the marketing mix…and that is ‘People’. The finest examples of ‘People’ as a marketing thing in our industry in the UK was visible all over the recent Harrogate Nursery Fair. Sure, it was a more compact show than we have been used to but everyone I have spoken to that went has said it was a great success, and it’s down to ‘People’. Products on plinths and hangers and platforms look great, but people are what bring them to life. A new pushchair on a stand can be cooed at but having the designer talk you through a demonstration is golden. Being brought that cup of coffee when you sit down in someone’s booth to discuss orders, after an hour of traipsing around the halls is all part of the sales and marketing

experience. Chewing the fat and having your questions answered there and then by a person is important for so many business decisions at a trade show. Being able to play together as an industry for a few hours is crucial, and kudos to BabyStyle for a great on-stand party on the Wednesday. It’s all marketing, but it is the very human side of marketing…the bits you can really believe in and enjoy. The bits you warm to. People like to deal with people. People who enable face to face business always get my maximum respect so I raise my glass (erm, mug actually) as I write this to the brands who supported Harrogate the right way, by running a stand. I keep it raised to the retailers who made the trip too and I will happily smash it over the head of anyone who thought it was clever to try and run their

Peop le like peop le w ho pleaywfaithir an d tre at th e m arketpl ac e br an ds respect . Reta ilers apprec iatd br an ds th at m ake th e effort, an at take apprec iate th e retailer s thores to ti me aw ay fro m th eir st . co me an d see th em

own little events in restaurants off-site in Harrogate rather than participate properly. You guys just lost your 5th P. People like people who play fair and treat the marketplace with respect. Retailers appreciate brands that make the effort, and brands appreciate the retailers that take time away from their

stores to come and see themâ&#x20AC;Śand it kind of works doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it, and isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it good for business generally? Fancy that, something that has been a cornerstone of good business for hundreds of years still works! We are hurtling through an age where marketing communications has

been abducted by technology and the ability to tweet, post or email hundreds and thousands of customers or followers quickly sometimes distracts from the fact that people like to deal with peopleâ&#x20AC;Śso how personable is your business? When you do communicate electronically, whether it be responding to questions on Facebook or sending out an email newsletter, is it clear that a real person has written it, and will the reader feel like this is a person that they would like to spend time listening to? Have a look back through your recent online activity and see if it scores highly on a human scale. What happens when someone walks into your store at 4.55pm? Do

you or your sales team internally sigh and quickly point out that you are closing in 5 minutesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time, or does that pregnant lady who is currently bewildered by how many darn products are available for babies get offered a sit down and a cup of tea? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; creates customers, and they are more valuable than sales. A result of a customer is a sale but a result of a sale is not necessarily a customer. Customers tell their friends about you and customers come back when they need the next thing, all of which increases sales. Harrogate was a success last month because of peopleâ&#x20AC;Śnow how can you make â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work for your business?

BABY CARE INDUSTRY STRATEGIC MAP Do you want to be visible on foreign markets? We recommend those with whom you can ;!ÂŁ0 #<9-2'99W '; -2 ;3<$, >-;, ;,' 8'68'9'2;!ŕŚ§ ='9 of the best trade magazines.

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01278 434440 nursery today

focus TRADITIONAL TOYS

Traditional traits Toys that are reminiscent of bygone days are here to stay, we take a closer look. he traditional toy sector has seen great growth over the years, with many parents opting for toys that evoke their own personal childhood memories. With technology continuing to move forward, consumers are moving toward traditional play values for their children. We asked Marie Bureau Marketing & Product Development Manager, Le Toy Van her opinion as to why we are seeing a rise in popularity for these products. “Every tendency creates a counter tendency. With the rise of connected, licensed and electronic toys, we see an increase in popularity of traditional wooden toys.” Could it be that parents are looking to recreate their own childhood memories? Head of Licensing and Marketing at Rainbow Designs, Suzie Howes told us: “Parents are not necessarily looking to recreate their own childhood memories but they are going back to grass roots and what worked for them.” This is another reason why licenses can also bring an added value to toys that replicate some of our own childhood favourites. “Nurturing renowned nursery brands that have stood the test of time such as Peter Rabbit bring with them wholesome values and trust aspects. Parents recognise this from their own childhood which makes them feel that their child is in safe hands with these products,” said Suzie. Independent retailer, Ian Davidson, Babylicious feels that their customers are license focussed and are seeking toys that reflect traditional, well known and loved characters. “For me, licensed products in this category sell really well, for example, traditional toys that carry licenses such as Peter Rabbit and Paddington Bear.” Interactive toys that bring traditional play values are also highly valued by Ian’s customers. “It’s not all about the fact that they bring nostalgia for parents, but these type of toys are suitable for babies and

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toddlers, giving an element of being interactive for both the child and the parent. Of course, these are also a superb example of how to leave the electronic trend of today behind.” Suzie agrees. “We are in an era where children are seen to be growing up so fast. With all the technology now available in toys and gadgets which can be seen as more of a hindrance to social interaction, some parents and new parents in particular, are looking back to their own childhood and the type of toys that they are familiar with.” Are toys that are made from wood a good example? Are parents looking to recreate their own childhood memories by buying wooden toys? Marie feels that this could be one reason, but with new parents today it may be more about sustainability. “There is a popularity for wooden toys among the young new parents who are more focussed on the eco-friendliness of the purchase than recreating memories, as these young parents were born in the 90s and plastic toys/tech toys were more in trend at that time.” What about trends, are there any particular themes that parents are seeking at present? “Woodland theme is still very strong. For example, we launched our Petilou woodland toddler collection in 2015 and it has been very strong with constant increase in popularity since,” said Marie. It could be viewed that a trend is how manufacturers and suppliers are working to develop toys that have a nostalgic feel but with a modern day twist. Suzie told us: “Traditional toys with multiple modern-day elements for little ones to investigate such Activity toys and Development Cubes are particularly popular at the moment. These toys feature elements such as Peek-a-boo mirrors, multiple textures, colours, shapes and sounds with additional rattles or teethers to keep little ones entertained and encourage them to explore.

“

Parents ar n ec es sa rily lookein ng otto recrea te t h ei c h ild h oo d me mro rioesw n t h ey are go in g b ac k but gr as s roots an d w h to w o rke d fo r t h e m . at Suzie Howes

”

, Rainbow Des igns

“Our new Peter Rabbit and My First Thomas Activity Mirrors are also extremely popular at the moment. Traditional Wooden toys such as Peg Puzzles and Stacking Blocks are always on trend too as they present multiple learning opportunities.” What makes these popular as gifting items? Suzie feels a strong element is recognition. “You really can’t go wrong when you give a traditional toy as a gift. The buyer and the parents immediately recognise the value in the product on both a fun and educational level.” Finally, with so much choice out there, what makes the perfect traditional toy? “In early year toys parents are looking for products that can stimulate and educate as well as entertain. Traditional toys tend to offer the A,B,Cs and 1,2,3s as well as colour and shape recognition, elements that all aid the child’s developmental needs that the parent seeks,” said Suzie. “If these learning and developmental values are encompassed within a trusted brand such as Guess How Much I Love You and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, nursery brands that are steeped in heritage, then it real does becomes a winning combination when it comes to creating the perfect traditional toy.”

Two by two Brightly painted toddler wooden ark shape sorter complete with one sliding trap door that allows access to the hull and five solid rubber wood and water colour shapes. The ark has got outlined holes to sort the shapes by matching the colours. Animals are painted on both sides of each piece so they go two by two in the ark.

d shakers Little Moovers an their development and now they

Tel: 0208 979 2036 Web: www.letoyvan.com

Little ones love to copy grown-ups; it’s a key part of to last. can with Moovers wooden toys not only striking to look at, but also built designed to is toy each range, Moover the Attention to detail is really the hallmark of pace. own their at and dently confi skills motor their encourage toddlers to develop lovingly are toys Moover all parents, friendly entally environm today’s for y, Criticall crafted from wood from sustainable sources. Tel: 01278 434 440 Web: www.hippychick.com/moover

Classic characters Rainbow Designs feature a plethora of traditional toys in their 2017 collection from some of the most prestigious nursery brands including Peter Rabbit, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Peppa Pig for Baby. The colourful and fun baby plush Stacking Rings are just one of the new traditional toy lines joining The Home of Classic Characters’ portfolio this year. Available in both the Paddington for Baby and Peppa Pig for Baby ranges the nursery toy features either a baby soft Peppa Pig or Paddington Bear with squeaker sitting on top of stackable plush rings. These colourful developmental toys, packed with multiples textures and sounds, also encourages colour and size recognition. Pull along toys and Jack in the Boxes are the epitome of traditional toys and Rainbow Designs feature both in their Peter Rabbit and The Very Hungry Caterpillar nursery collections. The cute plush Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny Pull along toys and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Wooden Pull along are firm favourites when it comes to toddlers. Inquisitive little minds also love Rainbow’s traditional Jack-in-the Box toys, turn the handle to the tune of Pop Goes the Wheels and out pops Peter Rabbit or Hungry Caterpillar!

Child’s play

Let your little one role play with the Ergobaby doll carrier and share the Babywearing fun! Adding fashion and fun to playtime, the Doll Carrier, is the perfect gift for a new big sister or brother, letting them mirror mum and dad and carry around their favourite toy friends in the child-sized Ergobaby Doll Carrier. Email: service@ergobaby.co.uk Web: www.ergobaby.co.uk

Web: www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk nursery today

retail TECHNOLOGY

Let’s take a look at Google and HTTPS Google announced at the end of January 2017 that its latest (Chrome Version 56) web browser would display a very prominent message in the URL bar if a web page is visited, should that page contain forms or input boxes and that web page does not use the HTTPS secure protocol. We are already seeing examples of pages being flagged as ‘insecure’ in search results.

n an on-going campaign to drive security online, Google announced that they would be releasing their latest update of the Chrome web browser initially with only insecure form pages flagged, but eventually all non-HTTPS pages will be flagged prominently as insecure.

Leaving the Door Open

David Fairhurst Head of Creative Online Marketing - Intelligent Retail

Why does Google have an infatuation with secure web pages? Surely the only pages that need to be secure are payment pages? Well no. The HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) has been used online since 1989, being first implemented with a successful communication between a client and server by the inventor of the World Wide Web Sir Tim Berners Lee. HTTP is still perfectly adequate for sharing documents which don’t contain sensitive information (the original purpose that this technology was first designed for) however with websites of today we tend to share a lot of very sensitive information! Modern websites employ a number of different scripting languages as well as utilising forms to enable users to input data. This means using unencrypted HTTP on a website can leave the door open to anyone wishing to spy on communications your browser is having with a server online and the process is surprisingly easy for

Modern websites employ a number of different scripting languages as well as utilising forms to enable users to input data. anyone with the tools and knowledge. Use of insecure HTTP mean that not only can someone spy on your communications, those with the technical knowledge to manipulate scripting languages can possibly re-direct your web browsing to meet their own nefarious agendas. You could find that instead of entering your bank login details into your bank’s login page what you’re actually doing is giving your username and password away to criminals via a cloned page hosted elsewhere!

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

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What is HTTPS? HTTPS is basically an encrypted form of HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This means all communications between the web browser you are using and a remote machine (server or other computer) are encrypted and only some other machine with the correct encryption key can de-crypt the communication. HTTPS can use one of two different secure protocols, namely SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or the newer TSL (Transport Security Layer), both of which use a pair of keys to encrypt communications between one machine and another. Originally 256 bit and 512 bit encryption keys were used but as technology and the ingenuity of code crackers has marched on, much stronger encryption is now employed for most purposes. HTTPS was created to allow encryption of the data stream between a client (web browser) and a web server. Encryption is important as it stops any third party from spying on the data stream, meaning nobody can see what you are inputting into web pages. Google is keen to make sure that all web pages are secure as soon as possible as this will make the web safer, but of course there are other reasons…

Protecting Our Own Interests Of course Google wants to see that people are safe online and is pushing for the web to be a safer place, but you can probably see that there may be a modicum of self-interest here! Google run a number of services online

Image source, Pexels.com

including its search engine, Gmail, AdWords and Analytics. All of these services have been bombarded with attacks over the years and many of these attacks have been brought about by the shortfalls of the HTTP protocol.

Moving to HTTPS was a logical move for all of Google’s services, but it doesn’t end there. Non-Google web sites which are not HTTPS can still cause problems for Google. For instance if a site is hacked and injected

with spam or viruses then this adds work for not only Google’s staff but can add load to Google’s infrastructure. If a site that is infected with viruses is being tracked in Google Search Console then the owner of that site has to be informed. Although much of this notification is now automated and utilises AI systems, at the very least this adds further load on Google’s servers. Spam and virus infected sites can also affect other Google services such as Google AdWords, leading to further load and frustration and can in most cases cause untold misery to website owners, as well as lost profits for Google!

What to Do For those with non-HTTP websites

carefully consider what you need to do next. If you run an eCommerce website then the answer is clear – move over to HTTPS as soon as you can! Security warnings on a static (non-eCommerce website) are bad enough and may make people click the back button fast, but these types of websites in most cases don’t provide revenue unless they rely on third party advertising. eCommerce websites could be massively affected by the release of Google Chrome 56. Firstly, if Google start to mark pages as insecure in search results (which has been hinted) then traffic to any affected eCommerce website is going to plummet. Once website visitors do actually arrive, a large ‘page insecure’ warning in the URL bar is definitely going to result in massive increases in website abandonment, further damaging results for that website. At the very least, any owner of an eCommerce website where a large proportion of people visit via Chrome browser will see that eCommerce transactions decline sharply! It’s very clear that eCommerce websites and those sharing sensitive, user-entered data need to be protected by utilising HTTPS as soon as possible, not just because Google says so but because it’s the right thing to do!

i-Size takes a turn RECARO Child Safety presents an ingenious combination; a 360o rotatable i-Size child seat with a removable infant carrier. he RECARO Zero.1 Elite is an innovative i-Size child safety seat which provides a versatile solution for the car, a stroller and even in the home. Suitable for use from birth, the removable infant carrier secures inside the main seat and can be used up to 76cm (maximum 9kg). It can be removed from the seat for use on a stroller, or easily taken into the home without causing any disruption to a sleeping baby. The lightweight carrier has three height settings, a three-point harness and a flexible insert cushion. The carrier is compatible with the RECARO strollers as well as other manufacturers.

The Zero.1 Elite can remain in the extended rear facing position up to the maximum height of 105cm; alternatively the seat can be used in the forward facing position once the child reaches 15 months. The 360̊ rotating function ensures ease of use when securing or removing the child and the integrated isofix base features colour indicators which provide peace of mind that the seat is correctly installed. The Zero.1 Elite will be available from May 2017. Tel: 01926 484111 Web: www.recaro-cs.com

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