9 minute read
TnP Ambassadors – our tiny testers try out
TRADE
OPINION Trade talk
Calling all suppliers and distributors! We’d love to hear your views. Get in touch with Clare@lemapublishing.co.uk to have your say!
This month we find out industry reactions to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget and, on a lighter note, we invite suppliers to take a trip down memory lane and revisit their favourite toys of yesteryear
PHIL RATCLIFFE
Joint Managing Director MV Sports & Leisure What pleases you about the Budget in terms of how it affects your business?
It seems fairly measured and to be honest, I expected more immediate or medium-term increases on taxation - although the hike in corporation tax after 2023 will have a big impact. I also like the new Freeport initiative.
What disappoints you about the Budget in terms of how it affects your business?
The big damage has already been done with Brexit and the non-level playing field we have agreed.
Is there anything you feel was ignored or should have been addressed more thoroughly?
Possibly some equalisation in taxation of certain overseas companies to allow fairer competition.
Finally (not Budget related!), what is your earliest toy memory?
Roleplaying Thunderbirds with my mum and then my best friend, with diecast Thunderbirds vehicles.
HELEN DICKINSON
Chief executive British Retail Consortium
We welcome the extension of key business funding schemes. The Chancellor's announcement provides some targeted support to struggling businesses across the country. Action to support the retail industry will be vital to reviving the economy, including business rates relief, restart grants and loans, and an extension to the furlough scheme. The Chancellor must keep the situation under review, as we wait to see how the economy responds to reopening.
JULIA LOESER
Science kit sales, marketing & PR manager, Thames & Kosmos What pleased you about the Budget in terms of how it affects your business?
I think the entire toy industry breathed a sigh of relief after the Budget announcement. With the extension of the furlough scheme to the end of September and the announcement of business rates relief, small businesses such as bricks-and-mortar shops and the independents will hopefully be able to recover after the difficult past year.
The additional funding for a further 45 towns in England through the Towns Fund to support long-term economic and social regeneration is also welcome news. If town centres and high streets are more accessible and a place that people want to visit, it can only be of benefit to retail.
Is there anything you felt was ignored or should be addressed more thoroughly?
The Budget is a first step in the right direction and a sign of positive things to come - and hopefully sees the start of the economic recovery. The toy industry is resilient: we know from many of our customers that they found the past year hard but managed to keep going in ingenious ways – and they all said their customers have been incredibly loyal and have kept shopping with them. The next few months will show whether the investments planned are going to be enough.
Finally (not Budget related!), what is your earliest toy memory?
One of my earliest toy memories is the Fisher Price Cassette Player. It was one of my most prized toys and the envy of my school friends - and was only eclipsed in my teens by the Sony Walkman! My favourite board game was The Game of Life; we spent many evenings playing this with my grandparents.
ANDREW GOODACRE
CEO, Bira (British Independent Retailers Association)
We broadly welcome the announcements for smaller retailers in the Budget; restart grants, recovery loans, furlough scheme and reduced business rates. A reduction in business rates for 2021/22 is welcome but we strongly believe that the Chancellor has missed an opportunity to go one step further by not giving a full year of relief to non-essential retailers. This has been done in Scotland, and such a decision in England would only have cost approximately £1bn to give genuine reassurance to thousands of retailers looking to rebuild their businesses.
Also, we need an extension of the rent moratorium so that businesses can look forward to making the most of the support being made available by the government. These measures are certainly something that indie retailers can work with, but as always, it will be a matter of there being ‘devil in the detail’.
COFFEE BREAK
TnP catches up with University Games sales director Mark Jones to find out about the company’s plans for the year
How are you working with retailers to looking for the ‘at home’ entertainment help them prepare for reopening? factor. Family games night and virtual We have been in regular communication games nights have been one of the few with our retailers throughout lockdown successes of the very difficult year we as many have continued to trade online - have all endured, and I think they will have and as stores begin to reopen their doors, an important place for some time to come. we will work closely with them to ensure Our new Mystery Case Files and family they are able to offer the full product games such as Smart Ass, Sort it Out range they want. and Kersplatt! - along with We will also be helping our retailers to ensure the space in-store works with any new Covid-19 restrictions. Our sales team is brilliant at “We are taking significant steps in our quest to be the most environmentallyour entire puzzles portfolio - really have provided muchneeded non-screen time for many children and parents. One of the main strengths of University Games has always been our commitment range. The Hammered, Nailed It and You Know the Drill Tool Box Games will make perfect gifts for DIY fans. What are your goals for 2021? supporting in-store friendly games & to support independent Fundamentally, although 2020 planning and we are always happy to help puzzles company retailers, tourist attractions and leisure parks throughout provided us with possibly the most difficult year we could all personally ensure shelf space looks in the UK” the UK with a full-time sales ever imagine, an outcome of it was eye-catching and is easy team. Any retailers looking a very good year for the games & to shop, as well as maximising space. to stock products to keep all the family puzzles sector. Therefore, our core goal
One of the main strengths of our new entertained while on a staycation can be for 2021 is to continue to support our Lagoon range, which joined the University confident that our team will be on hand fantastic retailers, to ensure that we Games portfolio in 2020, is a range of to advise them on top-selling lines. consolidate and build on the business space-saving CDUs. Retailers can achieve a great return on a really small footprint with these, and this solution allows them to stock a larger variety of lines for their customers to choose from. During the first lockdown we maintained good stock levels throughout while other suppliers sometimes struggled, and we will endeavour to maintain our stock levels throughout 2021. However, with more than 70 new lines joining our 700-strong product range this year - and, as we are all aware, games & puzzles have been a real hit throughout lockdowns - our lines are selling fast, so don’t hang about! Are there are any other big launches we can look forward to this year? With the Euros set to go ahead this summer, we are really excited about the launch of our highly anticipated, first-ever allfemale Subbuteo Set: The Official England Lionesses Subbuteo Main Game. We hope this (along with the Euros!) will create a little bit of a football-fever distraction that the nation can get behind once again. The Lionesses Main Game Set arrives this month and will join the latest additions to the Subbuteo range: the Subbuteo VAR Set and enhanced Fences Set. We also have some great new family games launching this year including Quicksand, Judge Your Friends, 5 Star success of last year. We are also taking significant steps to improve our environmental impact this year, in our quest to be the most environmentallyfriendly games & puzzles company in the UK. Under the current lockdown exit plan, Review, Auto Correct and Antioverseas holidays may not be permitted Monopoly, as well as The Tiger for UK families for a while. What impact Who Came To Tea preschool do you think this will have on your sales? board game. There is also a In the games & puzzles sector this is a fantastic new series of Tool little bit of a bonus, as families will still be Box games joining the Lagoon
Which toy do you wish would make a comeback?
Battle Tops from Hasbro - I loved this game and would happily make a purchase if it made a comeback!
Finally, what is your coffee break beverage of choice?
Starbucks Latte - Costa doesn’t cut it for me!
AMBASSADORS SPECIAL ARTS & CRAFTS The dyes the limit! A new member of our TnP Toy Ambassadors team rocks the tie-dye trend with Mookie Toys’ Tybo Tidy Tie-dye Design Studio, as mum Amber explains…
“My daughter Tula (aged 12) is an arts & crafts fanatic, so the Tybo Tidy Tie-dye Design Studio was a lovely lockdown treat for her. She was thrilled when the toy arrived and couldn’t wait to unbox it and get stuck in!” says mum Amber.
“Tula tried tie-dying once at her friend’s house and was keen to do it again, but I was reluctant for her to repeat the experience here because I knew it would get messy. Luckily, that’s not a problem at all with this product.
“What a cool little machine! The Tybo Tidy Tie-dye Design Studio is easy to set up and use with simple instructions. Batteries are not required and, best of all for me, it’s mess-free! I think it’s very clever how everything is contained in the Magic Mixing Orb, which clips together and has small holes to insert the dye bottles’ nozzles into - so no stains in my washing up bowl or bath!
“There’s also a great holder for the bottles to sit in, and even a pot to store the elastic bands - I’m so relieved the bands came supplied, because you can never find one when you need one, let alone several! The gloves are a thoughtful touch too. What’s in the box?
“My daughter enjoyed squeezing the dye through the holes in the Orb without getting ■ 1 x Design Studio messy hands and, once she removed the elastic bands, she was excited to see ‘the big reveal’ - ■ 1 x Magic Mixing Orb and was delighted with the result. ■ 1 x Handy Handle “Tula felt very grown up being able to colour her own clothes and can’t wait to create more ■ 6 x Amazingly things. I’ve bought a few plain items for her to Brightly Coloured use, and now she thinks she’s a fashion designer!” Dye Powders ■ 6 x Squeezy Peasy Dye Bottles ■ Instruction leaflet ■ Clear plastic gloves ■ Elastic bands
Tula says:
