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NEWSin-brief
Geomagworld adds agents Geomagworld is extending its reach with the addition of sales agents in two key areas. Will Abigail will take responsibility for East Anglia and the Midlands, while Kingsley Li will look after the company’s independent sales in The North and Scotland. DKB grows account team DKB Toys & Distribution has appointed George Stone to the UK buying team in response to account growth and new client acquisitions. Previously toys & games/soft toys assistant buyer for WHSmith Travel, George joins the company as a junior buyer with two years’ experience of working with key licensees including LEGO, Ty, Mattel, and Winning Moves. New hire at Casdon Toys Casdon Toys is expanding its marketing team with the recruitment of a new marketing manager. Simone Inskip has spent the past three years working at MGA Entertainment and brings a wealth of experience across the toy and entertainment sector. She will be responsible for Casdon’s new brand and marketing strategy. Fresh face at T&K Thames & Kosmos UK has welcomed Lauren Lethbridge to the role of office administrator. She takes over from science kit sales, marketing & PR manager Julia Loeser and will be handling all science kit related enquiries and orders, as well as looking after the company’s PR and marketing. PlayMonster appoints agency With an ever-growing portfolio of games for all ages, PlayMonster Games has enlisted the support of specialist toys and games agency, Playtime PR, to strengthen its marketing efforts in the run-up to the key Christmas games buying period.
Team change at BTHA
British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) director of public affairs and communications Natasha Crookes is leaving her role on 12 October to set up a PR and public affairs consultancy. Natasha joined BTHA in 2002 as deputy Toy Fair organiser, taking over the head of Toy Fair position in 2003. She moved on to run the communications and public affairs team in 2007 and has led that work since.
She was also responsible for establishing the Make Time 2 Play campaign and the sustainability committee, as well as working with Jerry Burnie on the toy safety campaign on online marketplaces. Most recently she has been instrumental in guiding BTHA members through the turbulence of Brexit and COVID with the wider team, representing member interest with all levels of government. BTHA director general Roland Earl said: “Natasha has been a great colleague and has made a huge difference for the better for this association and its members. I would like to publicly thank her for her tremendous dedication and service on behalf of us all.”
Obituary
Peter Lockey
By Katy Rugman
It is with great sadness that we announce that Peter Lockey, co-founder and director of The Puppet Company, passed away peacefully on 1 July following a sixmonth battle with an extremely aggressive brain tumour.
We would like to thank all our staff, agents, distributors and manufacturers for their support and hard work in keeping the company running during what has been an incredibly difficult time. We would also like to thank everyone who has had any involvement with us, including our customers, for their incredible support. We have been overwhelmed by the kindness that has been shown and the many messages of love we have received.
Peter was a force to be reckoned with, both in the world of business and on a personal level. A true family man, he was married to his beloved wife Sue for over 41 years and shared four children Sam, Katy, Joe, and Hannah.
University Games has named Chris Maker as its new national accounts manager.
Chris brings more than two decades of retail expertise as well as national account experience to the role, and has worked with many prestigious brands including Joseph Joseph, Camelot, and Lintd Chocolate.
Chris said: “As retail begins to get back on track, this is a crucial but exciting time - not only for the sector but also for the growth and development of the business - and I’m very much looking forward to playing my part. With Q4 just around the corner and over 700 games, puzzles and gifts in our portfolio, there is plenty to be get excited about!”
Obituary
Michael Nunn By Malcolm Naish
One of the true gentlemen of the toy trade has sadly passed away at the age of 93. When I first joined the industry in the mid-sixties, Redgates of Sheffield was a hugely respected toy retailer in Sheffield. Michael was the go-to-guy when I wanted any toy trade news, being very well connected.
He was right at the hub of the beginnings of the growth in retail toy buyers’ groups as chairman and, at that time, the largest of White Rose’s members.
Redgates began trading in 1857 and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1982 with a splendid gettogether that saw us all partying well into the early hours. Another major milestone in 1975 was it reaching a turnover of £1 million.
Joining the Fence Club in 1980, Michael until recently regularly attended the Wall Members Lunch and, as ever, was up to speed with the industry.
As with many independent retailers in the eighties, rising rents and competition from grocers and the majors made it tough for Redgates, with the company being sold to the Zodiac group. They never really never recaptured Redgates family feel and closed Redgates down a few years later. Our thoughts are with Michael’s family at this sad time.
