TRADE
OPINION
Calling all suppliers and distributors! We’d love to hear your views. Get in touch with Clare@lemapublishing.co.uk to have your say!
Trade talk
This month we ask suppliers to reflect on their key achievements and challenges of 2021 KATE GIBSON Managing Director Gibsons
What’s your company’s biggest achievement in 2021?
SCOTT EDEN Product Director Wilton Bradley
What’s your company’s biggest achievement in 2021?
We had a huge year of growth in 2020, so to match this with a great year in 2021 has been quite an achievement, and building our stocks and availability has been a key priority.
What have you learned from the challenges of 2021? There have certainly been a few challenges to contend with this “Returning to the office year, not least Brexit, widespread as a whole team was a cost increases and implementing an powerful moment” entirely new IT system. Returning to the office as a whole team was a powerful moment and although we are fully embracing hybrid working, we’ve seen such a positive impact on collaboration, planning and ideas generation through all being together again. Having the right people in your business driving it forward is key to your success, and we’ve made some fantastic appointments this year.
Our electric ride-on vehicle range has had huge success this year. This range of exclusive, officially licensed models allows kids to experience the thrill of getting behind the wheel of their very own electric ride-on car. Many of these products were recognised for their design and innovation, bringing home some of the top awards in the industry. Our BMW X5 won Gold in the Best Outdoor category at the Made for Mums Awards and the Gold Top WOW Factor at the Right Start Awards.
JACK PROBYN
What have you learned from the challenges of 2021?
UK Marketing Manager Winning Moves
Of course 2021 has thrown plenty of challenges our way, but our business has adapted very well, and our foundations have allowed us to continue to move forward. We have a vast supplier base, many of whom we have been working with for several years. So, despite the lack of buying trips and shipping delays, we have still managed to push on with developing and delivering great new products - all on time to launch to our customers.
What’s your company’s biggest achievement in 2021? Without a doubt, our biggest achievement has been a year of promo opportunities with one of the biggest companies in the world, McDonald’s. Together, we’ve produced several ranges of Top Trumps that have gone into millions of Happy Meals up and down the country. In addition to that, we’re also immensely proud of aligning our Top Trumps brand with COP26 [the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference] and NatWest by hosting a competition for schoolchildren to raise awareness and ideas about climate change and how it can be stopped.
What have you learned from the challenges of 2021? Above all, we’ve learned that people still know we’re in a pandemic and, while they’re all starting to adjust to a new life after it, they need some help along the way times with loved ones, friends, family, and using games and toys to aid with that. All we can do is try to deliver the best possible products.
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