Trade Talk - suppliers predict their hot sellers

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 fi nd out what's going to be hot this summer, as well as how suppliers will capitalise on staycations and attractions opening their doors

JACK PROBYN

UK retail marketing manager Winning Moves

What lines do you expect to do well over summer?

One of our hottest seasonal games is Giant Pass the Pigs. These giant infl atable pigs are an extension of the much-loved Pass the Pigs game, where players must throw the pigs into the game, where players must throw the pigs into the air and score points based on the positions the pigs air and score points based on the positions the pigs land in. The fi rst player to 100 points wins. Giant land in. The fi rst player to 100 points wins. Giant Pass the Pigs can be played in the garden, in the Pass the Pigs can be played in the garden, in the pool, on the beach - anywhere. All you need is pool, on the beach - anywhere. All you need is a big set of lungs and enough space a big set of lungs and enough space to throw them in. to throw them in.

KYLE MAGLIONE

International marketing & e-commerce manager Mookie Toys

What are your best-selling products at the moment?

TP toys continues to be our best-performing brand with a number of climbing frames and playhouses being the best performers.

What lines do you expect to do well over summer?

Our new Explorer climbing frame sets have already seen huge success, as has our new Treehouse Playhouse range. Consumers are responding well to the wide variety of confi gurations available. These products now feature some to the wide variety of confi gurations available. These products now feature some amazing accessories ranging from monkey bars and climbing walls to swing arms. amazing accessories ranging from monkey bars and climbing walls to swing arms.

With the current lockdown exit plan, overseas holidays may not be permitted for UK With the current lockdown exit plan, overseas holidays may not be permitted for UK families for a while. What impact do you think this will have on your sales? families for a while. What impact do you think this will have on your sales?

We expect to see demand for outdoor toys stay at an all-time high as families We expect to see demand for outdoor toys stay at an all-time high as families choose to invest in their homes and gardens instead of international holidays. choose to invest in their homes and gardens instead of international holidays.

With the current With the current lockdown exit plan, lockdown exit plan, overseas holidays overseas holidays may not be permitted for UK families for UK families for a while. What impact do you impact do you think this will have on your sales? have on your sales?

It looks like we’re going to have It looks like we’re going to have another year of staycations, which potentially means another year of staycations, which potentially means staying indoors (we all know how temperamental staying indoors (we all know how temperamental the UK weather is) for long periods of time, and the UK weather is) for long periods of time, and enjoying some family time around a board game, card game or a puzzle.

Fortunately, Winning Moves is in the position to offer all the above: our puzzle range has increased from 12 to more than 30 lines, and our familyloved brands (including Monopoly, Top Trumps, Cluedo, Trivial Pursuit, Waddingtons Number 1, and Pass the Pigs), are guaranteed to keep the family entertained. Featuring some of the hottest licences, we’ve got something for everyone.

PHIL RATCLIFFE

Joint managing director, MV Sports & Leisure

What are your best-selling products at the moment? Anything outdoor-related is Anything outdoor-related is selling well. selling well.

What lines do you expect to do well over What lines do you expect to do well over the summer? the summer?

Hedstrom swing & slide sets, sand & Hedstrom swing & slide sets, sand & ball pits, our new mud kitchens, plus our ball pits, our new mud kitchens, plus our Kickmaster football products (ahead of Kickmaster football products (ahead of the Euros) - and anything wheel-related the Euros) - and anything wheel-related such as bikes, scooters and e-scooters. With the current lockdown exit plan, overseas holidays may not be permitted for UK families for a while. What impact do you think this will have on your sales? Last year all our domestic stock was in short supply as proactive customers came and took as much stock as they could. With product in high demand, we would urge all our customers not to get caught short this summer - and place orders immediately. What’s your earliest toy memory? Roleplaying with Thunderbirds toys - with me as Virgil, my friend Tony as Scott, and my mum as Tin Tin (what was I thinking!?). What toy or game do you wish would make a comeback? Casdon Soccer with Bobby Charlton.

LISA RAYNER

Trade account manager Craft Buddy

What are your best-selling products at the moment?

We released our fi rst collaborative range with Disney in March, and it’s been a huge hit! All products across the board have been successful, led by our new Disney Cards. We are really excited to develop the range further and explore more Disney characters across our cards, artworks and notebooks. What lines do you expect to do well over summer? We’ve had a great response to our seasonal wreaths. Our Spring and Easter wreaths were a real hit. We have just launched our butterfl y wreath to our trade accounts and to retail and have had a very strong initial reaction. As we are still spending so much more time at home, we’re fi nding that there is true joy in crafting items to hang around the house.

With the current lockdown exit plan, overseas holidays may not be permitted for UK families for a while. What impact do you think this will have on your sales?

We strongly believe that the craft bug has been well and truly caught and shows no sign of leaving any time soon!