SECTOR FOCUS Inset: Bambino Mio has designed its swim products to ensure little ones can splash about safely, sustainably and in style.
With the Government passing legislation to extend the foreign travel ban to midsummer, holidays abroad are beginning to feel like a distant memory. But the accommodation industry in the UK is now slowly reopening, so nursery travel suppliers are gearing up for a summer of staycations. PPS chats to some of them to find out their plans for the year ahead.
THE GREAT BRITISH ROAD TRIP
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hile the preschool market as a whole seems to have fared better than many industries throughout the last year, suppliers of travel products have had a less certain forecast with foreign travel proving very patchy as new strains of COVID-19 are identified. But after a tough year, families are rallying round and embracing the idea of staycations. Richard White, director at LittleLife, explains: “Most places are already full and the families waiting to see what is going to happen might find it hard to find accommodation. There will probably be more weekends away rather than full weeks, as people wait to see what the weather will be like.” Amanda Jenner, director of My Carry Potty, agrees that this trend is likely to extend beyond the lifting of the foreign travel ban: “I think from speaking to lots of families I
work with, they are all saying the next 18 months they are looking at doing staycations and they sound very positive about this.” Joanne Rice, senior business development exec at CarGoSeat, believes that the extra time afforded by lockdown has given us a new Below: The baby & beyond change bag is a firm favourite among Bambino Mio’s fans, due to its versatile hybrid design. Below right: LittleLife has already seen that products such as the family sized beach shelters, which wouldn’t usually be bought for foreign travel, are in high demand.
admiration of our home country. She comments: “Family time has been valued over the last year with time out to explore local parks, countryside and spaces which might have been overlooked before with obligations of other activities taking precedent over free time. “This appreciation of our British countryside is something we expect to continue with families likely to make the most of even short breaks and getaways as well as the longanticipated family holiday abroad.”
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