Hot from Harrogate

Inset: The nursery industry came back together last month at Harrogate International Nursery Fair.

HOT AT

Last month, the preschool industry finally reunited in person at the Harrogate International Nursery Fair, after almost two years of Zoom and Teams calls, and online presentations and meetings. Businesses really went to town with exciting new launches and fabulous stands. PPS catches up with the organisers and some buyers to find out how the fair went, and brings you some of the hot products from the show floor.

HARROGATE

Harrogate International Nursery Fair was a much-anticipated event for the preschool industry as it signified a return to some sort of normality, where we were finally able to meet in person again. And the show did not disappoint. With well over 200 brands attending and an extra hall of the convention centre opened for 2021, the space was bursting with innovation and excitement.

Show organiser Adrian Sneyd tells PPS: “The show was phenomenal this year. We had obviously hoped for a great turn out with this being the first industry trade show for over two years; but participation exceeded all expectations.”

Visitor and exhibitor feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, too. Adrian continues: “All the comments received have been how amazing it was to be able to meet and do business face to face again and apparently business was brisk with orders flowing in. In fact some exhibitors have commented that this was their best Harrogate ever.”

Buyers are also praising the return to Harrogate. Yas Ali, director, Babyland Fife, says: “HINF 2021 was awesome, can't wait for 22. Great show, needed to be longer, didn't get around all the halls. Amazing childhood vibes, remembering how full it was as a teen when I used to visit with my mum.

“Being back with my friends and colleagues, was an incredible feeling after a very hard couple of years. So positive and absolutely buzzing.”

Below: A highlight of the show was the Sunday night party with over 600 attendees. Below right: Many brands, like iCandy returned to the show this year after a break from exhibiting.

Jenny Brooks, senior buyer, Online4Baby agrees: “It was a fantastic show. It was so nice to get back to meeting face to face and seeing products in person. We had some great conversations with brands on future business. As a buyer, seeing the product and watching live demos was the highlight – so much more value to see and try the products, view fabrics, colours and styles.”

On the back of such a huge success, the dates for Harrogate 2022 have already been announced as 16-18 October. In 2023, the plan is to revert to a spring date to allow a healthy six-month time period before Kind und Jugend’s September dates.

Rockit launched Whoosh at Harrogate - a tiny sound soother which is highly portable. Despite its size, though, Whoosh produces high quality sounds with eight options built in including a cat purring, a person ‘shushing’, womb sounds with heartbeat, gurgling and swooshing, along with a lullaby composed especially for the product. To tie in with Rockit’s space theme, there is also a real space sound provided with permission from NASA.

Whoosh features a clip to allow parents to clip it onto a curtain in the nursery or it doubles as a stand. The soother is USB rechargeable and offers an allnight mode or one-hour option.

In the box, there’s a USB cable, but also a strap to enable it to be attached to a stroller or a pram, for use when out and about.

Rockit co-founder, Matt Dyson, comments: “It’s been fantastic to be back at Harrogate, it’s so nice to be able to meet customers again. Rockit has been doing fantastically well and it’s really great to get that feedback from retailers, it really buoys you after a difficult two years.

“We’re really pleased with how Rockit and Zed are doing. When you’re launching a new product, you hope and pray that it’s going to be a hit. We think Whoosh will be. It’s a really good gifting price, so to see this really flying off the shelves would be the icing on the cake this year.”

Above: Matt Dyson with Whoosh, the third product in Rockit’s portfolio.

Inset: The new Aster v2 is perfect for travel, weighing in at just 6.2kg.

DIDOFY

Harrogate saw the launch of Didofy’s new V2 Aster - the ultimate innovative compact-fold pushchair. Aster is innovatively designed to provide a reliable, safe, and highly practical ultra-compact stroller, making life easier for parents on the go. Aster features the clever MagicFold - simply press a button and the pushchair folds and unfolds itself.

The Aster has been designed as an ultralightweight pushchair to make travelling with a baby effortless. It weighs in at 6.2kg and is so compact it can be carried with ease. Aster’s in-built suspension and multi-position seat offer a smooth and comfortable ride for the baby and with puncture-free wheels, there is never any worry about flat tyres.

The new V2 2022 edition features premium fabric and colour choice; the Aster is now available in a new colourway, black with bronze anodised frame to complement the existing grey and olive green colours. The new version also offers a smooth ride with the inbuilt suspension and a 25% deeper quilted patterned seat, while the higher seat angle is now 103 degrees.

A new leatherette removable bumper bar and handlebar makes getting baby in and out easier, while the five-point cushioned harness, adjustable footrest and multi-position reclining backrest with a higher upright angle offers improved comfort.

Josephine Votsis, director at Didofy, says: “There was such a buzz at Harrogate and our retailers were very excited, as their best seller got even better. The show was fruitful for us as we forged new relationships with brand-new retailers. We want to continue to strengthen relationships with existing and new retailers and we cannot wait to see more happy customers throughout 2022.”

Snowdon 3 piece classic set & The Cosmic Aura Collection 10 Piece Nursery Starter Set

The Snowdon collection.

4 YEARWARRANT Y*

Stylish sleigh designs and pieces that grow with baby, Snowdon takes you from nursery to toddler’s room in style.

4 in 1 Mini cot bed Classic cot bed Changing unit Wardrobe

How to order...

To place an order, visit the Ickle Bubba portal or contact your account manager:

Grant Koston - Category Manager - Furniture grant.koston@icklebubba.com 07900 612800

*Comes with a 4-year warranty when registered so you know it will go the distance. Both 4 in 1 mini cot bed and classic cot bed available as part of a 3 piece or 2 piece furniture set, including a mattress.

INGLESINA

Inglesina unveiled the Electa travel system at Harrogate. The product is ideal for the city as it's lightweight, compact and easy to manoeuvre – the perfect companion for busy family life.

Designed for urban life, the Electa has everything you would expect from a full size travel system but is the weight and size of a compact stroller. It is as easy to manoeuvre through busy streets as it is through the park and on and off public transport or in and out of a car.

With the stroller weighing in at just 8.7kg, and the high tech lightweight 5.5kg chassis, the Electa is designed to maximise space when travelling. The stylish travel system can be taken with you wherever you go and the chassis folds down to the size of a travel trolley when closed, at 73.5 x 50cm. Plus, Inglesina’s one-handed open and fold makes it simple to close.

There are no corners cut when it comes to comfort either. Like the other Inglesina models, the Electa comes with the signature Welcome Pad – designed by specialists to ensure baby is both safe and comfortable.

Additionally, there is a range of accessories available to pair with Electa, including a rain cover, parasol, winter muff, summer cover, and an extra mattress and mattress cover.

Jonathan Feingold, UK director at Inglesina, says: “Retailers loved our new item as they could not believe how light, modern and stylish it is. They gave us good orders so many stores will have these in stock and on display around the UK from late January 2022.”

Left: The new Electa travel system was the star of the Inglesina stand at Harrogate.

VITAL BABY

HINF was an exciting platform for Vital Baby to showcase its entire brand including hero products such as the new, second generation NURTURE advanced pro UV steriliser and dryer. Boasting a rapid seven-minute sterilisation cycle, it can drysterilise (with no water, steam or chemicals) virtually anything you can fit in it, from feeding bottles to toys.

Through advances in technology and Vital Baby’s patented drying system, the advanced pro UV offers a drying time of 17 minutes and an equally impressive sterilise and dry time of 29 minutes – half that of its closest competitor. What’s more, the integrated HEPA filter eliminates dust and other airborne contaminants.

Dean Tollman, marketing director at Vital Baby, says: “The reaction to our entire range, particularly our new NURTURE advanced pro UV steriliser and dryer (which won the Highly Commended BANTA award for Best New Product 2021), was great. The trade quickly understood the advantages that Vital Baby offers over our competitors. For independent retailers, it’s important that they can stand out from the mass market at the same time as offering quality, innovation and value to their customers - this is where Vital Baby really delivers.

“The past year has been undeniably difficult but it has strengthened our relationships and Vital Baby as a team. As a small, dynamic team, we were able to not only focus on the goals we had set, but to also evolve and adapt to best serve our customers in their time of need. The team have put in a tremendous amount of work over the past year and we have high hopes for a successful and strong 2022.”

Left: The new NURTURE Advanced Pro UK Sterliser can drysterilise almost anything that will fit inside it.

Introducing the Eclipse travel system.

With a carrycot that converts into a seat and a Bubba Board for older siblings, plus luxury fabrics and leatherette detailing, Eclipse is a stylish ride for the whole family.

Includes as standard a choice of...

R129 - Mercury i-Size car seat OR

R44 - Galaxy group 0+ car seat

How to order...

To place an order, visit the Ickle Bubba portal or contact your account manager:

Ian Hewitt - Head of Country Sales (UK & Ireland) ian.hewitt@icklebubba.com 07960 402 663

Keith Belch - Key Account Manager South keith.belch@icklebubba.com 07967 813852

*Comes with a 4-year warranty when registered so you know it will go the distance.

4 YEARWARRANT Y*

footmuff rain cover changing bag & mat

car seat adapters lower position adapters isofix base

Harrogate was the launchpad for Joie’s new Signature range, combining some of the company’s most popular products that look smart and work smarter. Featuring a classic, neutral pallet with on-trend earth tones and statement block quilting, the deluxe fabrics and soft knits are designed to keep little ones comfy, while adding a stylish twist. Sleek accents, including powder coated chassis are combined with tasteful vegan suede and leather details. i-Level is the i-Size travel companion car seat, designed for smoother sleep in the car. The lie flat lounger is made for safer spines and easy breathing. The Tri-Protect headrest features Intelli-Fit memory foam that’s engineered for optimal head and neck security.

Next in the Signature range is i-Quest car seat, which features the Tri-Protect memory foam offering the head and neck protection Joie is famed for. Guard Surround Safety side impact protection panels slow down impact before it reaches the child, and the seat also has removeable inserts to create the perfect fit for growing babies.

The i-Spin Grow seat is for birth to seven years and includes i-Size and 360° spin. The easy to install seat has six recline positions in both rear and forward facing modes, as well as the Tri-Protect headrest. Meanwhile for older children, the i-Traver has 10 different positions to grow with the child and clever colour coded guides for a 3-point seat belt, as well as ISOFIX connectors.

Pushchairs in the collection include Finiti – the 4-in-1 puschair with a springy flex comfort seat; Tourist – the compact and lightweight system which combines a carry cot, infant carrier and forward-facing seat; Aeria which features a height adjustable forward and parent facing seat; and Ramble, a luxurious lie-flat carry cot.

Above: The Signature range combines some of Joie’s most popular products with a new, sleek design.

THULE

Thule used the show to give retailers and press a first look at both the new Thule Shine compact pushchair and the updated Thule Sapling carrier.

Brand new for spring 2022, Thule Shine is a compact, urban stroller that allows parents to get out and about with their little ones from day one. The stroller’s lightweight, compact, and easyto-handle design is perfect for city life without compromising in its premium features. The Shine includes a padded and reversible reclining seat, large ventilated and extendable canopy, and a built-in adjustable leg rest.

Thule Sapling allows parents to take their kids along for their hike. The baby backpack allows both parent and child to adventure in comfort. It is ergonomic and has great leg support and the seat is even machine washable. The new and updated version evolves the iconic child carrier into a modern, stylish baby backpack that allows families to live an active life.

Emma Peak, UK sales and marketing manager, Active With Kids, comments: “Feedback on the new lines was extremely positive. We were writing orders from day one and were back-to-back with meetings with our key buyers and press. All of our key retailers have agreed to stock the new Thule Shine from launch in 2022. This has been a huge win for us already.”

For the coming year, Emma says: “We want to continue to build great working relationships with our key retailers within the industry whilst laying strong foundations for an exciting 2022. We are thrilled to get back to life once again, and have big plans to maximise all opportunities available to us in the coming year.”

Below: The feedback on the new Thule Shine was extremely positive at the Harrogate show.

Lilliputiens creations are full of unexpected details and activities, a constant source of wonder, discovering and learning.

Juratoys UK Ltd. Tel: 0208 878 2133 E: sales@juratoys.co.uk