Progressive Preschool January February 2019 by Max Publishing: Print, Digital Media + Events (London)

The B2B Publication For Preschool Products and Retailers

ISSUE 39 JAN/FEB 2019

NEW! Hand Puppets

Over 30 new toys for 2019

Just Add Imagination

At the shows: Toy Fair, D2 Nuremburg, 1-B09

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Tel: 020 8804 0563 - sales@fiestacrafts.co.uk

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come see what’s

NEW FOR 2019! Book your appointment today to check out all that’s new in baby gear, toys and so much more!

London Toy Fair 22 – 24 January F66

Spielwarenmesse 30 January – 3 February Hall 2 Stand C-08

Spring Fair, NEC 3 – 7 February 5F80-G81 ®

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www.preschoolnews.net MARKET LEADING TRADE MAGAZINES

March/April 2013

this month JAN/FEB 2019

MARKET LEADING TRADE EXHIBITIONS

MARKET LEADING TRADE AWARDS

Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP T: 020 7700 6740 F: 020 7607 6411 www.max-publishing.co.uk

And just like that, it’s all over. In a haze of buying and wrapping, eating and drinking, the busiest period of the year for many of us has been and gone, with little to show for its efforts but an empty wallet and a renewed pledge to go running at least once a week (no, we mean it, we’re actually going to do it this time). By all accounts, Christmas itself was Above: The Progressive Preschool team; neither a complete turkey nor a real Samantha Loveday, Rob Willis, Jacqui Parr and John Barry. cracker. At the time of writing, many key high street retailers – the ones we tend to use as barometers when looking at the health and vitality of the marketplace – are yet to release their trading results. The fact that they are relatively late to be announced doesn’t exactly suggest that they are pleased with the news they are about to deliver, either. Sainsbury’s has revealed that while its general merchandise sales were in decline over Q3 (with toy sales apparently proving particularly disappointing) Argos still saw strong sales growth in those all-important Christmas weeks. Unfortunately there was no such silver lining for Mothercare, as the chain reported that its underlying sales slumped by more than 11% in the 13 weeks to 5 January. The baby and maternity chain blamed the tough consumer backdrop, which, in all fairness, has affected the entire retail landscape over recent months. But we are now in 2019 and it’s time for a fresh start. With Brexit due to be put to bed one way or another (and we’ll save you our opinions on that for another day), it’s time for suppliers, retailers and consumers to start looking to the future. What better way to do that than spending the next few weeks visiting as many exhibition centres as possible? The annual trade show season is already off to a strong start, with Hong Kong Toy Fair taking place as this issue lands with you. As such, our tour of the tradeshows starts with London Toy Fair, the first UK trade show of the year for the preschool industry. This year’s show sold out back in October and, if our appointment diary is anything to go by, is already shaping up to be one of the busiest shows for a number of years. It’s a similar story for Nuremberg’s Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse if you will), which will be celebrating its 70th birthday when it opens just a few days later. As the world’s largest toy fair it boasts more than 3,000 exhibitors, making it easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of product available. The UK Pavilion - which has increased in size for 2019 - is always a good place to start. Hot on the heels of Spielwarenmesse comes Spring Fair at the NEC, which is always a great place to catch up with all manner of preschool toy and gift companies. Last but by no means least are the final two shows of the Great Preschool Tradeshow Tour; INDX Kidswear (in Solihull) and New York Toy Fair (in New York). It’s all go! Of course, we have taken a look at all of these shows in this issue and whether you are planning to visit all of them or just the one, you’ll find there are few better places to take stock of the Christmas season just gone and focus your attentions on emerging trends and Peppa Pig Turns 15 enduring classics alike. Whatever you are looking Alongside this issue is a special for, if you can’t find it at one of these, it probably supplement marking Peppa Pig’s doesn’t exist. 15th anniversary, commissioned We will be there, roaming the aisles and generally to Progressive Preschool by making nuisances of ourselves – if you fancy catching Entertainment One. Enjoy! up, get in touch. We’ll see you there!

The Progressive Preschool Team ISSN 2515-8570

Rob Willis, Jacqui Parr, Samantha Loveday, John Barry, Ian Hyder, Jakki Brown, Warren Lomax PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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NEWS Reporting from the Preschool Sector KIDS INSIGHT Researching for your benefit MEDIA WATCH Brands making the headlines INDUSTRY REPORT The latest Industry statistic from GFK INDX KIDSWEAR Insight into UK’s largest kid’s fashion trade event PRESCHOOL LICENSING What’s Hot for 2019 FAIR FACTS A guide to Toy Fair 2019 EUROPE UNITE What’s occurring in Nuremberg this year SPRING FAIR A look at the 2019 Show PUSHCHAIRS AND STROLLERS Pushchairs and Strollers for 2019 SLEEP SWADDLE AND MONITORING Key for Bedtime WHAT’S NEW The latest products to enter the Preschool sector

LONDON 22nd - 24th Jan Stand H40

NUREMBERG 30th Jan - 3rd Feb Hall 3, Stand B27

SCHLEICH

SLEEP

SEE YOU THERE! www.indigojamm.com

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s on the playground? Stay on the ball and experience the multifaceted world of play in one place: the right products for your business model, inspiring special areas, interesting presentations and an exciting festival specially for visitors to celebrate our 70th anniversary.

www.spielwarenmesse.de/uk

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NEWS TOP STORY

A Mixed Christmas At Retail

Below: Argos reported strong sales figures for the key Christmas period.

rgos has outperformed the ‘weak’ general merchandise market over the third quarter with strong sales growth in the key Christmas weeks, while Mothercare has seen like-for-like sales continue to decline. Sainsbury’s third quarter trading statement for the 15 weeks to January 5, 2019 showed that Argos outperformed the current market trends with strong seasonal sales figures. In general though, the retail group’s sales were impacted by a combination of cautious consumer spending and Sainsbury’s decision to reduce promotional activity across Black Friday. Argos’ Fast Track delivery service saw sales increase 8%, while Argos stores in Sainsbury’s supermarkets that have been open for more than

Halilit supports smaller businesses

Halilit is offering trade customers a continuation of 2018 prices until the end of January in order to help support smaller businesses through the slower trading period. The preschool specialist is also offering reduced carriage-paid minimum order values until the end of the month, at £150 for free delivery to mainland UK.

Smiffys launches new licensed preschool dress-up

Smiffys has launched new licensed costume ranges for a selection of classic children’s television series: Danger Mouse, Wind in the Willows and Rainbow. The new lines will include costumes, masks and associated accessories for the iconic and nostalgic preschool series. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Boat Rocker Rights on these nostalgic licensed properties,” said director Dominique Peckett. “We cannot wait to bring a host of colourful new characters to life through these exciting dress-up ranges, which will be a welcome addition to our award-winning collection.” Below: The new lines include costumes, masks and accessories.

one year grew like-for-like sales by over 10%. Mike Coupe, group chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said that retail markets are ‘highly competitive and very promotional’ and the consumer outlook continues to be uncertain. This is certainly the case for Mothercare, where a ‘difficult consumer backdrop’ has been blamed for an 11.4% fall in sales across the UK for the last quarter. Online sales have also dropped by 16.3%. Across the total business, sales were down by

18% in the third quarter and 14.8% in the year to date. “While the UK continues to be challenging, in part as a result of our planned restructuring, we are still on course to deliver the necessary transformation,” said chief executive Mark Newton-Jones.

Alpha Animation & Toys Hippychick takes on ready for Toy Fair debut new brand for 2019 Alpha Animation & Toys is gearing up to make its exhibiting debut at Toy Fair this January. The company – which entered the UK market in 2017 and has enjoyed solid expansion this year – will be showcasing Super Wings as its core preschool focus. “Toy Fair is an integral part of the UK toy industry,” says Mark Slater-Hyndman, country manager UK and Ireland. “It is crucial that we show support to our independent buyers and customers, our national retailers and support our trade organisations.” Right: Super Wings series three will be launching on air towards the end of Q1.

Nursery and baby product distributor Hippychick has added Cloby to its wide-ranging portfolio of brands, getting 2019 off to a strong start. The first products to be launched under the Cloby brand are a set of reversible magnetic swaddle clips and a soft bamboo swaddle.

Brace of Mothercare stores prepare to close in 2019

Mothercare is currently in the process of closing down 60 ‘underperforming’ stores, with branches in Denton, Exeter, Maidstone, Salisbury, Stockport, Newport, Yeovil and Clacton all on the list. Extensive closing down sales were launched across more than 30 stores in December. They will continue until all the stock is gone. The store closures are being carried out through a CVA, which allows companies to close loss-making shops and secure rental discounts.

University Games teams up with Paul Lamond New Product Showcase Paul Lamond Games will be managing all returns for second year University Games’ sales to independent stores from Friday 1 February 2019. The new combined company will offer more than 30 new games, focused primarily in the preschool and family games sectors. Richard Wells will become the md of the merged University Games UK business, effective from 1 April 2019. For national accounts, Mark Jones will continue to represent Paul Lamond Games ranges and Wendy Hicks.

The hugely popular New Product Showcase which featured at Harrogate International Nursery Fair for the first time last year will be making a welcome return for the 2019 show. Located in Hall Q, this special area of the show offers visitors a snapshot of the latest brand new product on the market. Primarily designed to support new and smaller exhibitors, there are also a limited number of spaces available for more established exhibitors. For more information visit the website at www.nurseryfair.com

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Featuring: LEGO, Vtech, Flair Leisure Products, John Adams, K’Nex, Orchard Toys, Ty UK and many more…

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NEWS TOP STORY

Industry looks forward to INDX Kidswear

he February 2019 edition of popular children’s clothing trade show INDX Kidswear will be expanding to meet increased demand. Held from 10 – 11 February, INDX Kidswear will be expanding into a third showroom at Solihull’s Cranmore Park, allowing it to play host to an increased line-up of more than 200 brands, all showcasing collections designed for autumn/winter 2019. The third showroom will provide exhibition space for over 30 new brands,

Hamleys opens first Japanese stores

Iconic British toy retailer Hamleys has made its first move into the Japanese market with two large, theme parkstyle outlets located in Yokohama City (near Tokyo) and in Fukuoka, (western Japan). The stores opened at the end of November, in time for Christmas shoppers to make the most of the new stores. Around four million visitors are expected to visit each store in the first year. “Japan represents an exciting and important market and is key to Hamleys’ continued international growth strategy,” said chief executive Ralph Cunningham. “We look forward to bringing smiles to the faces of children and families all over Japan and delivering the unique Hamleys in-store experience to this fantastic market.” Hamleys plans to open a total of 30 stores in Japan over the next five years.

Hape readies for busy 2019 with raft of new launches

including leading Spanish brand Tutto Piccolo and French company, Petit Bateau as well as the exciting brand portfolio from Gary Kirkland Agencies which includes Balloon Chic, Chua, Milon and sustainably made organic brand Art & Eden. “INDX Kidswear has grown with each event,” said show organiser Varsha Chohan as she announced the latest development plans for the February show. “It is important that the show continues to evolve while still concentrating on delivering a focused and strong relevant product mix for our visitors.”

Baby Shark swims into licensed products Licensee Roy Lowe & Sons reacted quickly to the phenomenal demand for Baby Shark merchandise, launching a range of socks in the run-up to Christmas. The range – which is already garnering healthy press coverage – includes Baby, Mummy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Shark designs. The original Pinkfong Baby Shark dance video has received over two billion views on YouTube. Below: Baby Shark has been a viral hit for toddlers across the UK.

Diono ‘buy one, gift one’ charity initiative

Hape is gearing up for a busy 2019 with a raft of new launches, including a new category; Junior Inventor, which will allow children to immerse themselves in various science experiments. The company has enjoying solid success with its wooden lines throughout 2018 and is now looking to build on this next year. Extensions to a number of preschool lines, including food and kitchen and musical instruments will also be announced.

Over 85% of INDX visitors are returning buyers; from specialist boutiques to department stores, looking to source items and place orders across all product categories from everyday items to special occasionwear. For more information, visit www. indxshow.co.uk/kidswear Above: INDX Kidswear is expanding for the February 2019 show.

Joie UK appoints brand ambassador

Baby brand Joie UK has announced that Liverpool football player, Sophie Bradley-Auckland will be working with the baby products company as its official brand ambassador. Professional footballer Sophie will work with Joie UK – LFC’s official family partner – across a number of upcoming campaigns. This will involve driving awareness of Joie UK’s LFC product range through social media activity and Joie UK/LFC partner events, as well as representing Joie in national and parenting media. “We’re incredibly excited to have Sophie on board,” said Joie UK’s managing director David Welsh. “She truly embodies Joie UK’s family values. Sophie is an inspirational woman with a hectic schedule and we’re confident she’ll be a huge asset to the brand.” Below: Liverpool football player, Sophie Bradley-Auckland, is Joie UK’s official brand ambassador.

In the run-up to Christmas, Diono announced a ‘buy one, gift one’ charity initiative which saw the company donating a Quantum stroller to a worthy cause each time one was bought. The campaign – which ran until the end of 2018 – saw Diono donating a Quantum stroller to a number of different worthy causes and charities, with different causes selected each week. The campaign began by donating the Quantum strollers – which are worth £500 at retail – to various maternity wards and children’s hospitals around the UK.

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Be part of the bigger picture ...

24 - 26 March 2019

Harrogate Convention Centre, North Yorkshire

The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only baby trade show www.nurseryfair.com Tel: 01902 880906 / 882280 Email: adrian@nurseryfair.com

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NEWS TOP STORY

Average spend on preschool books rises

new report from Childwise has found that the average spend on books for preschoolers is now £7 a month, up from £6 last year. “Spending on books has been boosted by parents of under-twos with the average spend among this group increasing by a pound to £7. Spending peaks early before dropping back for all other age categories,” said Jenny Ehren, research manager at Childwise.

The research also revealed that two out of five parents spend less than £10 a month on books, while around a third spend more. More than a quarter of families do not spend any money on books at all in an average month. The Gruffalo is listed as the favourite book for preschoolers, with Julia Donaldson topping the list of favourite authors. Other popular books include anything Peppa Pigrelated, Disney-branded books, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Thomas the Tank Engine. The research also shows that around three quarters of preschool children are regularly read bedtime stories by their parents. A quarter of preschoolers are also listening to stories or audio books using a tablet or other device. Left: Zog, by Julia Donaldson, who tops the list of favourite preschool authors.

Egmont marks 30 Orange Tree Toys readies spring/summer years of Thomas & Friends magazine 2019 launches Orange Tree Toys is gearing up to launch three new character concepts for spring/ summer 2019. The company – which has seen year-on-year growth in the domestic and international markets – will launch a range based on its popular Dinosaur character, as well as extended ranges focused on its Flamingo and Unicorn characters. A new Animal Pirates range will be also introduced, with new products joining the company’s other existing concepts.

The Entertainer acquires Poly

The Entertainer has acquired Spanish toy retailer Poly, adding to its growing international footprint. The acquisition will ensure that all 57 of Poly’s stores remain open and more than 350 jobs will be saved. Poly previously had 5% share of the Spanish toy market. “This year has understandably been incredibly turbulent for the Poly team as they faced so much uncertainty and we look forward to welcoming them to The Entertainer family,” said Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman of The Entertainer. “The Poly brand will be retained but aligned with The Entertainer’s core values, which put our people and our customers at the very heart of our business.”

Specialist children’s publisher, Egmont Publishing, is celebrating the 30th birthday of Thomas & Friends magazine with licensing partner Mattel. Thomas & Friends magazine is the oldest single character title in the UK market and it continues to sell one copy every minute in the UK. ABC results for the January to June 2018 period also showed 3% growth for the title, compared to the previous period. Maribel Rivas Le Gelebart, senior licensing manager across UK & EMEA at Mattel, added: “Egmont has been able to convey and capture the spirit of storytelling, which is at the heart of Thomas and Friends, and we look forward to another 30 years.”

ABC conference dates announced

The annual ABC Spring Educational Conference and Trade Show dates have been announced, with the popular threeday event taking place from 30 April – 2 May, 2019. The conference is aimed at independent retailers and suppliers who specialise in products for the baby and child market and covers the ever-changing relevant industry issues that affect them both now and in the future. It is sponsored by All Baby & Child, the team behind the international ABC Kids Expo. An industry expo will also be running for all three days, offering independent retailers the chance to meet key suppliers with new products and take advantage of special offers. Exhibitors include HABA, Finn + Emma and Babiators.

Character Options launches Peppa Pig competition

For the second year in a row, Character Options is running its Peppa Collectors Competition. An extended selection of 500 new prizes will coincide with Peppa Pig’s 15th anniversary celebrations which are taking place throughout 2019. Working alongside eOne and other Peppa Pig licensees, the prizes include a wide variety of lines from the current Character Options Peppa Pig collection as well as a host of other toys and accessories including bicycle helmets, DVDs, books, posters and family tickets to Paulton’s Park. “We have a huge list of Peppa Pig gifts to win from now until Christmas 2019 and we’re excited to start seeing the winners redeeming their prizes,” said brand manager Laura Gunton.

Addo Play inks key deal with Toys R Us Canada

Ambitious UK start-up Addo Play has inked a major deal with Toys R Us Canada, which will see the retailer play a pivotal part in its growth trajectory and plans. Addo Play – which was founded by experienced toy industry execs Mary Price and Dave Martin, and is a vertical division of The Entertainer – has secured a multi-year exclusive supply agreement, significantly stepping up its global trading footprint. “We’re in the middle of planning the creation of many new lines that will be developed exclusively for Toys R Us Canada,” said Mary and Dave. “We look forward to building a strong, long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.” Above: The Addo Play range includes Nick Jr Ready Steady Dough, Pitter Patter Pets and B Friends.

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Passionate about Play London Toy Fair Booth E10 Spielwarenmesse Nuremberg Booth D38/C51 letoyvan.com

info@letoyvan.com

Collection 2019

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TOP STORY

Major names returning to Harrogate for 2019 nursery show

ajor brands are making a welcome return to Harrogate International Nursery Fair after a number of years away, with major buggy brands Bugaboo, Microlite and Venicci confirming their attendance. Show organiser Adrian Sneyd is delighted to be welcoming a number of new companies to the 2019 show, having also recently confirmed the return of Laessig, which is returning to the show after five years away. CuddleCo is returning after a twoyear break, while Obaby and Mee-go will also be joining favourite brands who

JoJo Maman Bébé continues to expand store portfolio

Mother and baby specialist JoJo Maman Bébé has continued to expand its ever-growing store portfolio with its most recent opening in Chelmsford. The new store opened in late November 2018 and stocks JoJo’s full range of exciting and imaginative baby and children’s collection, nursery products, gifts and toys. “We are delighted to be finally opening our stunning new store,” said JoJo’s founder Laura Tenison MBE. “It has been a very long time coming and we look forward to helping local parents with everything they need from pregnancy to preschool.” With 90 stores in the UK, JoJo Maman Bébé also has four stores already doing well in the US and a New York branch due to open this year.

Je Porte Mon Bébé becomes Love Radius Je Porte Mon Bébé - the French company behind a range of high quality physiological baby carriers- has rebranded and will now be known as Love Radius. The repositioning aims to make the brand more international while also better representing the company’s overall ethos that babywearing enhances the physiological bonding process during those early days.

are already on board, such as BabyStyle, Hauck, Peg Perego and Bebecar. “This is great news for retailers and buyers attending the UK’s only nursery trade show,” commented Adrian. “In the last few years we have been told that retailers wish that as many of the major brands as possible could be at Harrogate so they can see all of latest new products under one roof. It’s starting to look like this could come true next year!” He continued: “With major brands returning in 2019, more retailers will also be encouraged to come to the show –

ticking the boxes for everyone involved.” More information about exhibiting and booking forms are available on the website at www.nurseryfair.com – or contact Adrian on 01902 880906 or at adrian@nurseryfair.com Above: Harrogate International Nursery Fair 2019 is shaping up to be an unmissable show.

Growth planned for Halilit’s wooden toy offering Halilit’s successful Doron Layeled wooden toy range will be expanding with five new photographic puzzles, due to be introduced this year. The range has ‘performed brilliantly’ according to Halilit’s md, Judith Stark, with the new additions including a parrot,

Hey Duggee scoops BAFTA’S hat trick

Preschool show Hey Duggee picked up a hat trick of accolades at the Children’s BAFTAs in December. The popular show won Preschool Animation for the third time, while Grant Orchard won the Director category and educational app Hey Duggee: The Counting Badge was victorious in the Digital category. Hey Duggee consistently ranks as one of CBeebies’ top three programmes. The show has a global footprint of over 150 territories and was requested on iPlayer 50 million times in 2018. Series three is due to air on CBeebies later this year.

puppy, kitten, duck and favourite animals puzzles. “Environmental concerns married with a desire for toys with developmental value have ensured that the popularity of wooden toys is on the rise, and is a definite hot topic for retailers to look out for,” she commented.

Kit & Kin launches organic babywear

Kit & Kin, the organic brand co-founded by Emma Bunton, has launched its first ever babywear collection, featuring stylish designs and unisex prints and created exclusively using super soft, ethically sourced, organic cotton. Right: Kit & Kin babywear gives back through the brand’s partnership with the World Land Trust (WLT).

Body Coach releases CARiFiT workouts with Ergobaby

Popular fitness vlogger, personal trainer, author and all-round media personality Joe Wicks (aka The Body Coach) has released three CARiFiT workout videos, lending his support to the parent-and-baby carrier-based fitness programme. Babywearing expert Ergobaby is the official babywearing partner of the CARiFiT post-natal workouts and the carriers are used in the online videos. The Body Coach has more than 600,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel, 3 million followers on Facebook and 2.4 million followers on Instagram.

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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TOP STORY

Aldi kicks off 2019 with huge baby sale

Below: Aldi kick-started 2019 with a brace of baby product bargains.

iscount supermarket Aldi started off 2019 as it means to go on, running a huge baby and toddler sale its network of UK stores. There are 60 discounted products across the range, which will be on sale as long as stocks last. Key products being promoted were a baby change backpack which is retailing at just £17.99 and comes complete with a changing mat and insulated bottle holder. Consumers will also be able to pick up a moses basket and stand bundle for less than £30 and a baby thermometer for just £10.

Peppa Pig gains momentum in Japan

Embracing the eco-friendly market, Aldi is also including Bambino Mio’s reusable and washable Miosolo Allin-One nappy in the sale. Costing just under £9, it is available in four designs – Butterfly Boom, Dragonfly Daze, Happy Hopper and Loveable Ladybug and a travel changing mat will also be available for the same price.

Golden Bear enjoying In the Night Garden success

Popular In the Night Garden toy range from Golden Bear has jumped back into the top five preschool licences, according to latest data from NPD. Following the success of its Playtime, Bath-time, Bedtime range – which launched last July – In the Night Garden now stands as the fifth largest preschool licence across all toys. “We are delighted that In the Night Garden continues to captivate the young preschooler over a decade after it launched,” said Barry Hughes, md of Golden Bear. “In October, it has once again rated number one for average TVRs and reach in households with kids 0-3. We are thrilled our latest toy range has once again tapped into the unique position the show holds with UK and Ireland households and look forward to the range remaining a top five preschool property for many more years to come.” Below: Igglepiggle’s bedtime boat is one of the hero products in Golden Bear’s latest ITNG collection.

Fresh start to 2019 for BeSafe

eOne is continuing to build on its growing fanbase for Peppa Pig in Japan, with 26 episodes now airing weekly on TV Tokyo. The series first aired in October 2017 and has become a ratings hit with preschool audiences. The broadcast line-up has been further bolstered by additional platforms including Disney Japan, Hulu Japan and Netflix which have expanded the show’s availability throughout the region. The brand’s licensing programme in the Japanese market is being led by master licensee SEGA Toys and now boasts 33 licensing partners, with more retail partnerships planned in 2019. Sales of Peppa Pig DVDs have reached 10,000 copies with a new release set to launch in April 2019 and product is now available in all 170 Toys R Us stores throughout Japan. “We’re continuing to grow the footprint of Peppa Pig in Asia where the property has seen incredible success in the past 12 months”, said eOne’s Olivier Dumont, president, family and brands. “The increased broadcast exposure will help fuel demand for consumer products as we continue to expand the licensing programme and develop experiential retail activations that will give fans in Japan more opportunities to interact with their favourite character.”

It’s been a fresh start to the new year for car seat company BeSafe as it moved into a new, larger warehouse over the Christmas break to accommodate the brand’s growth over the past eight years. The new purpose-built warehouse is five times larger than the previous one and will act as the hub from which BeSafe will serve most major European countries. The new set-up offers stateof-the-art storage, stock control and operational technologies. “With two major new car seat launches, four significant upgrades and numerous new car seat accessories to come in 2019, we are confident that our growth is set to continue,” said country manager Paul Sirett.

Kennedy Publishing launches Everything magazine

Kennedy Publishing is launching Everything - a new magazine which has been uniquely designed with preschoolers in mind. Each issue will feature a different popular character or theme, ranging from Fireman Sam and Super Wings to wild animals and dinosaurs. “Everything magazine is a fantastic new addition to our preschool portfolio,” said Sophie Rowlands, licensing manager at Kennedy Publishing. “We are delighted to be working with key licensors to bring fans their favourite characters each issue.”

PEOPLE NEWS ▶ Swandoo has appointed industry expert Nicolás C. Moeller as its new managing director for sales and marketing. ▶ Nick Thomas has been appointed as general manager for Vivid UK, where he will report into group ceo, Jochanan Golad. ▶ Jumbo Games has further strengthened its sales team, welcoming Carianne Wylie as national account manager. ▶ Schleich UK has expanded its sales team with two new hires - Jen Hodges and Kate Watson, who are both joining as key account managers.

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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PA REN T I N S I G H TS RES EA RCH

PARENTAL GUIDANCE

PPS has teamed up with The Insights People to share research and findings from its Parents Insights service. The first column takes a look at the challenges facing brands and retailers to engage this generation of parents.

“

here are on average 700,000 babies born every year and we know that almost three quarters of parents are Millennials (those born between 1982 and 1995) with the next generation of parents, ‘Gen Z’, also now starting to emerge as they are now reaching their 20s. In fact, within just four years they will account for approximately one fifth of all new parents. These Millennial and Gen Z parents are the first to grow up in the digital age, with a therefore far greater integration of technology in their everyday lives than those before them. Data from the

ONS reveals that in fact for the first time 100% of family households now have internet access. This generation of constantly connected parents and children are like no other, and the traditional ways to market, engage and influence them are increasingly making

way for new methods. Furthermore, the fragmentation of media has essentially created a mass of niche markets, rather than a single mass market. Understanding what these differences and defining characteristics mean, in real terms, is the first step to identifying the most effective strategies for your business, and that is what the data provided by The Insights People, via Parents Insights and Kids Insights, is able to provide. The ONS reports daily internet use has grown generally from 35% in 2006 to 86% in 2018, yet among Millennials daily access is an astonishing 97% and the majority of this is described as ‘onthe-go’ and therefore mainly through smartphones. Considering that more mums are now returning to work, and in fact more are working full-time with

Right and below: Social media platforms are referred to far more regularly than both family and friends for finding info for first-time parenting.

children of preschool age or younger than in any previous generation, making parents and families increasingly ‘timepoor’, it is perhaps no surprise that the internet continues to replace family and friends when it comes to finding information on first-time parenting. When examining the frequency with which different resources are used, our data consistently finds online sources and social media platforms such as Facebook groups and pages, Instagram and Twitter to be referred to far more regularly than both family and friends. So whereas previously, parents would have turned to those in their geographic proximity and only been able to ask questions and seek information and advice during get-togethers or by making a specific phone call, we see that today’s parents are able to refer to whole range of sources of information, from people they know personally, to

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PAR EN T I N S I G H T S R E S E A RC H

CONTINUED those they only know online and a vast number of impersonal data-driven sites available via the internet in between. This means they can seek the information they require 24/7 and to liaise with people far outside their immediate geography or physical social network. The changing landscape of parents and their ecosystems are leading them to utilise tech to be more informed and become more efficient. The preschool years are particularly significant in the lives of both the parents and their children. As they grow from toddlers to preschoolers, children develop a much greater sense of self and the world around them; the stereotypes we see surrounding the somewhat defiant and temperamental nature of a child during the ‘terrible twos’ stage and then as a ‘threenager’ (when it ramps up even more and your child suddenly has the attitude Below: Millennial and Gen Z parents are the first to grow up in the digital age.

of a 13 year old) are clear examples of how acutely aware parents are of these ongoing changes and developing personalities! What we see in our data, however, is that these stages also signify the transition of decision making from entirely parent-led, to a more autonomous process for the child. At this stage, therefore, it is critical for brands to be able to engage both the parents and the child to ensure they become part of their increasingly fragmented ecosystems – without access to real-time data

and regular insights we know it is far harder to understand the everchanging attitudes, behaviours and consumption of this generation of parents and children. Identifying which characters are best suited to licensed product development One of the big transformations we have seen with Millennial parents is the value that they attach to shared experiences, meaning that brands which can have appeal throughout the family ecosystem have a far greater chance of success. Every year Parents Insights surveys 10,000 expecting and new parents. Our latest Parents Insights reports (issued November 2018) were based on the results of surveying over 2,500 parents in the preceding 12 weeks, which were also cross-referenced with hundreds of other sources of information. Focusing specifically on favourite characters, our data showed (perhaps not surprisingly) that Peppa Pig remains one of the most popular characters with both parents and young children. However, one of the significant advantages of the Parents Insights portal, is that not only do you get to see this data in real-time, the data can be viewed, filtered and cross referenced to provide individuals with the opportunity to look ‘behind the data’. Focusing specifically on Peppa Pig, we can see that Peppa features heavily within our Favourites category, achieving top five rankings across characters, toys to play with,

TV programme, and even YouTube channel. However, where it becomes really powerful is identifying that parents who are under 25 are actually twice as likely to select Peppa Pig as their preschooler’s favourite toy to play with, when compared to parents aged 25-34 or over 35. Similarly, PAW Patrol proved popular among younger parents and their children, making up almost 2/3rds of PAW Patrol’s popularity. If younger parents favour PAW Patrol and Peppa Pig, this could indicate a higher willingness to not only watch these TV shows but also to buy the associated merchandise, attend live events and encourage engagement with these characters, by those younger parents. The ability to do this across all aspects of the parents’ ecosystem provides our clients with the opportunity to identify specific insights to their business, and even their competitors.”

Parents Insights is a market intelligence resource on all things expecting and new parents in the UK. Each week, 200 different parents (expecting to age four) are surveyed, adding up to more than 10,000 every year – which enables brands and agencies to provide significant insight on what is influencing the attitudes, behaviour and consumption of this generation of parents. For a complementary Parents Insights report and to gain access to the Parents Insights portal visit www.parentsinsights.co.uk/ progressivepreschool or call +44 (0) 330 159 6631.

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MEDI A WATCH

IN THE

Public Eye

In Media Watch, Progressive Preschool takes a look at the preschool products featuring in the consumer press and social media to find out what will be in demand at retail over the coming months.

Quinny Cool

Play Smart

In the January 2019 edition of Baby Magazine, the Quinny Hubb pushchair and travel system was featured in the new product section of the Tot Gear News pages. The comfortable and completely modular system was highlighted thanks to its additional storage, the fact that it can be used from birth and the potential for use as a tandem.

P&B Car Seats

In the run-up to Christmas the national newspapers all ran their own versions of the ubiquitous gift guides. In a focus on educational toys, The Independent listed its top ten best Christmas gifts that would stimulate young minds and both Smart Games Sleeping Beauty Deluxe and SmartMax My First Farm Animals were featured, thanks to their preschoolfriendly approach to learning and play. a&u PREGNANCY & BABY

r seats

3 Doona Infant Car Seat

1 Maxi Cosi Pebble + £199.00

2 Nuna Pipa Lite LX £250

johnlewis.com

nuna.eu

4 Joie i-Level £250 includes base

5 Cybex Cloud Z £225 + Base Z £185

6 Britax Dualfix M £350 includes base

uk.joiebaby.com

mothercare.com

£289.99

OUT AND ABOUT

AW?

s and standards are being develmprove safety. By law, children that complies with EU safety y are 12 years old or 135cms rear-facing until they are at (previously 9–12 months).

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essential, even if you do only use it for 9 months!

Maxi Cosi is the Volvo of car seats and we can’t resist the Pebble + 1 (Group 0+). Their newborn insert makes sure your tiny baby fits snuggly. With the use of their 2wayFix base, fitting the car seat doesn’t get any easier, simply click in place and off you go! This base can also be used with their Group 1 seats, suitable for babies from 9 months to 4 years. The Nuna Pipa Lite LX 2 is, as it says, exceptionally light – almost half the weight of other infant seats on the market. It boasts flame-resistant fabric but without the need for flame-retardant chemicals, keeping natural cotton and Merino wool fabrics next to baby’s skin. This seat comes with the ISOfix ‘Pipa base’ but unlike the Maxi Cosi Pebble + it cannot be fitted in the car without it.

REAR-FACING FOR HOW LONG?

With the use of an adaptor, most infant carriers are compatible with pushchairs, fixing to the pushchair chassis to make a flexible ‘travel system’. Doona 3 have created an amazingly practical car seat with built-in wheels, perfect for short trips. It is, however, not recommended to leave your baby in these seats for more than two hours as they need to lie flat to promote healthy spine growth and ensure they get good oxygen levels.

LIE-FLAT Cybex and Joie have both solved this problem with their genius lie-flat infant seats... businesss class travel for babies!

The Joie i-level

4 has a fantastic adjustable recline and can be used in the lie-flat position whilst in the car – so less guilt and panic on long journeys. The Cybex 5 easily converts to a lie-flat position outside the car. It is a modular base seat system which uses the same ISOfix Base Z for the Group 0+ and 0+/1 Sirona Z seat. When used with this base, the seat is able to rotate 180 degrees, making putting baby in the car blissfully easy.

Cloud Z

The longer you can keep your child rear-facing, beyond the mandatory 15 months, the better. The Nuna Norr has the Swedish Plus Test approval. A Plus-tested seat ensures the child is not exposed to high neck forces in a frontal collision, so this seat (suitable from birth to 4 years) is only rear-facing.

The Dualfix M i-Size from Britax 6 (from 3 months to 4 years) and The Joie Spin 360 8 (from birth to 4 years) are both designed to carry your child comfortably rear-wards until they are 18kg/105cm (around 4 years) but with the clever rotating mechanism which many Group 0+/1 now have, you have the option to turn the seat forwards once your child reaches 15 months. Rotate the seat towards you for easier access. The Cybex Sirona Z 7 has a distinctive pod design with bold colours and the extra side impact protection is a fantastic added safety measurement. The AxissFix Air 9 is a wonderful new Group 1 seat for use from 4 months to 4 years; it can be used forward or rear-facing (up to 87cm or approx. 2 years). This seat has been fitted with built-in airbags giving extra head, neck and shoulder protection.

7 Cybex Sirona Z £320 + Base Z £185 mothercare.com

8 Joie Spin 360

£219 includes base uk.joiebaby.com

9 Maxi Cosi AxissFix Air

£550 includes base

johnlewis.com

angelsandurchins.co.uk 31

to London parents 91ANU1805221.pgs 19.10.2018 Indispensable

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Take A Seat The winter 2018 issue of aspirational Angels and Urchins magazine featured two Joie car seats in its focus on the best car seats on the market. In the lie-flat category, Joie’s i-level was highlighted thanks to its adjustable recline the fact that it used in the flat position while in the car. The Joie Spin 360 was also mentioned in the rearfacing section thanks to its clever rotating mechanism.

to keep your little one cosy in the car until they are four. By Jill Forbes & Louise Chitty

16:48

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WINTER 18

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JAN 2019

Feeling Good

Indispensable to London parents ns.co.uk

angelsandurchi

In early December, the Mail on Sunday published a guide to the healthiest Christmas gifts around, with a section devoted to baby and toddler gifts. Light and sound sleep aid Percy the Penguin from The Gro Company was featured for its sleep-boosting capabilities, while Emma Bunton’s Kit & Kin brand also got a mention with its gift bundle which includes a number of bodycare essentials.

WINTER 2018

S  WHAT’S

CHRISTMAS ALT WIN18

Cover.indd

N  TRAVEL

 TOYS  FASHIO

 BOOKS  PREG

S  PARTIE & BABY  SCHOOL

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13:47

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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C ar

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Travel Accessories

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Visit littlelife.com to view the full range Beautifully packaged in premium boxes that are easily stacked or hung in-store. Low MOQs and flexible top-up orders available all year round.

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LittleLifeUK

10/01/2019 15:09

MEDI A WATCH

Cotton Collection A full page was dedicated to the new babywear range launched by ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton’s baby and toddler brand Kit & Kin in the February 2019 issue of Mother and Baby. The unisex range was given pride of place in the shopping section, where the focus was placed on the 100% organic cotton collection. A special mention also went to the brand’s Giving Back programme.

Change Me Parenting blog and website MyBaba.com offers expert tips and advice as well as guides and reviews of the latest baby kit and style. Bambino Mio’s all-purpose change bag was highlighted in its ‘The Measure’ feature; a weekly run-down of the best baby product. The unisex Baby & Beyond change bag was chosen for its versatility, ease of use and the fact that it is ideal for reusable nappy users.

Gift Aid

Little Chef

Potwells long hot water bottles featured in two different gift guides in the run-up to Christmas 2018. Fisrt highlighted in The Stylist’s toy guide (for children of all ages) it was later seen in a Gifts For Kids feature in Minerva Publications (which was used across 25 glossy regional titles). Also seen in the Minerva feature were Frugi’s Christmas pyjamas, the Geomax moon lander, SmartMax My First Safari Animals and Smart Games’ Squirrels Go Nuts.

In the January 2019 edition of Baby Magazine, the Beaba babycook took centre stage, with a full page deveoted to the stylish blender designed specifically for baby food. Described as ‘the ultimate sous chef’, its glass bowl and stainless steel steamer are given a special mention, as are its simple settings and fashionable adult-focused look.

JAN 2019

Who’s Who?

The PR companies, distributors and suppliers featured in this issue of Media Watch are: Joie UK, Bambino Mio, Bump PR (SmartGames, Infantino, Kit & Kin, Potwells and Geosmart), Azaria PR (Beaba Babycook, Quinny Hub), SCS Marketing (Baby Kingdom).

Safe and Natural Yummy Mummy, the luxury parenting publication for discerning parents living in London, dedicated an entire page to the new premium babycare brand Baby Kingdom. The editorial focused on the online debut of hypoallergenic, vegan-friendly and 100% recyclable brand, including an interview with the founders who spoke about the story behind the premium natural alternative.

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1.8m Books Sold Since Launch in Spring 2018

New Range fo r

World Book Day 2019

© 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2019 Disney/Pixar. All rights reserved. © 2019 MARVEL. All rights reserved. © 2019 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. © 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

022_PPS_Jan Feb 2019.indd 1

20 Devon Square, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2HR, UK. Ofﬁce: +44 (0)1626 337736 Fax: +44 (0)1626 334580 Books@centumbooksltd.co.uk

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I N DU ST RY I N S I G H TS

Inset: The UK birth rate is the lowest it has been in ten years.

As one of the world’s largest market research companies, GfK offers retailers and suppliers valuable insight into the way people live, think and shop. Here, client insight manager Marco Salerno takes takes a look at the current market for strollers and baby monitors.

“

THE FALLING DEMAND FOR STROLLERS AND MONITORS

unning into the end of the 2018, the UK economy slightly improved compared to the second half of last year. Economic indicators give a more positive outlook over recent months, yet consumer confidence records are continuing to fall from their 2015 peak. The Baby Care market is also highly correlated to other aspects such as the declining birth rate in the country, a factor that is affecting sales across many segments. Alongside this aspect, the latest evolution in the retailing landscape hasn’t helped the nursery market either, resulting in a 2% drop in value year-on-year. The market looks even worse if we isolate the last 3 months: value sales are down by 8%. This decline is common across most nursery categories, even two of the main categories, strollers and baby monitors, seeing a drop compared to last year – losing 5% and 7% of their value respectively. For the third year in a row, the baby stroller market has seen a step decline in volume sales and in the last 12 months the category value also took a dip into negative values. Despite this, it still remains the biggest area within the nursery market and it accounts for £253million in the UK. Looking at the different types of strollers, the buggy segment (defined as suitable for second stage only as the child is transported in an upright position), accounts for almost half of the units sold. It is still seeing a decline both in value (9%)

and in volume (5%) compared to the previous year. The average selling price is now £86 (down by £3 compared to 2017). The strollers segment is not just the biggest one for turnover, but also the most competitive and challenging area. There are 90 different brands, which means that both consumers and retailers have a really wide choice. Although it should also be noted that the top ten brands generate three-quarters of the total category turnover. Looking at the sleep sector, demand for baby monitors has been falling since 2014. In the last 12 months, 406,000 units have been sold, with sales totalling £27million, Below: GfK’s figures break down the market trends across strollers and monitors.

although the last three months saw a steep decline in sales of almost 20% when compared to the same period in the last year. Manufacturers are always bringing new innovative solutions onto the market in order to satisfy different consumers’ needs which are increasingly tech-oriented. Over the last few years these modern models with features such as smart connection have increased their penetration in the market and now account for the 10% of the overall category value (a 1% increase on 2017 figures) and they still have big growth potential. These new technologies are replacing the older models which only have audio functions, but are still struggling to add more value to the market as the birth rate in the country is now the lowest it has been in ten years.”

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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18/12/2018 12:01:39 10/01/2019 13:06

TOY FA I R N EW YORK 2019

TOY FAIR NEW YORK NEED TO KNOW

EMPIRE

State Of Mind

International attendance at the Toy Fair New York has been growing significantly over the past few years, and 2019 is looking to attract the biggest audience from outside the US and Canada yet. As well as a dedicated section, infant and preschool toys can be seen across the showfloor, reflecting the importance of the category to the US market in general. PPS packs its bags for the Big Apple to find out more.

ast year’s North American International Toy Fair saw the equivalent of around seven football fields filled with toys. New York hosts the largest toy show in the Western Hemisphere – 2018 saw 442,700 net square feet of exhibit space and over 26,200 attendees. The show drew an increase in international trade guests (+26%), as well as large delegations of attendees from outside the US including 3,802 international visitors, 1,589 of which were global buyers. The top five countries represented at the show (not including the US and Canada) were China, the UK, Hong Kong, Mexico and Japan. And 2019 is set to be even bigger; at 445,000 square feet, the show will essentially be using every inch available at the Jacob K. Javits Center. The US toy market is worth $27 billion, and the preschool sector unsurprisingly plays a key part – reflected in the importance given to it at the show. Marian Bossard, evp global market events at The Toy Association – the organiser of Toy Fair New York – explains to PPS: “To put it into context, the US Census Bureau reported that approximately 3.8 million babies were born in the US in 2017 and, while that

may be down 2% from 2016, that’s still a lot of soon-to-be three and four year old kids who will be playing with toys. “The show offers a dedicated section to infant and preschool toys. However, with so many companies that offer toys and games for this demographic, preschool-specific toys can be seen across the show floor.” Marian continues: “Year to date through September, the preschool toys category was growing slightly ahead of the total US toy industry, up 3% and 2% respectively, compared to the equivalent period in 2017, according to The NPD Group.” Aside from on the show floor, visitors will be able to see preschool products as part of the Toy of the Year Awards (which takes place on Friday February 15, ahead of the show opening). The

When: February 16-19, 2019 Where: Jacob K. Javits Center, New York Who: All the key names you would expect in the preschool space including Galt, Casdon, The Puppet Company, Bigjigs Toys US, Learning Resources, Melissa & Doug, Hape, Manhattan Toy Company, TOMY, Playmobil, Spin Master, LEGO, Aurora World, Magformers, Playmates and Mattel among others. Web: www.toyfairny.com Above: The 2018 Toy Fair New York had 442,700 net square feet of exhibit space – the equivalent of about seven football fields filled with toys. Below left: LEGO is just one of the companies with preschool product on the showfloor.

Infant/Toddler category (ages 0-3) and the Preschool category (3-5) include familiar names such as Magformers, Mattel, LeapFrog, Learning Resources, LEGO and Little Tikes among others. Elsewhere, the Creative Factor education series will be expanded, with demonstrations and educational content presented on topics including how to protect your IP, emerging technologies and more. It’s certainly shaping up to be another strong year ahead for Toy Fair New York, indeed The Toy Association is confident that the international audience – which has been growing significantly – will surpass the 2018 numbers. New York continues to be a must-visit destination for the toy trade fair calendar. Below: The Toy Association’s Marian Bossard (far left) and Steve Pasierb (far right) at the opening of last year’s show.

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The Home of Licensed Character Dres The Specialists in Preschool Accessories and Dress Up ACCESSORIES

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I N DX K I D SW E A R 2 0 1 9

Cool Kids C

reated specifically to allow childrenswear designers to showcase their AW19 collections to the independent childrenswear sector, INDX Kidswear is the perfect opportunity for retailers to select next season’s bestsellers from their favourite brands.

Above: INDX Kidswear reflects the classic independent childrenswear store, with a mix of well-established British brands and emerging European and international brands.

“Our AW19 highlights will be on show at INDX and include our fabulous new furrow range, made from organic cotton quilted into furrows. We’re also very excited about our new rainbow poncho – a truly standout piece of on-trend knitwear – and our fabulous Jurassic jackets, designed to keep little people stylishly snug and warm.” Jo Spragg, product director, Kite Clothing

Bringing the most relevant childrenswear brands to the independent marketplace, INDX Kidswear will once again be taking over Cranmore Park in Solihull from 10 – 11 February 2019.

The show will play host to an extensive range of childrenswear from established brands and up-and-coming names, with a wide selection of product, including baby, boys and girls, christening, occasionwear and gifts. This year’s show will be the biggest in the event’s history, as show organiser Varsha Chohan explains. “February’s event is the largest INDX Kidswear ever. There are over 200 UK and international brands showing across three showrooms, showcasing a bigger range of exhibitors and products and attracting more visitors than ever before.” Preparations are in full swing for the sold-out show, with the INDX team now concentrating on promoting the brands and ensuring as many buyers as possible are aware of INDX Kidswear.” “With an 80% brand return rate, buyers can will see many of the exhibitors they have built up long-term business relationships with established brands and long-term exhibitors such as Kite, Frugi, Dandelion, Hatley, Lilly & Sid and Pigeon,” continues Varsha. “Opening the third showroom has also given us the opportunity to invite new brands that buyers have asked to be added to the event.” In fact, over 40 first-time brands will be bringing a new dimension to the show’s offering this year. In the luxury category, INDX is delighted to welcome a number of long-established brands with a loyal brand following and a reputation for quality, such as award-winning British brand Rachel

INDX EXTRAS Free show admission for independent retailers includes complementary refreshments, lunch, parking and show guide.

INDX KIDSWEAR AW18 Sunday 10 February, 9am – 6pm Monday 11 February, 9am - 5pm Register online at www.indxshow.co.uk

Above: Kite Clothing’s colourful AW19 collection will be on show at the February event.

Riley, French company Petit Bateau and Spanish brands Tutto Piccola and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. This increasing influence of European styling on the UK market is the driving force behind the growing international presence at INDX Kidswear, as the show continues to ensure it meets the changing needs of UK customers. “Matching family outfits is a trend that has been evident on the high street this season and is continuing into the next,” says Varsha. “Mini versions can be seen in a number of our exhibitors’ collections, from Abuela Tata and Powell Craft to Bowtique and Barbaras, who all offer various matching items.” Specifically curated for the independent retail sector, INDX Kidswear is now in its 15th year and has grown with each event. Every season has attracted an increase in both visitors and exhibitors, thanks to the show’s unrivalled facilities, extensive brand offering and central location. “As demand grows from brands we are keen to maintain a comprehensive line-up which remains commercial and meaningful to our buyers,Varsha added, having the final word. “This is the reason why INDX Kidswear remains the must-visit show in the UK.” PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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F H E EN I N D E AR C O PI G O LO U SE T M 2 F D O 01 SU R 9 PP E IN LE M EN T E

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P RES CH OOL LI CEN S I N G FOCU S

It’s a challenging, but vibrant and engaging sector of the licensing world, with the number of strong preschool brands increasing year on year. 2019 is likely to be another bumper year, so PPS catches up with some of the major players to find out more.

Inset: Teletubbies has seen good year on year growth, says DHX Brands.

Inset: DHX Brands introduced First Steppers to the industry last year.

BRAND MATTERS

reschool is undoubtedly one of the most crowded sectors in the licensing industry, but there is an equally strong appetite for properties, from children, parents and retailers. From evergreens and publishing favourites, through to modern classics, brands emerging from the digital space and ambitious new launches, as we head into 2019 there is perhaps more choice than ever. “All our preschool brands enjoyed another successful year, with toys, live events and innovative collaborations providing particular highlights,” says Tom Roe, commercial director at DHX Brands. “We also introduced First Steppers to the industry – a new sub-category between nursery and preschool, aimed at children aged six months to 2 ½ years.” Teletubbies, In the Night Garden and Twirlywoos will continue to be key for DHX this year, with all three further developing in the live events space. In the Night Garden will head out on its first theatre tour, while Twirlywoos’ first live tour will also premiere in early 2019. On the back of its success with shows at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland and Butlin’s, Teletubbies is also signed up to the venue through to the end of 2020. Penguin Ventures has been enjoying success with classic brands The

Snowman (which marked 40 years in 2018) and Peter Rabbit, with 2019 seeing the 30th anniversary of Elmer and Spot hitting 40 in 2020. “Classic brands are trusted by parents who perhaps have fond memories of specific books or characters from their childhoods,” says Susan Bolsover, licensing and consumer products director at Penguin Ventures. “Literary brands have a perceived value from consumers that doesn’t always translate from media or entertainment brands. “However, as a classic brand owner we cannot rest on our laurels or take anything for granted. Classic

brands also have to innovate to remain relevant to the preschool market and modern parents.” Moomin is another heritage licence which is enjoying preschool success. Babywear from Smith and Brooks launched in Primark last summer as a trial and proved to be such a hit that an expanded range arrived in November. Further success came from Aurora with its Moomin plush in John Lewis – first launched with two lines, this has now expanded to six and has a designated area in-store. Puffin’s preschool publishing programme also saw the launch of two new formats, 

Above left: Hey Duggee remains at the forefront for BBC Studios. Left: Top Wing is gaining momentum on Nick Jr. with toys launching this month. Above: 2018 saw a year of activity for The Snowman from Penguin Ventures. PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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BRAND NEW

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P RES CH OOL LI CEN S I N G FOCU S which to launch Ricky Zoom.” For Acamar Films, 2019 will be all about securing further growth for Bing. Golden Bear was appointed as master toy last year and the new toy line is due to launch in AW19, while international success for the brand continues apace. “We are very fortunate as Bing brings a very different proposition to the audience and is unique as a preschool brand,” says Sandra Vauthier-Cellier, chief commercial officer. “We have made Bing’s social media channels a destination for parents to share their experiences of raising a preschooler. Having the right digital strategy is incredibly important

Right: Mattel’s Thomas & Friends underwent a major refresh last year. Below right: Acamar Films believes that Bing is unique as a preschool brand.

 enjoying strong sales in the

UK and internationally. The presence of the brand will be given a further boost in the spring, with an eagerly awaited new animated series due to air on Sky. “Apart from being a classic brand, Moomin does have a unique aesthetic advantage in the shape of the characters,” says Caroline Mickler, UK licensing agent for Moomin. “The big eyes connect to newborn babies and the character’s round bodies are very huggable.” The hit That’s Not My… publishing property is making its first foray into licensing. 2018 was a strong year, with Usborne seeing record sales on the range of 57 books, while new baby ranges also launched in Mothercare, Sainsbury’s and Tesco from Dennicci. 2019 marks its 20th anniversary and there will be special editions, new titles and key marketing. Bulldog Licensing is handling the consumer products programme, with licensing director Vicky Hill explaining: “That’s Not My… is new to many categories but, of course, is well-established in the publishing world. The books are already a favourite gifting item so expanding into new areas is a natural next step, which is being embraced by both retail buyers and consumers.” 2019 also marks Peppa Pig’s 15th year in the UK and Australia. Undoubtedly Below: The Moomin characters lend themselves well to the preschool space.

a modern classic, the brand reported growth in a number of categories last year including toys and publishing. It is also continuing to notch up success in international markets, particularly China. The marketing theme for 2019 is ‘Family Celebrations’ and key activity will be taking place across the year including commemorative products and new episodes. eOne will also be continuing to build on the success of PJ Masks, while new launch Ricky Zoom already has TOMY on board as global master toy partner, spearheading the licensing programme with an initial range of core vehicles and play-sets from AW19 in relevant markets. “We’ve been buoyed by the success of PJ Masks, the endurance of Peppa Pig and are confident about our next launch, Ricky Zoom,” says Katie Rollings, eOne’s svp UK licensing. “There’s no question that shelf space is becoming more limited and that the retail environment will remain challenging. But we have to be optimistic. Our experience with Peppa Pig and PJ Masks has given us the tools to understand what it takes to build great content into a long-term international brand at every level, and it gives us a very good foundation from

The rise and rise of Tiny Pop Free to air children’s channel, Tiny Pop – owned by Sony Pictures Television Networks – enjoyed a stellar 2018 and there are plans to further cement its position throughout 2019. Its target audience is children aged under seven, but the majority of its shows strike a chord with preschool viewers. These include the likes of Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck, Zafari, Kody Kapow, Masha and the Bear, PJ Masks, Miffy’s Adventures Big and Small and Super Wings to name just a few. “Strong characters and good storytelling are consistent requirements across all our channels, but Tiny Pop favours cheeky, fun titles,” says Sarah Muller, vp children’s and youth programming at Sony Pictures Television Networks. “It’s about discoverability – in a crowded marketplace, linear remains the simplest way to showcase brands. As long as there are children who want to be entertained and parents who want family friendly content, there will always be a market for children’s programming.”

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That’s not my... The That’s not my… books from Usborne are aimed at babies and young pre-schoolers The series features over 50 titles and is a gifting favourite for new-borns as their first book A That’s not my… book is sold every minute in the UK! Over 6m books sold in the UK Over 20m books sold worldwide Author Fiona Watt is the 4th biggest selling children’s author in the UK since BookScan UK records began Baby apparel from Dennicci is on the market now, with toys from Rainbow Designs, puzzles from Ravensburger and bedding from Dreamtex all launching in 2019 2019 marks the 20th Anniversary of That’s not my…, which will be celebrated with special editions, new releases and a family-focussed ad campaign featuring partnerships, storyteller-led events and baby sensory classes www.usborne.com

2018 © Usborne Publishing Ltd. usborne.com/thatsnotmy

2019 © Usborne Publishing Ltd.

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P RES CH OOL LI CEN S I N G FOCU S

New Baby on the block One of the new brands to watch in 2019 is Fun Union’s BabyRiki, which boasts a musical storyline. The show focuses on five animal characters who come to life at the start of each day, each with their own characteristics that are representative of a group of young children interacting together. It began airing in the UK on ITV’s littleBe block last year. Licensing Link Europe is handling the UK CP programme, with director Ian Wickham saying that BabyRiki lends itself perfectly to the younger preschoolers cognitive toys space. “This is in line with the core DNA of the show while remaining cute, soft and cuddly – just like the five characters – so plush is also a focus,” Ian says. “This will be supported with child’s first puzzles, games, learning through play books and apparel.” “The songs in the series are funny, reinforce the social skills learned during the episode and are easy for children to sing along to. This helps the show move beyond static entertainment and allows viewing to become immersive and interactive.”

teamwork. Hasbro will be launching toys need to take a balanced approach in this month to kick off the licensing drive. the use of different platforms when PAW Patrol, meanwhile, remains building a successful brand licensing the number one preschool property business,” says Julie Kekwick, senior and Nickelodeon will continue licensing manager. “An example of to expand it offerings with new this is YouTube, which is growing themes, toy lines and TV content, as in success as a platform in the UK well as exploring other formats. market. Hey Duggee has capitalised Marianne James, vp of Viacom on this trend, with over 170 million Nickelodeon Consumer Products UK, video views since the channel Northern & Eastern Europe, says: “The launched in February 2017.” preschool market is very competitive Hey Duggee will remain at the and the properties that forefront for BBC Below: That’s Not My… is already break through are ones Studios in 2019, as a significant hit in publishing. that have multiple well as Something touchpoints to fans. Special. Julie We continue to invest continues: “We have in new ways for fans to several new product experience PAW Patrol lines on the horizon whether it be on our for both brands from platforms, short-form our partnership content on YouTube or with Golden Bear live stage productions.” and 8th Wonder Kelly Philp, UK and are excited to be marketing lead at Mattel, launching plush toys would like to see how into the market for brands further support Sarah and Duck. One of the need for new and the biggest challenges exciting content, while we face as brand capitalising on new owners is delivering trends and different new content at the pace formats in 2019. The the industry demands. company has two core “Fortunately preschool brands – Thomas with Hey Duggee, & Friends and Fisher-Price – Something Special with the former under going and Go Jetters, we a major brand refresh with have new episodes in significant changes to the production which will content to modernise the brand. be on air later this year.” Kelly concludes: “The New content will also be preschool market is a vibrant forthcoming from Nickelodeon category with new properties launching in the form of Top Wing, which every year and, consequently, there launched on Nick Jr. in May 2018 and is is more content than ever before gaining momentum. Key themes of the from a multitude of brands.” show – which features four best friend rescue birds, Swift, Penny, Rod and Below: Peppa Pig marks 15 years in Brody - are friendship, perseverance and the UK and Australia in 2019.

Above: BabyRiki launched on ITV’s littleBe last year.

 for any brand nowadays. Our aim is to

ensure Bing is available to its audience at the right time, on the right platform.” Sandra continues: “For example, the launch of our global YouTube channel was a crucial development to deliver engaging and entertaining Bing content to as many countries as possible, alongside terrestrial TV launches.” The use of different platforms to engage with the preschool audience and their parents is also advocated by BBC Studios. “Brand and content owners PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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FACE TO FACE WI T H ... S CH LEI CH

Animal Magnetism It was a strong 2018 for Schleich, with record growth in a tough market, but it’s not stopping there, with ambitious targets for the next five years, new product development and increased marketing support among other things. PPS finds out more.

018 marked a year of positive change for Schleich. The company experienced record growth in tough market conditions, achieving its best ever result, while it also welcomed a new head for the UK in the form of Thomas Randrup and strengthened its sales team. “We have ambitious growth targets for the next five years,” Paul Dearlove, the company’s trade marketing manager begins, “and on the back

Right: The popular Dinosaurs range will see some classics returning in 2019.

IN-STORE GAINS Paul believes that Schleich sets itself apart when it comes to its retailer in-store activity. “In 2018 we established several flagship stores with superb displays, with life size models of our figurines,” he tells PPS. “By far the most eye-catching example must be the recent installation of the White Tiger and Waterfall feature in Hamleys. It’s a real show stopper and has had such a dramatic impact on sales. “We have also featured our Giant T-Rex in several in-store events and there are a number of giant Lions out there in the wilds of the high street! But it’s not just about these larger features, we have a wide range of POS solutions to suit all sizes of retailer and display space.”

of a record year in 2018, we aim to make further significant progress in 2019.” Farm World continues to be the company’s key driver in the preschool space, with parents putting together a whole farm of familiar animals for their children to play with. Paul explains: “For the youngest of collectors, the Farm World is something that most children and parents relate to as essential to early play and this year we have new animals and pets for them to discover.” New launches include a 12-piece Puppy Pen Play-set, the traditional farm horses also have new breeds and there are new play-sets including the Pony Agility Training Set. Paul continues: “Kids are also intrigued by more exotic animals and the Wild Life collection has a new Komodo Dragon from Indonesia, a Quokka from Australia plus a Ring-Tailed Lemur. We are also delighted to unveil the Okapi, the animal that was voted to join the line-up by Schleich’s fans.” In addition, there will also be new Schleich Wildlife Flash Cards, while the popular Dinosaurs range will see some classics returning in new poses and colourways including the Gigantosaurus, Spinosaurus and Dimetrodon. The new lines will, of course,

Above: The Wild Life collection will welcome new additions this year. Left: Trade marketing manager, Paul Dearlove.

be showcased during toy fair season, with Schleich supporting Toy Fair in London and Nuremberg, while it is also returning to Spring Fair in 2019. The five-year growth plan will also be supported with an increase in marketing efforts, as Paul explains. “It’s no secret that Schleich UK is setting about achieving growth for the years ahead, but we are backing this up with what is needed to achieve this,” he says. “So, as well as continuing to expand and strengthen our team, we are also significantly increasing our marketing efforts, including adding TV into the mix. “New product development continues apace, with so many great new products, and this is all being backed up with the increased brand support from Germany, such as the new B2B brand postal which our retailers have access to. It’s very easy to navigate and gives our partners the tools to make more of their store and online assets.” It’s certainly an exciting time at Schleich, so what does Paul think is the secret to its success? “Animals in the toy box… yes, it’s a classic, but it’s also part of growing up and with Schleich you know you are getting quality that will last,” he concludes. “The play pattern is so easy but imaginative too, every child knows how to play with them and its incredibly easy for adults to join in too, helping them to learn as they play along.” Left: Schleich has ambitious growth targets for the next five years.

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COLU MN I ST

A PARENT STRIVING FOR SLEEP PERSPECTIVE In her latest column for Progressive Preschool, columnist Lisa – a blogger, graphic designer and parent to four-year- old Taylor and one-year-old Harriet – talks us through the bedtime innovations that have helped her grab some shut-eye over the last 12 months.

Honest and upfront thoughts on parenting from columnist, blogger and parent-of-two Lisa Beever. www.leeleeloves.co.uk

“

t’s 2019 and if you were to ask a new mum what she’d like more of this year it would likely be sleep. A topic I see being brought up repeatedly on various mummy groups is sleep and how much they are (or aren’t!) getting. Of course, there is also Jane whose baby sleeps peacefully for 12 hours straight. (Nobody cares Jane!) But the rest of them? They’re praying for sleep. I’ve tried my fair share of baby sleep products over the years, from bedding to sleep aids. It’s an area in the market that is fairly saturated yet still holds a constant appeal to new parents. If you’re selling sleep, we’re buying! Last year saw a rise in the number of sleep aids available on the market. Many were also being upgraded with cry sensors, which are a welcome addition as they mean parents no longer need to switch soothers or projectors on if their baby stirs. They now have the capability to activate at the mere sound of a baby crying. For us right now, the perfect combination is a good mattress (ours came from mybabymattress.com), a

cosy sleeping bag such as the Snüz pouch, the Sleepyhead Grand and The Gro Company’s Percy Penguin. These items seem to have Harriet sleeping well in her own room right now and when compared to how bad Taylor was as a baby it’s a welcome change! We recently moved her from our room in the Snüzpod to her own bedroom. After giving it a makeover, she has the Babystyle Hollie cot bed and sleeps really well in there. We also used the Sleepyhead Deluxe in the Snüzpod, she wouldn’t settle otherwise! Now we’re finally getting a good amount of sleep so we’re not changing anything. When Taylor was a baby it was Ewan the dream sheep who was all the rage. Sadly, he feel victim to the great vom-gate of 2015 and never worked again. Ewan is also now available with a cry sensor, and is, I hope, washable?

beeps) and we’ve had sensor pads – both products which are intended to help put parents’ minds at ease. This year also finally sees Owlet hit the UK market after some time in production. This is a smart sock which allows parents to monitor their baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels direct from their smartphone! While it’s not for everyone and it certainly isn’t a necessity, for parents of sickly children or those with high anxiety I can see this being a great product to put minds at ease! Having experienced croup, bronchiolitis and meningitis with Harriet so far, this is something that would certainly help me rest easy at night. Snüz also have a new product launch coming in early January which is sleep-related and shrouded in mystery over on social media!

Left: The Sleepyhead Deluxe was a perfect fit for the Snüzpod. Above: Gro’s Percy Penguin light and sleep aid helps get Harriet off to sleep in the Babystyle Hollie cot bed.

I’ve also heard amazing things about other sleep aids such as My Hummy, Lula Doll and Whisbear. There are so many to choose from now but when it comes down to it, it’s all trial and error as to what works for your individual baby. So there are plenty of things available to encourage sleep for babies, but what about the parents? We’ve tried the Snuza HD (a small clip-on breathing monitor that

It’ll be out in the open by the time you see this. Let’s hope it’s something good! I’m really looking forward to seeing what 2019 brings for both babies and parents in terms of sleep! Shy of a night nurse I’m sure all parents will be welcoming the gadgets and gizmos. I’m hoping to experience the magic of Owlet before Harriet is too big, otherwise I just hope our routine stays strong. I may have a baby who is relatively good at sleep, but her big brother?

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FACE TO FACE WI TH ... FI ESTA CRA F TS

Master Craftsman Right: New hand puppets will join the company’s portfolio this year.

Fiesta Crafts’ product portfolio provides solid business for retailers, and 2019 will see the company introduce further new collections including a big name addition to its licensed roster. PPS catches up with the company to find out more.

iesta Craft’s Rob Trup is looking forward to a busy – and fruitful – 2019, as the company heads into the allimportant toy fair season once more. While Rob – Fiesta Crafts’ brand and marketing manager – admits that it was a tough start to 2018, sales kept on improving throughout the year and, when PPS caught up with him, he was confident of a good Q4 and following year. “Our new baby activity toys have been picking up a great sales base,” Rob tells PPS. “We were also pleased with our Stickabouts glue-free sticker range, which we are busily expanding for this year.” Notably, the company’s First Years range was nominated for Best Preschool Toy Range in the Progressive Preschool Awards Below: Fiesta Crafts will launch a new range of Oi! licensed activity games. Right: Fresh designs are planned for the company’s baby Squeakaboo range.

Right: Brand and marketing manager Rob Trup is looking forward to a solid 2019.

2018, and this has given Fiesta Crafts a further bounce to its step as it embarks on Toy Fair at London’s Olympia in January and Nuremberg in February. “We will have a refreshed stand at both shows,” Rob continues. “Shows are an essential part of our year to show off our new products to our existing customers, meet new ones and get direct feedback. “We are launching a new collection of Oi! licensed activity games. It has been an amazing success in books and we think we have a great fit. Also look out for some brand new and very exciting hand puppets and fabulous fresh designs for our baby Squeakaboo range.” While Rob admits that retail is “so unpredictable” and that

the traditional high street is suffering, he is quick to highlight those which are going the extra mile to attract customers. “We do have some amazing retailers who interact with customers and put on exciting events, drawing families into their stores and strengthening their sales,” he says. Fiesta Crafts is also keen to make sure retailers have all the tools they need at their disposal to make the most of its products in-store. “We provide dozens of merchandising solutions and are always creating new ones,” Rob explains. “I have a team of design and production experts who can convert my scruffy concept into something that works brilliantly at point of sale.” Fiesta Crafts products are already stocked online, in gift stores, garden centres and traditional toy retailers and Rob says the company is always looking for new channels: “I am constantly amazed at the places where toys can be sold,” he says. A new sales person is also coming on board as the company looks to increase its business with the larger retailers in 2019. It’s clear from chatting to Rob that he and the wider team at Fiesta Crafts love the toy business, so what does he think is the secret to the company’s success with its products at retail? “We know that our products really appeal to preschoolers,” Rob states simply. “Not only this, but we know they appeal to their parents and grandparents who are buying them. I think this is mainly because we are an antidote to the latest screen and TV fads and that the toys help children to imagine and learn in their own way.” PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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TOY FA I R 2019

It kicks off the trade fair season in the UK and the 2019 Toy Fair at London’s Olympia is shaping up to be the busiest and best yet. PPS catches up with just some of the exhibitors to find out more on new preschool launches, what they have planned and why the show is so important.

Inset: This year’s Toy Fair runs from January 22-24 at London’s Olympia.

ON WITH

THE SHOW

t’s the first show of the year on UK soil, and for many toy companies there’s nowhere better to showcase new lines, meet buyers, network and share knowledge with peers and generally kickstart the New Year than Toy Fair at London’s Olympia. With exhibition space selling out back in October – three months before Toy Fair opens – there’s certainly going to be plenty for visitors to get their teeth into. Inset: Le Toy Van will be launching more than 35 new toys.

Left: Green Board Games’ Sarah Winter says that exhibiting at Toy Fair has supported the company’s growth.

And companies in the preschool space are chomping at the bit to show off their wares. “London Toy Fair is one of the most dynamic toy shows we attend,” says Marie Bureau, marketing and product development manager at Le Toy Van. “It is the opening show in the season for us and we love meeting up with customers and our industry friends.”

The company will be launching more than 35 new toys, ranging from the largest closed dolls house ever designed for children through to a rocking glittery unicorn and additions to its role-play food section. Marie adds: “We have 17 brand new toys in Petilou baby and toddler collection, plus 13 in Honeybake role-play; these are our two most dynamic collections.” For Posh Paws’ marketing manager, Laura Bull, Toy Fair is a “prerequisite of the toy industry and a fantastic opportunity for us to hit the ground running into 2019”. Among the company’s raft of new products will be a range for Pirata and Capitano (which airs 

PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: 8TH WONDER Ambitious 8th Wonder has launched a renewed licensing campaign for 2019, teaming up with BBC Studios to develop a new wooden toy range based on popular series Hey Duggee, Something Special and Sarah and Duck. The range – which should prove to be a key draw for the company at Toy Fair – will include wooden vehicles, sound puzzles and dominoes among other products. The collection will begin to roll out in spring 2019. “We are thrilled to be working with 8th Wonder for the first time,” comments Julie Kekwick, senior licensing manager at BBC Studios. “Their wonderful range of products will perfectly complement our existing Hey Duggee and Something Special ranges.” Stand G110

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TOY FA I R 2019

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on Milkshake), while Laura also reveals it will be launching a new collection based around a “very popular sleep aid technology”. The directors of Bigjigs also see Toy Fair as a “substantial contributor” to finding new business. The company has been investing heavily in its new music range and it is looking forward to introducing customers to new lines, as well as reacquainting them with bestsellers. Steven Russell, UK marketing manager at Jumbo Games, believes that the diversity of exhibitors at Toy Fair helps to bring in more buyers, including those from different non-traditional toy categories. It certainly sounds like the company will have a bumper range of new lines to showcase, too. It will be giving a first look at its Moon & Me jigsaw puzzles (due to launch in June), as well as unveiling a new preschool range of 100% environmentally friendly Eco-Games which are made from recycled materials. Steven says: “We are expecting the ‘think green’ trend to continue to be a focus for consumers in 2019 and is a reason behind us investing in a new range of Eco-Games.” In addition, there will be 12 new wooden products from the GOULA range including the Peacock puzzle, Magnetic Interchangeable Farm Animals puzzle, Bunny’s Garden Balance Game and Robot Mix. Staying with the gaming theme, Green Board Games will be adding over 40 new products to its catalogue for 2019. These will include two new preschool ranges – Footsteps, which is specifically designed for ages up to three, plus Leaps and Bounds for ages three and up - as well as a bigger range of Fat Brain Toys. Sarah Winter, head of sales, says: “London Toy Fair has been one of the key pillars of our Right: The Stickle Bricks Fire Engine is among the Flair line-up.

Top: Hippychick will be introducing new colours to the Trybike line. Above left: A new Hey Duggee feature plush will be among Golden Bear’s product reveals. Above right: Bigjigs will be showcasing the investment it has been making in new lines.

PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: FLAIR Stickle Bricks is a long time bestseller and Flair is continuing to drive the range of first construction toys. The Little Builder set is a good entry point into the range, while the Stickle Bricks Fire Engine and Farm both come with special pieces that when joined together will create a red fire engine or colourful big wheeled tractor. Disney Junior fans will be able to go on a musical tour with Vampirina and her friends in the Rock n Jam Touring Van, while the PJ Masks line is bolstered with the new Fold n Go Headquarters Mini Play-set and a refresh of the blind bag collectables. Flair will also be growing the Super Moon Adventure themed segment with a new Fortress Playset, which comes with two figures – Cat Boy in his space outfit and Luna Girl. Stand E39

success as a toys and games company. We certainly feel that exhibiting at this landmark show has supported our growth and enabled us to thrive in an increasingly challenging market. “The show has embraced a variety of changes that not only affect the toys and games sector, but also wider society, including advancements in technology/ social media and an increasingly blogger-influenced marketplace.” Sarah Poole, head of sales at Hippychick, concurs that Toy Fair is a unique opportunity to present a wide variety of products under one roof. The company’s busy stand will include two new plush character collections from Nattou, as well as additions to the Lapidou range of cuddly bunnies and more. It will also be introducing a range of new colours to the Dutch brand of walking and balancing bikes, Trybike, as well as highlighting Wheelybugs and Classic World. Sarah comments: “It’s always a thing of wonder to spot emerging trends at Toy Fair, however it’s easy to get caught up with the latest fads and overlook the enduring classics. At Hippychick we recognise the need to embrace the latest trends, but equally, we are delighted to see increased interest in classic, signature items, built to last and be passed from one sibling to the next and even on to the next generation of toy lovers.” Licensed preschool brands will also have a significant presence with a number of exhibitors.  PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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TOY FA I R 2019

Above: New licences, such as Dumbo, will be displayed by Posh Paws. Right: Peppa Pig will be among the ranges showcased by Rainbow Designs.



Above: Jumbo Games is unveiling a preschool range of Eco-Games. Below: It will be a Toy Fair debut for Alpha Animation & Toys.

Golden Bear will be showing its new collection for Bing following its appointment as master toy partner. Launching in AW19, the line will include soft plush with lots of features including talking,

PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: CHARACTER OPTIONS Character Options will boast its largest ever Toy Fair stand and will be showcasing a plethora of preschool lines. Peppa’s Secret Surprise – a collection of ‘peel and reveal’ toys – will bring innovation to the category and hold six surprises within drawers to open. Each box contains a figure in glittery party outfit, as well as accessories, party gift and stickers or gems. The first series is based on Peppa’s Party, with new waves following throughout the year. A Theatre Play-set and a Deluxe Wooden Family Home will also be new launches for Peppa. Plush toys continue to be the mainstay of Character’s Teletubbies collection including eight-inch Talking Soft Toys, Supersoft Collectables and feature plush. A new nursery range will also launch featuring Stacking Po, Jiggler Laa-Laa and Sensory Tinky Winky. The range will include multitextured materials, engaging patterns and gentle chimes to develop and encourage tactile awareness and exploration from an early age. Finally, also new for preschoolers is Flipazoo, a range of both plush and tactile plastic play-sets. Stand E119

lights and sounds across an array of sizes, figurines and play-sets, role-play items, bath toys and wooden peg puzzles. New launches will also be revealed across the In the Night Garden, Hey Duggee, Mr Tumble Something Special and Twirlywoos ranges. Christine Nicholls, vice chairman and director of product development, says: “Toy Fair is one of the events that we most look forward to and, as 2019 is our 40th anniversary year, we are looking forward to making our stand extra special for staff and visitors alike.” 2019 marks Alpha Animation & Left: The Peppa Pig Theatre Playset will be a key product for Character Options.

Toys’ debut at Toy Fair and it has a number of new product launches for Super Wings that have been developed in conjunction with series three programming. These include Sparky the Fire Truck play-set and High Flying Jett. In addition, a new World Airport play-set will also launch, while Alpha is planning to unveil news on its new preschool property which is due to arrive in 2020. Kerry Tarrant, marketing manager, says: “Attending Toy Fair is very important to us. I believe that as an integral part of the UK toy industry, it is crucial that we show support to our independent buyers and customers, our national retailers and support our trade organisations.” For Anthony Temple, md of Rainbow Designs, Toy Fair is “still the most important show in the UK calendar”. Classic licensed collections for Paddington and Peter Rabbit (TV and movie) will be on display, along with the complete product line-up for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, My First Peppa, a new My First Thomas & Friends collection, plus Disney Baby Dumbo and Disney Baby Simba collections. Anthony concludes: “There is always a great buzz at Toy Fair; it is a busy, productive show attended by buyers from both major retailers and independent stores. It also provides a great opportunity to engage with the media.” PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Peppaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret Surprise The New Preschool Unboxing Collectable!

6 Surprises to Unbox!

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WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2019 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair POSH PAWS INTERNATIONAL As official plush partner for the 2019 movie release, Posh Paws’ Dumbo soft toys will be perfect for preschoolers or any Dumbo fans big or small. The collection includes four different sizes of the most recognisable elephant to be seen on screen, with his oversized floppy ears that will comfort even the youngest of Disney fans. +44(0)1268 567317 www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk Stand B90

CHARACTER OPTIONS

FLAIR

Flipazoo new for preschool comes the enchanting Flipazoo brand. An imagination-inspiring range of both plush and tactile plastic playsets. Quirky, cuddly and loveable animal plush with a clever twist – flip your Elephant to see him transform into a Tiger or watch as your snappy croc flips into a grizzly bear. www.character-online.com +44(0)161 633 9800 Stand E119

PJ Masks Super Moon Adventure Fortress Playset is packed with interactive features. Hero and villain figures can battle it out in Zero Gravity, but beware of the crystal trap beneath the mountain; it snaps shut when the loser falls. Comes with two articulated figures – Cat Boy in his space outfit and Luna Girl, ready for battle to commence. +44(0)208 643 0320 www.flairplc.co.uk Stand E39

KEEL TOYS Puppy eyes melt your heart to the point where you cannot help but love them. New adorable puppy eyes in Keel Toys Signature Cuddle Puppies make them a breed apart, with weighted paws and a floppy body, they simply loved to be hugged, without doubt we have put the play value and ahh value into the New Signature Cuddle Puppies. +44(0)1233506363 www.keeltoys.com sales@keeltoys.com

SCHLEICH Schleich’s Farm World has new animals from the pasture and pets that you would find in the farmyard joining the line up. Not to be missed is the new Puppy Pen Playset, a super cute 12-piece set, with three puppies, their pen and all the accessories they need; including a really cute Teddy Bear. +44(0)1279 870000 www.schleich-s.com Upper level Stand 100

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BRIO_PPS_FullPage_JAN2019_FINAL.pdf

17/12/2018

09:37

33873

33834

CMY

33918

NEW

33874

33827 33936

Discover the full range at Toy Fair E140 Spring Fair 5H42

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Tel: 01869 363800 sales@ravensburger.com www.brio.net

10/01/2019 13:47

WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2019 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair

HIPPYCHICK Just in time for 2019, Hippychick introduce three striking colours to the Nattou Lapidou collection. The gorgeous, luxuriously soft character now comes in jean blue, a classic white and bold terracotta. Available as a cuddly toy, doudou or maxi doudou, this is one to be cherished for years to come. +44(0)1278 434440 www.hippychick.com Stand Upper level 305

FUNRISE

CASDON

New for spring is the master toy range for Paramount’s Easter movie launch, Wonder Park and Funrise has created a collection of playsets, figures and plush featuring characters from the movie that will truly bring the toys to life including the soft and cuddly Boomer plush toy. +44(0)1908 555640 Stand E90 www.funrise.com

Everyone likes a proper tea party and Casdon’s new Tetley Tea Set will appeal to kids with the famous ‘tea folk’ but also to adults for its durability and nostalgic charm. It comes with a tin teapot, tray, cups, saucers and plates, all housed within its own carry-case for easy portability. +44(0)1253 608248 www.casdon.com Stand E30

HIPPYCHICK Hippychick’s bestselling product of the quarter, the Moover Pink Pram, is now available in a gorgeous classic white & light blue. The pram comes completely assembled in a beautiful box, making the perfect addition to any child’s toy collection. +44(0)1278 434440 www.hippychick.com Stand Upper level 305

HIPPYCHICK Trybike 2-in-1 vintage balance bikes – the only steel balance bike that converts into a trike. The Trybike is the perfect all-in-1 bike to help children transition from crawling, to walking, to balancing, to riding. Stop by the Hippychick stand to see the new colours. +44(0)1278 434440 www.hippychick.com Stand Upper level 305

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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15:49

Join us at London Toy Fair @ Olympia C

CMY

22, 23, 24 January 2019 Stand 520 Come and meet new and old friends alike, explore over 30 games from our new partner Drumond Park and discover exciting new launches Please contact TOMY Sales and Marketing to book an appointment

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WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2019 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair RAINBOW DESIGNS An exciting arrival this spring at The Home of Classic Characters is the adorable new Disney Baby Dumbo Collection, created to coincide with the eagerlyanticipated launch of Disney’s Dumbo movie in March. Rainbow’s new collection starring Disney’s most famous elephant features soft and cuddly plush Dumbo toys, available in three sizes, as well as a baby soft Dumbo Ring Rattle and Comfort Blanket. www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk +44(0)1329227300 Stand E120

HALILAT Why do things sink or float? Tub Sub knows. As a boat, it floats. As a sub, it sinks. For a floating boat, push the flexible blue periscope down. For a sinking sub, pull the blue periscope up and fill the bottom with water. Only the periscope will stay above water. This bath-time toy from Edushape encourages thinking and reasoning and is great fun for toddlers and pre-schoolers. www.halilit.co.uk +44(0)1254 872454 Stand E90

PAUL LAMOND GAMES Games and puzzles specialist, Paul Lamond, is launching a colourful new series of 35-piece puzzles starring the renowned Oi Frog! Oi Cat! and Oi Dog! characters from the award-winning storybooks. There will also be a fun and educational Matching Game in an embossed tin. Both the puzzles and Matching Game feature the colourful illustrations and humorous quotes from the hilarious rhyming books by Kes Gray and Jim Field. www.paul-lamond.com +44(0)20 7254 0100 Stand E50

INDIGO JAMM A fabulous coffee machine, complete with three capsules and a cup. Load the capsules into the top tray, when complete slide the tray to the back to dispose of the used capsule and re-load. Perfect for imaginative play for those little ones. Made from sustainable rubber wood and birch plywood (no MDF here). Come and see these and our other new additions at Toy fair London or Nuremberg. +44(0)1483201075 www.indigojamm.com Stand E90

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A brand new year, a brand new look. Visit us at Toy Fair, Nuremberg and Spring Fair to ďŹ nd out more.

+44 (0) 1268 567317

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sales@poshpawsinternational.co.uk

Gloucester House Basildon Essex SS14 3BX UK

10/01/2019 13:50

WHAT’S NEW TOY FAIR 2019 New products featuring at this year’s Toy Fair RAVENSBURGER

SKIP HOP New to Skip Hop’s renowned Zoo Collection in 2019 is the Zoo three-in-one Ride On Toy. Designed to grow with baby and encourage development of gross motor skills, these loveable, rideable characters are perfect for getting children on the move, encourage balance and coordination. Designed for indoor use, this clever toy has three ways to play: walk, ride and scoot. As toddlers grow, it easily converts from a ride-on to a scooter and features a fun-filled storage compartment that flips over to convert to a seat. For even more fun children can press the button on the front for lights music and sound effects. The new Zoo Ride On Toy is available in three signature zoo characters: Unicorn, dog and Fox (ages one - four years). www.skiphop.com +44(0)1582 434 250 Stand F66

Our multi-award winning Peppa Pig range has been hugely successful, with more exciting products for AW19. Also see new designs for Thomas & Friends, PJ Masks, Bing Bunny and Disney, plus exciting movie products – How to Train your Dragon 3, Secret Life of Pets 2, Toy Story 4 and the much-anticipated Frozen 2. We also welcome Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Spirit, Rusty Rivets, That’s Not My, Enchantimals, Top Wing and School of Roars to our collection of the UK’s most popular licences. www.ravensburger.org +44(0)1869363800 Stand E140

BIGJIGS TOYS Tea for two? Little ones can put their hosting skills to work with our new pink wooden Roleplay set. This wooden playset has everything they need to host the perfect tea party, complete with biscuits. This adorable role-play set encourages creative and imaginative role-play sessions, develops social skills and improves dexterity. Made from high quality, responsibly sourced materials. www.bigjigstoys.co.uk +44(0)1303212691 Stand H39

SKIP HOP A long-awaited addition to Skip Hop’s much-loved Zoo Collection is the new Plush Zoo Range. Now children can take home their own favourite zoo character to cuddle in bed or take with them on their adventures. These super soft, 8-inch plush toys are available in six signature zoo characters, including Dog, Butterfly, Dino, Fox, Monkey and Unicorn. www.skiphop.com +44(0)1582 434 250 Stand F66

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TH E TOY FA I R 2019

The Toy Fair 2019 Exhibitor List Exhibiting Name

Stand Number

Exhibiting Name

3Style Scooters 8th Wonder A.B.Gee of Ripley Aardvark Swift Recruitment Limited Accentuate Games Ltd Albion Hobbies Allsorted Ltd Alpha Group UK Alphabet Pie Amerang Asmodee UK Aurora World Ltd Bandai UK Ltd Battlefront Miniatures Big Potato Bigjigs Toys Limited BinaryBots Bladez Toyz Bliss Distribution Brainstorm Ltd BTHA Exhibiting Members Lounge Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Canal Toys UK Cartamundi Casdon Ltd Character Options Cheatwell Games Clarendon Games Clementoni Click Distribution (UK) Ltd. Cloud b Cloudberries COBI Coiledspring Games Content Creation Zone Deco-Pak Depesche UK Ltd. DGL GROUP DKL Marketing Ltd Dolu Toy Factory EasyRead Time Teacher EDUK8 Worldwide Ltd EPHEMERIS Epoch Making toys Eurofins The Elf on The Shelf Fiesta Crafts Five Stars H.K. Ltd Flair Leisure Products Plc Flying Gadgets FOCO UK Freod Games Funko UK Funrise Galt Toys Games Workshop Geomag Getretro.co.uk Gibsons Ginger Fox/Milly&Flynn Golden Bear GOSH Designs part of the PMS International Group plc Great Gizmos Limited Great Inflate Green Bean Collection Green Elephant Trading H Grossman Ltd The Green Board Game Company Ltd Halilit Hasbro UK Ltd heo Hippychick Hornby Hobbies HORNIT House of Marbles iDance iimo IMC Toys (UK) Ltd Indigo jamm Insect Lore Interplay UK Intertek

GH6 G110 B40 GH10 G65 GH3 GH21 B90 GH59 Upper Level 215 E109 D35 Upper Level 600 D98 H46 H39 Upper Level 505 Upper Level 123 F100 E79 Upper Level 205 GH36 G125 H1 E30 E119 E20 GH17 Upper Level 140 Upper Level 120 Upper Level 310 GH44 B22 E35 Upper Level 198 Upper Level 325 H50 G135 E66 G101 GH5 F1 Upper Level 320 B130 GH23 Upper Level 155 D2 GH50 E39 B95 GH13 GH39 E130 G90 E9 D109 Upper Level 501 GH62 E40 B115 E69 Upper Level 654 G20 Upper Level 147 GH18 GH42 E49 E15 E90 Gallery Suites B75 Upper Level 305 B20 Upper Level 122 F40 Upper Level 420 Upper Level 315 E129 H40 G30 G10 G66

B100 B115 B12 B121 B125 B130 B149 B18 B20 B22 B25 B30 B35 B40 B45 B49 B50 B56 B60 B65 B70 B75 B80 B82 B85 B90 B95 C42 C45 D109 D11 D2 D20 D35 D36 D90 D98 E1 E10 E100 E109 E115 E119 E120 E125 E129 E130 E131 E135 E140 E149 E15 E150 E16 E2 E20 E21 E30 E35 E39 E40 E46 E49 E50 E66 E69 E79 E89 E9 E90 E99 F1 F10 F100 F101 F110 F15 F16 F20 F25 F36 F40

Jazwares Ginger Fox/Milly&Flynn Orchard toys JURATOYS Legler OHG small foot company Epoch Making toys Make Time 2 Play Cafe lexibook Hornby Hobbies COBI Theo Klein Ltd. MV Sports & Leisure Ltd Zimpli Kids Ltd A.B.Gee of Ripley Micro Scooters UL VS LTD Marbel Tasma Products Ltd Keel Toys Pockos Vivid heo Jonathan's Toys Ltd Room Copenhagen A/S Tonies Alpha Group UK Flying Gadgets SNAZAROO West Design Products Ltd Games Workshop Melissa & Doug, LLC Fiesta Crafts Melissa & Doug Aurora World Ltd Learning Resources Posh Paws Battlefront Miniatures Toys 'n' Playthings Magazine Le Toy Van Wicked Vision Ltd Asmodee UK Winning Moves Character Options Rainbow Designs re:creation Ltd IMC Toys (UK) Ltd Funko UK Spin Master Siso Toys UK Ravensburger Ltd Mookie The Green Board Game Company Ltd Spin Master Padgett bros AtoZ ltd ToyNews Cheatwell Games The Sales Partnership Ltd Casdon Ltd Coiledspring Games Flair Leisure Products Plc Gibsons Jumbo Games H Grossman Ltd Paul Lamond Games DKL Marketing Ltd Golden Bear Brainstorm Ltd Wilton Bradley Galt Toys Halilit TKC Sales EDUK8 Worldwide Ltd University Games Bliss Distribution JWS John GmbH / Toys & Sporting Goods Thames and Kosmos K-Play International Ltd Plum Smart Toys & Games Technology Will Save Us House of Marbles

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Learn with Thomas Alphaphonics™

Peppa’s Interactive Playmat

Count with

Peppa Refresh

Flip and Learn Phone Peppa’s Sing & Learn Microphone

Mr Tumble Learning Pad

Expect so much more!

058_PPS_Jan Feb 2019.indd 1

Trends UK (National Accounts)

Wind Designs (Independents)

www.trendsuk.co.uk

www.wind-designs.com

For media enquiries:

Tel: +44 (0)1295 768078 Tel: +44 (0)1353 724140 Ane Olesen: Email: salesadmin@trendsuk.co.uk Email: sales@wind-designs.com ane@wirepr.eu ©2018 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. ©2018 HIT Entertainment Limited. Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd/Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003. BBC logo TM & © BBC 1996. SOMETHING SPECIAL logo TM & © BBC 2004. MR TUMBLE TM & © BBC 2015. Licensed by BBC Worldwide Ltd.

OfficialPeppaPig

10/01/2019 13:51

T H E TOY FA I R 2019

The Toy Fair 2019 Exhibitor List (continued) J Perkins Jazwares John Adams Leisure Limited John GmbH / Toys & Sporting Goods Jonathan's Toys Ltd Jumbo Games jumini JURATOYS JWS KAPLA Keel Toys Keycraft Global Ltd Kidicraft Ltd Kids@Play Ltd KidsOut K'NEX UK a Division of Basic Fun K-Play International Ltd KRASATOYS Theo Klein Ltd. Lanka Kade (UK) Ltd LaQ Larsen Jigsaw Puzzles Laser Beam Eyes Ltd Le Toy Van Learning Resources Legler OHG small foot company LEGO lexibook Lionstrike Footballs Magformers UK Limited Magic Box Make Time 2 Play Cafe Manobesaz Marbel Marvin's Magic Max Mindpower Melissa & Doug Melissa & Doug, LLC Micro Scooters Mojo-Nation Mookie MTW Toys SA MURO MV Sports & Leisure Ltd My Little World Limited N Smith Packaging & Display Naranja Minimalista Norman Global Logistics Ltd The Northern Testhouse Leicester Ltd The NPD Group Orchard toys OTL Technologies Oxford Diecast Ltd Padgett bros AtoZ ltd Papo UK Paul Lamond Games Petron Piqipi Limited Playmobil (UK) Ltd. Plum Pockos Posh Paws Press Office & Toy Fair's Hero Toys Progressive Preschool Magazine RACHEL LOWE Rainbow Designs Rainbow Eco Products Ltd Ravensburger Ltd Rawk Haven Games re:creation Ltd Red Knight Toy Group RED ROBIN TOYS Relaxation Garden Revell GmbH Risk & Rewards Board Games ROLLPLAY Roma Room Copenhagen A/S Sambro International LTD Schaefer Toy Company GmbH Schleich Seatzac SES Creative B.V. Siso Toys UK Skip Hop Smart Toys & Games SnapDragon: fighting fakes online SNAZAROO Spin Master Spin Master Star-Images STC - Testing, Inspection and Certification Stora Enso Biocomposites

312 B100 G100 F110 B80 E46 GH26 B121 F101 Upper Level 143 B60 F46 H30 Upper Level 180 Upper Level 152 Upper Level 510 F16 GH55 B25 H36 GH67 GH30 Upper Level 126 E10 D36 B125 Olympia Room B18 GH2 Upper Level 540 GH54 B149 Upper Level 316 B50 H65 Upper Level 162 D20 D11 B45 GH48 E149 Upper Level 105 GH28 B30 GH69 Upper Level 124 GH34 GH78 Upper Level 149 Upper Level 146 B12 GH70 Upper Level 195 E16 Upper Level 128 E50 Upper Level 308 GH58 Uper Level 210 F20 B65 D90 Upper Level 158 GH31 GH16 E120 GH8 E140 GH24 E125 Upper Level 148 G25 Upper Level 220 Upper Level 110 GH49 G115 Upper Level 144 B82 Upper Level 400 GH79 Upper Level 100 Upper Level 650 Upper Level 102 E135 F66 F25 Upper Level 200 C42 E131 E150 F44 Upper Level 165 GH46

F44 F46 F50 F66 F90 G10 G100 G101 G110 G115 G125 G135 G20 G22 G25 G30 G65 G66 G90 Gallery Suites GH1 GH10 GH11 GH13 GH15 GH16 GH17 GH18 GH2 GH20 GH21 GH23 GH24 GH26 GH28 GH3 GH30 GH31 GH32 GH34 GH36 GH37 GH39 GH41 GH42 GH44 GH45 GH46 GH48 GH49 GH5 GH50 GH54 GH55 GH58 GH59 GH6 GH62 GH65 GH67 GH69 GH70 GH71 GH78 GH79 GH8 H1 H20 H30 H36 H39 H40 H42 H46 H50 H52 H65 London Room Olympia Room Uper Level 210 Upper Level 100 Upper Level 102 Upper Level 105 Upper Level 110 Upper Level 119 Upper Level 120 Upper Level 122 Upper Level 123 Upper Level 124 Upper Level 126 Upper Level 128 Upper Level 130 Upper Level 140

Star-Images Keycraft Global Ltd TOBAR Group Trading Ltd Skip Hop Tactic Games Interplay UK John Adams Leisure Limited Dolu Toy Factory 8th Wonder ROLLPLAY Canal Toys UK DGL GROUP Great Gizmos Limited The Happy Puzzle Company RED ROBIN TOYS Insect Lore Accentuate Games Ltd Intertek Funrise Hasbro UK Ltd SWAG Distribution Aardvark Swift Recruitment Limited WOW Toys FOCO UK VAP games RACHEL LOWE Clarendon Games Green Bean Collection Lionstrike Footballs The Toy Project Allsorted Ltd Eurofins Rawk Haven Games jumini MURO Albion Hobbies Larsen Jigsaw Puzzles Progressive Pre-School Magazine The Source Wholesale Limited Naranja Minimalista Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Toy World Freod Games UGears Mechanical Models Green Elephant Trading Cloudberries Strictly Briks Stora Enso Biocomposites Mojo-Nation Risk & Rewards Board Games EasyRead Time Teacher Five Stars H.K. Ltd Magic Box KRASATOYS Piqipi Limited Alphabet Pie 3Style Scooters Getretro.co.uk Xiamen Chituo Imp. & Exp. Co.,Ltd. LaQ My Little World Limited OTL Technologies The Toys Boys Ltd Norman Global Logistics Ltd Schaefer Toy Company GmbH Rainbow Eco Products Ltd Cartamundi Wild Card Games Kidicraft Ltd Lanka Kade (UK) Ltd Bigjigs Toys Limited Indigo jamm Trends UK Ltd Big Potato Depesche UK Ltd. Wind Designs Ltd Marvin's Magic The Toymaster Members Lounge LEGO Playmobil (UK) Ltd. Schleich SES Creative B.V. MTW Toys SA Revell GmbH Ty UK Ltd Click Distribution (UK) Ltd. HORNIT Bladez Toyz N Smith Packaging & Display Laser Beam Eyes Ltd Papo UK Turner Media Innovations Lounge Clementoni

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al games and jigsaws n o i t a c Edu from Orchard Toys Also new...

NErW oys chard T

O mbined first co sound d App an e! gam

See our award winning range of preschool games and jigsaws at www.orchardtoys.com For sales contact 01953 859539 or email: sales@orchardtoys.com

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Visit us at: TOYFAIR, STAND B12 Also at: HONG KONG & NUREMBERG

10/01/2019 13:53

T H E TOY FA I R 2019

The Toy Fair 2019 Exhibitor List (continued) Strictly Briks SWAG Distribution The Sales Partnership Ltd The Source Wholesale Limited Tactic Games Tasma Products Ltd Technology Will Save Us TFTV Demo Zone Thames and Kosmos The Happy Puzzle Company The Toy Project The Toymaster Members Lounge The Toys Boys Ltd THINKGEEK Thought Machine TKC Sales TOBAR Group Trading Ltd TOMY Tonies Toy Retailers Association Toy Trust Coffee Lounge Toy World ToyNews Toys 'n' Playthings Magazine Trends UK Ltd Turner Media Innovations Lounge TUV Rheinland Ty UK Ltd UGears Mechanical Models UL VS LTD University Games VAP games Vivid VR Distribution UK VTech/LeapFrog West Design Products Ltd Wicked Vision Ltd Wild Card Games Wilton Bradley Wind Designs Ltd Winning Moves WOW Toys Wow! Stuff Xiamen Chituo Imp. & Exp. Co.,Ltd. Zimpli Kids Ltd

GH45 GH1 E21 GH32 F90 B56 F36 Upper Level 157 F15 G22 GH20 London Room GH71 Upper Level 202 Upper Level 175 E99 F50 Upper Level 520 B85 Upper Level 150 Upper Level 160 GH37 E2 E1 H42 Upper Level 130 Upper Level 218 Upper Level 119 GH41 B49 F10 GH15 B70 Upper Level 145 Upper Level 500 C45 E100 H20 E89 H52 E115 GH11 Upper Level 190 GH65 B35

Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper Upper

Level 143 Level 144 Level 145 Level 146 Level 147 Level 148 Level 149 Level 150 Level 152 Level 155 Level 157 Level 158 Level 160 Level 162 Level 165 Level 175 Level 180 Level 190 Level 195 Level 198 Level 200 Level 202 Level 205 Level 215 Level 218 Level 220 Level 305 Level 308 Level 310 Level 312 Level 315 Level 316 Level 320 Level 325 Level 400 Level 420 Level 500 Level 501 Level 505 Level 510 Level 520 Level 540 Level 600 Level 650 Level 654

KAPLA Roma VR Distribution UK The NPD Group Great Inflate Red Knight Toy Group The Northern Testhouse Leicester Ltd Toy Retailers Association KidsOut The Elf on The Shelf TFTV Demo Zone Press Office & Toy Fair's Hero Toys Toy Trust Coffee Lounge Max Mindpower STC - Testing, Inspection and Certification Thought Machine Kids@Play Ltd Wow! Stuff Oxford Diecast Ltd Content Creation Zone SnapDragon: fighting fakes online THINKGEEK BTHA Exhibiting Members Lounge Amerang TUV Rheinland Relaxation Garden Hippychick Petron Cloud b J Perkins iimo Manobesaz EPHEMERIS Deco-Pak Sambro International LTD iDance VTech/LeapFrog Geomag BinaryBots K'NEX UK a Division of Basic Fun TOMY Magformers UK Limited Bandai UK Ltd Seatzac GOSH Designs part of the PMS International Group plc

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Big names

for Little Helpers!

NEW

See us at: Hong Kong Toy Fair: Mon 7th Jan - Thurs 10th Jan (Booth 1Aâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;F32). UK Toy Fair: Tues 22nd Jan - Thurs 24th Jan (Stand E30). Nurnberg Toy Fair: Weds 30th Jan - Sun 3rd Feb (Hall 12, Stand C-04). Spring Fair: Sun 3rd Feb - Thurs 7th Feb (Hall 5, Stand 5L76). New York Toy Fair: Sat 16th Feb - Tues 19th Feb (Booth 6062). ASTRA: Mon 10th June - Weds 12th June (Booth 223).

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Real life toys for fun & play Casdon Ltd., Cornford Road, Blackpool, Lancs FY4 4QW Tel: +44 (0)1253 766411 Fax: +44 (0)1253 691486 Email: toys@casdon.co.uk www.casdon.com

10/01/2019 13:54

N U REMB ERG TOY FA I R

GLOBAL GAINS

It’s the world’s largest toy fair and for many companies with preschool product, it’s vital to have a presence at Spielwarenmesse to build a global brand. From first-time exhibitors in the UK Pavilion through to experienced trade fair veterans, the show has become a mustattend on many calendars, as PPS discovers.

hen Spielwarenmesse opens its doors in Nuremberg from January 30 to February 3, it will be taking place for the 70th time. Almost 3,000 exhibitors from 68 countries head to the show, with 75% of exhibitors travelling from abroad. More than 70,000 visitors from 130 countries then pack into the halls to check out the vast array of product. For preschool companies, the show is a must attend, with Eduk8 Worldwide’s md, Christine Lawson, describing it as its “European shop window”.

She tells PPS: “It gives us the opportunity not only to meet existing customers, but also to attract new business. We hope buyers will be attracted to our stand and appreciate the fact that our range is exclusive, so our unique designs are not available elsewhere.” Eduk8 Worldwide will be launching new wooden toys including a pair of colourful lacing shoes which help children learn to tie their

Above: 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of Spielwarenmesse. Left: Visitors to the Marbel stand will get a first look at Eureka Kids.

shoelaces and distinguish between left and right. There will also be a new wooden stencil game – including 30 wooden stencil cards, pencils and tracing paper – and a Cargo Ship containing 26 magnetic blocks, printed on four sides, with the alphabet in upper and lower case, numbers and shapes. In addition, the company will also be relaunching its Giant Snakes and Ladders game with new compact packaging. 

Right: Lanka Kade will debut new push-along animals among other lines.

UK IMPACT The UK Pavilion for 2019 has once again seen an increase in size and numbers, Stuart Whitehill, account director at Overseas Fairs Division, tells PPS. Newcomers include Barney and Buddy, FOCO, Sinco Toys, Paladone and MuddleIT, while regular exhibitors with

preschool specific product include WOW Toys, Sport and Playbase, M Richard, Kit for Kids and Early Years Resources. “This is the 70th anniversary of Spielwarenmesse, so we expect lots of extra promotional activity and celebrations,” says Stuart. “[At the show] we’d like to continue

to help raise the presence of the UK group amid stiff competition from other national pavilions. “The UK area has been steadily growing now for the past 14 years and our aim is to continue with this growth and, all the time, introducing new companies to Spielwarenmesse.”

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N U REMB ERG TOY FA I R Left: The UK Pavilion continues to grow year on year. Below: Chicco will be expanding its Happy Music collection.

Above: Colourful lacing shoes are among the new launches from Eduk8 Worldwide. Above right: Bigjigs will introduce a new product category and expand existing ranges. Right: HTI will be showcasing new pram and pushchair launches. Below: Animal Pirates is one of three new concepts being introduced by Orange Tree Toys.

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For Orange Tree Toys, Nuremberg is becoming more and more important. “We see it as a great platform where we can get our brand and products in front of a truly international audience, attracting both new retail customers from across Europe as well as some potential new distribution partners,” says head of sales, Mike Hartshorn. “This last year, we have been building our international distribution and so are keen to continue developing new partners to help us with this next phase of our growth.” “This exhibition provides us with a good opportunity to showcase what we are all about as a brand and business, and attract like-minded companies who are interested in working with us to continue the growth of our brand internationally.” Orange Tree Toys will showcase three new character concepts at the show – Animal Pirates, Animal Fairies and Dinosaurs – along with line refreshes on some existing ranges. Lanka Kade will also be using Nuremberg to launch its new 2019 wooden toy range to the global market. Ranges debuting will include pushalong animals, building blocks, skittles and play-sets, while the company will also introduce several additions to its collectable wooden animal range. “Nuremberg is the biggest toy fair in the world, attracting visitors from all over the globe – and for this reason we

believe there is no better show to meet new overseas buyers,” comments accounts manager Jason Munton. HTI’s global licensing and brand director, Alison Downie, also believes that the show is a real opportunity to network. “Everyone is presenting their best hand for the year ahead, so it can inspire new collections, find new licences and can even be great for attracting new talent to the business,” she tells PPS. Preschool is a big category for HTI and it will present several new launches.

SHOWFLOOR TREATS A new ShowTime area will give exhibitors the opportunity to spotlight their products at fashion shows and presentations. Meanwhile, the dedicated area for Baby and Infant Articles is returning between Halls 2 and 3, offering plenty of inspiration for attractive add on ranges for retailers and buyers. It focuses on five product areas – Baby Toys, Care & Food, Baby Textile, Home & Safety and Travel Systems. In addition, the Toys meet Books area – first launched in 2018 – will also return. Situated in an exposed location close to Entrance Mitte, it features a presentation of nonbook products for booksellers, along with talks by retail experts.

Alison continues: “Baby Born and Baby Annabell continue to perform and, as a result, there has been further investment into these ranges. Joie is our newest addition, further extending the diverse range on offer for prams and pushchairs. There will also be our Peppa role-play range which continues to perform well for the business.” Bigjigs is another company which believes that having a presence at Nuremberg is vital to building a global brand. 2019 will be Bigjigs’ 12th successive year exhibiting at the show, displaying a new full product category plus additional items to existing categories. The company spent a considerable amount of time in product development on its music category throughout last year, so it is hoping this will be a key draw. Meanwhile, Marbel will be showcasing its extensive range of brands including Hape, Relevant Play, Nanoblock and Kathe Kruse. Visitors will also get a first look at new arrivals Nebulous Stars and Eureka Kids. Sales manager Joe Rushworth says: “To mark the beginning of the New Year, Nuremberg provides a great opportunity to reconnect with existing customers and clients, as well as networking with new ones.” Holly John, marketing manager at Chicco, is confident that the company’s attendance at the show will help it increase even further the distribution of its toys, in terms of the number of stores and depth of the range. She says: “The 2019 collection is the strongest it has ever been thanks to lots of new innovations and our ongoing licensing partnerships with Ferrari and Fiat.” New additions will be introduced into its best selling Fit n Fun range, while the Happy Music collection will expand further. Chicco will also be showing the growth to its Ferrari licensed collection and has a number of new toys within some of its legacy ranges such as Move & Grow. To reach a truly international audience with preschool product, it seems there really is no better place to be than Nuremberg toy fair. PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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See the new 2019 ranges at Spielwarenmesse, hall 9 - stand D29 - E28

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WHAT’S NEW NUREMBERG 2019 New products from Chicco, featuring at this year’s Toy Fair NEXT2ME MAGIC Introducing the latest side sleeping crib in the award-winning range, Chicco Next2Me Magic offers maximum comfort for both parents and baby. Featuring a new premium design, the enhanced one hand sliding side panel can be used when fixed to the adult’s bed, making it even easier for parents to reach little one during the night.

LULLABY SHEEP

SONGY THE SINGER

Complete with lights and 30 minutes of soothing nature sounds and white noise, Chicco’s First Dreams Lullaby Sheep is the perfect toy to accompany a baby to sleep. With a voice recorder function, parents can record their voice and with a special sound sensor, which is automatically activated when it detects certain sounds, such as a baby crying. It is machine washable and available in both pink and blue.

Songy the Singer is the perfect singing partner and comes with its own disco effect flashing LED lights. With four musical genres and a total of eight different songs to choose from, there’s something for everyone!

OHLALA The OhLaLa stroller from Chicco is both amazingly light and incredibly sturdy. At only 3.8kg, it is perfect for parents on the go. With a smooth one-handed drive, detachable bumper bar and included rain cover, it is a highly practical and easily manoeuvrable option. It is also very easy to handle and carry, taking up very little space when folded, meaning it is ideal for travel both by car and public transport. Suitable from birth.

PIANO DJ MIXI Piano DJ Mixi features two different settings – fun mode and play mode – as well as a realistic deck with LED light panels. With four musical styles and eight melodies, children can add in animated sounds including realistic scratch sound effects and musical notes to create their own song.

+44(0)2089536627 www.Chicco.co.uk Hall 12.2 / P-04 PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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S P RI N G FA I R 2019

A Master

MARKET PLACE As the single biggest retail trade show in the UK, Spring Fair is one of the most important buying events in the preschool calendar, offering retailers and buyers everything from toys and gifts to games and greetings. Taking place from Sunday 3 – Thursday 7 February 2018, the show attracts buyers looking to place key orders to get their year off to a strong start. PPS takes a look at what will be on offer.

ore than 56,000 visitors will be welcomed through the doors of Birmingham’s NEC during Spring Fair, all on the lookout for the latest in retail inspiration, cutting-edge design and fresh new brands. And the sheer scale of Spring Fair – 15 show sectors buzzing with over 2,500 exhibitors over the course of the five-day event – means that planning your trip in advance is essential.

While the gift and home market naturally offers plenty of crosscategory opportunity, the majority of preschool retailers will start their visit in Hall 5: Children’s Gifts, Toys and Gadgets. With over 100 exhibitors to choose from in that hall alone, there will be plenty of opportunity for

Left: Hape has extended its popular Kitchen & Food range, ideal for imitation role-play. Above: New designs for Bertoy’s Playball range will be launching at the 2019 show. Right: Skip Hop’s popular Zoo range of toddler accessories will be extending its reach with a number of new additions.

Left: The new Tiny and Very Hungry Caterpillar toy and gift range from Rainbow Designs.

SPRING FAIR ESSENTIALS 3 – 7 February 2019 Birmingham NEC www.springfair.com visitors to browse the latest trends in children’s play products, from traditional wooden toys and licensed collectables right through to high-tech gadgets and pocket money purchases. A new year means a fresh offering for most suppliers and so Spring Fair is an important trade show for the independent retail sector as it provides the perfect platform to showcase these new 2019 collections. “The independent retail trade is vitally important to our business,” says Rainbow Designs’ md Anthony Temple. “Spring Fair provides the perfect environment to catch up with our existing customers as well as the opportunity to meet new retailers and open new accounts.” Rainbow Designs will be using the show to launch a number of exciting new collections this year. “2019 is the 50th anniversary of Eric Carle’s classic storybook, The Very Hungry PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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S P RI N G FA I R 2019

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Caterpillar and we have introduced a brand new collection ‘The Tiny and Very Hungry Caterpillar’ that focuses on toys and gifts specifically for the newborn to 18 months age range.” Other new lines from Rainbow Designs also introduce characters from the renowned Usborne Book series; That’s Not My… , while there are also some new additions to the classic Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit and Guess How Much I Love You collections. Little Concepts will be launching over 25 new lines at the show, from PlanToys, MOLUK, Makii and Makedo. “We use the shows to make sure we meet as many of our existing retailers as possible,” said co-founder Phil Nelson, “but we also love meeting new retailers as well.” Little Concepts sits firmly in the ‘traditional’ toy sector, where market trends are particularly relevant. “We have really noticed the success of well-designed products,” says Phil. “Consumers’ pockets are being squeezed so they want to know they are buying quality – and that’s where our product portfolio fits in! We have also noticed a real trend in the ‘open ended play’ sector, which is great for us, particularly our Moluk range, which specialises in unique, gender-neutral playthings.” Joe Rushworth is the sales manager at Marbel, and he’s looking forward to Spring Fair for a number of reasons. “It’s a great show for us as it encompasses the brand beautifully,” he says. “It certainly brings new people to our door year-on-year.” Joe is looking towards some of the key trends for 2019, predicting that the growing integration of technological enhancements into traditional toys will become more popular. “It’s a great development as it enhances a child’s experiences and allows them to imitate the real world more immersively. Hape’s Junior Inventor range has really embraced this concept and is expected to do particularly well this year.” Other new additions to Hape’s offering for 2019 include new add-on railway playsets and an extension of its popular Kitchen & Food range which is ideal for imitation role-play. With a core customer base of bespoke toy and gift retailers as well as zoos and garden centres, Spring Fair

Above: This water play set from PlanToys is made from eco-friendly, sustainable latex rubber. Left: The Puppet Company will be showing its unique line of toys for the tenth year.

is an important time for Bertoy, which will be launching over 100 new items at the 2019 show. “New lines will be available across most of our ranges but we expect our top preschool items to be the new designs in our Playball range, our 24-piece two-sided vehicle puzzles, pocket kites with dragons and wing designs and a selection of 48-piece mini animal puzzles,” says UK and Ireland country manager Philip Morris. “We will also be introducing a number of items featuring sloths as this trend is also proving to be a very popular theme for 2019.” A key date on the retail calendar, Spring Fair is also ideal for gaining valuable feedback on new products and other developments, explains Skip Hop’s marketing manager Gemma Stokes. “Ultimately, we want to get our retail partners as excited as we are about our new launches for the year ahead,’ she says. “2019 is going to be an important year for us as we are focusing on building our brand in anticipation for some major innovations. We’ve got lots of exciting products launching in 2019,

including new line extensions, as well as some completely new categories.” Gemma is also predicting that buyers at the show will reflect the market, looking for products that will help encourage and instil toddler independence. “Products that enable little ones to learn to do things for themselves are increasing in demand,” she says. “This is a growing trend for the toddler age range.” Returning to Spring Fair for the tenth year running is The Puppet Company, making the most of the opportunity to show off their newest lines to the retail

Spring Time “Spring Fair is the most important show of the year as we launch our brand new products for the coming season. For preschool, we are introducing a wide range of time-teacher product, using colourful visual images and easy-read dials with clear precise numbering and letters and contrast coloured hour, minute and second hands. Character is so important for children’s watches as well – we design all our own characters and ensure all the products are brightly coloured, engaging and most of all, fun!” Jo Banner, director, Timesource Left: This Tommy T Rex clock is just one of TimeSource’s character-driven preschool lines.

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Join us at the International Spring Fair. 3rdâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;7th Feb 2019, NEC, Birmingham, Hall 4, H80â&#x20AC;&#x201C;J81 ENESCO LIMITED, Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, CA3 0EN UK Customer Services: Telephone: 01228 404022 Email: trade@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services: Telephone: +44 1228 404066 Email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk

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S P RI N G FA I R 2019 Left and below: Cubbies’ book and plush set makes a perfect preschool gift.

Soft Stories “Spring Fair is an important show for us as it gives us access to a lot of buyers that we wouldn’t be able to get in front of in any other way. We will be showing our preschool books which come with matching plush toy characters. There are two new stories for 2019; one featuring a penguin, the other a dragon. We want people to see that what we’re doing is unique, fun, inspiring and really quite fabulous!” Lee White, managing director, Cubbies

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market. “Spring Fair is one of our best shows,” says Sam Lockey. “We have wonderfully detailed catalogues and websites but playing and interacting with our products is where buyers can see why we are global leaders in design innovation, attention to detail and quality.” As a rule, The Puppet Company produces items that are nothing like anything else in the marketplace. “There are some items which Right: Enesco will be launching a new Peppa Pig gift collection at the show. Below: Blast Off Birthday – Amscan.

are doing particularly well at the moment though,” adds Joe, “such as llamas, sloths and unicorns!” For 2019, the new Story Tellers hand puppet range is expected to do well. The range includes Super Heroes, a Wizard, Witch, King, Queen, Princess, Prince and a Fairy, all perfect for young imaginations to run wild. “New gift brand Wilberry is also proving to be a huge success with retailers, who love the diversity of fabrics and designs while earning a significant margin.” The timing of Spring Fair is a key attraction for many exhibitors, as Enesco’s director of marketing Helen Cottrill explains. “It allows us to showcase all our new Jan and Spring product launches in a calm, focused Below: Baby Record Pink Book plush – Signature Gifts

environment – it’s the ideal chance to show the breadth of product we offer, and to let other licensors see what we can do for them.” Enesco is very excited to be launching a new Peppa Pig gift collection at the show (there will be a themed tea party on Monday 4 February to celebrate. A brandnew baby line will also be added to the Beatrix Potter gift collection. Also sitting firmly in the gifting category is Signature Gifts. Primarily an e-commerce business, Spring Fair offers the company a valuable opportunity to showcase new lines in person, allowing customers to see the high-quality product available. “2018 was a massive year for us, especially with licensed gifts,” says trade marketing manager Kat Whittingham. “We can see ourselves continuing down this path and creating more bespoke branded gifts for the future.” Pairing personalised books with plush toys has been a major hit recently and Signature Gifts will be extending this range even further, into the nursery age bracket. “The gift of a book becomes even more special when it comes with a little companion for your child to cuddle at story time,” adds Kat. “Our beautiful bespoke baby book features baby’s name on every page and comes paired with a snuggly elephant, perfect for a newborn.” Making new connections and talking to other people within your industry is the ideal way to get the year off to a strong start, for both exhibitors and buyers. Spending time at Spring Fair is one of the easiest and most effective ways to do this, whether you are there for the duration or just popping in for the day. With the retail landscape looking increasingly tough for 2019, it’s important for us all to stay relevant and on top of all the latest trends and newest releases. We’ll see you there!

A Preschool Party “Space themes are looking set to be popular for preschool parties in 2019. Unicorns are still a major trend and we have expanded our range of balloons to include new designs featuring eye-catching iridescent and holographic finishes. Dinosaurs and Under the Sea themes are also firm favourites while we also have some great licensed options such as Nella the Princess Knight, Rusty Rivets and Ugly Dolls. From our Dress Up collection we have adorable new baby styles including Mini Moo and a Baby Roar Dinosaur jumpsuit with hood.” Charlotte Terry, marketing executive, Amscan

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WHAT’S NEW SPRING FAIR 2019 New products featuring at this year’s Spring Fair RAINBOW DESIGNS

CUBBIES

The Home of Classic Characters will have their exciting new That’s Not My… range of nursery toys on display at Spring Fair. Based on Usborne’s best-selling series of touchy-feely board books, the colourful new collection will feature the best-selling and favourite characters from the wonderful picture books; the Kitten, the Puppy, the Bunny and the Monkey as well as some of the newer literacy characters. The range will include soft toys as well as developmental attachable blankies which emulate the same touchy-feely features as the book. www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk +44(0)1329 227500 Hall 5 Stand H21

Monkey Book: Charlie and his best friend Bugaloo enter a world of magic with a big idea. It’s time to build the most amazing hideaway in Cubbyland for Charlie and his friends. But will they have everything they need to make this the most exciting adventure of all? www.cubbies.co lee@cubbies.co Hall 5 Stand 5F76

TIMESOURCE LTD Children learn exceptionally well through colourful visual images. Make teaching the time so much more fun with Ravel character clocks and watches. Make a challenging concept easy by using analogue timeteachers with clear precise numbering and letters and contrast coloured hour, minute and second hands to make perfect practice exercises. www.timesourceltd.com sales@timesourceltd.com +44(0)1778 343000 Hall 4 Stand 4K20

LUMENICO/ALOKA SLEEPYLIGHTS Designed to help little ones get a better night’s sleep, the SleepyLight features 12 colour changing LEDs in a range of stylish designs with a child-friendly remote control. The built-in sleep function means can be kept on throughout the night at very low brightness or use the side lamp for extra light when you need it, ideal for bedtime reading. www.cheekyrascals.co.uk smile@cheekyrascals.co.uk +44(0)1730 895761 Hall 5 Stand 5H82

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BALANCING THE ASK AMANDA PRESCHOOL PLAY DIET In PPS’ first Fundamentally Children column of 2019, Amanda explains more about the all-important ‘Play Diet’ – and it isn’t about losing weight! during early childhood. The earlier good habits are instilled the better, so encouraging children to get lots of social, active, imaginative play from the beginning is key to sustaining those behaviours and play patterns as they get older.

Dr. Amanda Gummer is the founder of Fundamentally Children, an organisation dedicated to helping children develop skills through play. www.fundamentallychildren.com

ou might associate diets with trying to lose weight and eating lots of salads. But the Play Diet is about resisting the temptation to be lazy and just reach for the easy options (such as screens), rather than benefitting from putting in a bit of effort to set up a board game or get wrapped up and go to the park. The key word is balance – and as with nutrition, your leisure time should be balanced to ensure there’s plenty of healthy activities and only a limited amount of ‘treats’. THE PLAY DIET FOR RETAILERS Using the Play Diet pyramid as a guide, retailers can help parents resist pester power and discover toys they might not have thought to look for. By helping customers understand the balanced play model, retailers are able to suggest toys to fill gaps in a family’s toy cupboard and help parents make informed decisions, positioning themselves as a valued resource for their customers. The Play Diet was developed as a practical approach to choosing toys and activities for children of all ages, although it is particularly key

THE ROLE OF ROLE PLAY At the top of the Play Diet pyramid is active, imaginative play, which is the ‘fruit and veg’ of the Play Diet. It’s difficult for children to get too much of this and it’s great for their social, cognitive and physical development. To promote imaginative play retailers can recommend any role play accessories such as small world farms, kitchen sets or dressingup outfits.

Above: Role play is an important part of a preschooler’s development.

GAMES AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES Below active, imaginative play, you’ll find team and board games, construction, creative play, and reading. A couple of good construction toys and a mix of art materials are a great way to encourage creativity and curiosity. Simple, quick games (such as card matching games) are ideal for preschoolers’ short attention spans as they learn to take turns with others. EDUCATIONAL TOYS It might be surprising to see this so far down on the list, but while

Left: The Play Diet pyramid – it’s hard to get too much creative or imaginative play.

it’s great to find toys that engage children with things they’ll learn at school such as words and numbers, toys that develop their social skills are key for this age group. These are also correlated with success at school as well as being important for children’s emotional well-being. Educational toys for preschoolers should focus on phonics, letter shapes, counting to 20, adding/ subtracting single digit numbers, shapes, measurements, money and patterns.* CONCLUSION The Play Diet pyramid allows retailers to help parents give their children a wide range of play activities, ensuring their child is able to develop the skills they need to thrive throughout childhood. Fundamentally Children will be running a Play Diet campaign throughout this summer – email theteam@fundamentallychildren. com if you’d like to get involved. REFERENCES:

* Early years foundation stage profile, 2018 handbook. Retrieved 10 December 2018

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FOCU S ON : P U S H CH A I R S A N D ST ROLLER S

Stylish pushchairs and high-end strollers are an essential purchase for many fashionconscious parents, but there’s more to the latest models than being emminently imstagrammable (although that’s important too, of course). PPS finds out more.

Never to Posh

To Push

opping on and off buses and navigating shopping aisles? Dragging it into woodland and through muddy puddles? Getting a jog on and beating last week’s 5k PB? However your customer is planning to use their pushchair or stroller, there is something on the market to meet their needs. Parents these days are looking

Below: ABC Design’s versatile Salsa4 includes a lightweight aluminium chassis, a carrycot which is suitable for overnight sleeping and a seat unit which can be used until the child weighs 25kg.

Above: The Red Kite’s Push Me Cube is available in three funky colour options, including this stunning Jaffa.

for all this and more; with style, adaptability and functionality rating high on most wishlists. “Just like their home and personal technologies, parents want a pushchair that is adaptable to suit their lifestyle and needs,” agrees Debbie Wakefield, marketing manager of UK and Ireland at Dorel Juvenile. “Style conscious parents still want products which are going to make life easier!” Dorel’s two leading brands, MaxiCosi and Quinny, are designed and created with parents in mind. “We offer something for every lifestyle,” she continues. “Whether they’re looking for a compact and lightweight pushchair and an all-terrain country companion in Maxi-Cosi or the ultimate urban explorer in a standout colour from Quinny.” With two new offerings for 2019 – the Quinny Hubb and Maxi-Cosi Lila – Dorel has plenty to offer for the coming year. Both models are compact and lightweight yet still able to change from a 

The Third Generation The latest in the multi award-winning Oyster series from BabyStyle is the revolutionary Oyster3. The Oyster3 has been designed using vital input from parents and testers about what they really want from a pushchair, with higher seat and carrycot positions making it much easier to look after the baby. Despite being bigger and taller than the Oyster2, it actually folds smaller with the seat unit still in place. The chassis is available in Oyster City Grey and Mirror, both of which are finely finished with a handstitched textured handle. A coordinating carrycot with rocker base and stabilisers is also available, while the matching Oyster Carapace Infant i-Size seat can be fitted to create a full travel system. Below: The Oyster3 is the latest addition to the multi award-winning series from BabyStyle.

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FOCU S ON : P U S H CH A I R S A N D ST ROLLER S Left: Bebecar’s BX3 is an eight-piece bundle at an appealing pricepoint which launched into selected stores at the end of 2018.

Best For Baby “The fundamental needs of parents looking for a pushchair are functionality, good quality and value for money – whatever the budget. The reality is that many are also looking for guidance, as very few people have any understanding of what they require from a pram before they need one. For example, it might be easier to clip a car seat onto a chassis than it is to move a sleeping newborn into a carrycot, but that’s not necessarily the best thing for the baby. We must always consider the comfort and wellbeing of the babies who use our products, above anyone’s convenience or trends. Bebecar’s BX3 is an eight-piece bundle brings our quality to a wider audience with its appealing pricepoint. It launched into selected stores at the end of last year, with store display materials and digital assets helping to give it a fantastic boost. The Glitz is at the other end of the spectrum. After a retailer’s video went viral showing the display model in Cologne, we have received countless enquiries from consumers. It’s not mainstream, but it’s certainly been the most talked-about piece in our range. We’re excited for the first stock arriving in February!” Kevin Golding, commercial director, Bebecar UK

“For fashion-forward brands such as Quinny, it has never been more important to be interchangeable,” explains Debbie. “For us, customisation is key and with the new Quinny Hubb, we’ve considered everything, including the dark grey chassis for a touch of sophistication and style.” Holly John, Chicco’s marketing manager, agrees that it is important to meet the needs of busy parents on the go. “Our innovation team is always developing solutions that make travelling as pain-free as possible and we constantly seek customer feedback to find out the changing needs of the market,” she begins. “Parents are often looking for ways to save time, money and space. As a result, many brands have expanded on their traditional range of strollers to include more compact alternatives, which easily fold down into small sizes.” Chicco is no different and has introduced the OhLaLa stroller, an extremely light and compact model which weighs just 3.8kg and has a one-hand book-folding mechanism. , “From one-hand folding mechanisms to reclining seats and adjustable leg rests, strollers now offer a range of features to meet the changing demands of both parents and children, and these evolving demands are all reflected in our ever-expanding range,” says Holly. Chicco strollers are all suitable from birth, meaning they can grow Below: Chicco’s Oh La La is a lightweight but adaptable stroller which can be used from birth. Below right: Dorel’s hero for 2019 is the brand new modular pushchair, the Quinny Hubb.

with the child, and despite being an extremely compact and light stroller the Chicco OhLaLa also has a large amount of storage space – another increasingly important feature! Sara Berggren, Thule’s international product manager, points out that what parents are looking for in a stroller depends very much on the sort of lifestyle they live. “The common factors are safety and comfort for the child and convenience for the parents, but they are also looking for certain guarantees: Will it last? Can I use it if I have more children? Will it have second-hand value after my kids have used it?” “If the parents live an active life, they want a pushchair that offers excellent comfort for their children,” she explains. “Smooth rolling, sun visors, ventilation, soft interiors, noiseless openings – it’s the detailing that separates a great stroller from an average one.” Sara believes that, as with many other consumer products that are used on a daily basis for several years, the stroller category is less about short-term fashion trends and more about design styles chosen by various brands. “We aim to keep our design ontrend but still simple and timeless,” she says. “In general, people are living more active outdoor lifestyles, so strollers are increasingly adapting to this. Meeting those demands in smart ways with high quality well-designed products will be key going forward.” Thule’s hero product for 2019 is the Thule Sleek, which launched globally last autumn and offers an incredible 14 different seating configurations. “The Thule Sleek can grow with your family without compromising on its compact size and manoeuvrability,” says Sara. “We have already seen some fantastic

 single to a tandem as the family grows,

offering longevity and adaptability. The new super-stylish modular pushchair comes complete with a huge shopping basket, Duo seat, hop-on board, one-hand fold and one-touch brake. The extendable sun canopy has UV protection of 50+, while the Hubb itself can be built in up to 12 different configurations, making it perfect for newborns as well. PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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i-Top pram shown in Mod Grey

Watch the video:

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MAGIC

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FOCU S ON : P U S H CH A I R S A N D ST ROLLER S Left: The Book 51 S pushchair from Peg Perego offers unique, classic styling and versatility. The new colourway Luxe Mirage will be coming into the UK in March 2019.

The Attenborough Effect According to Phil Howe, country manager at Peg Perego, one of the most important innovations in the pushchair market in recent years has been the ‘Attenborough Effect’. “This is where more and more parents are looking for less wasteful and more sustainable options,” explains Phil. “And of course this makes total sense. After all, could there be a consumer segment with more vested interest in protecting the next generation?” Peg Perego – which is celebrating 70 years in business in 2019 – has some exciting developments afoot in this area and is currently working hard to create pushchair fabrics made from recycled materials and others which absorb harmful particles present in the air. “There is so much choice in the market, with brands offering competing functionalities,” says Phil. “We have to keep pushing forwards. Ultimately though, we find most sales come down to a small set of factors: style, substance and customer service. Parents like to be reassured that they can rely on a personal service from us and our network of independent retailers.”

Obaby and ABC Design have noticed a couple of important innovations within the pushchair market over recent years, explains Beth. “Firstly, we have found that strollers like our Salsa4, which can be used for children weighing up to 25kg, give customers added peace of mind. Ease of use and manoeuvrability is also key and lastly, we have found that being able to let babies sleep overnight in the carrycots is a good space saver for parents on the go.” Obaby’s Salsa4 and Zoom Tandem both meet all of these needs; the Zoom in particular has an impressive amount of seating options, but ABC Design’s German engineering has ensured that its manoeuvrability isn’t compromised in the slightest. “Our hero product for 2019 is the multi award winning ABC Design Zoom tandem,” says Beth. “It is the only tandem to offer true face-to-face interaction for children and continues to be the ultimate system for twins as it never fails to meet the requirements of today’s modern families.” Over at Red Kite, commercial director Debra Tucker reports a similar trend as customers continue to seek out versatile travel systems and lightweight strollers. “We see a strong demand for both ends of the spectrum,” she Below: The fantastically compact, fourwheel Thule Sleek is a dependable city stroller that grows as parents’ families grow.

reveals. “Sustained sales for the traditional umbrella fold buggy meant that we struggled to keep most of our Push Me range of buggies in stock throughout 2018!” Ease of use, simple to store and value for money seems to still attract consumers to the traditional buggy, especially for the second child and older toddler. For newborns however, Red Kite’s award-winning travel system the Push Me Fusion continues to be a popular choice. “The current focus seems to be the compact fold stroller,” says Debra. “How small can it go? That appears to be the key challenge at the moment, although it has resulted in market saturation with a multitude of designs and models now available. Brands are continuing to introduce new models though; who knows if this style will replace the more traditional stroller?” Red Kite currently have two models in its range that offer the modern, compact three-fold style – the exceptional value Push Me Sprint which features a luggagestyle pull-along handle and the Push Me Cube, which is available in three funky colour options. “Fashions follow trends in colour and design,” says Debra, “and while some brands excel in innovative funky prints and designs, simple colour blocks will always remain popular” It seems then, that 2019 is likely to show a demand for the practical and value-led consumer purchase. After all, good style never goes out of fashion.

 sales figures in central Europe and

North America and are convinced it will be a global hit in 2019.” Beth Henry, who looks after the marketing for Obaby, agrees that style often comes second to functionality. “We find that parent’s main requirements are the weight of the pushchair, how compact it folds and whether it is suitable from birth. Style is secondary.” PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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WHAT’S NEW PUSHCHAIRS/STROLLERS BABYZEN Say goodbye to strollers that tip under the weight of bags dangling from the handlebar with the new YOYO+ Shopping bag. Hooked onto the stroller and sitting on a rolling base means the bag effortlessly carries 10kg additional weight, and the lightweight YOYO+ remains stable and manoeuvrable with its signature one-hand steering. It comes in a choice of colours and is machine washable at 30°C. www.whitestep.co.uk enquiry@whitestep.co.uk +44(0)20 7323 95 14

BÉBÉCAR The Prive collection from Bebecar features handfinished designer details, sparkles, lace overlays, embroidery and more, creating absolutely stunning prams. The entire Prive collection will be in stock in the coming weeks, but two colours are available now, including the Pink Frosting, shown here on the Stylo Class. www.bebecar.co.uk Tel: +44(0) 1692 408801

BÉBÉCAR Bébécar new 2019 Specials fabrics are now in stock. Made in quilted leatherette, in a choice of five colours. Specials are available on three chassis – the Hip Hop+, i-Top and Stylo Class+, which all come with carrycot and pushchair seat (with their own hoods), raincover and car safety kit. +44 (0) 1692 408801 www.bebecar.co.uk

DIDOFY The innovative didofy Lotus has been designed by parents for parents with one simple aim - to provide a reliable, safe, smart and highly practical stroller which is easy to use. Using the latest technology, the didofy Lotus is an auto-folding stroller which is simple to use, smart and stylish www.didofy.com sales@didofy.com

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Modern classic toys for Christmas

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Happy and hygenic

Pacifiers that close when dropped, new to Hippychick

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WHAT’S NEW PUSHCHAIRS/STROLLERS GRACO An ‘all-in-one’ design, that incorporates a fully reversible 3 position seat with lie flat comfort so that baby can be forward or rearward facing. A Graco signature, convenient one hand fold and adjustable handle for ease of use. For short naps or longer walks, the Graco Evo Avant can be used with the Graco Evo Luxury Carrycot to create a luxurious lie flat pram giving ultimate comfort for your newborn baby. The Graco Evo Avant INK is exclusive to Independent Nursery Retailers. www.graco.co.uk +44( 0) 1889 808 900 uksales@allisonbaby.co.uk

QUINNY HUBB Quinny Hubb is a spacious, highly comfortable and completely modular pushchair. Available with a flexible Duo accessory, the Quinny Hubb can keep adapting to your life. Just add one of the matching from-birth solutions, extra storage capacity or even a second seat! No matter what life throws at you, with the Quinny Hubb you’re ready for anything. www.quinny.com +44(0)1284 413141

MAXI-COSI LILA Designed to have a cocoon-like quality and shape, the new Lila from Maxi-Cosi is so much more than a stylish pushchair. This great all-rounder sets a new standard in comfort and support for both mother and baby, making the Lila the next best place, after your arms. www.maxi-cosi.co.uk

THULE SLEEK Explore new places, discover new streets or simply getting out and about with little ones is easy with Thule Sleek, the smart, safe and stylish new city stroller from Thule. Lightweight, versatile and highly manoeuvrable and designed for the active urban parent, Thule Sleek offers ease of handling, superior comfort and versatility – ideal for tackling crowded areas, narrow streets, bumpy sidewalks and busy public transport. www.thule.com

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B EDT I ME B I T S

p y SlEas

Sleep – it’s the hot topic of conversation and a potential source of anxiety for all parents of young children. Where should they sleep? Will they be safe there? What should they wear? Are they sleeping for long enough? And how can we make them sleep for longer? Luckily, there are plenty of companies offering solutions for all of these concerns, as PPS finds out.

leep is important for everyone, both babies and adults. While there is a plethora of information at hand, most parents are just looking for a simple bedtime routine, free from bells, whistles and unnecessary complications. However, babies’ needs can be as different as the grown-ups looking after them, so it’s not easy to categorise their sleep habits – expect the unexpected is a sensible mantra. Below: The Gro Company’s Percy the Penguin Light and Sound Sleep Aid features Intelligent CrySensor technology.

“Parents need some basic information to help improve the quality of their baby’s sleep,” says Emma Dutton, marketing manager at Hardenberg & Co. “A simple indication of temperature, for example, can help parents to adjust the nursery conditions for the perfect night’s rest.” The key for many parents is striking a balance between necessary detail versus technological overload that may worry or cause anxiety. “The biggest parental sleep concern is the baby becoming unresponsive while it is asleep,” continues Emma. “Many parents struggle when they are away from their child; the physical separation creates anxiety which in turn can adversely affect the parents work, rest and sleep.” Angelcare’s AC517 Baby Movement Monitor with video and movement sensor pad is an award-winning baby monitor designed to give parents peace of mind while baby is asleep. The sensor pad can be individually set-up to suit each family’s specific needs. Once configured, parents

Inset: Angelcare’s AC517 monitor offers fantastic video with both day and night vision.

Safe Space For Sleep “Our Breathable Bedside Crib was inspired by the fact that sleep-deprived parents are still co-sleeping despite the well-documented risks. The awardwinning Little Chick London Bedside Crib is designed to ‘almost’ give the experience of co-sleeping, but without those risks. The crib height is level with the parent’s own bed mattress and the sides are made from breathable mesh, so that the baby can easily be soothed and reassured, but is contained in its own safe space. The crib also folds easily for storage, so is great for those with limited space and for occasional use at grandparents.” Rachelle Harel, director, Little Chick London

Above: East Coast’s Cleaner Sleep Micro Pocket Spring Mattress won gold for Best Sleep Product at the 2019 Mother & Baby Awards.

will only be alerted if the baby hasn’t moved for 20 seconds, explains Emma. Combining this with clear video and sound means parents can relax knowing their baby is being fully monitored. “Parent feedback on the new range is overwhelmingly positive,” she adds. “It gives parents real peace of mind.” PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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The Winnie the Pooh Dreams and Wishes nursery furniture set is perfect for families with Winnie the Pooh in mind, and features adorable illustrations of Winnie and friends, co-ordinated delightfully throughout all items in the set.

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B EDT I ME B I T S

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Victoria Taylor, the brand manager at East Coast Nursery, is quick to agree that it’s important that everyone in the family is able to get a good night’s sleep. “There are plenty of products available that claim to help babies sleep,” she says, “but it’s vital for parents to remember the role they need to play – creating and sticking to a bedtime routine.” Safety plays an important part in that bedtime routine and is of paramount concern when it comes to sleep. “It’s so important to make sure parents are following the safe sleep guidelines given by organisations like The Lullaby Trust,” continues Victoria. “As suppliers of cribs, cots, mattresses and bedding, it’s our responsibility to ensure we supply quality products that parents can feel confident in.” As one of those quality products, East Coast’s award-winning Cleaner Sleep Micro Pocket Spring Mattress features a host of added extras including a cover made from quilted anti-microbial Amicor fabric, which prevents both allergens and dust mites. Rob Pascoe, commercial and marketing director at The Gro Company, is also keen to focus on the safety aspect of baby’s sleep. “In recent years parents have become much more aware of Safer Sleep advice,” he points out. “Advice from the Lullaby Trust covers everything from safer sleep products to temperature control and the need for a firm flat mattress and clear cot. This research, along with various technological advances, has also allowed us to create products

Cozy and Safe “Sleeping for babies and parents alike has become a big discussion point in recent years. With changing parenting styles and research often making parents doubt their decisions, it can be a rough ride to dream land for everyone. At Juddlies Designs we think through parents’ needs with products that can help with these rough nights. The Juddlies dream sack is the modern day version of a wearable blanket that is both cozy and safe, while every sleepsuit has a double zipper which ensures night-time changes are super-fast and easy. Baby doesn’t even have time to wake up!” Karen Becker, head of sales, Juddlies Designs

that help parents follow safer sleep advice and make bedtimes easier.” The Gro Company’s Grobag is the leading baby sleep bag and the only one recommended by The Lullaby Trust. “In research carried out we found that 80% of parents perceive Grobags and The Gro Company to be the safest brand of baby sleep bags,” Rob reveals. “This endorsement reflects the care and attention that we put into our product, making it a favourite choice for parents.” Further research has revealed that 81% of parents consider Gro products to be ‘parenting essentials’, reflecting the confidence that consumers have in the brand. “Carrying The Gro Company products also gives retailers peace of mind,” Rob adds. “Our active social media, PR and advertising campaigns ensure that our range of products is well-supported and remains front of mind as quality essentials that parents are looking for when shopping for their little ones.” Of course, once little ones have got safely off to sleep, the second part of the battle is keeping them there for as long as possible! Chicco’s Next2Me was the first side-sleeping crib on the UK market, giving parents the option of safer cosleeping, allowing for easier and less disruptive night-time feeds. “We have also developed a range of soothing nightlights, plush toys and other clever accessories to help keep little

Above left: Little Chick London’s Breathable Bedside Crib is a relatively new product, so is ideal for the independent retail market. Above: Chicco’s Lullaby Sheep has a voice recorder function to help babies drift off to sleep in peace, while the sensor will re-activate the toy if little one wakes up during the night.

ones settled,” says marketing manager Holly John, “but being able to feed and comfort babies easily throughout the night is the holy grail. We are making sure parents are aware of the benefits of side-sleeping as it provides a safe and secure sleeping environment which allows parents and babies to share those special bonding moments without compromising on safety.” The latest addition to Chicco’s Next2Me family, the Next2Me Magic, launched in 2018 and offers a host of new features, such as a new one-hand sliding panel, a rocking mechanism that can be operated in free-standing mode, adjustable height and tilt modes to support babies with reflux or congestion and mesh side panels for improved air flow. It’s natural for parents to worry about their children while they are asleep – after all, it’s often the only time they are left unsupervised! Luckily, a wide range of products on the market allow mums and dads to follow safe sleep advice, meaning that there’s a better night’s sleep out there for everyone. Left: The Juddlies dream sack is both cozy and safe, to help babies sleep comfortably.

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WHAT’S NEW HALILIT Comfort and development are rolled into one with this beautifully illustrated play mat. With four adorable characters representing the four seasons, it is specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of newborn babies, featuring side panels that can be raised in earlier months for a cosier and safe environment for your baby to wriggle and play in, or flattened to create an extra padded play mat. Also includes two detachable, double sided, multi-sensory toys – a Prince the Penguin clear ring rattle toy, and a rainbow baby-safe mirror with colourful ribbons. info@taftoys.com www.halilit.co.uk sales@halilit.co.uk

CUBBIES Fiona takes her first ever trip to Cubbyland, with her best friend Aurora. But Aurora is no ordinary unicorn. Here, Fiona learns the most beautiful secret of all. What magic will she discover? Cubbies – www.Cubbies.co +44(0)1253 296142

INFANTINO Further developing its award-winning Sensory toy range, Infantino are thrilled to unveil the brandnew Senso’ Ball Drop Piano. With over 22 exciting functions, this creative musical toy is bound to inspire little one’s senses, helping children develop vital aspects of coordination using light, sound and play. Suitable from nine months+ www.infantino.com

HALILIT A delightful first toy for babies, the Prince the Penguin Baby Soother is designed to both soothe and calm at bedtime, and entertain and engage during daytime. Including two musical modes – soothing for bedtime with a soft light and play mode with four tuneful melodies. Also includes a light mode, which acts as a soft night light for the duration of 10 minutes, gently helping your little one to drift off. info@taftoys.com www.halilit.co.uk sales@halilit.co.uk

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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WHAT’S NEW VITAL BABY Bring the waterpark to bath time with Stick & Slide. With a simple attachment to the side of the bath, baby can easily play with the colourful set, which includes a slide, frog and duck squirters and skis for endless bath time adventures. www.vitalbaby.com +44(0)20 0422 2437

SCOOTASEATZ Scootaseatz encourage outdoor play and creativity, enabling children to strap in their favourite cuddly toy and take them along for the adventure. +44 (0)7971 789767 www.scootaheadz.com

BABYFOOD PRO Perfect for warming winter meals, this innovative kitchen gadget includes a cleverly hidden bottle warming function, warming milk to the ideal temperature for easy feeding preparation from day one. When little ones are ready for weaning, the BabyFood Pro is an essential tool for creating homemade, nutritious meals from healthy first purees in the early stages through to different tailored textures as little one grows. www.vitalbaby.com +44(0)7004222437

INFANTINO Set to cause a splash at bathtime is the Inflatable Whale Bubble Bath, a soft and supportive bath, which comes complete with 10 floating balls, ensuring a whale of a good time. Perfect for helping little ones’ transition into a large tub. Deflates and folds easily, making it ideal for home or travel. www.infantino.com

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WHAT’S NEW BIBETTA The new UltraBibs and UltraBibs with Sleeves from Bibetta – These stylish new designs are available in Tropical Fish, Flamingo and Hippo. www.bibetta .com enquires@bibetta.com +44(0)1223840236

LITTLELIFE Elmer the Patchwork Elephant will be heading out on more adventures as LittleLife, specialists in great outdoor gear for families, launches an Elmer toddler backpack to celebrate its 30th year. Perfect for children aged one to three years, the Elmer backpack comes complete with a detachable safety rein, handy top grab handle, and a two-litre main compartment and is available to order now. www.littlelife.com +44(0)1189811433

SAMBRO Sambro will be launching a hero playset from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which will feature Ariel in her own underwater world. Combining arts & craft with traditional role play, the set includes dough tubs, press moulds and character templates to re-enact favourite movie scenes. www.sambro.co.uk +44(0)845 873 9380 sales@sambro.co.uk Toy fair : Upper Level 400

PEG PEREGO Introducing the Primo Viaggio i-Size car seat, approved to the new ECE R 129 standard. Sold with the i-Size Base and fits Peg Perego’s range of strollers. Engineered for superior safety, the roomy seat offers special features including the tri-stage cushion; adjustable side-impact protection from birth to 83cm height, 13kg (15 months); extendable hood (UPF 50+); and mesh side netting for ventilation. www.pegperego.co.uk phil.howe@pegperego.com

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WHAT’S NEW BÉABA Béaba NEW European-made Babycook Neo is the only baby food maker with a glass bowl and a stainless steel steam basket. The easy-to-use and stylish Neo’s four simple settings eliminate the need for pots, a blender and a microwave, which means that baby food is easier to make than ever before. Parents can steam cook, blend, re-heat or defrost food into super smooth or chunky purées for their little ones. Importantly, the unique pulse-blend feature ensures that baby gets the correct consistency of food every step of their weaning journey. www.beaba.com enquiriesuk@beaba.com

BÉABA BÉABA, the innovative parenting brand best known for its revolutionary Babycook 4-in-1 food processor, introduces its NEW Up & Down Bouncer following the launch of its Up & Down Highchair earlier this year. Suitable from birth to six months, its foam padded cushion makes it extremely comfortable and its integrated ‘head hugger’ offers full head support. It has a 5-point harness for extra safety and has a practical integrated lockable rocking system, which can be used to comfort baby with a gentle swaying motion. www.beaba.com enquiriesuk@beaba.com

USBORNE Little children will love peeping through the holes in the pages as they help Poppy and Sam search for Easter eggs in this charming book. On each double-page it looks as though they’ve spotted an egg, but when they turn the page the “egg” turns out to be something else. www.usborne.com +44(0)207 430 2800

WELOVEFRUGI In addition to the Ready for School range, the clever team at Frugi have also introduced their first dinner set. Made from eco-friendly bamboo, and BPA, PCP and Phthalates free, the 5-piece set includes a plate, bowl, cup, fork and spoon, all dishwasher safe. Neatly packaged the Bamboo Dinner Set makes the ideal gift. www.welovefrugi.com +44 (0)1326 572828

RED CASTLE Red Castle’s Babynomade is a super soft and snuggly baby blanket suitable for babies aged 0-6 months. Practical and easy to use, baby can be quickly and simply wrapped up in just three easy steps. This multipurpose ergonomic baby blanket, with its clever sleeveless design, has an enveloping hood to keep baby’s head warm, whilst its slide flaps wrap over the body. It can be used in a car seat, carrycot, stroller, or when carrying baby. Plus, its inner waist belt and Velcro closing means that it won’t keep coming undone, keeping baby completely comfortable. With rain resistant fabric and the warmth of the synthetic fur lining, Red Castle’s Babynomade keeps little one snug and warm wherever they are. www.redcastle.fr natalie.jackson@beaba.com

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WHAT’S NEW NIBBLING The Nibbling Cube is small for little hands and extra tactile for exploring the mouth and fingers of young babies. Designed and produced in London with natural wood beads and BPA free Silicone. Our designs are a contemporary twist to a must have sensory toy. We mix medical grade silicone beads with untreated hand polished beach beads to give a beautiful texture and contrast. www.nibbling.co.uk sales@nibbling.co.uk

LITTLE CHICK The baby brand renowned for making life a little less worrying for new parents – has added to its mattress range for 2019. Its breathable mattress, which was originally designed to complement the Little Chick London breathable bedside crib, has proved so popular with retailers and their customers that the company has expanded its range to a second size. Together with the new 80cm by 44cm size and the original 90cm by 40cm size – Little Chick London now has a mattress to fit most makes of crib including the popular SnuzPod3 +44(0) 7976 773486 hello@littlechick.london www.littlechick.london

BRITAX The lightest and most compact double buggy in Britax Römer’s growing pushchair range, the BRITAX HOLIDAY DOUBLE is only 76cm wide and suitable for children from six months – three years of age (15kg). The BRITAX HOLIDAY DOUBLE is the perfect solution for travelling with two young children. Weighing just nine kilograms, it offers complete freedom thanks to the comfortable and convenient carry straps that can go over the shoulder or be worn similar to a backpack, allowing for mum and dad to chase after their youngsters with ease. www.britax.com Service.uk@britax.com +44 (0)1264 386034

SIGNATURE GIFTS Ready for your first sing-along? Then strap in with this personalised sound book version of Old Macdonald had a Farm by Signature Gifts, which is part of the First Steps book range and perfect for a developing mind. key.accounts@signature-gifts.co.uk +(0)1582 464817 www.signature-gifts.co.uk

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WHAT’S NEW HIPPYCHICK The Cloby range includes the swaddle clips. Two stylish, magnetic clips covered with high quality leather on one side and sturdy canvas on the other, available in brown or black. The clip is reversible and extremely versatile. Secure your swaddle blanket, attach a toy to keep baby entertained, clip a bag together, use to hang shopping from your pushchair, the possibilities are endless. www.hippychick.com/cloby enquires@hippychick.com +44(0)1278 434440

BAMBINO MIO

ALPHA Super Wings, the UK’s most loved animated pre-school property is set for a soaring 2019! As ratings continue to rise for the massively popular animation featured on kid’s favourites, Tiny Pop and Cartoonito, all new exciting Super Wings products are set to be released in line with their upcoming series. Super Wings readies for take- off with a whole new twist for series 3, introducing ‘mission’ teams and a host of new airplane friends. 2019 sees a new range of products, from impulse purchase mini- flyers, to high flying Jett and the TV promoted Build- itBuddies playset, the range is set to soar off the shelves! Kerry.tarrant@alphaanimation.com +44 (0)1293 804599 www.alphatoys.com/toys

MUSLINZ Baby accessories specialist MuslinZ has launched a brandnew print featuring abstract circles in a warm gold shade to be available in both the 70cm Bamboo Organic Cotton Muslin Squares and 120cm Swaddles. The print, which will be available from March, boasts the on-trend muted gold shade which works perfectly as a unisex colour and also sits well with the gold nursery furniture and travel systems that are emerging currently. MuslinZ info@merrygorounduk.co.uk, +44(0)1295 810008 www.muslinz.com

Launching their new collection for 2019 which is called Bug’s Life, Bambino Mio are thrilled to present the four new Bug’s Life designs include butterfly bloom, happy hopper, loveable ladybug and dragonfly daze. These designs will be available across a range of our award-winning eco-friendly products, including reusable nappies, change mats and wet bags. www.bambinomio.com +44 (0)1604 883 777 enquiries@bambinomio.com

ORANGE TREE TOYS Orange Tree Toys has three new character concepts for 2019; Animal Pirates, Animal Fairies and Dinosaurs. As you would expect from Orange Tree Toys, all three collections are bright and colourful and include a collaboration of core products such as Skittles, Puzzles, Push Alongs, Pull Alongs and much more. www.orangetreetoys.com sales@orangetreetoys.com +44(0)1242 244500

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WHAT’S NEW 8TH WONDER Bring over 21 years’ experience of designing and manufacturing OEM wooden and plush products. 8th Wonder have produced some great new lines with the ever so popular BBC pre-school licences Hey Duggee, Something Special Mr Tumble and Sarah & Duck” www.8thwonder.co.uk +44(0)1942829811 info@8thwonder.co.uk

BABY K’TAN

DK From trucks and tractors to pirate ships, carriages and even a broomstick, the imaginative and colourful 100 First Things That Go is perfect for sharing with your child. This cased board book is the third instalment in the highly successful, award-winning series, and little ones are encouraged to point, touch and name the transport on display with an intuitive labelling system, crystal clear photos and engaging illustrations. The perfect gift for any baby or toddler, this beautiful book is cleverly designed to allow confident development of speech whilst providing enjoyment for parent and child. www.dk.com +44(0)2071392000 sales@uk.dk.com

Baby K’tan Baby Carriers. With a patented double-loop design, this baby sling wrap easily slips on like a t-shirt without any wrapping or buckling. Cloth baby slings allow you to carry baby from birth to toddlerhood in multiple positions. These cloth baby carriers are available in soft, natural and breathable fabrics www.babyktan.co.uk : info@2012ltd.co.uk +44(0)1202 303 777

JOIE 2019 sees an exciting expansion of this best-selling platform with an all-new i-Size rotating car seat for Joie, the i-Spin 360. The i-Spin 360 is suitable from birth up to 105 cm or 19kgs. A huge benefit of i-Spin 360 is the one-hand spin capability, which can be operated by independent buttons on each side of the seat offering parents an effortless way to get their child in and out of the car – even in a 3-door vehicle. +44(0)1889 808 900 uksales@joiebaby.com www.joiebaby.com

DOLU TOY FACTORY 2019 is set to be a strong year for Dolu, with over 40 new items in the range, and refresh of the existing lines to improve the colour and decal options, introducing a dedicated Unicorn range of products, and extending the unisex offering so that products all match as we know that consumers like to buy in to an aesthetically matching range of products, even for children’s toys. sales@sjr-associates.co.uk +44(0)7850779797 Steve or Ria Richardson

PROGRES SIVE PRESCHOOL

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Designed in Germany

Urban design and intelligent functions on four easy-steer wheels for style-conscious and active parents. The Salsa is suitable from birth and is dynamic, lightweight and extremely easy to manoeuvre. Its contemporary look is in keeping with its fashion-conscious and functional design. Surprisingly compact when folded with the seat unit supporting a maximum weight of 25kg and including UPF 50+ sun protection. Front swivel wheels enhance its agility. Ball bearings and integrated suspension also add to the smoothness of the ride, even on the biggest rural adventures.

What‘s in the box? • Chassis (lightweight and compact fold) • Carrycot (suitable from birth and for overnight sleeping) • Seat unit (with large 25kg maximum capacity seat unit) • Car seat adapters (compatible with Maxi-Cosi, Cybex and Kiddy) • Mosquito net (for use with carrycot and seat unit) • Cup holder (with numerous accessory points on chassis to attach) • Raincover Optional extras: • Car Seat • Matching accessories

Piano

Think Baby.

Race

Leaf

Mountain

Race

Walnut

abc-design.uk.com

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The Home of Classic Characters

, E120 at: Toy Fair n o i t c e oll ir, Hall 5, Stand H21 See our complete 2019 C pring Fa S & 2 Nuremberg Toy Fair, Hall 1, Stand E2 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

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