Progressive Preschool November December 2022

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P r e s c h o o l N e w s . n e t is the new online resource for the preschool product and retail sector. From the publishers of Progressive Preschool Magazine and the organisers of the Progressive Preschool Awards, this new website and e-newsflash portal will provide the very latest news, views, and analysis across the preschool product and retail sector.

THIS MONTH

Brightly coloured trees are starting to appear in homes, lights are twinkling across high streets up and down the country, the festive films are starting to appear in TV schedules, cupboards are filling up with food not to be touched until Christmas and the preschool industry is full on into its key sales period of the year.

Launching with an unrivalled email subscriber base of 12,087 readers, a twice weekly newsflash will land directly in the inboxes of everyone in this fast-paced industry. A modern, easy to navigate website will provide a central resource for the trade too, offering news, in-depth articles, an industry jobs board, retail analysis, digital issues of Progressive Preschool, and much much more.

It’s easy to be positive at this time of year… the majority of people you meet are smiling, cheered by the thought of Christmas with their families and friends and, for many, some precious time off. This year there’s also the added bonus of the World Cup to raise spirits, although for retail this is likely to have created another curveball when it comes to getting consumers’ attention and into stores.

Alongside the festive joie de vivre, however, there is still the cost of living shadow… retailers are doing all they can to get people shopping – including some significant price promotions where they can offer them – but it remains to be seen how sales will ultimately shake down.

Christmas falling on a Sunday,

too, means that sales this year are likely to go right to the wire on Christmas Eve, and that is certainly what NPD is predicting from the toy category. Latest data from the company has shown that consumers have been cutting back on buying toys at the lowest and highest ends of the price scale. Notably, toys priced under £10 have experienced some of the largest declines in the first three quarters of the year vs. the same period in 2021 and, if the budgeting trend in this segment of the market continues in December, lower priced toys often used as stocking fillers, could be at risk.

At the other end of the spectrum, toys sold for £50 and over have declined -8%. With Christmas approaching, the NPD Group usually reports an increase in the big-ticket items for the final months of the year, and so far in 2022, this trend has yet to emerge. What has emerged though, is that sales of toys priced from £20 to £49.99 are up +7% as some consumers may be purchasing multiple mid-priced toys rather than one big one.

The magazine and awards do a great job in joining the dots between toy, nursery, gift, apparel, publishing, and of course licensingand this digital offering will further enhance our position as a trade media partner that offers a tangible response to advertising investment.

Meanwhile, in Baby Care, the last quarter of the year is traditionally the worst performing, so less emphasis is

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PreschoolNews net is the new online resource for the preschool product and retail sector. From the publishers of Progressive Preschool Magazine and the organisers of the Progressive Preschool Awards, this new website and e-newsflash portal will provide the very latest news, views, and analysis across the preschool product and retail sector.

Copyright 2022. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

Launching with an unrivalled email subscriber base of 12,087 readers, a twice weekly newsflash will land directly in the inboxes of everyone in this fast-paced industry. A modern, easy to navigate website will provide a central resource for the trade too, offering news, in-depth articles, an industry jobs board, retail analysis, digital issues of Progressive Preschool, and much much more.

ISSN 2515-8570

The magazine and awards do a great job in joining the dots between toy, nursery, gift, apparel, publishing, and of course licensingand this digital offering will further enhance our position as a trade media partner that offers a tangible response to advertising investment.

All advertising on the website is duplicated to each and every newsflash, giving advertisers huge visibility and direct impact to retail buyers.

Preschoo News net is published by preschool sector experts, for preschool trade experts.

EDITORIAL AND CONTENT:

ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL:

Jo Pilcher jop@max-publishing.co.uk

Rob Willis robw@max-publishing.co.uk

Jacqui Parr jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk Sam Loveday saml@max-publishing.co.uk

Preschoolnews.net is published by preschool sector experts…

placed on the Christmas run in. Latest data from GfK shows that Baby Care has had a good nine months and has delivered a great recovery from the impact of the pandemic. Highchairs, Soothers and Teethers have posted the best value performance for the last six years, while Strollers have also experienced a bounce back this year with the healthiest value growth in Baby Care at +35% year on year.

It’s clear there will have been winners and losers this year, and also those who have just been focused on keeping an even keel. For us at Progressive Preschool, being able to round the year off with the tenth anniversary celebration of the Progressive Preschool Awards was a particular highlight – if you were unable to join us you can check out all the winners from page 20. Also, make a note in your diary for Tuesday 14 November 2023.

All advertising on the website is duplicated to each and every newsflash, giving advertisers huge visibility and direct impact to retail buyers.

For now, the team wishes you the merriest of Christmases, and a happy and healthy New Year. See you in 2023.

P r e s c h o o l N e w s . n e t is published by preschool sector experts, for preschool trade experts.

The Progressive Preschool Team

Samantha Loveday, Rob Willis, Jo Pilcher and Katie Roberts-Mason.

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net

Above: The Progressive Preschool Awards marked 10 years in November.

Retailers remain positive ahead of final weeks of Christmas trading

While the recent Autumn Statement and the £13.6 billion package of support for business rate payers in England has provided some relief for UK retailers, falling consumer confidence and continuous squeezing of consumer budgets are still causing concern on the high street.

Despite difficult times, though, indies in the preschool sector are cautiously optimistic about Christmas trading. Although consumers are tightening purse strings, it seems that

spending for children at Christmas will still go ahead, albeit slightly differently this year.

Julia Marsen, director of fun at Ottie and The Bea, said: “A lot of people are saying that they have arranged as a family to just buy for children this year.”

Families may also be organising gifts differently, as Claire Coburn, owner of the Daisy Tree Baby Boutique, explained: “I think what the cost of living crisis has meant for children is that families are all clubbing together to buy one larger present rather than several smaller ones.

“It’s a much more sustainable

way to shop anyway and means that the cost is spread across several family members making it more cost effective for everyone but without the children missing out and also without the pressure to buy presents that you can’t really afford.”

Expectations overall are that trading will be down slightly, but that business will still be strong for Christmas. Julia continued: “I am expecting a slower Christmas this year – people seem to be looking still, getting ideas and I expect that we will be down slightly this year – although it feels as if normal trading was pre-Covid and quite a

Manchester Central to join The Baby Show in 2023

Clarion Events has confirmed further expansion to its live event programme next year, with Manchester Central joining the line-up of shows.

Currently held three times a year at ExCeL London in March, the NEC Birmingham in May, and Olympia London in October, The Baby Show is adding a new date and location to its programme with the new Manchester show from 14-16 April.

The addition highlights continued growth for the show after 21 years and the new location offers the opportunity to reach a new geographical market in the North West and local suppliers.

The current three live events welcome over 70,000 visitors across the year, and the new addition is set to increase that audience to 90,000. Again, The Baby Show will be investing in the visitor experience

with a packed programme of expert talks on the Live Talks Stage and complementary baby changing and feeding area.

Mallory Reynolds-Trout, show manager, said: "The Baby Show has helped over one million parents over the past 21 years and it is important that we continue to build upon the premium live shopping experience we already offer.

"By expanding into the North West, we can bring The Baby Show experience to parents within this and surrounding regions and continue to help many more families feel confident when making those big-purchase decisions.

"The Baby Show offers those who join us a unique visitor experience and all aspects of what is much-loved about our current UK shows will be replicated at the Manchester Central venue.”

while ago now. But as a children’s shop, I think we will still be busy.”

Some have focused more on gifting lines to maximise sales.

Christy Foster, ceo of Online4Baby, commented: “Online4Baby has not historically focused on gifting, but this year, we have expanded our portfolio of products and now have a much stronger range, so are expecting to perform well

KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST STORIES

Left: Indies are cautiously optimistic ahead of the Christmas trading period.

throughout the Christmas period.”

Providing incentive to shop locally is another way indies are hoping to increase footfall. Simon Wilson, owner of Piccola, outlined his strategy: “We are hopeful but with no illusions whatsoever about the issues we are facing from the cost of living crisis we are experiencing as a country.

“You can’t expect people to shop local if it’s going to cost them money, so we have tried to meet our customers halfway, with a ‘shop local is a two way street’ promotion, where we are offering

Sales of mid-priced toys costing £10-£49.99 rise +7%

Consumers have already started to change their toy buying habits as they react to the cost of living squeeze, according to The NPD Group.

Feeling the greatest impact are toys at the lowest and highest ends of the price scale, as shoppers cut back ahead of the toy market’s most important sales season of the year.

Shoppers’ budgeting has hit sales of less expensive toys the most. In the past, two thirds of the toys sold (70%) in the first three quarters of any year have been priced under £10. However this year, this price point has experienced some of the largest declines vs. the same period in 2021 (January to September), falling -15%, a value loss of £62.3 million.

At the other end of the spectrum, toys sold for £50 and over declined

-8%, a loss of £13 million.

Sales of toys priced from £10 to £19.99 are up +1% and those with price tags from £20 to £49.99 are up +7% as some consumers may be purchasing multiple midpriced toys rather than one big one. Categories that have performed well are the ones that appeal to all ages and genders: Traditional Plush, Action Figures, Preschool Figures & Play-sets and Action Figure Collectables.

“With money tight for so many, consumers have been cutting back on buying toys at the lowest and highest ends of the price scale,” commented Melissa Symonds, executive director, UK toys at NPD. “Now we are in the run-up to

a 20% discount on all toys, to give local customers a reason to choose us rather than Amazon.”

Consumers shopping early to spread cost is being seen across retail and indeed promoted.

Simon furthered: “We’ve tried to encourage early shopping by running October and November instore promotions and that seems to have had an impact.”

Julia agreed: “Some people are indeed collecting pressies slowly.”

Christy furthered: “Most parents will spend from two to three months before and pay days will be the biggest influence on time frames for spending.”

However spending occurs, one thing is for certain, as Simon concluded: “If I know anything about parents, it’s that children will be the very last ones to go without at Christmas, or any time actually.”

Christmas, we would expect sales to increase and it will be fascinating to see at what price point.”

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net

Above: NPD is predicting that sales will be made right up to 24 December this year.

KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST STORIES

Harrogate acclaimed huge success by exhibitors

Harrogate International Nursery Fair saw increases in both exhibitors and visitors from the UK and further afield this year, with exhibitors heartily praising the show.

Post-Covid, the nursery industry has seen a shift to domestic shows over international events and October’s International Nursery

2023.

Fair in Harrogate saw an increase in trade as a result. Exhibitors had an overall positive experience of the show, with many planning to attend again next year.

Emma Peak, UK sales and marketing manager for Thule, commented: “Harrogate was very good, great attendance, it was organised well, we felt really looked after. We were busy with lots of appointments with media and retailers.”

First time exhibitor Myalee Sofield, country manager at BIBS, agreed: “It was the first time we have exhibited at Harrogate, and we found it to be a great show. It was very well organised and communicated with a great mix of exhibitors and visitors.”

The popularity of the UK show also bought extra opportunities for suppliers. Brett Capon, sales director, Snüz, explained: “This year

Toymaster confirms new member committee

The Toymaster board has confirmed its new member committee – amalgamating the existing marketing and merchandise committees.

The new member committee is made up of the following: Carl Blatcher – JAC Stores, Isle of Man; Ciaran Fitzpatrick – Banba Toymaster, Dublin; Dave Middleton – Midco Toymaster, Burton & Derby; Emma Dadswell – Toys n Tuck, Southend; Stephen Hartfield – Kids Stuff, eight stores across Sussex and Surrey; and Chloe Farrow – Toymaster selector, committee coordinator.

In addition, and in recognition of the different needs of its membership, Toymaster has also agreed a committee for the Island of Ireland membership.

This is made up of the following: Ciaran Burns –Toymaster Cookstown & Lurgan; Ian Bailey – Baileys

we benefited from not only seeing our UK customers, but we also had the opportunity to connect with international retailers and distributors that expressed a huge interest in Snüz’s products.”

Sébastien Charles, vp sales & business development, Europe – Middle East, Angelcare Group, furthered: “The major European show (K+J) was nice but still quiet, so international visitors were in Harrogate and we could grow our worldwide coverage as well.”

Many are already planning their return in 2023, as Martin Boyle, md of iCandy, explained: “As a proud British brand, the Harrogate International Nursery Fair is extremely important to iCandy, and it’s a real honour for the business to be part of the largest nursery trade show in the UK. We are very much looking forward to returning to Harrogate in 2023.”

• The show has confirmed that it will continue to be staged in October in 2023 and 2024. Dates are Sunday 15 October to Tuesday 17 October 2023, and Sunday 13 to Tuesday 15 October 2024.

Toymaster, Gorey; Jean Hodgins – Hopkins Toymaster, Wicklow; Jonny Rogers – Rogers Toymaster, Portadown and Banbridge; Pat Murphy – Murphy’s Toymaster, Dungarven and Youghal; and Ciaran Fitzpatrick –Banba Toymaster, Dublin committee coordinator.

Toymaster’s Yogi Parmar commented: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chris Blatcher of JAC Stores, Ciaran Burns of Toymaster Cookstown, Steve Kerrison of Kerrisons Toys and John Testori of Bambola for their valuable input, time and hard work on our previous committees over many years.”

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net

Below: Preschool suppliers are already planning to return to Harrogate in

Come out to play

Discover the most beautiful, handcrafted toys, brain-teasing puzzles and must-have gadgets all in one place.

Find out more at springfair.com

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KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST STORIES

TOP STORY

New ceo for Mothercare following half-year results

Mothercare will be welcoming Daniel Le Vesconte as its new ceo in January 2023.

The news was confirmed as the nursery brand reported a fall in revenue for the 26 weeks ended 24 September to £38.5 million from £41.7 million a year earlier.

Pre-tax profit for the period dropped to £800,000 from £4 million in the previous year.

Mothercare attributed the drop in sales and profit to the lost retail sales in Russia after it terminated its right to operate Mothercare branded stores in Russia at the end of June.

Dan will bring with him

a wealth of international brand experience in direct to consumer, franchise, wholesale and licensing, having held senior leadership roles for several globally recognised brands including Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, Dr Martens, Vans and Reef.

Clive Whiley, chairman, commented: “I am delighted that Dan is joining Mothercare as our ceo. Dan’s extensive experience in the retail direct to consumer, wholesale and licensing sector will be a great asset to the team and me as we focus upon restoring critical mass and driving the Mothercare brand globally over the next five years.”

Ickle Bubba appoints new md

British nursery brand, Ickle Bubba has appointed a new managing director to allow founder, Fran Vaughan, to focus on new ventures.

Ieuan Rowell joined the company’s board of directors in 2018 and secured the role of group cfo in August 2021. He will now lead the business with the senior leadership team as they focus on continued growth and expansion within key territories.

Fran commented: “Back in 2011, my wife, Veronica, and I had this crazy idea to create an all in one travel system for new parents that offered great value and style. Fast forward to 2022, the journey from them to where we are now has been incredible.

“Having propelled a business from

the ground up, I feel it is the right time to handover my vision to Ieuan, who I know will bring fresh energy, new leadership and be pivotal to Ickle Bubba’s succession plan.”

Fran has explained that his departure will now allow him to focus on helping other entrepreneurs start or grow their businesses.

Ieuan added: “It’s been great working with Fran over the past few years, helping Ickle Bubba become such a successful brand in the nursery market. Whilst leading the financial function has been part of this, I’ve already built some great relationships with our suppliers and customers, as well as being involved in the digital and marketing arena.

Dan added: “I am very excited to be part of the Mothercare team and look forward to working with our global stakeholders to spearhead the growth of the iconic Mothercare brand into the next generation.”

“I’m so proud of where the team has already got us to and am really energised to now lead the business into the next phase of delivery of our strategic vision.”

Above: Ieuan Rowell will be focused on continued growth and expansion in key territories.

For the latest news visit PreschoolNews.net

Above: Daniel Le Vesconte brings a wealth of international brand experience to his new role as ceo.

A YEAR OF BABY CARE: KEY TRENDS FROM 2022

rmed with sales data from three full quarters of 2022, GfK has carried out a performance analysis of the Baby Care sector in the first nine months of the year. The good news is that the market continues to recover post-pandemic, with sales value up +15% (compared to Jan-Sept 21), and sales volume stable (up +0.2%). To put this into perspective with life before Covid, these results are still some way off 2019 as value is down -7% and volume is down -19%. The average selling price (ASP) at a total level has experienced significant growth to reach at +14%. There are three key factors that have impacted the market in 2022: the war in Ukraine, the return to stores and the move to premium products.

A RISE IN SALES VALUE, A DROP IN SALES VOLUME

Analysing the first three quarters of the year reveals that the sales trend is similar to that observed pre-pandemic. Namely, the first quarter of the year is good, followed by a decline in Q2. Q3 is the best performing quarter. At -2%, the sales volume drop in particular

between Q1 and Q2 this year has been better than that recorded between 2018 and 2019.

Value across quarters in 2022 has also contradicted historic trends. Instead of the expected decline in sales value between Q1 and Q2, each quarter delivered increasingly higher values for total baby care. This is a result of some of the highest average selling prices GfK has recorded. However, quarter-on-quarter we are reporting similar fluctuations in price as were reported in 2018 and 2019 with Q1 and Q3 having higher ASPs than Q2 and Q4.

THE RETURN TO STORES

The move to buying Baby Care items online was a big shift in consumer behaviour during the pandemic. As of September, there was a 50/50 split in value share for sales made in stores and online. But in volume terms, 71% of sales were made in-store. Compared to 2019, value and volume in-store have both lost a 10% share of the market. The price paid online also remains higher than in-store, with a difference of +114%.

THE MOVE TO PREMIUM AND THE IMPACT OF INFLATION

During the pandemic, shoppers displayed a clear preference for premium brands, and this choice has survived into 2022. For baby products that can command higher ASPs (Car Seats, Strollers, Monitors, Breast Feeding, Sterilizers, Highchairs), sales volume at items priced £100+ grew +14% (Jan-Sept 21 v Jan-Sept 22). The lower priced items (Soothers, Teethers, Tableware, Bottles & Teats) have seen the biggest shift at the premium end of the market (priced at over £20) and have risen +78% in volume. Inflation is responsible for more of the shift to premium price points at this lower end of the market.

REFLECTIONS AND LOOKING AHEAD

Overall, Baby Care has had a good nine months and delivered a great recovery from the impact of the pandemic. Highchairs, Soothers and Teethers have posted the best value performance for the last six years. Strollers have also experienced a bounce back this year with the healthiest value growth in Baby Care at +35% year-on-year.

The last quarter of the year is traditionally the worst performing quarter for Baby Care. At GfK we certainly expect a fall in the volume of sales, but we also anticipate sales value to decrease, too. Looking overall at 2022, the demand for premium brands that offer greater durability, safety and sustainability shows no signs of abating, and with inflation likely to continue to rise, sales value and price look set to increase with volume stable for the remainder of this year and beyond.

GfK’s Emma Wade reviews market performance so far this year and looks ahead to a full four quarters of sales results.

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

It is no secret that toys play a huge role in a child’s life, especially at a young age with the average preschooler in the UK spending one hour and 34 minutes playing with toys per day. Kids are constantly looking for new toys to keep them entertained and happy, but the toy market is highly saturated, and an extremely competitive industry. In order to compete, brands need to be aware of the types of toys that kids want to play with, but also need to understand what both kids and parents want from the toys that they play with. This can be difficult to keep track of as attitudes and behaviour patterns of both kids and parents are constantly evolving. With the Christmas holidays coming up, it is important for brands to be aware of what types of toys kids are looking for.

Since August, Kids Insights data has revealed that preschoolers in the UK are more likely to be interested in and play with soft toys than any other country globally, other than India. Over 43% of UK preschoolers are reporting to play with soft toys the most, overindexing by +35% than the global average at 32%. This is something that has also been growing in popularity within the UK among 3-5 year olds. The popularity of soft toys is on the rise. The Insights Family’s real-time data portal shows an 11% year-on-year increase in soft toys as a toy type played with the most by preschoolers in 2022 compared to 2021 and 2020. However, the toys favoured by those who name soft toys as their favourite differ between boys and girls quite significantly. Our Kids Insights data shows that 3-5 year

old boys lean towards LEGO (8.3%), PAW Patrol (8.3%) and Jurassic World (4%), whereas girls aged 3-5 typically lean towards Barbie (10.4%), Peppa Pig (5.3%) and Disney’s Frozen (3.7%). This demonstrates the huge potential for licensed soft toys that is still present this Christmas for brands, and that kids are still looking for toys themed around these powerful and long-standing properties.

INFLUENCERS IN THE MAKING

Further to this, our Kids Insights data over the last six months shows that preschoolers believe they have a strong amount of influence over their parents purchasing decisions when it comes to toys at 89%, whereas our Parents Insights data reveals that parents report this influence to be even stronger at 92%. Although kids have always held a strong amount of influence over the toys that are bought for them by their parents, this influence has been increasing in strength since the beginning of the pandemic as the family unit becomes more democratic,

and parents are considering their child more when it comes to household purchases from several different categories.

Additionally, parents are reporting that they want their kids to gain other benefits as well as good entertainment from the toys that they play with. Parents of preschoolers say that they are more likely to buy a toy for their kids if it is affordable and good value for money (20.7%); it can be used time and time again (18.7%); it is something that allows them to play together (13.5%); and that it allows them to role play or pretend (11.6%). This shows how parents are constantly considering more than just entertainment and are also trying to appease themselves as well as their kids when buying on behalf of their kids and the family.

In the current market, it is more difficult than ever to track the attitudes, behaviours and consumption patterns of kids and parents. That is why it is so important for brands to have a complete understanding of their audiences and consider their audience as not only kids or parents, but as a family unit within the ecosystem.

In September, The Insights Family released its inaugural Licensing Report in collaboration with Licensing International. The report looks to explore the opportunities and challenges the licensing industry currently faces, backed up by propriety and real-time data.

To download a free copy of the report, sign up using this link: https://get.theinsightsfamily.com/ licensing2022/

Left: Nick Richardson, founder, The Insights Family.

MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas can be a developmental goldmine for early years children. It’s chock-ablock full of storytelling, wonder and surprise, epitomised by play and shared moments with loved ones, and filled with exciting sights, sounds and tastes… the Magic of Christmas is a very real thing.

Parents however, can feel a lot of pressure to provide the perfect experience for their little ones - often in the frame of mind of ‘there’s only so many childhood Christmases they will have.’ Gifting in particular can be the root of a lot of anxiety, as its role in a child’s enjoyment of Christmas is seen to be an important one.

During a time where every household is feeling the cost of living squeeze, anxieties around gifting and providing a memorable Christmas are as rife as ever, with most having to downsize expectations and shift their overall approach to the festive season just to get through it. However, this downscaling certainly isn’t a bad thing, and is likely the start of a shift in how we approach seasonal consumerism.

This shifting landscape of Christmas is something brands and retailers are rightfully picking up on and being influenced by. In the UK, judging Christmas adverts is almost an institution - and as a result they tend to mirror nationwide emotions and events quite closely.

In 2022, picking up on wider societal worries (cost of living, political unrest, environmental concerns… the list goes on), there consequently seems to be more of a focus on simple Christmas cheer:

the inherent fun of the season and community/family support.

On the reflecting UK crises front: TK Maxx lets shoppers know they can ‘Nail Christmas for Less’ this year as its core message, to beat the cost of living pinch. Tesco takes a more fun and satirical approach, pitching itself as the ‘Christmas (political) Party’, where joy should be at the core of our experiences.

Other brands are focusing less on what they sell, and are instead aiming to foster the spirit of community and positive action in troubled times. The John Lewis Christmas campaign this year –while only scratching the surface of the challenges of fostering and

quantity. Looking at Hamleys’ Top 10 Toys for Christmas, we see a number of iconic brands (Barbie, Play-Doh), favourite characters (Buzz Lightyear) and twists on classic board games (Jenga with an added timepressure twist). Of course, there is always overlap in top 10 toy lists year on year, but we do seem to be seeing more of a focus on evergreen toys with extra play/ replay value and the possibility for generational pass-downrather than simply ‘fast retail’.

adoption - is in partnership with Action for Children and Who Cares? Scotland, where the core message is focused on promoting awareness of the number of children in care and making their pledge of support. Lidl this year launched a nationwide toy donation drive in response to charities crying out for toys and games to feed back into communities in need (a desired item by 8/10 of their partner charities, second only behind food).

SIMPLE JOYS

Shifts can also be seen in the toy space - reflecting the 2022 mantra of quality and experience over

Going back to Christmas being a developmental goldmine - the magic, wonder, sights, sounds and moments of Christmas are actually much better served in less extravagant, more controlled and meaningful moments. Christmas can definitely be a big upheaval for families compared to everyday life, and this can be stressful for little ones still making sense of how our world works. Christmas doesn’t need much to be magical.

Christmas is more openly becoming a little less about fast and plentiful consumerism (whether by choice or necessity), in place of more simple joys; sustainable, quality and meaningful gifts, and support for those who need it. To me these seem like positive things to embrace and foster - for both families and the brands that make Christmas what it is. Looking to 2023 we expect this trend to continue - not just for Christmas, but for toys and family experiences more widely, as it’s better for both the environment and consumer wallets.

Joshua Brocklehurst, researcher at KI, on how Christmas this

year is about the simple joys of sustainable, quality and meaningful gifts, and support for those who need it.

Above: Joshua Brocklehurst, researcher, KI.

“ Parents however, can feel a lot of pressure to provide the perfect experience for their little ones - often in the frame of mind of ‘there’s only so many childhood Christmases they will have’. ”

Celebrating a decade of the Progressive Preschool Awards!

Celebrating a decade

Inset: All the winners came to the stage to celebrate at the end of the awards, along with host Charlie Baker and the PPS team.

Right: Acoustic rock band, Moondance kept guests entertained during the drinks reception and while lunch was being served.

The Progressive Preschool Awards celebrated its 10th anniversary this year at a brand new venue, The Royal Lancaster, London. PPS rounds up some of the pre-awards activity and what happened during the event.

Right: Every table at the awards had a Lilliputiens pull-along toy as its centrepiece, which were kindly donated by Juratoys.

Below : Guests from Hippychick and Fenwicks catching up before the awards begin.

Above: Emily and Christine Nicholls from Golden Bear Toys with their Lilliputiens toy from the table centrepiece

Below: The team from Bump PR celebrating at the drinks reception.

Below:

Above:

Above: Comedian Charlie Baker was the host of this year’s awards and made sure everyone was in high spirits!

Right: Dragon’s Den star Touker Suleyman kindly gave up time from his busy schedule to address guests about why he invests in the kids product category.

Every guest was able to take away with them a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe case filled to the brim with goodies thanks to Ideas International and MGA Entertainment.

Left: Christine Cheung from Boots meeting new contacts at her first PPS awards.

Right: Zoe Ryan from Fizz Creations was very pleased to win the award for Best Giftware Range.

Above: Kidly celebrating their win for Best Online Retailer of Preschool Products.

Right: Daniel Lucas handing over The Light Fund raffle Star Prize to David Roberts from Cybex, who was this year’s lucky recipient.

Left: John Taylor from Wildbrain CPLG was the lucky winner of the weekend away in the Higher Or Lower game which was once again sponsored by The Insights Family.

Guests battle it out to win Higher or Lower.

Right: Brian McLaughlin from Toymaster and guests looking forward to the afternoon’s awards.

BEST SUPERMARKET RETAILER OF PRESCHOOL PRODUCTS

Initial reaction: “We know how fiercely competitive this award is and are so proud and honoured to have been awarded this top spot again. To be acknowledged for our hard work is fantastic and we are thrilled to be recognised for the offer we are giving to our customers.”

BEST MULTIPLE RETAILER OF PRESCHOOL PRODUCTS

Sponsored by

Initial reaction: “I was surprised but so proud and honoured for JoJo Maman Bébé to receive this award in particular because being named Best Multiple Retailer meant the whole company was being rewarded. Winning reflects the brilliant work from not just the designers and buyers to create and source great product, but it recognises all the amazing efforts and love that the store teams, customer service and all the teams in the background put into making the experience the best it can be for the customer.”

Mel Brown, design and buying director at JoJo Maman Bébé

Asda

Vicki Radford, buying expert, Asda.

Right: Collecting the first award of the afternoon was Eloise Day and Vicki Radford, buying managers from Asda.

JoJo Maman Bébé

Above: JoJo Maman Bébé’s

Rebecca Gilligan, Mel Brown and Jade Crow all collected the award for Best Multiple Retailer of Preschool Products.

Above: Faye Rashad, design manager for Misirli presented the award for Best Multiple Retailer of Preschool Products.

Left: Presenting the first award of the afternoon was Simta Sawhney, senior director of UK Licensing at Paramount Consumer Products and Experiences.

Sponsored by

BEST MIXED CATEGORY RETAILER OF PRESCHOOL PRODUCTS

Wner

Boots

Initial reaction: “On behalf of all my colleagues on the baby team, I would like to say a big thank you to all those who voted for us. I’m honoured and proud to be representing our company for this prestigious award.”

Christine Cheung, category assistant, baby at Boots

BEST DEPARTMENT STORE RETAILER OF PRESCHOOL PRODUCTS Wner

Right: The award for Best Department Store was collected by John Lewis & Partners’ Roseanne Winthrop.

Initial reaction: “We were delighted that John Lewis won Best Department Store at the PPS Awards. We are so glad that the nursery, baby and preschool ranges that we carefully curate for our customers, as well as our service, is being recognised.”

Roseanne Winthrop, partner and category lead, nursery at John Lewis & Partners

Sponsored by

Above: Christine Cheung from Boots was pleased to collect the award for Best Mixed Category Retailer of Preschool Products.

John Lewis & Partners

Sponsored by

Taylor presented the award for Best Department Store Retailer of Preschool Products.

Right: Rainbow Design’s managing director Anthony Temple presented the award for Best Mixed Category Retailer of Preschool Products.

BEST ONLINE RETAILER OF PRESCHOOL PRODUCTS

Initial reaction: “It was a real ‘pinch us’ moment. As every year, we were up against some serious competition. I’m so thrilled for the whole team at KIDLY, past and present, and all our brands and suppliers to be recognised at these awards in particular.”

Hélène Challot, head of buying, Kidly

RETAILER

Initial reaction: “It came as a shock as it was already a big deal to be shortlisted against other amazing retailers. We are honestly so humbled and proud to have achieved this award.”

Ameer Karim and Aqeel Karim, owners, Newbie and Me, and Beth Landon, regional manager

Kidly.co.uk

Sponsored by Sponsored by

Right: Aykroyd & Son’s commercial director Rob Broadhurst presented the award for Best Online Retailer of Preschool Products.

Above: Gary Freeman collected the award on behalf of Newbie & Me.

Right: David Welsh, managing director of Joie UK presented the award for Best Independent Nursery Retailer.

Newbie & Me

Left: Kidly’s Janette Delaney, Lindsey Aitken, Helen Skehens and Hélène Challot collected the award.

BEST INDEPENDENT APPAREL RETAILER

Wner

Liquorice Kids

BEST INDEPENDENT TOY RETAILER

Wner

Sponsored by

Right: Tessa Clayton collected the award on behalf of Liquorice Kids.

JJ Toys

Sponsored by

Right : Mark Schofield, global brand director at Smiffys, presented the award presented the for Best Independent Apparel Retailer.

Right: Amscan International’s group licensing director, Mel Beer presented the award for Best Independent Apparel Retailer.

Above: JJ Toys’ director, Kamlesh Amin was thrilled to collect the award for Best Independent Toy Retailer.

BEST INDEPENDENT GIFTWARE RETAILER

Wner

Toys4You

Initial reaction: “It was a great honour to receive this incredible award and we were extremely delighted to be acknowledged for all the hard work that our team does. We are very sure that every other nominee for this award was as capable if not more, of winning.

Being an award winning independent will open new opportunities for us and boost our team’s confidence.”

Usman Ali Ahmed, marketing director at Toys4You

BEST RETAILER INITIATIVE Wner

Initial reaction: “We are absolutely delighted to have received the award for the Plant with Peppa campaign with our long-standing retail partner, ASDA. The programme was designed to be fun and entertaining for young families and highlight how small steps taken at home, can make a positive impact for our planet. This is the first of many sustainable campaigns to come from Hasbro. Watch this space as we continue this important journey as a company, alongside our trusted partners.”

Cat O’Brien, director retail licensing development, EMEA, Hasbro

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Right: Mehak Rauf and Usman Ali Ahmed from Toys4You collected the award for Best Independent Gift Retailer.

Left: Jeremy Minchin, Hippychick’s managing director presented the award for Best Independent Giftware Retailer.

Above: Eloise Day and Vicki Radford from Asda, alongside Catrina O’Brien and Jessica Dodd from Hasbro came on stage to collect the award for Best Retailer Initiative.

#PlantWithPeppa at Asda

Below: Penguin Ventures’s commercial director David Sprei came to the stage to present the award for Best Retailer Initiative.

Sponsored by

Above: Gabrielle Sims from Hasbro presented the first product award of the afternoon for the Best Preschool Apparel & Accessories Range

Above: Guests from Dennicci and Disney came on stage to collect the award for Best Preschool Apparel & Accessories Range.

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

BEST LICENSED TOY RANGE (12M+)

Wner

Paddington Range from 8th Wonder Toys

Initial reaction: “The whole team at 8th Wonder are delighted to have won Best Licensed Toy range for our amazing wooden and plush Paddington toy range. It’s such an achievement and the whole team are very proud. Thank you.”

Andrea Gornall, sales and licensing director, 8th Wonder Toys

Above and right: 8th Wonder’s sales and licensing director Andrea Gornall collected the award for Best Licensed Toy Range (12m+)

Below: BBC’s head of licensing, Julie Kekwick came to the stage to present the award for the Best Licensed Toy Range (12m+).

Sponsored by

BEST NON-LICENSED TOY RANGE (12M+)

Initial reaction: "We were delighted to be nominated for two Progressive Preschool Awards and to win the Best non-Licensed Toy Range was just amazing. This award is a true testament to how hard the whole team has worked to bring this beautiful range to market. This award is something we are very proud of. Thank you so much!”

Left: Grapevine PR’s founder Kirsty Barr presented the award for Best Non-Licensed Toy Range (12m+).

Spring Garden Range, Orange Tree Toys

Sponsored by

Anuja Wilson, creative director, Orange Tree Toys

Above: The team from Orange Tree Toys were delighted to accept the award for Best NonLicensed Toy Range (12m+).

BEST STEM/EDUCATIONAL RANGE

Coding Critters from Learning Resources

Initial reaction: “We were delighted with our win and were thrilled to receive recognition for our products across three categories.” Nicole Sparrow, marketing communications manager, Learning Resources

Sponsored by

Below: Dr Amanda Gummer presented the award for Best STEM/Educational Range.

Above: Learning Resources’ Chris Beardmore and Nicole Sparrow came to the stage to collect the award.

BEST PRESCHOOL PUBLISHING RANGE

Initial reaction: “We are so delighted that We’re Going On A Bear Hunt has had this recognition. Thank you to our amazing team at Walker Books to have made it possible.”

Pindy O’Brien, international licensing and market development director at Walker Books

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, Walker Books

Above: Nghiem Ta from Walker Books collected the award for the Best Preschool Publishing Range.

Above: Redan Publishing’s managing director, Julie Jones presented the award for the Best Preschool Publishing Range.

Sponsored by

P r e s c h o o l N e w s . n e t is the new online resource for the preschool product and retail sector. From the publishers of Progressive Preschool Magazine and the organisers of the Progressive Preschool Awards, this new website and e-newsflash portal will provide the very latest news, views, and analysis across the preschool product and retail sector.

P r e s c h o o l N e w s . n e t is the new online resource for the preschool product and retail sector. From the publishers of Progressive Preschool Magazine and the organisers of the Progressive Preschool Awards, this new website and e-newsflash portal will provide the very latest news, views, and analysis across the preschool product and retail sector.

Launching with an unrivalled email subscriber base of 12,087 readers, a twice weekly newsflash will land directly in the inboxes of everyone in this fast-paced industry. A modern, easy to navigate website will provide a central resource for the trade too, offering news, in-depth articles, an industry jobs board, retail analysis, digital issues of Progressive Preschool, and much much more.

Launching with an unrivalled email subscriber base of 12,087 readers, a twice weekly newsflash will land directly in the inboxes of everyone in this fast-paced industry.

PreschoolNews.net is the online resource for the preschool product and retail sector. From the publishers of Progressive Preschool magazine and the organisers of the Progressive Preschool Awards, this website and e-newsflash portal provides the very latest news, views, and analysis across the preschool product and retail sector.

A modern, easy to navigate website will provide a central resource for the trade too, offering news, in-depth articles, an industry jobs board, retail analysis, digital issues of Progressive Preschool, and much much more.

With an unrivalled email subscriber base of 12,087 readers, a twice weekly newsflash lands directly in the inboxes of everyone in this fast-paced industry.

The magazine and awards do a great job in joining the dots between toy, nursery, gift, apparel, publishing, and of course licensingand this digital offering will further enhance our position as a trade media partner that offers a tangible response to advertising investment.

The magazine and awards do a great job in joining the dots between toy, nursery, gift, apparel, publishing, and of course licensingand this digital offering will further enhance our position as a trade media partner that offers a tangible response to advertising investment.

All advertising on the website is duplicated to each and every newsflash, giving advertisers huge visibility and direct impact to retail buyers.

All advertising on the website is duplicated to each and every newsflash, giving advertisers huge visibility and direct impact to retail buyers.

A modern, easy to navigate website provides a central resource for the trade too, offering news, in-depth articles, an industry jobs board, retail analysis, digital issues of Progressive Preschool, and much much more.

P r e s c h o o l N e w s . n e t is published by preschool sector experts, for preschool trade experts.

P r e s c h o o l N e w s . n e t is published by preschool sector experts, for preschool trade experts.

PreschoolNews.net is published by preschool sector experts, for preschool trade experts.

Brought to you by the publishers of

ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL:

ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL:

Jo Pilcher jop@max-publishing.co.uk

Jo Pilcher jop@max-publishing.co.uk

Rob Willis robw@max-publishing.co.uk

EDITORIAL AND CONTENT:

EDITORIAL AND CONTENT:

Jacqui Parr jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk

Jacqui Parr jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk

Sam Loveday saml@max-publishing.co.uk

Rob Willis robw@max-publishing.co.uk

ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL

Jo Pilcher jop@max-publishing.co.uk

Rob Willis robw@max-publishing.co.uk

EDITORIAL AND CONTENT

Sam Loveday saml@max-publishing.co.uk

Sam Loveday saml@max-publishing.co.uk

Katie Roberts-Mason katierm@max-publishing.co.uk

Preschoolnews.net is published by preschool sector experts…

Preschoolnews.net is published by preschool sector experts…

PreschoolNews.net

@Prog_Preschool

BEST HOME OR FURNITURE RANGE

Initial reaction: “We are extremely happy that our Chicco Next2Me Pop Up won the Best Preschool Home or Furniture award this year, Chicco always looks at how our products can meet the needs of being a parent and we are very grateful to win this award with one of our Icon Chicco Next2Me cribs.”

Laura Aldridge, Juvenile Indoor, Infant Toys & Boppy at Chicco.

Sponsored by

Chicco Next2Me PopUp from Artsana

Above: Chicco’s Laura Aldridge collected the award for the Best Preschool Home or Furniture Range.

Above: Adeline St John, digital director for Media Snug, presented the award for the Best Preschool Home or Furniture Range.

BEST PRESCHOOL GIFT RANGE

Wner

Gruffalo Baby Collection, Fizz Creations

Initial reaction: “The Gruffalo gifting range for Primark was our first venture into the preschool market, so to be shortlisted as a finalist was amazing… to then be crowned winner – simply phenomenal!”

Zoe Ryan, head of marketing at Fizz Creations

Sponsored by

Above and below: Fizz Creations’ head of marketing, Zoe Ryan collected the award for the Best Preschool Gift Range.

Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home and Giftsandhome.net came to the stage to present the award for the Best Preschool

BEST WHEELED GOODS RANGE

Initial reaction: “It is an honour for iCandy to win in the Best Wheeled Goods Range category with the Peach 7 – we know that it was a hotly contested category! We are extremely proud of this recognition of our achievement and forever grateful for the ongoing support from our loyal customers and incredible network of independent retailers.”

Bradley Appel, joint ceo, iCandy

Sponsored by

iCandy Peach 7

Above: Anna Owens and Francesca Dawson from iCandy collected the award for the Best Wheeled Goods Range.

Above: Harrogate International Nursery Fair’s event organiser, Adrian Sneyd presented the award for the Best Wheeled Goods Range.

BEST CAR SEAT RANGE

Above: Cybex’s David Roberts and Hollie Brackenbridge came to the stage to collect the award for the Best Car Seat Range.

Sponsored by

Right: Vista PR’s managing director Jane Pavia-Davies presented the award for the Best Car Seat Range.

BEST PRESCHOOL

ESSENTIALS RANGE

Initial reaction: “We are thrilled to have won the Best Preschool Essentials Range award at this years Progressive Preschool awards. We put so much love and care into our products, so when we win awards like this, we are always over the moon. We’re so pleased that the judges loved Connected Home as much as we do.”

Nicola Coletti, Senior Field Marketeer at Dorel Juvenile

Wner

Sponsored by

Connected Home Smart Sensory from Maxi Cosi

Above: Emma Waterfield from Azaria PR collected the award for the Best Preschool Essentials Range on behalf of Maxi-Cosi.

Below: Elliot Bishop, Bébélephant’s managing director came to the stage to present the award for the Best Preschool Essentials Range.

BEST INFANT DEVELOPMENT RANGE

Wner

Playtime Collection from Mori

Sponsored by

Above: Online4baby’s founder and CEO Christy Foster came to the stage to present the award for the Best Infant Development Range.

Above: Georgia Carter from Nion PR collected the award for the Best Infant Development Range on behalf of Mori.

THE ECO AWARD

Initial reaction: “It has been a true pleasure to work with Redan on this exciting project for Peppa Pig, and it is fantastic to see that our combined efforts to make the magazines more sustainable are being recognized. We couldn’t have hoped for a better award.”

Marion Bardou, senior manager publishing, UK at Hasbro

Sponsored by

Above and below: The team behind Fun To Learn Peppa Pig Bag o’ Fun Magazine were delighted to accept The Eco Award.

Above: Poetic Brands’ design manager, Terry Kinnersley, presented the final product award of the afternoon.

Wner

THE MARKETING AWARD

The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Kew Gardens from Rocket Licensing

WHAT PARENTS LOVE AWARD

Disney Wner

Initial reaction: “Disney was proud to take home the trophy for the special What Parents Love category at this year’s PPS Awards. We know that this category is based on voting from a huge swathe of consumers, so it’s a real testament to the strength of the Disney brand and its franchises in the hearts and minds of children and their parents.”

Dan Scott, General Manager, UK & Ireland, Consumer Products, Games & Publishing, Disney

Sponsored by

Licensing’s Charlie Donaldson, Melissa Satterly and Rob Wijeratna collected The Marketing Award.

Sponsored by

Right: Some of the Disney team came to the stage to collect the prestigious award.

Left: Azaria PR’s managing director Amber Steventon presented The Marketing Award.

Above: Nick Richardson, founder of The Insights Family, sponsor of this award.

Kayes of Cardiff

BEST WHOLESALER OR DISTRIBUTOR OF PRESCHOOL PRODUCT Wner

Initial reaction: “Kayes were delighted to receive the award among such quality nominations. After three years of unprecedented pressure, it’s great to be back with this success.”

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Wner

Initial reaction: "I have to admit I did get a little tear in my eye when the award was announced - it's amazing to think that the industry holds us in high enough regard to even consider us for the award. It's a testament to all the people and companies, from our amazing suppliers, to licensing agents and brand owners all of whom have helped us make Character.com what it is today.”

Karen Hewitt, buying director, Character.com

Philip Kaye, managing director at Kayes of Cardiff

Sponsored by

Left: Philip Kaye, managing director of Kayes of Cardiff came to the stage to collect the award for Best Wholesaler or Distributor.

Sponsored by

Left: Jazwares’ Licensing Director EMEA Samantha Bourne presented the penultimate award of the afternoon.

Above: Stephen and Karen Hewitt were the proud recipients of this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

Left: Toymaster’s development manager, Brian McLaughlin presented the Outstanding Achievement award.

Karen and Stephen Hewitt from Character.com

Inset: Licensed preschool brands will once again have a key presence on the showfloor.

Far right: The BTHA welcomed just under 70 new exhibitors to Toy Fair 2022, with many of those returning to exhibit again in 2023.

Below: Rebecca Deeming, communications and events manager, BTHA.

The UK toy business will be heading back to London’s Olympia from 24-26 January, 2023 and, with all exhibition space sold out back in September, the scene is set for another bumper showcase. PPS finds out more from the BTHA.

COME TO THE FAIR

January 2022 saw Toy Fair reunite the UK toy industry under one roof once more, following the hiatus caused by the pandemic – and it was a triumphant return. The vibe and energy at the show created a terrific atmosphere, while just under 70 new exhibitors made their debut at the event.

2023 is shaping up to be another cracker of a show, too, with Rebecca Deeming, communications and events manager at the BTHA, telling PPS: “We are so excited for Toy Fair 2023 and to welcome back lots of familiar faces including PAPO, Melissa & Doug and Ty, as well as some new and exciting exhibiting companies such as iDance UK, Science4you and Abysse Corp.

“The show sold out of all exhibiting space across both the Grand and National Halls and Galleries in September, and we now have an extensive waiting list with companies still being added to the list. We are really looking forward to what should be another busy and bustling show.”

In terms of preschool, a broad range of exhibitors will be showcasing products including Golden Bear Toys, Juratoys, Moose Toys, Keel Toys, Mood Bears, Casdon and Rainbow Designs among others. Rebecca continues: “Visitors definitely need to make sure they pay a visit to the Greenhouse Area for new and innovative products from smaller and start-up companies, like Happy Little Doers, who will be showcasing

NEW EDITIONS

“We're delighted to have some exciting new additions to Toy Fair 2023, including the return of Toy Fair TV and the Demo Zone,” says Rebecca. “Our favourite presenters Gavin Inskip and Anna Williamson are back to host and we can’t wait to see what fun they get up to testing out new products and chatting to exhibiting companies in attendance. The dedicated Influencer Day is also returning to the show next year, taking place on Thursday 26 January, and our exhibiting companies have lots of exciting activations planned to entertain our influencer friends.”

a variety of games and activities for preschool children.”

Rebecca admits that the preschool sector is “incredibly important” to Toy Fair, saying: “Toys are the tools of play and are a crucial part of a child’s early development and learning. Our Make Time 2 Play campaign emphasises the significance of fun and games in shaping a child’s imagination, selfesteem and sense of the world around them, and this is especially true of the preschool realm.”

Among the trends to watch is a continued upward trajectory in licensed preschool toys on the showfloor, including Hey Duggee, Bluey and Peppa Pig. Rebecca continues: “The popularity of all the classic licensed brands is still going strong and there will be plenty of licensed preschool toys being showcased at Toy Fair in January.”

When it comes to ultimate aims for Toy Fair 2023, Rebecca concludes by saying: “The main aim of Toy Fair 2023 is to ensure all of the exhibiting companies and visitors have the most successful show possible to set them up for the year of business ahead. Toy Fair is situated in a key period of the calendar year for the toy industry, so it is so important for us as organisers that we provide the best platform possible for all involved to build on current relationships and to make new connections.”

A SPIRITED

RETURN

It’s safe to say that the return of Spielwarenmesse will be much welcomed by the toy community and visitors are expected to flock back to Nuremberg to see exhibitors from some 66 different countries, including the UK.

Taking place for the first time since 2020 and running from 1-5 February 2023, the organiser of the show – Spielwarenmesse eG has been champing at the bit to bring everyone back to the German city.

“The response on the part of the industry is consistently positive – everyone is looking forward to meeting up again after such a long time,” comments Christian Ulrich, spokesperson of the executive board at Spielwarenmesse eG.

Companies with an interest in the preschool space exhibiting at the show include Orchard Toys, Wondercloths, Eduk8 Worldwide, 8th Wonder, Artsana (Chicco), Bigjigs, BRIO, Casdon, Cloud b, Fiesta Crafts, Golden Bear, Hasbro, Janod, Just Play, Kaloo, Keel Toys, Lässig, Learning Resources, Mattel, Melissa & Doug, MV Sports, Nattou, Rainbow Designs, Sambro, Spin Master, The Puppet Company, Wilton Bradley and many more.

A number of special areas will also be featured on the showfloor including a ‘Stationery meets Toys’ theme in Hall 4 offering ideas for the back to

Above: Trend focuses for 2023 will include Discover, Brands for Fans and MetaToys. Below left: Christian Ulrich, spokesperson of the executive board at Spielwarenmesse eG.

Below: The response to the return of the fair has been “consistently positive” according to Spielwarenmesse eG.

school sector, and Tech2Play in Hall 4A, which will present highlights from the field of electronic toys. Meanwhile, Toys Go Green will continue on the theme of sustainability, with products highlighted in Hall 2. In addition, and new for 2023, is Services for Trade and Industry in Hall 7, with testing institutes, packaging manufacturers and marketing service providers all present.

2023 TRENDS

Spielwarenmesse has identified three trends which it will be showcasing during the 2023 show. In the redesigned ToyTrends experience covering an area of some 400m2 in Hall 3A, relevant products will be available to explore and try, while in the neighbouring Toy Business Forum, presentations of the trends will complete the picture.

The three trends will help to guide retailers as they select a range of products with high sales potential.

Discover: here, everything ultimately revolves around the opening up of new worlds and themes, from other countries, cultures and languages to the wonder of nature and unknown galaxies.

Meanwhile, the basis for the second strand – Brands for Fans – is licences and retro products, while the third trend is MetaToys, where innovative approaches and technologies for play are the focus.

The StartupArea in Hall 3A will bring international newcomers together, while the New Product Gallery will offer a highly visible placement for products away from their stands and is also where the presentation of nominees and winners of the ToyAward 2023 takes place. Notably, the awards will be presented for the first time as part of the PressPreview which is held at NCC Ost on the day before the start of Spielwarenmesse.

While the return of the physical show is a cause for celebration, the digital element has also been expanded to further enhance visitors’ experience. Extensions to the Spielwarenmesse Digital business platform mean that attendees will be able to filter and seek out both old and new contacts according to their own specific interests. A number of the event highlights are also being streamed live on the platform. Also included will be ToyTalks which will explore new products, as well as trends and themes surrounding the show.

With its ‘Feel the Spirit’ motto, the return of Spielwarenmesse to Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from 1-5 February 2023 is eagerly anticipated. PPS takes a look at what visitors and exhibitors can expect.

SPRING FEVER

Bringing together 14 sectors within four destinations, organisers describe Spring Fair as offering buyers ‘a one-stop shop marketplace for everything new and on-trend for 2023’.

Kids, Toys and Play sits within the Gift area and Nicola Meadows, portfolio director for the show, says there is plenty for preschool buyers to see: “Home to the finest, most magical children’s toys and gadgets, Kids, Toys and Play continues to offer a celebration of the most beautiful, handcrafted toys, brain teasing puzzles, must-have high-tech gadgets and craft gifts for all ages.

“Tap into the hottest toy trends and those elusive Christmas hits from leading brands including Keel, Orange Tree Toys, Noble Collection, Bigjigs Toys, Inside Out Toys, Mai clothing, Willsow, Happy Little Doers, Djeco, House of Puzzles, Click Europe, Kiddicraft and Ty.”

This year’s show offers a number of new features. Nicola highlights a few: “Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday Village will be at Spring Fair with 14 new winners receiving a stand to help kickstart their business. Visitors will also discover Debut areas for most sectors offering space to new business creative start-ups that haven’t been seen before.”

Sustainability remains a key focus at the show and the Sustainability Trail continues to highlight and champion sustainable brands and the work they are doing. Overarching the show this year is the Power of One initiative, which the trail falls under.

Nicola explains: “Power of One is about taking steps to change the world, no matter how large or small, whether it’s about making sustainable changes at our show, or using our influence to help retailers and suppliers to make their own, we’re empowering change.”

Products of Change has partnered with Spring Fair as the headline sponsor of the Power of One campaign. Nicola expands: “Products of Change support, encourage and perpetuate companies and brands in meeting their sustainability goals through educating to inform change

Above left: The show offers an incomparable destination for sourcing and 2023 offers an improved layout for cross-buying opportunities.

Above: Nicola Meadows, portfolio director, Spring Fair.

Below middle: The Puppet Company’s sister brand WIlberry will showcase new ECO Cuddlies made from 100% recycled materials.

Bottom: Hippychick has tripled its Vilac offering and new additions at Spring Fair include wooden tea sets, educational toys, games and kites.

and peer-to-peer networking. With education at its heart, Products of Change is a global ‘living library’ of sustainable learnings (written, oral and visual) across a wide spectrum of topics, markets and product areas.”

In order to make the best of the show and ensure they don’t miss anything, Nicola has some top tips for buyers: “There is so much to see that my advice would be make sure you really have planned your day/s at the show. We have a brilliant website (www.springfair.com) full of information on how to get the best from your visit, so log on and make a note of all the

and exhibitors you want to see.”

Before you arrive, Nicola also recommends downloading the Spring Fair app, which offers product recommendations based on your profile and interests, along with smart tools to help navigate the show. Get downloading and planning and you’ll be ready to get the very best from what Spring Fair has to offer.

features

Boasting a number of new features, a focus on sustainability and more space for creative start-ups, Spring Fair is preparing to open its doors again at the NEC, Birmingham from 5-8 February 2023. PPS sits down with the organiser to find out what’s in store.

ALL HAIL HARROGATE

Sébastien Charles, vp sales and business development, Europe – Middle East, Angelcare Group

“Great show. Meeting again our partners and the whole industry in person brought great energy. The major European show [Kind+Jugend] was nice but still quiet, so international visitors were in Harrogate and we could grow our worldwide coverage as well.

“We succeeded in developing our ranges during the pandemic. We also created a lot of new marketing assets to support our sales partners. Huge feedback welcomed these exciting new products and brand imagery. More specifically, we launched a revolutionary bath to our leading bathtime range and introduced the Pabobo by Angelcare award winning sleep range (night lights, soothers and sleep trainers). We will deploy significant investments to support these launches in 2023.

“The timing of the Harrogate show is perfect to reveal our new products and build strong partnerships for the years to come. We’re very excited to be participating in the best industry event in 2023.”

Right: Angelcare received positive feedback on its new products and brand imagery at the show.

“This year’s show was very exciting for Ickle Bubba, as it gave us an opportunity to showcase our new travel and home range. The team have been working hard to update some of our existing lines and bring several exciting new travel and home products to our customers, so to be able to showcase them amongst our peers was exhilarating after the last few months of hard work to get them to market. It was also great seeing the other brands and getting a sense of what is happening in market.

“Ickle Bubba’s highlight was the feedback we received from retailers and media alike on the new range, stand out products were the Stomp Luxe, Cosmo and Venus Jogger, which got a lot of positive feedback, but in all honesty, we had lots of great feedback on all the products we showcased this year. This is testament to the effort that has gone in from the broader Ickle Bubba team to launch a customer focused, new product range. For me personally, we had lots of positive feedback on our most recent campaigns and branding, so I came away pleased that our marketing efforts are starting to resonate in market.

“We are reviewing next year’s activity in the coming weeks to start planning for the second half of 2023, and Harrogate is very much on the consideration list. The show is a great forum to showcase our brand and range plus it gives us the opportunity to have face to face meetings with new and existing customers. We use this time effectively, to talk through the products with a more hands-on approach and this generates productive discussion on future opportunities. It is also really lovely catching up with people in person, when the majority of time it is through emails or calls.”

With exhibitor and visitor numbers up in 2022, Harrogate International Nursery Fair has been hailed a huge success by the industry. PPS catches up with some key exhibitors to find out how the show went for them.

Emma Scorah, marketing director, Ickle Bubba

Inset: Stomp Luxe, Cosmo and Venus Jogger, got a lot of positive feedback on Ickle Bubba’s stand.

Martin Boyle, iCandy md

“The show this year was our most successful Harrogate attendance to date, and our network of retailers and distributors were impressed by our ever-evolving innovations. Despite the current economic climate, the energy on our stand was upbeat and optimistic, and we were delighted with the encouraging feedback about our people and products alike.

“As well as presenting the iconic iCandy range on a stunning new stand design to our extended network of retailers, we were thrilled to unveil a prototype of our revolutionary child car safety seat range, the iCandy Halo. The response was overwhelming, and we

“Harrogate International Nursery Fair is always a great opportunity for us to see our UK retail partners in person. It’s not often we are all under the same roof. This year we benefited from not only seeing our UK customers, but we also had the opportunity to connect with international retailers and distributors that expressed a huge interest in Snüz’s products.

“We were showcasing our 2022/23 new product development including SnüzFino, SnüzBaskit and SnüzCurve. It was amazing to hear such positive feedback and see a huge interest in what could be next for us as a brand. As for many, the past 12 months has been a real challenge especially when it comes to seeing our customers in person, so to get the opportunity to spend some quality time with them was a highlight for us.

“We will of course be attending Harrogate Nursery Fair in 2023. The show is cemented in our diary every October for the foreseeable. We were quite a late addition to the show this year, so will be ensuring we get in early for 2023 to secure space in the main halls.

“Harrogate International Nursery Fair is the perfect opportunity to showcase our new and trusted nursery products. As a leading nursery brand, our customers always expect to see us there. The show is a great opportunity to connect with existing customers, potential new customers and other nursery brands. The instant feedback is crucial and is something that we truly value, particularly when we are showcasing new products.”

Left: A number of new launches were on the Snüz stand including SnüzFino, SnüzBaskit and SnüzCurve.

are extremely excited to now bring the product to market over the coming 12 months. In addition, we showcased the latest Peach 7 drop-in colours, much anticipated new Peach All-Terrain and new MiChair which will be launching in 2023.

“As a proud British brand, the Harrogate International Nursery Fair is extremely important to iCandy, and it’s a real honour for the business to be part of the largest nursery trade show in the UK. The event allows us to showcase the very latest iCandy innovations not just to the UK market, but to its international industry attendees. We are very much looking forward to returning to Harrogate in 2023.”

Left: iCandy showed a prototype of its new Halo car seat on a newly designed stand.

“It was the first time we have exhibited at Harrogate and we found it to be a great show. It was very well organised and communicated with a great mix of exhibitors and visitors. It was well laid out and easy to access too and all the organisational staff were extremely helpful and supportive.

“We took some great orders, met with lots of current accounts as well as prospective accounts and also met with some buyers that we had not expected to see, so overall it was a great success for us. We will most definitely be exhibiting next year.

“The Harrogate International Nursery Fair allowed us to showcase our full product range for the first time and really promote our brand and most importantly, to meet with lots of current accounts as well as new potential accounts too.”

Left: BIBS exhibited at Harrogate International Nursery Fair for the first time this year.

Emma Peak, UK sales and marketing manager, Thule “Harrogate was very good, great attendance, it was organised well and we felt really looked after. We were busy with lots of appointments with media and retailers. Surrounded by high calibre brands from across the world, it really felt like it was an important place to be

“Our highlight was the launch of our amazing new innovative products to trade, the Air Purifier and Thule Car Seats 2023; it was an amazing launch and was received really well.

“It was important to show off our new products and show our commitment to the nursery industry. It was so nice to meet people face to face and properly network in the industry. We’ll be back next year.”

Brett Capon, sales director, Snüz

Myalee Sofield, country manager, BIBS

Cath Needham, head of sales at iCandy, talks changes from some 30 years in the nursery industry, star products and the need to support our retailers to ensure they are there for future generations.

Left: Cath Needham

“TOGETHER WE CAN GROW AND BE STRONGER”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT ICANDY?

For almost four months, since July 2022, but I have been in the nursery industry for almost 30 years including have my own retail stores for over 20 years. My previous account management roles include a five-year period with Artsana Group and international sales with Peekaboo Holdings.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT AT THE COMPANY?

I’ve joined the iCandy family at the start of a massive growth journey for the company. Harrogate was a huge achievement for our whole team, with 150 individual meetings taking place during the three days of the show. Another accomplishment is our successful recruitment for an account manager to cover the Ireland retailers, and I am now interviewing for an international account manager to grow our distribution channels throughout the world, ensuring iCandy is ready for the future.

FAVOURITE PART OF YOUR JOB?

Everything! Walking into our offices to be greeted by such positivity is incredibly special. The warm welcomes from our independent retailers constantly reassures me that iCandy is a great company. The hero of course is always going to be the products, which I have loved since I started selling the iCandy Peach, Cherry and Apple in my stores back in 2009. They were my favourite brand back then, and to now be heading up their sales team is a dream come true moment for me.

WHO IS THE UNSUNG HERO OF THE COMPANY?

I am not sure where to start on this one as there are so many special people within the iCandy family. There is Martin Boyle, our md, who works incredibly hard to build the perfect iCandy team while ensuring we all have some fun and laughter. My internal sales manager, Leanne Baker and her team are amazing with invaluable industry knowledge. Last but by no means least, my special team of account managers who are out delivering the dream every day to our retailers.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE WITHIN THE NURSERY/PRESCHOOL INDUSTRY THAT YOU HAVE SEEN SINCE YOU HAVE WORKED IN IT?

Gosh – so many changes in 30 years! I suppose I have to say one of the biggest was the start of online shopping which completely changed the landscape of retailing. The growth of social media, influencers and their impact on consumer choice, is another vast change, along with how our iCandy retailers are adapting to offering a different shopping experience for new parents to be.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?

There is no ‘i’ in team. We are a family at iCandy, and we all work together to grow the brand throughout the world. Each and every one of us is important, and together we can grow and be stronger.

BIGGEST LESSON YOU’VE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE LAST YEAR?

Losing a parent during Covid has made me consider my own mortality. Go out there and strive for what you want to achieve and learn something new every day. Look forwards to new opportunities and never dwell too much on the past. Be kind, happy and respectful and the world will be a better place because of you.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE NURSERY/PRESCHOOL INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I would love to instigate change to ensure that store owners and their irreplaceable team members are valued more. We speak so often about ‘unsung heroes’ but rarely is there a mention of our amazing retailers who are often the losers in political decisions. How can we give them more voice when they are offering such an incredible service to new families?

We need to support our retailers to ensure they are there for the future.

BEST SELLERS

“My bestselling product at the moment is definitely the Orange Tree Toys Spring Weather Clock. It helps children understand days of the week, seasons, temperature and weather all in one toy.”

FIRST YEAR

“The last year for my business has been fantastic,” enthuses Laura Mawdsley, founder of Little Things Toys. “I have been able to expand my wooden toy range, offering new brands like Tender Leaf and Orange Tree Toys, but also stock a number of small businesses that complement my peg doll creations.”

LITTLE THINGS TOYS IN NUMBERS

Online toy shop, Little Things Toys has been operating for just over a year and is run by mum of three and Early Years practitioner, Laura Mawdsley. The website focuses on the educational and play value of wooden toys, offering a range of brands.

Above: The shop’s play set ups offer social media followers inspiration with the product offering.

GOING SOCIAL

“Social media is how I get my products seen being an online business. Instagram and Facebook are great for connecting with customers and showing how my products can be used.”

BEING SEEN ONLINE

“I love creating play set ups for my children and document these to share with my followers. People enjoy seeing how products can be used and the versatility they hold.”

Above:

TRENDS

“People are really starting to think about how and what they buy. Eco-friendly, sustainable toys are really popular. Sensory play is on the rise with more people understanding the benefits.”

OLD AND NEW FRIENDS

“My longest supplier is Inside Out Toys. I love that this brand is making FSC certified wooden toys and taking care of the environment. My newest supplier is Moody’s Making Memories – gorgeous oak sensory boards.”

Above: Inside Out Toys is Laura’s longest standing supplier.

Right: Laura is the founder of family-run Little Things Toys.

IN NUMBERS

• “There’s myself, my three toy testers, Alex, 11, Millie, eight, and Issac, two, and my husband who does the odd post office run.”

• “My average customer would spend around £32.”

• “There were five boxes from Orange Tree Toys in my last delivery.”

• “My stockroom consists of book shelves and a big wardrobe in my house.”

• “My furthest customer has been in the Scottish Highlands, quite a way from my base in Plymouth.”

SHOP LOCAL

“There has, over the last few years, been a rise in people supporting small businesses and being more conscientious on where items are coming from, but also the uniqueness they can find by shopping small.”

Above: The Spring Weather Clock is the site’s bestseller.

MY HERO!

“My standout hero product would have to be my kokeshi insect peg dolls. Hand painted by myself, people love pairing these with various sensory products and books to create imaginative play set ups for their children.”

Laura complements her product offering with hand painted peg dolls.

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

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