EVENT FOCUS Inset: The show provides a great opportunity for suppliers and buyers to meet in person once again.
BACK TO THE FLOOR
T
he only dedicated UK toy trade show to take place this year, the Independent Toy & Gift Show is returning to Cranmore Park in September, and the Play-Room team is looking forward to once again welcoming the preschool industry through the doors. The reaction from both exhibitors and visitors to the show returning has been really positive, Rosie Marshall, head of toys and children’s gifts at Play-Room tells PPS. “While we have all learnt to adapt to seeing products virtually over the last 18 months, it still doesn’t compensate for seeing products face to face,” Rosie says. “This show provides the perfect opportunity for suppliers and buyers to meet in person once again.” The exhibitor list includes familiar names to the preschool sector including Best Years, Bigjigs, Character Options, Galt, Halilit, Juratoys, Orchard Toys, tonies and Toynamics among others. Ravensburger is sponsoring the café area and will also be showcasing the Brio wooden railway as part of the show’s wooden theme. Newcomers to the showfloor, meanwhile, will include DKB, 8th Wonder and The Happy Puzzle Company, plus Craft Buddy and Baby Republic which have both recently joined Play-Room’s supplier base. Rosie continues: “We have a very
good relationship with these suppliers and appreciate their support to our members in what has been a very difficult year for all.” Rosie is keen to stress that health and safety throughout the show for visitors, exhibitors and staff is a top priority. “We have been hosting shows at Cranmore Park since June, in a Covid safe environment,” she says. “The safety, wellbeing and comfort of our visitors and exhibitors is our paramount concern and we will continue to take all the necessary steps to ensure our venue is safe in line with the Events Industry Guidelines and Government regulations.”
Above:The Play-Room team (from left to right) Rosie Marshall, Karen Almond, Aimee Hill and Faz Akhtar.
As the only UK toy trade show to take place in 2021, the Independent Toy & Gift Show is ready and waiting to welcome the trade back to Cranmore Park in September. PPS catches up with PlayRoom’s Rosie Marshall to find out more about the preparations. Indeed, Cranmore Park has been awarded the ‘Good to Go’ certification by Visit England, which means the venue has followed government and industry Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of exhibitors and visitors. “We will continue to implement the following measures to ensure everyone who attends the show feels safe: enhanced cleaning measures, sanitation stations, wider exhibition aisles, monitored visitor numbers and contactless payment,” says Rosie. All visitors must pre-register prior to the event. “We are very much looking forward to welcoming exhibitors and visitors to our show. The feedback from previous INDX shows hosted at Cranmore Park is nothing but praise for the cleanliness and safety measures in place. We’ve had visitors call the day before a show to ask what measures are in place and after deciding to attend, they have felt comfortable and reassured while attending the show, which is exactly how we want everyone to feel,” Rosie concludes.
INDEPENDENT TOY & GIFT SHOW: NEED TO KNOW When: Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 September, 2021. Where: Cranmore Park Conference & Event Centre, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4LE Website: https://www.independenttoyandgift.co.uk Visitors are required to pre-register prior to the event and arrive with their printed badges to minimise contact: https://www.independenttoyandgift.co.uk/ register-now
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