Event Focus

Inset: The show provides a great opportunity for suppliers and buyers to meet in person once again.

BACK TO THE FLOOR

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.

The 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.”

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.

Above:The Play-Room team (from left to right) Rosie Marshall, Karen Almond, Aimee Hill and Faz Akhtar.

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

THE INDEPENDENT TOY & GIFT SHOW

8TH WONDER

Having seen significant growth over the past 18 months despite the challenging times, 8th Wonder is looking forward to showcasing its new product lines at the show. Its portfolio now includes products from Paw Patrol, Paddington, Barbie, Fisher Price, Peppa Pig, Minions, Jurassic World, LOL and Little Tikes, with Hey Dugee being its top performing brand.

Tel: 01942 829811 www.8thwonder.co.uk

WILTON BRADLEY

Water Wall is a must-have for households with imaginative toddlers. Teaching children about gravity, angles and water flow, this wall is packed with limitless combinations for them to enjoy a different creation every time they move the pieces. With a multitude of modular accessories included, children can have fun creating their own water flows and seeing their problem-solving skills come to life as they pour water from the top.

Tel: 01626 835400 www.wiltonbradley.com ARTSTRAWS

The Play & Discover range from Artstraws is designed to assist preschool childrens’ development. Its safe, tough, brightly coloured, wipe clean pieces are packed in sizes that are ideal for nurseries and classrooms. Through play, the varied range helps with colour learning, improves dexterity and presents simple problem solving.

Tel: 01792 796151 www.artstraws.com

BEST YEARS

Despite the well reported logistics issues Best Years is very happy to say that it has many new toys arriving in September including fair trade wooden dinosaur toys, natural rubber dinosaur toys and organic cotton Scandi style and traditional pastel toys. Designed to be suitable from birth, and ethically sourced, the ranges will be available for delivery at the end of September.

Tel: 01327 263504 www.bestyears.co.uk

KALOO

Best known for the most charming and comforting toys, Kaloo is thrilled to provide little ones and parents with the ultimate page turners thanks to its range of adorable Activity Books. The soft, sensory books are sure to spark the imagination in the littlest of learners with six engaging themes including four animals: Lion, Whale, Fox and Rabbit and two very different types of mammals: Dinosaur and Unicorn!

Tel: 0208 8782133 www.juratoys.co.uk

WHAT’S NEW

BEABA

Beaba’s Glass Meal Set is an ideal solution for parents looking to reduce their use of plastics without compromising on health and hygiene. Crafted especially for young children, the ecofriendly tableware set is BPA free. The set includes a sturdy and stylish glass plate and bowl with a handy detachable and supple suction base, plus a glass beaker with a supple sleeve cover.

Email: natalie.jackson@beaba.com www.beaba.com

BLADE & ROSE

Little ones will look completely adorable in their Blade & Rose outfits, complete with footwear suitable for little kings and queens. The designs include: Maura the Mouse, Farmyard Tractor, Frankie The Lion, Flying Unicorn and Ellie the Elephant. Something for all little ones in the trademark bright and fun colours of all Blade & Rose designs.

Tel: 01539 730880 www.bladeandrose.co.uk

ICKLE BUBBA

Ickle Bubba’s everyday pushchair has had a makeover. Meet the new Moon Geo, a trend-inspired pushchair that showcases geometric prints with a metallic sheen. With two styles to choose from, parents can enjoy the cool silver and grey or go for something a little earthier, with the contrasting black and copper print.

Tel: 01554 707022 www.icklebubba.com HIPPYCHICK

Tribike is a triumph in encouraging kids from as young as 15 months to get into the saddle. It’s a superb invention that will take children on a journey from a three-wheeler to help promote confidence in standing and walking, right through to a balance bike which will give them the skills they need to push start themselves with a push bike when they are ready. Ultra-stylish, made from steel and available in a choice of vintage colours.

Tel: 01278 434440 www.hippychick.com

LITTLECONCEPTS

Developed to explore, the newest addition to the Candylab family, the Cotswold, is built classy. Ready to go on an adventure, or to nip off to the shops, the Cotswold will get you there! In two brilliant colours: Yukon Gold, and Royal Blue, each comes with an accessory that matches its style. Launching October 2021.

Tel: 07870 132595 www.littleconcepts.co.uk

WHAT’S NEW

CYBEX

Sports company PUMA and global baby brand CYBEX have created a collection of strollers aimed at active parents who enjoy taking their little ones along for the ride when they exercise. The ZENO is a 4-in-1 stroller which can be pushed, pulled or even taken biking, whilst the AVI is a lightweight sports stroller, ideal for running. Both products feature reflective elements allowing for optimum visibility.

Tel: 07471 035850 www.cybex-online.com

ENESCO

New and exclusive to Enesco, the contemporary gift retailer is delighted to announce the launch of a brand new licensed offering from Disney, that is sure to get fans of the film studio excited beyond measure. Disney Facets features beautiful figurines of superb quality, bringing the world’s most iconic and beloved characters to life, through stunning ‘gem cut’ sculptures. With the look of cut crystal at a fraction of the cost, these multi-faceted high-grade acrylic figures sparkle and shine with show-stopping detail.

Tel: 01228 404022 www.enesco.co.uk

JOIE

Meet the new savvy from Joie, the 4-in-1 baby carrier that makes baby wearing all about hugging, not lugging. The savvy boasts clever magnetic buckles on the shoulder straps that make putting it on and adjusting the straps a doddle, with no twisting or extra pairs of hands necessary.

Tel: 01889 808900 www.uk.joiebaby.com ICKLE BUBBA

Building on the success of the Dursley nursing chair, Ickle Bubba has revealed two new colourways for this modern rocking chair and stool; Sunshine and Mono. Enabling parents to add a pop of colour to their baby’s room, the Dursley nursing chair in Sunshine makes a real statement. Meanwhile, the Mono design allows parents to build their colour scheme around its slick black and white design. Featuring a soft textured woven fabric finish and armrest pockets to keep essentials close-by, night feeds have never looked so inviting.

Tel: 01554 707022 www.icklebubba.com

FIZZ CREATIONS

New from Fizz Creations is its Peter Rabbit collection. An enchanting collection of games including Character Hunt, Matching Pairs and Two-Part Puzzles, early years gift sets and a super cute Peter Rabbit Mood Light. Pre-order to secure stock today!

Tel: 01903 327006 www.fizzcreations.com