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Supplier
support Toy World asked suppliers how they are backing up Toymaster members and other retailers as they reopen their stores and welcome customers back instore.
Nigel Deacon, Sales manager, Kids International Marketing
Ross Bradley, Sales director, Wilton Bradley As you would expect, there has been a big shift towards online retail, and we are trying our best to support our partners who are having to adapt their business during such an uncertain time. Key to our ongoing relationships is ensuring our retailers receive stock in a timely manner to help meet the uplift in consumer demand. We have a range of options for customers to view our new 2021 ranges including live video conferencing and video presentations. We are offering live video conference presentations from our showroom, allowing buyers to meet their salesman from the comfort of their own home, to review the products and ask questions. We can then send photo-quotes of the selected lines and samples when required. We have also created new recorded video presentations for every new product, which customers can watch at their own convenience. The videos were created by the WB buying team, who share their detailed knowledge and explain the specifications of each product line. While we are encouraging customers to meet virtually, the WB showroom is still open for customers to visit in person if they feel they cannot effectively review the products virtually. The showroom can be accessed directly without coming into contact with other areas of the business and is kept safe with increased cleaning and PPE. We would like to take this opportunity to send our well wishes to the industry and a great return to trading.
Toy World 76
We have taken an exceptional step to support independent retailers throughout 2021, and beyond. In 2020 we started supply of the Quercetti brand direct from the factory in Turin, Italy. This reflected our desire to make products available to the independent trade at the best possible price and, as a result, maximise retailers’ margins and minimise consumers’ costs. Brexit has made this more complex, so we sought a solution which would maintain great prices but avoid unnecessary logistical headaches. The solution has been to team up with Cuckoo, a long-established UK distributor, whom many of you will know. Our clients now supply Cuckoo on a consignment basis which enables Cuckoo and us to operate very leanly, keeping our delivered prices very attractive, and ensuring availability on quick turnaround at all times. This arrangement has also enabled us to add three new brands to our portfolio: Blendy Pens, Bubabloon & GeoPuzzles. The added advantage is that this wider offering brings down the MOQ per line significantly, making it easier for retailers to buy ‘little & often’. With many retail price points under £10, the majority focused under £20, along with great margins, we feel we and Cuckoo have an unbeatable offering for 2021 and beyond.
