touchingbase
A helping hand
Toy World spoke to suppliers to find out how they go above and beyond to support independent toy retailers in the UK & Ireland, on everything from window display programmes to MOQs, demo stock to event support and more.
Nicola Bergot
Chris Beardmore
UK managing director, Magic Box Toys
UK head of Sales, Learning Resources
Although we’re a whole new team in the UK, we possess significant industry expertise including marketing, sales and dedicated customer services, and benefit from a great team of experienced field sales agents. We operate from a recently-opened UK office and our products ship from a UK warehouse operation too. We offer independent retailers a low carriage paid order value, and we support that with really strong everyday margins. As we head to indie trade shows, those strong margins will be enhanced with special show offers, POS solutions and launch FSDUs. Our brands, meanwhile, are supported with masses of content - webisodes, TV commercials, stop motion videos, influencer videos and more - and we’re launching dedicated social media channels for the UK too. Every brand has a full marketing campaign behind it too. And not just TV: we are totally focused on reaching young consumers and parents in every way possible and we will be punching well above our weight with our marketing efforts. Taken as a whole, our 360-degree approach means Magic Box is now able to fully support and service its independent UK & Ireland customers.
Each year, Learning Resources launches over 100 innovative educational toys and games that help children learn through play. To help our Toymaster trade customers choose the right product mix for their markets, the Learning Resources sales agents are on hand to offer guidance in product selection and quantities. Our sales agents regularly visit trade customers and maintain regular contact to share important brand updates. All our trade customers have access to the Learning Resources Marketing Resources Centre (MRC). Through this online portal, customers can access a wide array of marketing assets including product images for in-store and online use, product descriptions and brand guidelines. Campaign-related assets and guidelines are also made available via the MRC to help our trade customers create their own fun in-store displays and activities to engage with shoppers each season. Our company also offers support in the form of prizes for in-store competitions and interactive events, as well as a library of free printables ideal for in-store activities. These are available to download from our website: www.learningresources.co.uk.
Jeremy Pateman
Lewi Hillier
General sales manager, Toys2Market
UK Sales & Operations director, Click Distribution
Toys2Market offers a very flexible and friendly service to independent retailers, an ethos we have built our business on. We are more than happy to work with independent customers who require specific, bespoke window displays across our extensive product range, which spans construction toys, toy vehicles, soft toys, collectibles, puzzles and much more. Our minimum order quantity is £150 ex. VAT United Kingdom and £300 ex. VAT in Ireland. We ship multiple lines to suit our customer in an economic way and are always happy to help with packages. Toys2Market has a well-known team of sales agents which works alongside James Triptree, managing director, and myself. The company is focused on providing quality products and first-class service and has a reliable product supply that will keep your shelves full. Toys2Market can also provide staff to support events as well as demonstration and competition stock. Additionally, with notice, Toy2Market can supply point of sale material for customers that wish to forge a lasting business relationship with us.
We’re very proud to be working with so many fantastic independent retailers across the UK & ROI. We offer a huge selection of the hottest and best-selling toys and collectibles licences in the World, all with a very small MOQ - just £250 carriage paid. Each of our retail partners have their very own dedicated account manager with whom they can discuss the next big thing, as well as access to our website, where customers can place orders 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to our fantastic customer service and great range of exclusive products, we love to support all independent retailers with window displays, catalogue listings, TV/social media tags, free stock to giveaway to consumers and in-store events. For every order placed at the Toymaster Show this month, each independent retailer will be placed into a draw to have the chance to win possession of the Official Premier League Trophy for one day. The lucky winner will be able to display the trophy in their store, giving their loyal customers a very rare photo opportunity. Other prizes are available, so come and say hello at the show for more information.
Toy World 78
