71523
Research camp with dinos
71525 Observatory for Dimorphodon
71524 T-Rex trace path
71527 Archaeological dig with dinosaur skeleton
71526 Stegosaurus nest with egg thief
While the Toymaster team has been hard at work behind the scenes for months, in preparation for the Toymaster May Show, managing director Yogi Parmar still made time to host Toy World’s John Baulch and Rachael Simpson-Jones at the buying group’s revamped HQ, where they discussed Toymaster’s enhanced focus on retailer-supplier relationships, the challenges and opportunities ahead for indies, and what its new office space offers members and suppliers.
The Toymaster head office, located in Northampton, has changed a little since we last visited. Previously, the 17-strong Toymaster team (along with all its computers) was located on the ground floor, meaning the windows had to be barred for insurance purposes. Now, after the independent buying group was given the green light to invest money into the impressive red-brick building, the bars are gone, brand-new energy efficient windows have been installed, the team has been moved upstairs and downstairs has been transformed into a mostly open-plan, multi-purpose space with a raft of uses. A U-shaped formation of tables faces a widescreen TV, ideal for board and selection meetings, and behind it, banks of shelving display the latest FOB and catalogue lines from suppliers including Zuru, Curious Universe, Simba Smoby and more. On the other side of the room, there’s an area dedicated to showcasing each month’s window programme as well as a special vlogging setup, where suppliers – ably assisted by commercial director/ influencer Paul Reader – can film videos of themselves and their products for dissemination to the group’s 137 members. Just days before our visit, DKB Toys & Distribution’s Edel Siddle and Grace Burton-Rees paid a visit to vlog about the company’s range of Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty and new distribution agreement with Wow! Stuff.
“We’re so proud of this building and we’re delighted with how the refit and upgrade has turned out,” enthuses
Yogi Parmar, Toymaster’s managing director. “It’s so much brighter and has a more spacious feel, and it means our members and suppliers can now use it for their own needs too. As a mutuality, having an office our members can utilise for their own training needs is important to us as well as reflecting the group’s ethos. If a member wants to hold a supplier meeting here, for example, they need only ask. And suppliers can use the space for meetings with their national sales team.”
Despite the challenges of 2023, the group actually
slightly outperformed the industry, with Sales up +2.57% versus 2022 even though Purchases were down -4%.
Unsurprisingly to anyone familiar with how indies operate, aggressive pricing activity during Q4 was a major challenge, leaving those on the Toymaster team scratching their heads: after all, as Yogi muses, the price of flowers and chocolates don’t get reduced in the run up to Valentine’s Day – so why do retailers insist on slashing the price of toys and games, right when demand is at its highest? It’s a good question, and one he feels the
industry really needs to be asking itself in 2024.
Over the past couple of years, Toymaster has placed an increased emphasis on supporting not only its members but its suppliers too. With more than 160+ on the books, including all the major brands through to smaller, innovative start-ups, this requires plenty of work from the team. But as Yogi sees it, Toymaster is a valuable partner to toy companies. By working with Toymaster, companies can gain access to the group’s full suite of members, be guaranteed payments both on time and in full, and the support and service of a trusted, respected group dedicated to selling only suppliers’ brands –Toymaster doesn’t have an own-label programme that companies must compete against for shelf space in its members shops, which is one of the group’s major perks.
“Our 137 Toymaster members own a total of 280 stores (including two in Malta and one in Gibraltar),” points out Yogi. “These retailers are so passionate about what they do, and they do it brilliantly. I’m sure most will be aware of how skilled indies are at social media marketing and community engagement, but you also need to remember that most Toymaster members focus 100% of their efforts on toys and games, which sets them apart from multiples and online platforms. And we’re very proud to say that 46 of our members, over a third, have been with us for 25 years or more.”
Yogi adds: “I think toy companies are really starting to recognise and reward the unique set of skills our indies bring to the table. For example, Ravensburger’s indie-first approach to the launch of Disney Lorcana was a huge boon for our members and proved that giving independent retailers first-to-market launches – or even shared launches with the majors – hurts no one, and that approach can tangibly boost brand awareness and sales.”
The newest additions to the Toymaster member roster demonstrate the variety inherent in the indie toy retail scene. Nutley Newsagents is based in Merrion Shopping Centre, Dublin; Fitzgerald’s Homevalue is on
Main Street, Dingle and Mermaid Gift Shop is located on The Strand, Saundersfoot, overlooking the beautiful Pembrokeshire beach and coastline. From young owners to more seasoned ones, husband and wife teams to sibling-run businesses, single store ‘mom & pops’ to multi-store franchises, Toymaster members are a diverse group of people from all walks of life.
Toymaster’s first round of 2024 Regional Meetings, which happen twice annually (one to aid with spring/ summer buying and the other for autumn/winter) recently brought many of the members together in either Harrogate, Swindon or Dublin alongside some 20+ suppliers. As well as allowing members to chat with suppliers and check out their newest toy ranges, the meetings are also popular for the networking opportunities they offer among likeminded retail peers. For 2025, there’s a possibility that the Swindon and Harrogate locations will be dropped in favour of a single event in Birmingham, which is arguably a more convenient location for a UK membership based largely in the south. When put to members, the idea seemed to go down well, so watch this space.
Of course, Harrogate remains firmly on the calendar for Toymaster’s biggest event of the year – the May Show. Taking place from 21st – 23rd May at the beautiful Majestic Hotel, the event was sold out within just weeks of the exhibitor registration opening. Over 100 suppliers are set to showcase their ranges at the event, which – demonstrating the generosity and altruism of the group - is open to Toymaster members as well as nonmembers. With the stands booked and floorplan set (the show takes place across the usual rooms of the hotel: the Carriage Suite, Harrogate Suite, Regency Suite, Drawing Room, Reading Room, Billiard Room, Upper Marquee and Lower Marquee), the team is now working with suppliers on the raft of special show deals for visitors to take advantage of. There will be member-specific deals as well as carefully curated deals designed with the indie retailer in mind, and closeout deals are also being strongly encouraged, which would give indies a bite of
the clearance cherry. Information on some of these deals is included within this supplement.
While at the show, visitors will also be able to enjoy Toymaster’s popular Party and (slightly more) Formal nights, taking place at the hotel on the first and second evenings of the show respectively. There will be no theme for Party Night this year (just put your glad rags on), while the dress code for the Formal Night is smart/ casual attire. Several 25 Year Membership awards will be presented during the show as well as a Golden Teddy, so do try and attend both evening events if you can.
Those attending the Toymaster May Show will also be able to chat with the team about the myriad perks that membership offers. The group’s in-house design duo, Georgia Sheehan and Matt Lee, produces a strong assortment of marketing and POS materials which members can use as they wish, from shelf-strips and wobblers to floor and staircase signage that guides consumers to a store’s toy department and the rotating window displays, which are installed in an average of 160 stores a month. These talented designers are also responsible for creating the Toymaster catalogue, which members can choose to have branded for their individual stores, as well as the new monthly Retail News digital magazine. Sent out to all members, the magazine covers current best-selling ranges, speaks to individual members about their big bets for the year, rounds up the latest news and highlights which brands the group thinks members should be stocking.
Headed up by a Board of eight directors - led by Chairman Chris Blatcher, who has been instrumental in developing Toymaster’s forward-looking strategy - Toymaster also has two committees: a Member Committee and an Island of Ireland Committee. Yogi says: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank those members on the Committees for all their help, time and hard work, which has contributed enormously to the group’s progress.”
The group also recently appointed a new head of Finance, Darren Robinson, whose remit is to assist members with financial support, cash flow, help managing investments, applying for local grants and establishing apprenticeships. Having been in place for some 30 years, Toymaster’s accounting system is also about to benefit from a much-needed upgrade, with a new one being installed in July.
What’s clear from spending time with Yogi is that Toymaster is investing not only in its members and suppliers, but also the future of the group and of independent toy retail as a whole. Underpinned by this year’s take home message of ‘Buy Better’, Toymaster continues to strengthen its existing offering for members: its superb access to big name brands and suppliers, the Toymaster Information Management System (TIMS) - which saves individual retailers around £20,000 a year – its new online Product Hub, where users can find SKU information, order forms, range presentations and more, its marketing support. The group has also improved the collection of EPOS data, meaning it now obtains enough from its UK members to represent 40% of the toy sales coming via Toymaster member stores, and 37% of stores in Ireland, giving its committees valuable insight into what consumers are buying.
“Our entire ethos is that ‘We Are Here to Help’, and we’ve worked hard to ensure we can do so in a future proof way,” finishes Yogi. “The investment we’ve made in our Northampton office and systems demonstrates our commitment to supporting our members and suppliers. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming everyone to The Majestic later this month for the May Show: as always, we’d be delighted to discuss the many benefits Toymaster membership offers to independent retailers, and to find out first-hand from our existing members how we can better support them in the months and years to come.”
Indies told us what they value the most about being a Toymaster member and what they’re hoping to get out of the May Show this year.
JAC Stores is a proud member of the Toymaster group and there are quite a few perks that have huge benefits. These include central invoicing, the marketing side of things - windows and catalogues, the FOB programme and access to consolidated purchase/sales data from across the group, to help us assess if we’re missing anything that other members are doing well with. If I had to choose one, I would say the centralised invoicing system, which is really easy to use and is a huge time saver. We make one payment to Toymaster, as opposed to individually to each of the many suppliers we deal with. Ultimately, this helps keep staff costs down and creates a better utilisation of staff member’s time.
Being able to deal with Zuru via Toymaster is a huge opportunity. It has a really strong range and Snackles in particular has been a best-selling line for us in the past year. There are some new Christmas options coming that Toymaster is facilitating through its FOB programme, which I think will be really strong. My top selling Squishmallows are always the seasonal lines for Easter, Halloween and Christmas, so I expect the Christmas Snackles to be equally popular and be an additional opportunity on top of the rest of the Zuru range.
The Toymaster Show is the last chance to see products before we start selecting the range for autumn/winter and place orders for Christmas. Seeing the product in person makes a huge difference as you can see the size, quality, packaging etc, which you can't get a real feel for when you're just looking at a digital catalogue. These factors can drastically affect your purchasing decision. There are always lots of brilliant deals to be had at the May show, and that helps with the margin issues we’re all facing. It’s also always a really enjoyable and useful way to catch up with both suppliers and members. Product wise, you can find out what’s working for other members that you might not have tried - and share what’s not working. It’s also interesting to discuss general business challenges you are experiencing, and you might just find a solution by speaking to another
member who has gone through similar difficulties.
Whilst I like to stay positive, I think there a few challenges this year. The biggest one is that there is still harsh pricing activity in the market, which is affecting margins, all whilst we are battling rising costs across the board, with the main one being labour costs. Another challenge is continuing to
drive footfall throughout the year. We could really do with a craze to help drive some extra footfall; there hasn’t really been any major craze to go after for a while. But if we keep focusing on bringing in the latest, new products at the right prices and holding in-store events as and when we can, footfall will follow.
Aperk of being a Toymaster member is being able to utilise the teams expert supply chains and the opportunities being a member presents us. Each year, I attend two regional Toymaster meetings, the May Show and London Toy Fair. The regional meetings are great because they’re local and there are certain conversations that you can have there that you can’t always have in the bigger meetings. The last Toymaster meeting I attended was in March for the autumn/winter buying programme. After the meetings, the team send further emails with more information on what we had discussed, and it feels a lot more personal and exclusive that way. I think if you’re not a part of this as a smaller retailer, then you’re missing out.
This is my nineth year at the May Show and I think it is wonderful. It all takes place in a great hotel up in Harrogate, is an opportunity to get a lot of work done in a short space of time - and there are great social events in the evening where
We find TIMS and central billing through Toymaster to be the most beneficial aspect to being a Toymaster member. It is very convenient to have all suppliers’ invoices in one place and there is a vast amount of information readily available regarding our purchase history, breakdowns and statistics. It's also very easy to manage invoicing issues and claims, and keep track of discrepancies.
The May Show is the most important event for us in the year. We can meet all our suppliers in one place and see new product ranges. It's essential to view, handle and demonstrate new toys so we can understand the quality before purchasing, and it’s also a great buying opportunity, maximising the show deals. We have back-to-back appointments made for each day to utilise our precious time in the most efficient way. It is also the time to meet and chat with other members.
As with all brick-and-mortar retailers, we have seen a huge increase in the costs of our overheads and the rate of pilferage. However, the single biggest challenge we face is to maintain our margin to combat rising costs, all while remaining competitive on price and range. Additionally, the value of carriage paid orders to Ireland has increased
we get to catch up with old friends and meet new people. In the earlier part of the year, there are a lot of previews, but when you go to the May Show, seeing the products in the flesh and ready to place orders, everything comes together. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to see anyone that you’ve missed at past meetings or shows, or who hasn’t had the opportunity to visit our shop; it’s important to have a catchup with them.
2023 was an indifferent year because there was a lot of price crashing, so coming into this year, I’m being relatively cautious. Some suppliers’ prices are coming down – but not everyone’s, making it a bit of a mixed bag. That’s where I see the challenges this year. There are lots of opportunities with certain suppliers who are prepared to help us because they see what we are doing and how it is beneficial to them and to the consumer. I like to get to the May/June period to see how I’m going to approach Q3 and Q4. As this is right around the time of the Toymaster Show, it’s excellent timing.
dramatically since Brexit, which has impacted when and how often we can order.
For independents, it is hugely important to be able to be flexible, to duck and dive in and out of hot licences, toys, etc, and the increased carriage restrictions mean we are less
TIMS is such a
to Toys N Tuck. This is the invoice management system that Toymaster operates, meaning that rather than individually paying each of our suppliers, we just pay Toymaster in one consolidated
payment and they do the rest of the work. It may seem a bit of a boring perk to highlight, but this is a massive time saver on our end and means we can focus on more fun stuff. I always enjoy the Toymaster May Show because it’s
able to respond to best-sellers and provide as quick a service to customers requests. We maintain a strong relationship with all at Toymaster and we know that they are working closely with suppliers to have these rates lowered, and are always fighting our corner regarding pricing.
relaxed and the suppliers all have time for you. They want to speak to you about your business and needs. Toy Fair in London is great to see product, but it’s very appointment based, whereas the May Show is all about the independents’ needs - and you feel that. We get some of our best in-store support and deals out of conversations had at this show.
This year, as ever, the struggle is making a profit and standing out in such a competitive market. Toymaster is always looking to support its members by negotiating better margin mixes, which is something we need to make sure that we are able to compete with nationals. Toymaster does its best to secure the right deals, exclusives and early launches for us to feature in our stores, catalogues and window features throughout the year, adding extra opportunities for us to show our customers that we have the right products at the right prices.
Running an independent business can feel isolated, as there is often nobody that you can often ask for advice, but Toymaster fills that gap; they are always happy to have a chat on the phone, or even pop by the store to personally catch up and offer advice where they can.
It’s difficult for me to name just one advantage of Toymaster membership. However, as garden centres and not your average toy shop, using Toymaster as a supportive platform for help plan our ranges is vital. Being guided by Toymaster in ensuring we have the key categories covered in our toy departments helps to ensure we cater for our wide customer base.
The May Show provides all the key suppliers in one great venue. It is so well organised and is without a doubt a significant start to our buying calendar for Christmas. Meeting existing and potential new suppliers, as well as viewing ranges for our key trading period, all in a few days, feels very productive as well as enjoyable.
Last Christmas, we were hit by all the pricing activity that happened from the bigger retailers, so there will be a shift for us this year, and we will be more selective when it comes to ranging. Our pastimes collections are doing really well, as the demand for crafting and hobbies continues to grow, so we will be looking to extend this area. Toymaster will play an important part in helping us achieve this.
If I had to pick one perk of being a Toymaster member, it would be the Toymaster Portal. We’re able to access such a vast number of suppliers, agents, new products and informative advice through the Toymaster member forum, with reminders of upcoming events, promotions and the brilliant central invoicing system (TIMS), all at the touch of a button. Monthly invoices are rolled into one each month. With all this in mind, we can give more time to planning in-house events, social media, merchandising efficiently and having fun.
With the smaller, more personal and vast selection of supplier stands, showcasing fantastic offers for current and future purchases and including what’s in-store for the remainder of the year, the Toymaster May Show is an unmissable show to attend. There’s such a warm welcome and excellent communication from Toymaster to plan your stay, as well as a great buying experience from beginning to end.
The cost-of-living crisis is still very much out there; this, plus the unsettled weather and seasons, is causing us to re-think what we would normally purchase, as well as how much, at certain times of the year. With the busier times ahead, we are looking forward to mixing things up to ensure we offer affordability. This is where the Toymaster Portal comes into its own.
Defining a single Toymaster perk is difficult. There are so many, but if we were to break it down to one key word it would have to be information. This could be new product launches, purchase data analysis, the Toymaster forum or the regional meetings where we get the chance to speak to other members and share stories, have a general moan and share our sales successes. It is all so valuable.
This is the perfect time to stock up on some amazing new products as we enter our busiest time of the year. July and August are our Christmas down here in Cornwall, so we have to get it right, and Toymaster gives us the perfect window of opportunity to get things right at the time that is best for us.
At the May Show, the golf day on the Monday is a must, as is the chance for afternoon tea at Betty’s –and of course, the Toymaster evenings at the Majestic are legendary. The challenge is to stay up until the bacon sandwiches are handed out, although I personally think this is a thing of folklore as I have never managed it yet.
This year, the squeeze on customer spend is a problem, but with all the information on hand from Toymaster, we can adjust our stock holding and product range accordingly.
There are a number of perks to the Toymaster membership that I find are great for our store. However, the support from all of the guys at Toymaster, along with interaction and advice from other members, is priceless.
The May Show is vital for meeting reps face to face, the avail of show offers and to view what the different suppliers think are going to be the top toys for the autumn/winter. It’s also a great opportunity to meet companies that are new to dealing with Toymaster and see if they have anything that we have a gap for and are missing in our store. In regard to challenges that lie ahead this year, as always, we are making sure that we remain competitive with the majors. The Toymaster group is extremely supportive in organising promotional events and offering products from our suppliers to help with this challenge.
- McGreevy's Toys District, Westport, Co Mayo
For me, the single biggest perk of being a Toymaster member is TIMS. It cut out time dealing with several different suppliers and has reduced the amount of time I spend on admin. Having just one invoice in the month is a huge benefit for me. The May show is unmissable as it gives me time to meet all my suppliers and discuss everything with them face to face. I get a chance to see new products and benefit from supplier deals they are offering. It’s also a good opportunity to meet and discuss both setbacks and opportunities with other members.
This year will be challenging as prices remain higher for us on some branded toys compared to leading toy retailers. As consumer spend has decreased, it will be a challenge to buy right, but getting a successful product and margin mix is crucial. Toymaster has helped as they give a huge amount of information on which products are selling the best. This is key information and it’s important to tap into it. I think the key to success this year will be in offering value for money for my customers.
There is a massive amount of experience and knowledge in the Toymaster organisation. To be able to pick up a phone and have a conversation whenever you need, with the Head Office or other stores, gives you a huge amount of confidence. I've never known anyone at Toymaster be anything other than helpful, on the ball and super-friendly.
I love the venue in Harrogate for the May Show and I love the show's friendly atmosphere. Above everything else, I love the fact that it's a proper Buying Show. The second half of the year lies just ahead, with Christmas in the distance but within sight. It is the ideal time to set in place the ordering for the rest of the year, and any supplier not offering a proper incentive to encourage this is missing out. The show is always really well run and it's great to catch up with everyone. The May Show is unmissable because, often, the year hinges on these few days.
We've been trading as a department store for over 50 years and I'm very fortunate to still be able to talk regularly to one of the founders of the business. With all those years of experience to draw on, you’d think that he would have seen everything, but he says in all that time there has never been a dull moment. He wisely advises that meticulous preparation is important, but being prepared and able to change your plans at a moment’s notice is crucial. He's very old now, but he's got a point!
Toymaster
We love building relationships with independents: they help us gauge how new products are received by consumers and provide valuable feedback on any adaptations that we can make to ensure greater appeal. For example, changing the plastic bags in our boppi round jigsaw puzzles to paper ones, so they’re more eco-friendly.
This year we’re going to be offering Toymaster members a massive 20% off our own-brand products, with free delivery over £250 to UK and mainland – and that’s on new as well as existing product lines. We’re keen to attract new buyers to our brands, so this will be an unmissable show offer. We’re also excited to be able to share our new boppi games and the mythical Unicorn Round Jigsaw Puzzle we’ve been working on for the past year. They were created with indies in mind, to offer stand out retail presence and act as perfect gifting items. We really hope Toymaster’s visitors love them as much as we do.
suppliers tell us about their relationship with independent toy stores and what they value most about working with the flourishing indie retail sector.
Traditionally for Tomy, the indie channel punches above its weight in terms of share of our business. This is in part driven by the popularity of the Britains brand, which has its home mostly within indie toy retailers and farm stores. Tomy has continued to prioritise this channel as it provides us with great width of distribution across all our brands.
We work closely with the Toymaster team, especially on important product launches. We also invest in the Toymaster catalogue, as well as window displays. This year, for example, we have an eye-catching Britains window which has had great take up amongst Toymaster members. The Toymaster regional and May shows are firm fixtures in our diary. Toymaster and the whole of the indie business is critical to our success and we greatly appreciate the ongoing partnership.
Our independents offer a tailored range that perfectly fits their local market. They know their audience base extremely well and offer a great in-store experience: an indie is often a child’s first visit to a toy shop. We often find that our indies will try products that are outside of the mainstream offering, as they’re open to niche products and a wide variety of newness. Consequently, they pick up on new trends very quickly, which can support our product development and steer our future ranges. They're also a great source of first-hand feedback and, most importantly, they are incredibly passionate about what they do - this really comes across to their customers and suppliers.
We are continuing our first-to-market approach for the independent hobby stores with the Disney Lorcana trading card game. This has proved really successful for establishing our core TCG customer base and has firmly established our organised play events. We’re working closely with independents to present the game as inclusive, welcoming and, of course, great fun.
We’re also currently running a personalised puzzle offer for our independents. With a one-time-only, low minimum order quantity, they have the opportunity to create a bespoke puzzle featuring a photo of local interest or using artwork by a local artist, for example.
We will have an exclusive puzzle offer at the Toymaster show to celebrate the launch of our new box design. Our new infant and toddler range, Play+, is available with a beautiful FSDU which is perfect for independents. It launched at London Toy Fair with the support of ITV This Morning's Dr Zoe Williams, and there is a comprehensive consumer and trade marketing plan in the pipeline which will guarantee great brand awareness.
Independent retailers are stepping up to offer a wider selection of high-quality, unique products and toys, alongside a personalised service that goes further than just selling goods. For example, they are creating in-store events and themed play areas to make shopping fun and engaging for both children and adults, and they excel in providing personalised service, including gift wrapping, special orders and expert advice on choosing the right toys for a child's age and interests. This builds trust and loyalty with customers.
Indie toy store staff understand the importance of play in child development and can help parents make informed choices. Pop-up play days and dedicated play areas are further examples of how toy stores are innovating and catering to customers' desire for interactive experiences. Overall, independent toy stores that prioritise creating a fun and informative shopping experience, coupled with exceptional customer service, can compete effectively with online retailers and multiples.
When it comes to indies, we cannot emphasise enough the benefits of working directly with licensed product manufacturers. Partnering with us allows them to reach a wider customer audience and benefit from increased footfall in their shops. We can guide indies on product selection based on data and insights, which show which licensed products are most popular within their target market. This can help them optimise their inventory and cater to their customer’s needs. They can also benefit from the extensive marketing support from licence owners that have the eye-watering budgets to promote the brand.
In addition, we can provide free branded counter-top spinners and floor standing displays. We offer design and graphics for branded in-store display areas to enhance product offerings. We are also happy to pair this with merchandising services and support to ensure shelves of our products are kept presentable and well stocked.
By providing a comprehensive package that goes beyond just products, we can position ourselves as an essential partner for independent toy stores looking to thrive in today's competitive retail landscape.
At Baby Republic, we firmly believe that the independent retailer channel is invaluable for several reasons. Firstly, independent retailers often have deep roots within their communities, fostering strong relationships with their customers based on trust and personalised service. These connections create a unique shopping experience that can't be replicated by larger chains.
Independent retailers are often more flexible and agile in responding to local trends and preferences, allowing them to curate a diverse and curated selection of products tailored to their specific customer base. This level of customisation and attention to detail sets independent retailers apart, offering consumers a refreshing alternative to mass-market options. Moreover, supporting independent retailers helps to stimulate local economies, as a significant portion of revenue stays within the community, contributing to job creation and economic growth. By recognising and nurturing the independent retailer channel, we not only support small businesses, but also enrich the diversity and vibrancy of retail landscapes across the globe.
In 2024, Baby Republic is proud to continue our commitment to supporting independent retail partners with tangible benefits designed to help them thrive in today's competitive market. As part of our support package, we are offering a tiered discount system to ensure that our partners receive maximum value on their orders. Starting with a generous 5% discount on all orders, this discount increases to 15% for orders exceeding £2500, providing incentives for retailers to increase their order volumes and maximise their savings. Additionally, we understand the importance of flexibility, which is why we have eliminated minimum order requirements, ensuring that retailers of all sizes can access our products without restriction. Furthermore, we are pleased to offer free delivery on all orders, alleviating logistical burdens and enhancing the overall convenience of doing business with Baby Republic. For those partners who qualify, we are also extending net 30 credit terms, allowing them greater flexibility in managing their cash flow and inventory. We believe that these tangible forms of support not only demonstrate our commitment to the success of our independent retail partners, but also empower them to thrive and grow in an ever-evolving market landscape.
Chris Lohmeyer Managing director, DKB
DKB continues to thrive in the independent space. With a key focus on margin and the right product in the right space, we continue to deliver. A new focus for us in 2024 is the launch of our homeware lines, which has already been teased with the success of Uncanny Brands. We are due to launch Stor licensed drink and lunchware this summer, furthering the depth of our ranges, offering unique and innovative lines for our customers. We also continue to deliver high margin on lines such as Crazy Aaron’s, an absolute blockbuster in the independent sector.
Having been in the toy industry for more than a decade, you see a lot of change and a lot of things come and go. One thing that is consistent, however, is the amazing independent trade. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we are here to support the trade and the Toymaster Show. The business we get from independents is very important to us, and it is equally important to be able to support this sector with excellent product and service, which we hope to further strengthen with the launch of our new B2B website.
The indie retail channel is highly valuable for several reasons. Firstly, it supports the local economy, offering an alternative to big corporations. Indie retailers provide a personalised shopping experience, with passionate staff who are product experts, and their stores often offer unique selections. Moreover, they foster community by organising events, promotions and building a strong reputation within their local area. Indie retailers are adaptive, constantly evolving their product range, store designs and marketing strategies to cater to the preferences of their customers, ensuring continued relevance and success.
We're committed to delivering exciting new products to retailer shelves, focusing on a pricing architecture below £30. Our expanded range now covers multiple categories, featuring some highly anticipated Q4 launches that are set to make waves. We've partnered with one of the biggest content creators, MrBeast, for autumn/winter 2024, and we’re excited to introduce these products to the masses, with independent retailers playing a central role in our rollout programme. Our aim is to ensure that kids and adults everywhere can purchase these innovative items. We're thrilled to unveil the in-store executions for the Despicable Me 4 toy range, marking a first major licensing collaboration with Toymaster. We've secured significant out-of-aisle and window space to showcase the line up to coincide with the movie launch momentum.
The indie retailer channel is very valuable on a number of fronts. Typically, they are owners and managers who have a real passion for the toy trade, and more importantly for Cobi, they are a specialist in the genre and become an extension to our business selling the product. They can adapt more quickly to new crazes and product launches, whereas the nationals are more structured. On a lighter note, you can generally meet with indies face to face, chew the cud and find out what is really happening out in the marketplace.
The indie sector is such an important channel due to its variety, locations and proactive response to market trends. If you take a range like Skillmatics, we are very new to the UK and Irish markets, and our success will be built heavily on gaining listings and space quickly. In doing this with the indie sector, not only do we gain more awareness from consumers, but it gives us valuable market feedback whilst simultaneously generating cash flow. If you can make your products work in a large proportion of indie stores, this gives the business a fantastic platform from which to expand into multi-national stores. Having a strong presence in both helps fuel sales and build brands. We will always do as much as we can to support every single stockist of Skillmatics. We are creating in-store branding with FSDUs and POS, plus we offer a full databank of videos, lifestyle images, descriptions and product images that can be used for websites and social media posts. We will actively engage with retailers on social media and tag them, helping build strong relationships. We have been approached to advertise in trade catalogues already, like the Toymaster Christmas catalogues, where we have agreed to showcase four wonderful products. We are always open to discuss marketing initiatives with any retailer and will do our utmost to support our ranges in the best possible way.
Other than myself and the team in Poland, Cobi offers a raft of marketing support which includes all the traditional items like posters, wobblers and shelf talkers. But we also have some instore theatre display models, and later this year, hope to be introducing some light boxes to create even more impact. From time to time, we run promotional offers that we share with our retail partners to help boost trade.
Indie retailers are an extremely important part of the toy trade for Golden Bear. Their constant contact with consumers and their buying habits provides fantastic feedback and invaluable information that helps us extend our key product ranges to ensure the fit within this sector. Indies see a trend emerging in-store, directly from the shopper, and are able to jump on it and take full advantage. Soccer Bot is a prime example: Fagans Toymaster achieved an amazing 4.3m TikTok views in one weekend when the store’s security guard was caught on camera playing late night Beat the Bot.
We’re able to offer all our indies access to our content, creative and forward marketing plans to ensure they are fully stocked with the right product at the right time, and can take full advantage of our TV advertising and social campaigns.
The independent sector is a big part of M&D history, and we understand the unique attributes independent stores bring to toy retail. Independent stores have a level of knowledge and passion for the toys they stock unmatched by other retail channels. They’re able to devote time and expertise to consumers to help them select the right product. They are focal points for their local communities, watching generations of children grow up, and are in many ways the guardians of play for our society. I still remember the magic of visiting my local toy shop as a very young child (it was The Tiny Set in Putney).
The best stores have character, personality and are proactive in the way the interact with consumers. We’ve seen some fantastic examples of locally targeted marketing through social media, events and in-store execution in support of Melissa & Doug products.
For us at Melissa & Doug, the Toymaster May Show is an absolute highlight of the year, when we welcome our independent store customers to the stand to see our full range and discuss the year ahead. We have developed several product display units with independent sector in mind. New for 2024, our wooden puzzle spinner allows a large quantity of our popular wooden puzzles to be merchandised in a relatively small space, while also showing the product off in its best light to consumers.
We will also offer a number of tailored promotions to the trade throughout the year including a birthday celebration promotion in the middle of the year, and will continue to explore in-store events such as the demo days we ran to support the launch of our new Sticker Wow! range. We’ll also be improving the availability of POS material to support the Melissa & Doug brand in store. On top of this, the independent sector will benefit from our 2024 brand building activity, which will include video display, social media and influencer campaigns to support core products in the Melissa & Doug range.
Toymaster is incredibly valuable and has been the core of our business for years. We find our indie retailers often curate a diverse and unique selection of products that may not be found in larger chain stores. They have the freedom to choose products that cater to specific consumer markets all year round and appeal to a particular customer base, which ties in perfectly with our extensive range of everyday play and dress-up.
Indies provide a key eCommerce presence on and outside of marketplaces. This allows us to prioritise customer engagement and exposure of our products and the brands we represent for a wider consumer shopping experience. They have a deep understanding and knowledge of trends, allowing them to guide the consumer for key events and seasonal purchases, which we support wholeheartedly. On top of this, indie retailers are still deeply rooted in their local communities. They become gathering places for toy enthusiasts, collectors and families looking for a personalised experience.
At Rubies, we understand the importance of supporting our indie retail partners to ensure their success and growth. As part of a wide range of schemes specifically tailored to support the independent market, we offer exclusive deals, marketing programme support, digital development integration, drop shipping and asset toolkits. We are also excited to announce that we will be introducing new, innovative and eye-catching FSDUs and CDUs.
We recognise the ever-evolving marketing landscape and will be introducing new strategies to help our indie retail partners stay ahead of the curve. This may include digital marketing campaigns, social media collaborations, influencer partnerships and targeted advertising to help generate buzz, increase footfall or drive online traffic to their listings or eCommerce platforms.
We will be providing our indie retail partners with a range of new point of sale materials, including posters, banners and signage, highlighting key features and benefits of our products. This support will enhance the in-store shopping experience and encourage customers to engage with our products.
Our commitment to providing tangible support to our indie retail partners goes beyond these initiatives. We’re always happy to talk to them, and we can’t wait to see what we produce together.
Indies are a really valuable part of the toy retail landscape. Independent stores offer the shopper an environment where expert help is always on-hand. Indies have the ability to present a depth of range and show a wide spread of products within chosen categories. These types of stores give shoppers the luxury of variety and choice.
We offer our indie retail partners the facility to test many items across the Bruder range. Due to having our own warehouse in Nenagh (Republic of Ireland), we are able to provide excellent back up stock levels. This ensures continuity in order to maximise sales of the most frequently demanded lines.
Kayes of Cardiff has built its business up over the last 40 years with the support of indie retailers. The smaller the account, the more flexible its needs, which is what Kayes can offer. The indie retailer can reach all styles of purchaser with a vast range, a very personal service, a flexible way of selling and being able to adapt easily to consumers’ needs. These are essential factors that underpin a successful retailer, and Kayes strives to meet these requirements through its comprehensive sales team of representatives and agents, supported by its friendly office-based team. The indie retailer is the quickest to react to new lines and has the ability to range stock in much smaller quantities, giving the best choice to the consumer.
Kayes always endeavours to support its indie customers with seasonal offers and show specials throughout the trading year. This enables the indie to compete with the nationals, whilst at the same time helping to drive up numbers and give the customer an opportunity to help the consumer at retail level. This then reflects on the ability of the indie to secure a returning customer for future sales. Our spring specials will be followed by May Show offers, and finally, autumn/Christmas promotions will complete the programme for 2024.
COMING SOON
Indies have always been (and will always be) important to us at Asmodee, not least because they provide a really important bridge between our hardcore hobbyists and our game players on the national side of the business. The hugely successful Dobble grew with the indies first before it went national. Interestingly, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza has followed the same trajectory with independents; it’s exciting to see that this pattern continues to repeat itself.
Indies are super-passionate people, which for us makes a huge difference. People running their stores because they genuinely care about them also genuinely care about games and the positive impact they have on people. As a result, we really value and take on board their feedback when it comes to how our products are performing. Indie opinions matter and can make a real difference to a product’s success.
After 20-odd years in the industry, I’m loving seeing how people tend to stay in their roles: there is a wealth of historical knowledge there that is priceless. Out on my visits, I’m also enjoying seeing second generations of families taking over the baton. That is rare in this day and age and is something we can all be proud of.
We continue to work really closely with all our indies and directly with Toymaster. The support we offer is wide ranging, from supporting the group’s catalogue and offering bundle pricing deals to window displays and store support. We also know that when we have our passionate games demonstrators in store, getting our games into people's hands, they encourage more people to enjoy, play and ultimately buy a board game that they love. We aim to do more of these demonstrations throughout 2024 and beyond.
We also run our successful retailer days throughout the year, which are both informative and lots of fun. Recently we ran a day to launch the new Star Wars Unlimited TCG, which went down incredibly well, and we have a Pokémon day coming up.
Asmodee is an innovative company, and we are always open to suggestions and new ideas. It’s how we learn and evolve. Much of this type of feedback over the years has come from the indies because they know us, our products and their customers so well – and they know we will be all ears.
sales director, Hornby Hobbies
Indies play a crucial role in the toy retail landscape, for several reasons. Firstly, they offer a truly personalised experience. The owners of independent toy shops are deeply passionate about their products and take the time to guide customers through their selections, fostering meaningful interactions and building trust. Moreover, indies contribute to the growth and success of brands like Hornby Hobbies. Our partnership with these retailers has been instrumental in reaching families across the country and internationally. Through independent toy shops, we can engage directly with customers, sharing our heritage and quality in a way that resonates with enthusiasts and collectors.
In essence, indies serve as community hubs, where customers can not only find great toys but also connect with fellow enthusiasts and receive personalised guidance. Their presence enriches the toy retail landscape and ensures that diverse and high-quality products remain accessible to consumers.
At Hornby Hobbies, we're committed to empowering our indie retail partners with tangible support. This year, we're proud to announce significant investments aimed at enhancing our partnership network.
Firstly, we've expanded our team with the addition of two dedicated independent team members: Andy Singh, who is responsible for the North East and Scotland, and Brett Anderson, who looks after the South East. This strategic move bolsters our field force to a total of five members and allows us to extend our reach to a broader spectrum of customers, ensuring that we're more accessible and responsive to the needs of our retail partners. With this increased manpower, we're poised to elevate our service standards and amplify our call rates, delivering unparalleled support to our valued partners.
Moreover, we're gearing up to make our presence felt at various trade events throughout the year. These engagements serve as invaluable platforms for us to showcase our latest offerings and forge stronger connections within the industry. By actively participating in these events, we're not only raising awareness about our products but also fostering meaningful interactions with both retailers and consumers alike.
In addition to trade events, we're doubling down on retail activations designed to amplify the visibility of our brand and products. Through targeted initiatives, we aim to drive foot traffic to our partner stores, ultimately translating into increased sales and heightened brand loyalty.
I believe the indie retail channel is as valuable as ever, maintaining diversity and an identity of the local area. This localised connection can translate into enhanced brand loyalty, as well as word of mouth marketing and customer retention, and independent retailers are more receptive to novel products, which Cheatwell Games offers. The longterm relationships with the indie retail channel are what makes it as valuable as ever.
The independent retailer channel is vitally important to our business. Not only do indies offer fantastic support to our brands and products, but they are quick to offer feedback and can react quickly to newness. This helps us to establish products and get early reads on sales. They also help us to identify trends and hot licences, which we can then act upon. As they are located all over the country, indies are in a perfect position to provide valuable information on what sells and what doesn’t. It is much easier to have face to face conversations, which isn’t always possible with the buyers at a national retailer.
Cheatwell Games is offering a wide-ranging selection of over 200 new lines with great margins in 2024. We have lowered the cost price on many existing lines. For example, our larger board games this year have had up to a 20% decrease in cost price. In fact, there isn’t a price increase on any line in the Cheatwell range this year. We can mix cases on most of our lines for the indies, and in some cases can accept orders in single units. We have also held our carriage paid value at £250.
At Peers Hardy, we continue to support the independents with a growing team of sales agents who visit and service each account. We offer special discounts and promotions, and in 2024, are looking to offer independents first to market launches on some of our new licences coming later in the year.
Since opening our UK office in 2014, we have been delighted by the level of support and excitement shown for our products by so many lovely independent retailers, many of whom remain our biggest fans. The independent retail sector is invaluable to the local community, providing customers with a personable service and the opportunity to see a wide range of different products. Supported by a loyal customer base, independent retailers love spotting something new and innovative that they can share with their customers. Every year we are thrilled by the smiles we see when our independent retailers catch a glimpse of our new product releases and test play for the first time. We would not be where we are without our lovely indies.
We have always supported our independent retail customers with an offering of complimentary demo samples and in-store marketing materials. We are extending our support with in-store demonstration days, as well as customised TV screens which showcase our eye-catching how-to-play videos. If any independent retail customers seek additional product training, then we would be more than happy to arrange this virtually from our dedicated showroom in Arundel.
Indies are the heart of the toy industry. They are essential to keeping our high streets alive and are invaluable in providing some of the best visibility to our consumers. We receive great feedback from our indie retailer partners, helping to influence our ranges and approach: in addition, we often see market trends kickstarting in the indie channel. Indies are hugely important to the Bandai UK business across all our divisions and are something we value greatly for our Collector and Hobby portfolio, given that this is predominantly independent-driven.
We work closely with our indie partners to develop and offer exclusive opportunities suitable for the channel, offering them a point of difference from those executed at mass retail. We create bespoke POS for areas where we have dedicated brand space and support key lines in catalogues and windows. We have some amazing in-store activities, giveaways and demo opportunities lined up for the months ahead to help drive footfall and create enjoyable and memorable experiences for consumers.
Independent toy retailers are very important to suppliers such as Basic Fun! UK and to the toy market overall. They offer consumers a huge and diverse product mix and, importantly, a breadth of range. The owners and staff behind these businesses live and breathe toys all year round and have an outstanding knowledge of what they sell. They are quick to respond to trends in the marketplace, as well as being leaders in launching new brands with their ability to take on newness throughout the year. They react to their customers’ demand, whether it’s a hot product or something that they are excited to discover.
Basic Fun! UK actively works with indie partners throughout the year with sampling initiatives, character costume appearances and window displays - arranged directly and through buying groups like Toymaster. To increase B2C awareness locally, we even arrange for social media influencers to head into stores to seek and find new products. In 2024, we are continuing to support our Toymaster Group retail partners with social campaigns, competition prizes, appearances and more.
Customers value independent stores because they continue to offer a range of advantages, such as personalised service, unique products and a sense of community involvement. I sense that customers are considerate of all the hard work that goes into running a friendly, local independent store or showroom where they really do appreciate every sale. In my experience, from a supplier point of view, they can often incorporate a wider range of products, respond quickly to macro and micro trends and deliver something different. Passionate indie retail businesses are also trusted for their value and expertise.
We are doing what we can to help drive footfall to our indie retail partners by offering demo play day boxes and demo days, supported by trained demonstrators. Easter, summer and spooky season themed play events have been particularly popular, and the comments from retailers have been very positive. We provide printed and digital event posters to draw customers into stores on the demo days, and feedback shows that this is leading to increased sales on the day and repeat buys thereafter. All retail partners receive a pack of free sample bags to giveaway to customers, which is always much appreciated. We offer Plus-Plus for five and above, or Big for 10 months and above, to cater for all ages. Our most popular and productive merchandise unit, the spinner display stand of assorted tubes, incorporates a tray table of mixed colour loose pieces, offering kids the opportunity to get hands on and enjoy the tactile Plus-Plus open play experience.
We’re proud to have supported independent stores since the company was founded in 1946. Not only do the indies play a significant part in our business, but they offer customers a more personalised experience, whether it be a giftgiver looking for the next must-have present or someone simply looking for a spot of inspiration. Over the years, we’ve formed great relationships with our independent accounts, many of whom knew my father and grandfather too. Our independent accounts are often those who experience first-hand feedback from our customers, which is not always easy to achieve through online channels these days. It is this feedback that is invaluable to us as a brand and is what makes independent stores such a valuable part of our retail landscape. As well as offering a full range of best-selling toys, our Casdon products are presented in bright colour packaging, which makes for eye-catching displays in-store. For retailers who have the flexibility to showcase products out-of-box, we offer stock to accommodate displays. Nothing beats being able to play with the toys before making a purchase. Of course, for online retailers, we also offer best-in-class lifestyle and product photography, as well as video assets to fully showcase the functions and features of the range.
Independent retailers have always been the focus for Mojo Fun. Our range of figurines and gift sets reflect this, as they are perfect for pocket money purchases, treats and gifts under £20. The nature of figurines means that they require independent retailer care and attention to best display them, and to keep any eye on stock levels. The Mojo Fun range offers independent retailers a point of difference and breadth of range; with products starting from £3.95, they encourage collectability and see loyal customers return on a regular basis.
In a challenging retail market, it is vital for independent retailers to find their voice and have an offer that will attract customers regularly, and Mojo Fun product can help deliver that opportunity. We understand how difficult conditions are for independent retailers right now. We hope that our continued focus on customer service and our ability to deliver stock from our UK warehouse will help our indie partners keep their retail shelves full, without having to wait lengthy periods of time to re-stock. We aim to deliver orders within 48 hours, wherever possible, and with high fulfilment rates.
We are pleased to be able to maintain all our trade prices for 2024, allowing us to provide extremely competitive trade margins for our indie partners despite growing cost challenges. We are also keen to discuss POS options to best display our products and maximise retail sales. All POS materials, including our consumer catalogues, are supplied FOC, subject to minimum order requirements.
Independent toy retailers are essential pillars of the toy retail landscape for several reasons. Firstly, they inject diversity and uniqueness into the market, offering a handpicked selection of toys that often differs from those found in larger chain stores. This curated assortment allows for the discovery of innovative, smaller brands and products. At Wilton Bradley, our commitment to offering a diverse range of products aligns perfectly with the ethos of independent retailers. By providing a platform for smaller brands and unique toys, we strive to empower these retailers to differentiate themselves and offer customers a curated selection that sets them apart from larger chain stores. This dedication to diversity not only enriches the offerings available to consumers, but also supports the growth and sustainability of independent toy manufacturers. Independent toy retailers are invaluable assets to the toy retail landscape. Their commitment to diversity, community engagement and personalised service enriches the industry and enhances the overall shopping experience for consumers. Our commitment to independent retailers extends beyond just providing products. We also offer valuable support and resources to help these businesses thrive. Whether through great photoshoot images and bespoke POS to illustrate the larger products being played with, or marketing assistance, product training or logistical support, we aim to ensure that indie retailers have the tools and knowledge they need to succeed. We will have a range of offers and deals across early buy, promo and clearance for orders placed at the show.
Independent toy shops are the places where children fall in love with toys. As the foundation of the toy market, many trends have been born from shelves in the warrens of high stacked aisles in the local toy shop. Bright Day-Glo pricing tickets can light-up kids’ dreams, who may have been saving-up or praying for their parents to dig deep into pockets, so they can add to their collection of prized action figures or creative sets to produce a bead portrait of the family dog. The challenge for a supplier is to secure that space. It’s labour intensive and not something that can be achieved overnight. Each independent toy store has its own unique needs, and you can’t treat them as a whole – even members of buying groups.
As a small business, we are making a concerted effort to bring more indies on board. We try and treat each with the individuality they deserve. Each week, we offer the indies exclusive deals via email blasts and our team of agents. Our delivery MOQ has been reviewed and reduced. We also have starter packs to encourage new retailers on board, and we can offer individual marketing services, such as competition packs with giveaways, and local social media campaigns to highlight new stockists and ranges. New products at key price points are vital too. We recently started stocking a new pre-school vehicle range, Motor Town, which was signed primarily with the independent trade in mind. The initial sales have been great and the innovative puzzle ball Slida was brought in to hit a key pocket money price point in the category. We are always keen to talk to people and see what we can do to help.
One of the first calls I made when I joined Hey Hugo was to Toymaster, as I recognise just how important the group is when looking to build a strong stable brand. The independent channel is the essential first stepping stone in a launch at Hey Hugo. One of the first toy companies I worked for was run by Peter Brown, and he always impressed upon me just how crucial the independents were, and that has always stuck with me. To launch and build a brand, you need a strong, stable base, and that is exactly why the independents are so important. Having been in the toy trade for 18 years, I have seen many companies dip in and out of toys, but the independents are the bedrock of the toy trade. They are often first to market with new trends and can react much more quickly than some larger retailers, so we look forward to building our success with them. We recognise the specific challenges of running an independent toy business, so we have tailored our proposition with the independents in mind. Hey Hugo is coming at this from a position of partnership and joint success. We have a low carriage paid order of just £150, we don’t have any fixed pack sizes and we have worked hard to make sure we have competitive cost prices and RRPs, which allow for very strong margin opportunities. We are also open to looking at in-store theatre, FSDUs, competitions, window displays and anything else we can do to help achieve success.
Independent retail plays a crucial role in the economy, and in the toy industry. Independent retailers offer products that are unique and not commonly found in large chain stores. This contributes to the diversity of products available in the market, providing consumers with more choices and opportunities to discover new and innovative items.
They are typically locally owned and operated, meaning a significant portion of the money spent at these establishments stays within the local community. This helps to support the local economy by creating jobs, generating tax revenue and fostering economic growth; independent retailers are often deeply rooted in their communities. They tend to have closer relationships with their customers and are more involved in local events, charities and initiatives.
These small businesses are often hubs of creativity and innovation, driving competition and pushing larger retailers to adapt and improve. They can provide personalised recommendations, tailor their offerings to local preferences and build strong relationships with their customers, leading to greater customer satisfaction and loyalty. Overall, without supporting independent retail, there is no room for new brands, experimentation, personal relationships and genuine feedback for wholesale operations like Reydon.
Reydon provides various forms of marketing support to retailers to help them promote and sell their products effectively. We provide visually appealing materials such as posters, banners, shelf talkers and display stands that highlight the products and promotions. These materials can attract customers' attention and drive sales in-store. We have a huge array of digital marketing assets such as images, videos and social media content that retailers can use to promote the brand and its products online. This helps them enhance their online presence, add credibility and attract customers through digital channels. By providing this type of marketing support, brands can help retailers drive sales, increase brand awareness and strengthen their partnership with the brand, ultimately benefiting both parties.
I believe that indie shops are the bedrock of the toy industry, and their sheer passion for toys and delivering satisfaction to the consumer is something I really admire and support. As a toy company, it is important for us to grow and maintain a relationship with indie retailers: at Spin Master, independents are key partners, and it is important for us to grow our relationships and business together. They greatly appreciate the products and strive to elevate them, as they did for us with Bitzee last year. Indies are the foundation of the retail landscape and without them, we lose the inherent magic of bringing toys to life at retail.
For me, supporting indies is a non-negotiable part of the job – it is a fundamental part of our success. We always aim to make sure that we know what our indie partners need and how we can best serve them. Prioritising indies when allocating stock is at the top of the list for Spin Master. Once we have serviced them and made sure they are satisfied, we know that we still have plenty left over for the larger retailers.
We are constantly in conversations with indie retailers to ensure we are getting things right, but we know that there will always be ways to improve for us to work with indies better.
The indies are and have always been a key part of the toy industry. Their diverse selection of product appeals to customers looking for unique or hard-to-find toys, making indies a valuable destination for toy enthusiasts. In addition to this, independent store owners and staff have a deep knowledge of the products they sell and can provide recommendations tailored to individual preferences. This level of attention and care enhances the overall shopping experience and fosters customer loyalty.
We are very proud to be working with so many fantastic independent retailers across the UK and ROI. We offer a huge selection of the hottest and best-selling toys and collectibles licences, all with a very small MOQ, just £250.00 carriage paid. Each of our retail partners have their very own dedicated account manager to discuss the next big thing, as well as access to our website, where customers can place orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition to our fantastic customer service and great range of exclusive products, we love to support independent retailers with window displays, catalogue listing, TV/ social media tags, free stock to giveaway to consumers and events in stores.
At A.B.Gee, we are now moving towards our fifth decade of trading in the UK toy industry. Our business has always been firmly focused on what the independent toy trade needs and how we can work to facilitate those needs.
We have always been a one-stop shop, carrying a huge range of products from industry leviathans such as Mattel and Hasbro (for whom we have distributed products for over 30 years). However, in the last few years we have expanded our distributions massively, giving independent retailers access to all the hottest products from the biggest manufacturers in the world, all under one roof.
When we work with a principal company, we do our best to offer its entire product range at the manufacturer’s list prices. This allows all our customers to select the most sought-after toys in the UK toy industry, with the lowest stock risk, while maintaining full profit margins. In addition to this, we allow any products which aren’t supplied in a display to be purchased in singles with no price penalty. Carriage paid order values are kept as low as possible and apply across all 7,000+ lines in our product portfolio.
When you trade with A.B.Gee, you will enjoy the personal attention of a named representative who will work with you to make sure you have everything you need. For customers who prefer to place orders outside of normal working hours, we also have an easy-to-use website which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
01491 826 500 | customerservices@rubiesuk.com
Rubies will be showcasing its wide range of products that offer everyday play value at the upcoming Toymaster show. Known for immersive and high-quality costumes and accessories, Rubies is a top choice for those looking to engage in imaginative play.
One of the key highlights of Rubies’ offerings is its lineup of toyetic licensed products from renowned brands such as Marvel, Wizarding World, Gabby's Dollhouse, DC Comics and many more. Rubies Masquerade ensures that children can step into the shoes of their favourite characters and bring their imaginations to life.
Rubies will debut its official licensed Hasbro dress-up, marking its return as the sole dress-up licensee in EMEA and bringing to life some of the most popular franchises, including Transformers and Power Rangers. The company will also be showcasing new retail POS solutions for both shelf space and FSDUs, bringing a new approach to how its products can be displayed within key retailer environments and spaces.
Rubies will also be featuring products from partners including Kidrobot and Yummy World, capitalising on the trend in consumer demand for plush of all shapes and sizes. From pop culture favourites such as Batman, Deadpool and Beetlejuice, to original collectable food and drink characters like Finn Funfetti, Eva the Avocado and Samantha S’more.
For more information on Rubies’ range of licensed costumes and toy products, get in touch via the details above.
01637 882 200 | www.moosetoys.com
Upper Marquee
At the upcoming Toymaster Show, Moose Toys will be offering a diverse portfolio of affordable SKUs. Moose brings a variety of ranges, including many offerings under £30 spanning multiple categories. Highlights include Bluey plush and playsets under a new autumn/winter 2024 Family Trip theme; the highly anticipated Despicable Me 4 range, inspired by Illumination’s newest chapter in the blockbuster animated franchise; and innovative developments to renowned Moose brands such as Little Live Pets and Cookeez Makery.
Building on the month-on-month roster of best-selling lines, Bluey will be bringing new ways to play in pre-school with a host of role play items based on For Real Life show moments.
As well as newness brought into key performing play pattens, Bluey's transforming airplane playset is a 3-in-1 design, featuring an airplane, hotel and speed boat. Kids will be able to transform the plane into a two-level oceanfront resort for a family trip experience.
Little Live Pets continues to deliver best-selling items year-round, with Mama Surprise Minis featuring as the No.1 item in Playset Dolls & Accessories YTD and as a Top 50 Total Toy in February. In autumn/winter 2024, Little Live Pets continues to foster connections, offering diverse pet play experiences for all ages and budgets.
The show will introduce Lil NeeDees, interactive pets priced at £9.99. Kids can care for them by feeding, playing and witnessing their responses. With 50 sounds and reactions, including blinking eyes, they communicate their needs, and each has 100 nurturing levels. They can be attached to clothes or backpacks for on-the-go fun.
The latest My Walking Pet character comes alive with 25+ sounds and reactions. There will be an upcoming release of a pet house priced below £30, ensuring affordable fun for all pet lovers.
An authentic experience of bringing home a new furry friend lies in My Really Real Puppy. With lifelike fur and over 50 sounds and reactions, this puppy feels just like the real thing. Experience classic Little Live Pets interactivity with animated blinking eyes and weighted paws for realism. Children can feed the puppy, help it sleep and use the pet carrier to take their new furry friend everywhere. The puppies boast 72 possible unique feature combinations.
Cookeez Makery continues to deliver to kids everywhere through a new line up of SKUs. Toasty Treatz is a hit this spring, and will be expanding its character collection for autumn/winter 2024. Pancake Treatz allows kids to mix, flip and cuddle plush friends. Add the pretend pancake batter and flip in the pan to reveal a scented plush companion, each with unique features and sounds.
01843 233 500 | www.hornby.com sales@hornby.com
Hornby Hobbies is set to elevate its partnership with Toymaster this year, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the vibrant independent retail sector. The collaboration entails an expansion of field sales cover, ensuring that all Toymaster members receive personalised, face-to-face visits. This initiative aims to strengthen relationships and provide tailored assistance to retailers across the network.
Moreover, Hornby Hobbies reaffirms its dedication by extending a 10% discount on purchases, up to a £100,000 spend, for all Toymaster members. This exclusive offer underscores the company's continued support for its valued partners.
At the upcoming Toymaster May show, Hornby will showcase its latest offerings and engage with industry partners. During the show, Hornby Hobbies will unveil special member offers, amplifying the benefits of collaboration. Attendees can anticipate great promotions tailored to enhance their business prospects.
Among the product highlights are the much-anticipated Playtrains High Speed Train Set, an exciting addition to the Hornby line-up. Aimed at children aged 5-8, the new set aims to spark imagination, foster hands-on learning and provide endless hours of fun. The Playtrains set introduces an easy-build track system, enabling children to assemble their railway layouts with ease, promoting problem-solving skills and encouraging creativity.
In addition, Hornby Hobbies will showcase new Scalextric sets My First Batwheels and Micro Batwheels. A pre-school Batman spin-off, Batwheels features all the favourite DC Batman heroes and villains. Available from summer 2024, the Micro Scalextric Batwheels Bam vs. Joker Battery Powered Race Set and My First Scalextric Batwheels Batman vs. Robin Battery Powered Race Set are suitable for children aged three and over and offer the perfect introduction to both slot racing and Batman for younger fans.
As Hornby Hobbies continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation, these product drives serve as a testament to the company's commitment to delivering unparalleled experiences to toy enthusiasts worldwide. From model trains to slot cars, Hornby Hobbies invites attendees to discover the thrill of the ride at the Toymaster May show.
01952 608 308 | www.goldenbeartoys.com
Golden Bear’s evergreen Smart Ball brand continues to be a top priority for autumn/winter. The brand’s hottest property, Soccer Bot, surpassed all expectations in 2023, selling out six weeks before Christmas. Positioned as the ultimate indoor football trainer, Soccer Bot is now a firm favourite in the business’ portfolio.
Counter Ball, another hero line for the Smart Ball brand, will be available in Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC licensed versions from autumn/winter. Retaining its core features, this counting football uses lights and sounds to encourage kids to challenge themselves and their friends as they see who can achieve the most tricks.
Curlimals, an animatronic plush range which responds to touch with 100+ sounds and reactions, welcomes a new addition for autumn/winter. Mommy & Mimi have eight new play patterns. The pair can interact with the child as well as one another: Mommy’s cheeks light up and Mimi’s tummy glows.
Golden Bear’s new plush range, TattooMeez, will launch later this year. A unique unboxing proposition, children can customise their plush with special transfer ‘tattoos’ before revealing the finished plush. Aimed at children aged 5-8 years old, TattooMeez combines creativity, collectability and fun.
Golden Bear continues to bolster its offering in the Games category with a selection of new titles. Hyper Dash is a fast reaction electronic race game that can be played indoors or outside. Players compete on their feet to hit five targets called out by the electronic tagger, making this an addictive challenge of speed, skill and agility.
A Hero Toy at London Toy Fair 2024, Fart Yoga is a game for all the family. The chosen player secures Sammy the Sloth around their waist and attempts to strike yoga poses without making him fart. The game guarantees bursts of laughter and memorable moments, while encouraging kids to move, stretch and balance.
Wheel You Dare, available from autumn/winter, offers players the chance to create a TV game show at home. With 300 challenges in six different categories including True or False, Surprise, Sound Quiz and Action, every spin is a new adventure. With a built in Games Master, the challenges are fully explained and suitable for kids aged eight and over.
Golden Bear’s long-term partnerships with Acamar, WildBrain and the BBC continue to thrive. Bing fans will love Storytime Bing, a huggable plush that’s suitable from birth. Kids can press his left hand and listen to him narrate five of his favourite moments from the pre-school show. In The Night Garden’s popular Ninky Nonk Musical Activity Train is back in a refreshed form. The train features 14 fun activities and character songs from the show. Children can enjoy colourful carriages, soft glowing lights, interesting sounds and a pull-along cord perfect for on the go. Tickly Giggly Duggee is the hilarious new Hey Duggee line. Fans of the show can simply tickle his tummy to activate his infectious giggles and iconic woofs.
Joining the roster of Golden Bear licensees in 2024 are Hasbro, Moonbug and Paramount, with the launch of Hide and Seek Favourites. Peppa Pig, CoComelon and Paw Patrol help create a fun and interactive hide and seek game for pre-schoolers. Golden Bear will also extend its partnership with BBC Studios by creating a range of Supertato character plush toys launching in autumn/winter.
01616 339 800 | www.character-online.com
sales@charactergroup.plc.uk
Character Options’ Terror Fried is a horrifyingly fun range that delivers collectability by the bucket load. Perfect for kids who love gross stuff, the food-themed line-up includes the Nasty Nibbles, Ooze Burger and Slimy Box as well as the all-encompassing Gross Bucket. With each set, kids will discover scary critters and creatures as collectible figures, all hidden among foul compounds. Crispy cockroaches, battered rats and more can be found within slimes, gloops, and lumpy foams.
Combining super-soft fillings with velvety, stretchy outer skins, the adorable, squeezable, collectible Smooshzees characters are softer than a cloud. Smooshzees are based on trending and exotic characters, and each has its own colourful personality that promises to stimulate kids’ imagination through play. There is a raft of characters to collect – including this season’s trending animal, the axolotl - across three fun sizes, from 3.5” Cutezees and 4.5” Luvees through to 8” Snugzees. Each scale includes two chase characters to discover, and all the pets come housed in stackable tryme packaging.
Sticki Rolls are wearable, shareable sticker bracelets that have been designed to revolutionise how kids collect, share and display their favourite stickers. Unlike traditional sticker sheets, Sticki Rolls are ingeniously designed as fashionable bracelets that contain rolls of stunning, kawaii-themed stickers. Each Sticki Roll ‘charm’ houses 10 easy-to-peel stickers, a total of 50 stickers per bracelet. The range is available from summer to capture demand for creative play throughout the holidays, with a substantial awareness drive already planned for the back-to-school season.
Booksy Monster Tales is a range of collectable figurines with miniature storybooks inside. The collection brings together the joy of reading and character figures, empowering kids’ imagination through storytelling and play. Perfect for early readers, Booksy Monster Tales comprises lovable, funny characters that come to life in their own picture books. Character Options’ portfolio of brands is supported with comprehensive PR and marketing campaigns.
IMC will showcase a selection from its cross-category portfolio during this year’s Toymaster Show, focusing on new plush IP brands alongside its best-selling Cry Babies ranges.
This spring has seen the introduction of the Mini Baby Paws, smaller versions of the core Baby Paws characters available at a pocket money price point. There are three mini characters to collect based on some of the world’s most popular dog breeds - a Beagle, Border Collie and Shiba Inu. Each pup’s blanket is attached to its back, so it cannot be lost when out and about, and doubles as a bag for children to carry their pup around in. From late summer 2024, the core Baby Paws range extends with new Labrador and Cat characters joining the current Cocker Spaniel, Husky and Dalmatian breeds.
The Baby Paws Interactive Labradoodle is a larger version than the core Baby Paws line and offers more features, functions and interactions. These include eyes that open and close, a breathing feature with a moving tummy when it sleeps and over 15 sounds and noises, including a burp when patted on the back. The Labradoodle also includes a swaddle blanket that transforms into a backpack for children to take their new pup out wherever they go.
The Toymaster Show sees IMC debut its range of Cotton Cuties, a new scented plush IP launching in autumn/winter 2024. Available in small and large sizes, these unique plush animal characters resemble candy floss, are scented with sugared candy smells and come in vibrant pastel colours. Super-squishy and fluffy, there are four large characters and six small characters to collect, which come in packaging representative of candy floss sticks and bags.
Also on display will be the best-selling nurture doll brand, Cry Babies, complete with refreshed packaging and comprehensive ages and stages visuals, designed to appeal to toddlers through to primary-aged children. Reflecting the new animated content airing in May, Cry Babies Daycare Babies and Cry Babies Tiny Cuddles Day Care will feature alongside new special feature dolls. These include hero SKU, Newborn Bathtime, as well as Cry Babies Morning Routine, complete with the new character Bella who captures the toddler stage for children to interact with and help complete daily routines.
Cry Babies Playtime will focus on added play scales, including dollhouse play, connecting playsets and endless stories. The Playtime Day Care Babies dolls are themed around the all-new daycare animated series and include eight character dolls to collect, as well as dolls with accessories sets, mini playsets and the daycare-themed playset, Jenna’s Playtime Day Care.
01553 762 276 | www.learningresources.co.uk sales@learning-resources.co.uk
Learning Resources got off to a strong start this year with the announcement that its Numberblocks Rainbow Counting Bus had been selected as one of 2024’s London Toy Fair Hero Award winners. This colourful vehicle play set – along with more of this year’s new Numberblocks toys – will be on the company’s Toymaster stand for visitors to see up close.
Learning Resources will also showcase its clever new Numberblocks Blockzee Balance Activity Set. Children use the included Numberblocks MathLink Cubes to make the Numberblocks, place them in the character’s see-through buckets, and watch as her mouth makes the ‘greater than’, ‘less than’ or ‘equal to’ signs right in front of them.
Building on the success of the first MathLink Cubes Numberblocks Activity Sets, there’s even more fun in store with two new MathLink Cubes Activity Sets: MathLink Cubes Activity Set Numberblocks Counting Sheep, and MathLink Cubes Activity Set Numberblocks Express Train.
Card games are a childhood classic, which is why Learning Resources has introduced the new Numberblocks Playing Cards set. This is a highly giftable item and an ideal solution for travel entertainment.
Show visitors can learn more about Playfoam. The company’s award-winning sensory play compound never dries out, so the tactile play fun never ends. With Playfoam, children can express their creativity through play with original Playfoam, Playfoam Pluffle and super-soft Playfoam Sand. Visitors to the stand can see (and feel) Playfoam for themselves.
Best-sellers on display will include Learning Resources’ Primary Science range of science toys for pre-schoolers. Made from durable materials in bright colours and perfectly sized for little hands, toys such as the Primary Science Jumbo Magnifiers and Primary Science Big View Bug Jars are ideal for introducing young children to STEM learning through play. Joining these will be the range of GeoSafari Jr. outdoor exploration science toys, which are designed to get young children excited about heading outdoors to play and learn.
To grow brand awareness, Learning Resources has an ongoing multichannel marketing campaign which includes print and digital advertising, social media activity, influencer collaborations, PR and events. The company’s marketing team also offers support to trade customers in the form of a full marketing asset library along with seasonal campaign guidelines to help trade customers in their stores. These assets are available to download from Learning Resources’ marketing resource centre online portal. Also available is an extensive library of free value-added printables and colouring sheets that can be downloaded from the website and used in-store.
01293 222 500 | www.magicboxint.com
The latest offering from T-Racers, T-Racers Mix ‘N Race introduces a unique system that retains the brand’s status as the only collectible vehicles with a Mix ‘N Race function. It also introduces sleek new car designs with an even more aesthetically pleasing look. Kids simply interchange the pieces to customise their own racing cars. The first wave of 36 highly detailed T-Racers Mix ‘N Race vehicles is already available, offering many mix and match possibilities. Wave 2 is already revving its engine, with 36 new cars, launching this July, offering even more vehicle combinations. Available via a new POS stand designed for independents, there are single and triple car blister packs.
Kookyloos has a fresh feel this year. Pocket money priced, the dolls are packed in window boxes that let people try out the fun of flipping between the dolls’ three unique faces, changing their expression with a swipe of the finger. Spring’s Pet Party Series is available now: each doll comes with an adorable pet pal, all boxed up in the new packaging. Plus, there’s a new theme on the way for autumn, Golden Gala. This upcoming theme will launch in August, bringing eight new dolls to collect with new hairstyles, facial expressions and outfits, inspired by looks from the runway.
SuperThings fans have already welcomed the Evolution series this season, and autumn/ winter will introduce the Legends series. Fans have long been asking to get their hands on original SuperThings from previous series and Magicbox has listened. The new Legends series offers them that opportunity, with great value packs in the mix and endless inspiration for storytelling.
As with all new series launches, Magicbox’s commitment to delivery means high-impact marketing across all three brands.
01869 363 830 | www.ravensburger.com
The fourth Disney Lorcana TCG set, Disney’s Ursula’s Return, introduces new Disney characters and evolved game mechanics while also continuing the story told over the first three sets. Highly anticipated characters for Set 4 include Bruno and the rest of the Madrigal family from Disney’s Encanto, as well as Disney’s Sorcerer Apprentice Mickey Mouse and Disney’s Yen Sid from Disney Fantasia.
Suitable for players aged eight and over.
Illumineer’s Quest: Deep Trouble is the first Disney Lorcana TCG cooperative game. With four difficulty levels ranging from easy to extreme, each level features rules variations that make the play experience unique. The game includes everything needed for 1-2 players - a guided gameplay area for Ursula, two preconstructed Disney Lorcana TCG player decks (featuring Disney’s Mulan and Yen Sid and built with cards from the first four Disney Lorcana TCG sets), and an Ursula deck - and can be expanded for up to four players with additional Disney Lorcana TCG decks. Players can utilise the cards featured in the preconstructed player decks or bring their own decks to the game. Ursula’s deck features a unique, easily distinguishable card back.
The late summer launch of the new infant & toddler toy and book range, Play+, brings together over 30 toys and books designed to entertain and foster developmental milestones. Developed using global insights from leading experts as well as parents, the Play+ offering integrates practical features that will appeal to mums and dads. With animal themes throughout the launch collection, the range offers a broad spectrum of price points, from handy take-along books, multisensory toys and teethers to grow-with-me, multifunction interactive toys. While Ravensburger is well-established as the leading board book manufacturer in Germany, the launch of Play+ will see the company introduce books in the UK for the first time.
The Brio brand introduces a Dinosaurs theme to the Brio World range. New additions for spring included the Dinosaur Battery-train and Dinosaur Circle Set, while September welcomes the Dinosaur Adventure set and Erupting Volcano accessory set. The Dinosaur Adventure Set includes 21 pieces including dinosaur figures and themed accessories, while the Erupting Volcano features a safe-to-touch steam effect, lights and button-triggered action. All new items are compatible with the wider Brio World collection. Other additions to the ever-growing Brio trains offering include the new Transport for London licensed London Underground Train, part of the Trains of the World series.
Combining wooden and plastic pieces, the Brio Builder range welcomes the spring/summer 200-piece Brio Builder Activity Set, which joins the Brio Power Screwdriver, Chainsaw and Flashlight.
As the company celebrates 50 years of the Blue Triangle logo, a special edition The Christmas Village puzzle marks 20 years of Ravensburger Christmas puzzles with artist Roy Trower. This puzzle is a reprint of the artist’s first ever design, with a celebratory pack design. Developed and designed in the UK, the puzzle complements other new Ravensburger puzzles available this year.
As part of the company’s ongoing dedication to sustainability, new box sizes will be introduced in the second half for 500, 1,000 and 1,500-piece puzzle formats. A refreshed packaging design will also be rolled out across the full range of adult puzzles. The new look will ensure jigsaw images are showcased in the most impactful and effective way.
Hylkies licensed collectibles allow fans to build and collect their favourite characters from hit properties. Launching simultaneously, the first two series in the range, Marvel and Star Wars, each offer six 54-piece characters to collect. Hylkies are numbered consecutively for seamless collecting and come with a display stand and collector card.
The Ravensburger games portfolio continues to grow. In the second half, a series of the company’s evergreen games will be available as Smart Choice editions, available alongside classic editions of the games in streamlined packaging and at value price points. Smart Choice editions include hits such as Labyrinth and Scotland Yard, and the relaunched Make ‘n Break.
01908 555 640 | www.funrise.com | salesuk@funrise.com
Funrise will be showcasing new extensions to its TMNT line-up at the Toymaster May Show. The hero range, Sewer Shredders, comprises pull-back TMNT figures on skateboards. These are available in the classic style as well as the Mutant Mayhem style: all four turtles can be collected in both versions. Sewer Shredders have an attractive pocket money RRP and are supported with new content including a TVC spot. The Half Pipe RC assortment of powered remote-control skateboards features in Funrise’s Christmas TV and media campaign. Both the Half Pipe RC and Cowabunga RC have had their prices lowered to a more affordable RRP.
Fart Ninjas continues to benefit from impressive retail sell-through and wider retail distribution partnerships including with Asda. Burp Zombies is an all-new theme extension of Fart Ninjas and received a very positive response during the London and Nuremberg toy fairs. Retailing at a pocket-money price point, the ninjas have a motion activated feature that triggers fart noises when someone walks by. POS takes the form of a motion sensor FSDU and motion sensor clip strip.
The Cat Tough Rigs 2 Pack took centre stage as part of a retail event with Sainsburys last September. Funrise has since lowered its prices on key SKUs such as the Mini Crew Assortment, the Mini Crew 3-Pack and the Power Haulers.
Funrise revealed Furlings at London Toy Fair and the new range will be on full display at the Toymaster show. The interactive robotic plush toys with over 80 features to discover will benefit from heavyweight marketing when the range launches in August.
Following on from the live TV broadcast football LED campaign, Toymaster members will be able to order Gazillion products. New additions to the lineup this year include the Double Bubble Blaster and the Ultimate Bubble Craze. With Funrise stepping up its marketing efforts, Gazillion is a must-have for any outdoor range.
Mojo Fun’s stock is delivered directly from its UK warehouse, meaning it can turn orders around within 48 hours and has high fulfilment levels. The company has been able to maintain all its trade prices for 2024, providing extremely competitive trade margins despite growing cost pressures.
Conscious of ongoing consumer challenges, most of Mojo Fun’s products retail at under £20, making for high frequency all-year-round purchases which do not take up large amounts of shelf space.
At the Toymaster Show, Mojo Fun will be showing all of its new 2024 figurines, including the Atlantic Puffin, European Hare, Geckos, Pot-bellied Pigs, Hereford Cow family and Emperor Penguin with chicks. Mojo Fun has also remodelled several of its most popular figurines, including the Lion, Lioness, American Bison and Clydesdale horses.
Mojo Fun will be displaying the new Mini-Worlds range, which consists of 12 pieces of animals, in six different themes. This gives children the opportunity to immerse themselves in different play worlds, including Farm, Dinosaurs, Sea Life, Woodland, African Wildlife and Insects and Spiders. Supplied in a clear storage tube with a fabric handle, each set is designed in the UK and is an educational tool that can be used at home or in school diorama projects, helping students learn in an engaging and hands-on way. Each model is thoroughly researched to ensure it accurately resembles the animal it is modelled on.
Mojo Fun also has a wide range of POS options available to suit individual customer needs to best display its products and maximise retail sales. There are different options available for all retail channels, from garden centres to toy shops, department stores, book shops and visitor attractions. All POS materials, including consumer catalogues, are supplied FOC, subject to minimum order requirements.
At the Toymaster Show, Mojo Fun is offering all customers who visit its stand an additional 10% on orders placed and delivered by the end of July.
0800 731 0578 | www.melissaanddoug.com
At the Toymaster May show, Melissa & Doug will showcase a wide selection of its award winning, open-ended play products covering many different categories and themes, such as pretend play food & kitchen, dress-up, developmental (including infant and toddler) lines, wooden puzzles, and arts & crafts. Additionally, the company will present its full Sticker Wow! range, an exciting, affordable and collectible new way for kids to have fun with stickers.
Other highlights on show include the Sort, Stack & Select Vending Machine. This innovative product will provide hours of pretend play fun while teaching kids about cause-and-effect, letter, number and colour recognition, sorting, matching and counting, as well as promoting fine motor skills. The item is set to be a stellar addition to the ever-popular Melissa & Doug wooden Pretend Play Food & Kitchen range. There are also a number of new Pretend Play items at entry level prices: individual Food Group Sets, What’s For Lunch Surprise Play Food Sets, and the Play To Go Ice Cream and Cake & Cookie Sets.
As the UK’s No. 1 Wooden Toy Brand (based on Circana 2023 market sales data), customers can be sure they’re buying into a range both trusted and loved by consumers, with products that deliver on the promise of timeless toys with endless ways to play.
Additionally, visitors can find out about Melissa & Doug’s special show offers, its Christmas 2024 Catalogue lines and its new and existing product display solutions. The company will also share details of forthcoming brand promotions and marketing campaigns including its Q2 birthday celebration and give updates on how the brand is progressing with its sustainability efforts.
01200 445 113 | www.brainstormltd.co.uk
An arts & crafts range combining creativity with sensory elements, Brainstorm launched the new Water Art range at Toy Fair to a very positive reception. Each set comes with a ceramic spoon that can be drawn on with water markers, then dipped into water to watch the pictures float away. There are three different impulse priced sets available, including either 3, 6 or 12 markers, as well as themed sets: Safari, Fairy Garden and Galaxy. Each themed set comes with water markers, a ceramic spoon and two themed stencil sheets. Brainstorm can also offer retailers promotional materials for in-store demos, including a Water Art branded ceramic bowl.
Toymonster’s Sensory Trend Hub range features a selection of calming and engaging products ideal for retailers looking to extend their SEN offering. The Sensory Egg Volcano launches in spring/summer. A calming accessory for the home, classroom or office, the egg comes in black, red and blue. Users flip the egg and watch the eruption inside, followed by falling coloured snow.
Sensory Shakers come in six different colours and designs and can be flipped for instant tranquillity. As well as being a soothing fidget toy for people of all ages, they are also ideal for stress relief, relaxation and mindfulness. Like the Sensory Egg Volcano, the Sensory Shakers are reminiscent of lava lamps. As well as being perfect for use in classrooms, the office and at home, they can also be used to help promote relaxation when travelling. There are six colours and designs available in a Try-Me CDU. The range also includes Sensory Motion Bubblers, Sensory Motion Bubbler Stairs and Sensory Pen Bubblers, all at pocket money price points. Like the Sensory Shakers, each SKU is available in Try-Me POS.
Brainstorm has extended its arts & crafts selection for 2024 with the addition of eco-friendly Create N Colour. Children can construct cute 3D models from sustainably sourced materials, then paint them with the refillable water brush included in every set. As kids paint, the colourful designs magically appear, whereas when the water slowly dries, the colour fades, ready to be painted all over again. Themed packs include Fun Farm Friends, Sea’Sational and It’s My Nature.
The new Erupting Volcano Lab from Brainstorm Toys helps children learn about the fascinating science of volcanos. By combining two safe chemicals with water, children can create realistic red lava that will ooze down their volcano. As with many Brainstorm Toys products, a secret code is included so children can find out more explosive facts about the natural phenomenon online. The kit contains the chemicals to carry out the experiment, a volcano base, safety goggles, measuring cup, spoon and syringe, and is suitable for ages eight and up.
The new Outdoor Adventure Metal Detector is lightweight and easy to use, making it ideal for young detectorists. The chunky, hand-held product extends to 795mm and has light and sound alerts.
The Eugy craze shows no sign of slowing, with many retailers at Toy Fair reporting that their POS is being constantly restocked due to demand. Surpassing £10m in retail sales at the end of last year, the eco-friendly craft collectible range now includes over 80 Eugy models, with more to be added throughout the year in regular phases. The 3D models are crafted using environmentally friendly, bio-degradable card with natural eco-friendly ink and non-toxic glue. New Eugy Models include Frilled Lizard, Walrus, Dog Hope, Royal Albatross, Hercules Beetle, Pangolin and Ankylo.
020 8761 4421 | www.clickeurope.com | hello@clickeurope.com
Click Europe’s boppi brand will be front and centre at the Toymaster May Show this year. The company will be showcasing its award-winning 10 -in-1 Toddler Puzzles, best-selling boppi 150-piece Round Puzzles (now available in nine designs including the new Unicorn puzzle), and eye-catching Tiny Trekker children’s luggage sets. The boppi brand has been created to offer affordable, educational and beautifully designed toys for children aged 18 months to eight years. All boppi jigsaw puzzles are illustrated by the Canadian children’s illustrator Laura Watson.
Click Europe will also be launching new products for 2024, with samples on hand at the show for indies to view: Stacking Cubes made from recycled card, an interactive ABC floor puzzle, and new Pairs and Domino games. These launches mark the debut of a whole new ecofriendly games category for boppi, with more introductions to follow later in the year.
Click Europe is an independent, family-owned London based toy wholesale company, set up by directors and cousins Steve and Ian Finch almost 18 years ago. In addition to stocking its own brands – boppi, bopster, Landsurfer, and leisure brand Just be… - Click is also an official re-seller of Playmobil in the UK, and stocks many other well-known brands, including Hasbro, Marvel, L.O.L. Surprise! and Squishmallows.
01416 132 525 | www.oneforfun.com sales@oneforfun.com
Collectability and affordability are One for Fun’s focus throughout 2024. The company’s new Concert Bracelets are available in a range of themes, all of which are lighting up social media. This ultimate fashion accessory features specially chosen charms and vibrant beads and letters, so kids can reflect their personality as they create. Each kit contains everything needed for kids to make their own designs and gifts for their friends too. Coming in three sizes - Bumper, Medium and Small – Toymaster members will receive a free FSDU with every order of Concert Bracelets over £500 to help them create an impactful and eye-catching point of sale.
There are plenty of new additions to One for Fun’s impulse and pocket money lines, including everything squishy, soft, playable and pliable. Not just static collectibles, Micro Fidgetz Wave 2 introduces even more tiny toys that can actually be played with. This award-winning concept combines the mystery of blind bags with the collectability of a full toy range, with 25 additional Micro Fidgetz to discover.
Stretchy, squishy, emoji, shiny, sparkly, cute and foodie are the core themes making their way into 2024’s Scrunchems range from Tobar. Sensory toys at impulse purchase prices, Scrunchems make fruit and veg appealing. The range offers everything from vegetable-themed squishy buddies to exotic cuties such as sushi.
HGL’s ability to spot trends early has resulted in a fidget range focused on axolotls, this year’s unicorns.
In the Dino Collecto range, kids can start with the Dino Collecto Surprise Egg: they simply hatch open the glittery egg to see the tiny dino appear. The Dino Collecto Medium Plush range introduces a further eight dinos to collect, each standing 8” tall and with their own personalities and characteristics. The hero of the range is the Dino Collecto Hairassic Fantastic line. These fashionista dinos have long hair kids can style, adding creative play value and further boosting collectability. Another strong plush option, Animigos World of Nature range continues to win awards for its lifelike plush depictions of the world’s animals.
The Ozbozz range of outdoor toys includes newly sized pogo sticks that offer more bounce for consumers’ buck, with the same competitive pricing seen throughout the whole rangeincluding its best-sellers. The offering spans everything from Dinosaur and Unicorn Bubble Fans, water guns, a splashy octopus and playground chalk to all sorts of toys to fly, throw and catch.
As sole UK distributor for Maisto and Bburago, One for Fun introduces a host of vehicles for 2024 including the very best of Formula One. The 1:43 F1 Car Assortment 24-Piece CDU, as listed in the Toymaster catalogue, is a highly detailed assortment of F1 2023 model racing cars and is only available through One for Fun. Arguably the hero product this year, the highly detailed model of the RB18 car driven by Max Verstappen in 2023 is a real collectors’ item.
BB Junior has picked up many consumer awards in 2023. This brilliantly designed range brings artistic style and great engineering together to create a unique concept for the nursery space.
01773 570 444 | www.abgee.co.uk
AB Gee will be showcasing more product Zuru for the first time at Toymaster. After the success at London Toy Fair, its stand will be inclusive of some of its most popular and best-selling ranges. These include launches for Mini Brands and XShot. Latest introductions will also be unveiled for award-winning Rainbocorns, Smashers, Robo Alive and Snackles, alongside seasonal brands Bunch O Balloons and XShot Water, both of which will see additions to the outdoor summer ranges. It was a big year for AB Gee’s exclusive World’s Smallest range, after debuting at 2023 Toy Fair and then being backed by a sustained influencer outreach coordinated by Norton PR, which saw it feature on This Morning. This extended range of fully functional, miniaturised, collectible toys continues to be a hit with adults and children alike. There will be additions to the collection for later in the year. Dobble, Bananagrams, Bop It, playing cards and Catan are all set to be big hits. AB Gee has responded to increased demand by offering a new in-store FSDU, designed specifically to showcase the collection at retail. Visitors will be able to see the Science4You range, creative kits from Make it Real, wooden toys by Tooky Toy, no spill bubbles, Kidicraft jigsaws, Hot Wheels cases, collectible figurines from Bullyland and over 400 detailed figures from the world of Disney and the animal kingdom. These are PVC free, hand painted and can be used in water or even as cake decorations. There will also be a selection of the latest top selling Palm Pals and licensed plush by Aurora.
Deals on these brands will be available at the Toymaster show.
01953 859 539 | www.orchardtoys.com sales@orchardtoys.com (UK sales) orders@kayes.co.uk (independent sales)
Orchard Toys will be showcasing its new games and puzzles for 2024, including its brand-new The World of Peter Rabbit collection, at the Toymaster May Show.
At the event, independent retailers will have the opportunity to view the full range of six adorable games and puzzles, created as part of Orchard Toys’ successful new The World of Peter Rabbit collection, created under licence from Penguin Ventures, the licensing and consumer products team at Penguin Random House Children’s UK. The range celebrates the very best of Orchard Toys and Peter Rabbit and their shared values of quality, learning and fun.
The World of Peter Rabbit collection features: Peter Rabbit Fish and Count, a charming number and counting game; Peter Rabbit Don’t Wake Mr. McGregor, a board game in which players race to collect vegetables; Peter Rabbit 4-in-a-box puzzles, a set of charming progressive puzzles to help learn about the seasons; Peter Rabbit Rabbit Race, a fun matching and memory game in which Peter Rabbit and friends race through their burrow; Peter Rabbit Veg Patch Lotto, a fun lotto game in which players race to fill their board before Mr. McGregor builds his scarecrow; and Peter Rabbit Heads and Tails, a matching activity and game in one featuring Peter Rabbit and his friends.
The show will also be a chance for indies to see Orchard Toys’ full portfolio of best-selling, fun and educational games and jigsaws, and to discuss promotions and bespoke in-store activities. New to the range will be Buzz Words, Fun Food Bingo and Doggy Doggy Woof Woof!, plus jigsaws Giant Alphabet and Giant Number.
Orchard Toys will be in the Reading Room. The company will also be supported by its UK distribution partner, Kayes of Cardiff, and exclusive Irish distribution partner, Banaghans. Both partners will be in the Drawing Room.
As a show exclusive, Orchard Toys will be offering a minigame CDU containing 12 mini games free with all orders of two minigame CDUs made before 30th June 2024.
01620 674 778 | sales@simbasmoby.com
Simba’s family favourite Smoby collection continues to offer families a wide selection of fun playhouses and activity toys. This season welcomes a new theme for kids to discover in the form of the Smoby Four Seasons Playhouse. This cool little home features functional accessories for recording the weather conditions and observing the season: there’s a rain gauge to record the water level, a fitted wind vane to demonstrate wind direction, and a chime to signal the intensity of the wind. Once the conditions have been observed using these instruments, budding meteorologists can record their observations using the fun display panel, marking the season, the level of rain, the temperature and the weather that day.
With a new Stitch movie arriving in 2025, retailers are advised to ask about the extended line-up for Simba’s lovable Disney Stitch Plush range. The hero toy is the iconic 25cm Stitch Plush, a super-soft and cuddly version of everyone’s favourite space invader. Ideal for fans of all ages, the plush has squishy feet, a cuddly body and cute face. Characters Angel and Leroy, from Disney's Lilo and Stitch, are also available as 25cm soft toys, with Scrump – Lilo’s rag doll – joining the collection this autumn/winter.
Marvel Snapbands are plush pals that kids can secure to their wrist for on the go fun. All four characters – Spider-Man, Ghost, Groot and Iron Man – are available in an eye-catching Marvel branded CDU to promote last minute, impulsepurchases.
01329 227 300 | www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk
Rainbow’s ever-popular licensed toy ranges will be on display at the Toymaster Show, including best-selling The Adventures of Paddington, Classic Paddington, Disney Baby Lion King and Peter Rabbit ranges, as well as the eagerly awaited Wizarding World Collection. Paddington is preparing for a year that will see with the highly anticipated release of a new movie, Paddington in Peru, and the third series of the award-winning TV pre-school show, The Adventures of Paddington. Rainbow’s best-selling pre-school toy range features the awardwinning Adventures of Paddington Tea Set, Dress Me Paddington and Talking Paddington soft toy, as well as the fun Bus, Campervan and Bike and Side Car Play Sets. Joining the playful range this autumn is a series of engaging mini play sets including Paddington’s Teatime Treats and Paddington’s Letter to Aunt Lucy.
Also on display at the Toymaster Show will be the renowned Classic Paddington collection, inspired by the iconic Peggy Fortnum illustrations. Each Paddington soft toy sports his distinctive and famous accessories, including a super-soft lined duffle coat, his battered red felt bush hat, and a suedette ‘Please look after this bear. Thank you’ tag. Joining this best-selling collection this autumn will be Cuddly Paddington, wearing a Union Jack Scarf, Paddington in Boots, presented in the classic Phone Box-style packaging, and the Classic Collector Paddington in a beautiful keepsake box.
Now available is the new Disney Baby Lion King range, launched to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Disney’s The Lion King. The range includes the cuddly My First Simba Soft Toy, Comfort Blanket and Ring Rattle, as well as the stimulating Simba Sensory Play Mat, which has a peek-a-boo flap and baby safe mirror.
Arriving later this year, the enchanting and adorable Wizarding World range is a collection of nursery toys featuring Harry Potter, Hedwig and Dobby in formats that include My First Soft Toys, Rattles, Comforters and Activity Toys. More additions are planned for 2025. The new range is perfect for all fans looking to share their love of the Wizarding World with their new arrivals.
In addition, Rainbow will also have its renowned Peter Rabbit, Disney Winnie the Pooh, Elmer and The Very Hungry Caterpillar collections on display.
01604 678 780 | www.patavenue.co.uk | enquiries@patavenue.co.uk
Pat Avenue’s Toymaster stand will be packed with brands that have a point of difference, including evergreen ranges, guaranteed performers and strong new IPs.
Perfect for pre-schoolers, the Motor Town push-and-go vehicle and play set line for kids aged 18-months-plus offers quality, value, collectability and playability at an attractive price point within the category. Pre-schoolers can race the chunky, free-wheeling cars around play sets including My First Garage Car Station, which has three levels to explore and packs down into a compact carry case. There’s also the Fire Station, which lets kids race to the rescue.
Suitable for all ages, Slida is the world’s first 3D sequential interlocking puzzle. Players solve Slida puzzles by sliding and interlocking the pieces in the correct sequence. The range launched this spring with the Classic Sphere, and more fun is coming for autumn/winter to keep the range fresh. Slida’s Classic Egg and Cylinder are affordable, palm-sized puzzles, whilst the Snap ‘n’ Wrap offers a next-level challenge, snapping around the Classic Sphere as an additional sequential puzzle.
In the fun, suspense-filled game Drench, the soda can is filled with water. The game begins with a roll of the dice, which determines number of shakes and whether the player keeps, skips or picks another to take their turn. Then the can is shaken, and the tab is pulled. It could go off at any time: the last to stay dry wins.
Pixels Hugs are huggable robotic plush puppies that react to their owner’s voice. These interactive puppies have four moods and 50+ reactions and sounds to discover. Kids can pet their pup, feed them and hear them fart. Tickling the Pixel Hug’s belly a few times unlocks their happy mood, while laying them down sends them to sleep. An engaging animation based on Pixel Hugs will elevate the play pattern.
The all-in-one activity range Cutie Stix joins Pat Avenue’s portfolio for autumn/winter, allowing kids to create bracelets, necklaces, keyrings and more from patterned rubber shapes. Big news for Pat Avenue’s offering is the addition of a new licensed segment: Monster High Cutie Stix kits.
All of our Educational Games have unique self-correcting puzzle pieces.
This means that only the correct puzzle piece fits together, so the child will get it right every time. Building confidence, self-esteem and independent play!
All of our Puzzles are designed to challenge and develop young minds!
The Wildlife World Puzzles are unique puzzles, both in shape and content. Helping to develop problem solving skills and strengthen cognitive ability. Made with Eco Friendly ink and recycled paper.
All of our Electronic Learning Toys are designed with fun and development in mind!
Telly The Teaching Time Clock uniquely uses a digital display, analog games and verbal time telling to reinforce learning to tell the time!
SHAPING up your puzzle range! together!
All of our Constructive Play Toys are designed to support the foundations of STEAM learning!
Techno Tiles and Techno Gears supports multiple developmental stages, including problem solving, confidence, patience,focus, fluid reasoning and engineering skills.
www.peershardy.com | jbarrett@peershardy.co.uk
Upper Marquee
Peers Hardy is a supplier of character licensed watches and jewellery in the UK, as well as offering a wide assortment of clocks, keychains and stationery. It has its own children’s watch brand, Tikkers, and distributes two lifestyle brands, Wow Generation and Sweet Dreams.
One of Peers Hardy’s main launches this year has been Sweet Dreams. First shown at London Toy Fair, the first full range viewing will be at the Toymaster show. The brand is aimed at three to six-year-olds and focuses on three characters who live in Sweet Land, a dream world with a range of products designed to help children have fun. There are several cosmetic products, such as a magic wand with three lip balms and a hair accessory set. There are also plush of the three characters and a range of stationery products, including an Invisible Ink pen for a Secret Diary with Magic Pen set.
In addition to Sweet Dreams, Peers Hardy will also showcase a new spring/summer 2024 range for Wow Generation. This collection has proved to be a great success since its launch at the beginning of 2023, with many Toymaster members now supporting the brand. New additions to the range include colouring pencil sets in Pastel, Skin, Neon and Metallic shades, hairbrushes and a make-up palette. The spring/summer 2024 range is in stock and ready to order at the show.
As well as its best-selling watches, clocks, jewellery and keychains, which come under a variety of licences, Peers Hardy will also be showcasing new stationery and accessories products, including umbrellas and aluminium water bottles. Stationery lines have filled double pencil cases, bumper stationery sets and magic diary sets, as well as six colour pens, all available in a variety of licences.
FSDUs are available free of charge and Peers Hardy already has numerous pre-orders for fully filled units. The company is also offering a number of further deals at the Toymaster show; for example, if customers place an order across two or more brands, with a minimum £500 spend on each, they will receive a 10% discount on their entire order.
0845 873 9380 | www.sambro.co.uk | toymastersales@sambro.com
Sambro International will showcase its extensive range of licensed and own-brand toys at the Toymaster May Show 2024, with several new ranges set to be featured.
The worldwide toy supplier, which enjoys strong partnerships with various global licensors including Hasbro, Disney, Paramount and Mattel, will share key products from successful brands such as Disney Stitch, Disney Princess, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, alongside its own licensed ranges.
The Stitch range will feature toys promoting creativity, self-expression and outdoor fun. A Paint and Colour Art Kit and a Bead Crafting Case make up the launch arts & crafts range, while outdoor play products include a Water Blaster Backpack, Bubble Blower, various swimming inflatables and a Bowling Set. Additionally, a Sand Play Set will join the Disney Princess range, encouraging creative outdoor play.
Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Hero Turtles celebrates its 40th anniversary this year while Hasbro’s Peppa Pig celebrates her 20th birthday. Sambro ranges on show will focus on these respective major milestones. Hero products from these anniversary ranges include the Peppa Pig Pop Up Play Den, which will also be available for Paramount’s Paw Patrol brand. Additionally, plush toys inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will feature as part of Sambro’s own-brand Lil Bodz range.
Toys inspired by the strength and success of the Monster High franchise will be on display. Sambro has tapped into trending cosmetic and craft-inspired themes, developed in partnership with Mattel, featuring the Craft Coffin with surprise reveals, fashion-inspired Scream Printer, Ghoul Station and Secret Messenger Choker.
Promoting toys that lean into ongoing pampering and cosmetic trends, the company’s own-brand beauty range, Love & Hugs, will spotlight the successful Nail Art Style Studio as a standout product. Following on from successful previous own brand launches, meanwhile, Sambro’s Let’s Shine collection will bring Space and Rainbow themed teepees to Toymaster 2024: these are perfect for indoor or outdoor imaginative play.
07584 858 978 | l.crocker@cobitoys.co.uk
Cobi UK re-entered the toy market in January 2023 with the appointment of Lee Crocker and plans to deal directly with Toymaster members, indies, hobby and model shops. The company’s Scaled Military brick models acomplement existing store ranges, bridging the gap from plastic model kits, to die cast collectibles and other construction brands. The ranges appeal to all types of customers, from children to enthusiasts and kidults.
There are a number of new ranges being launched this year, including Willy’s Jeep, D-Day Landings (to celebrate the 80th Anniversary), Cessna planes and Cobi’s entry level planes and tanks.
D-Day 80 will be a large-scale celebration in June, and Cobi will be marking this occasion with a collection of eleven scaled models and two figure sets. These include 1:35 scaled Willy’s Jeeps and the Saint Mere Eglise Church, as well as the Higgins Landing craft and DUKW Amphibious vehicle. To complement the range, Cobi is launching 1:12 scale models of Willy’s Jeep MB Medical, Willy’s Jeep MB and Willy’s Jeep MB & Trailer.
Cobi’s entry level range of tanks, 1:72 scale, and planes, 1:48 scale, will retail from £9.99 to £19.99. The tanks are available individually or in a CDU and include the Tiger 131, K2 Black Panther, Sherman and Cromwell. The planes include the Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Mustang P-51.
At Toymaster, retailers which spend over £500 will receive a free display model and 5% discount. There will also be the chance to enter a free competition to win six Concorde sets, worth over £250 at retail.
The Plus-Plus ethos is to inspire children of any age or ability to get creative and let their imagination lead the way. There are no restrictions as to what can be built with Plus-Plus. A voyage of discovery, combined with trial and error, can lead to some amazingly creative designs, whether 2D or 3D, large or small. This leads to a sense of achievement and encourages kids to try more intricate builds.
With an abundance of Themed Tubes to choose from containing instructions, all the pieces in each set can be used for open-ended play after the original build is completed. Perfect for the more confident builder, Colour Mix Tubes contain complementary coloured pieces with which to build without constraints. The best-selling tubes from within this assortment can be found on the PlusPlus Spinner Unit. Complete with a comprehensive mix of 210 units across 100-piece, 240-piece and 15-piece Big Tubes, the spinner and its accompanying product assortment have been carefully curated to ensure the retailer stocking it has the best sell-through possible. The spinner also comes complete with a Try-Me tray containing 1,800-loose pieces so potential purchasers can try their hand at building in-store.
Learn to Build sets focus on construction fun for creative minds as each themed set is accompanied by an inspirational guidebook that encourages free play. Two new sets, available from spring, are Robots and Pets. Both these fun sets encourage open-ended play, letting a child’s imagination lead the way as they build quirky characters. The underlying skills of creativity, dexterity and STEM-based learning underpin the activity and invite kids of any age and ability to get stuck in. Not restricted to play at home, soft travel cases and metal suitcases are available for both Regular and Big sizes and are great for on-the-go play and sharing with friends. Ideal for younger children, the Plus-Plus Big range is perfect for kids just discovering the world of building. These chunky, bright pieces, available in a variety of colours, now include Bloom and Breeze, available in 15-piece tubes or 100-piece boxes in subtle colour mixes including either blue or pink hues. Little ones can take their first steps towards creating models or sequences with Big, and being food approved and BPA, PVC and Phthalate-free, it’s perfectly safe: Big can be washed in a dishwasher or washing machine to keep it hygienic and clean.
Plus-Plus is a socially and environmentally responsible company. The factory and headquarters in Denmark run on 100% green energy from wind power and all products and packaging are 100% recyclable. The company looks forward to welcoming visitors to its Toymaster May Show stand where they will be able to discover more about PlusPlus, hear about plans for 2024 and discuss exclusive show deals.
020 8324 6160 | www.bandai.co.uk | sales@bandai.co.uk
Bandai UK’s latest Tamagotchi ranges feature fresh styles and evolutions. A new Tamagotchi version will make its debut in Q3, joining the Tamagotchi Uni and Tamagotchi Nano entertainment-licensed lines.
Series 1 of the iconic Littlest Pet Shop collectibles range includes 65 characters to collect. Each figure comes complete with the classic bobbling head and there are exclusive, never-before-seen pets. All packs and sets include themed pets, accessories, collector cards, leaflets and a redeem code for use within the new themed Roblox game.
Bandai’s ultimate Anime statue line, Banpresto, presents characters at differing scales and price points, while the Anime Heroes 15cm figures and Ultimate Legends 12.5cm action figures provide character versions of anime fan-favourites. The anime-centric and entryprice miniature collectibles brand, Chibi Masters, continues to surge in popularity, while Dragon Ball remains a key staple: Evolve and Dragon Stars action figures lend themselves to everything from mass playability to collecting and displaying.
Minix collectible figurines offer cross-demographic appeal, with key collections based on entertainment hits such as Wednesday, Stranger Things, Squid Game and One Piece. These sit alongside sporting legends including Rocky and Maradona.
A mainstay of Bandai’s hobby division, Gunpla’s Gundam model kits span varying levels of complexity. The SD Gundam entry-level kits are non-scale ‘Chibi’ versions of Gundam, with their shorter build time providing a perfect introduction to the hobby.
Bringing characters from across anime and gaming to life in miniature collectible form, the Shokugan range includes Kirby Friends and Animal Crossing flocked character figures, Spy X Family RelaCot figures and Mascot keychains. The Sanrio range includes cute character keychains, collectible figures and Moonlights. Bandai also offers cross-category toys for Sonic Prime and Miraculous, including collectibles, action figures and plush.
Pinky Promise introduces a new series of character-led, wearable gemstones with Pinky Promise Party. With 87 characters to collect in Series 2, each Pinky Promise can be attached to any jewel accessory within the range.
Following its relaunch of the Original Rainbow Loom last year, Bandai has introduced Loomi Pals collectible charm sets and kits. Expanding the adult hobby craze of diamond painting into the kids' market, Bandai’s Dotzies range of kit and canvas box assortments includes everything needed to create stickers, bracelets and keepsake pictures.
FidlBitz heralds a revolutionary new way to play using genius foam toy cubes. Combining open-ended sensory and interactive play with creative and STEM benefits, children can stack, link, shape and build endless creations with the FidlBitz cubes, which only stick to themselves. New food-play line ZapChef will also feature at the show, with hero SKU, the IceCream Tray, coming complete with all the equipment needed for children to make edible ice-cream rolls.
Bandai UK will be unveiling realistic models, toys and accessories for the timeless equestrian toy brand, Breyer. With a relaunch of the brand planned throughout the year ahead, the Breyer showcase will include the re-introduction of core categories including the Traditional and Freedom Series, as well as Stablemates.
662 662 | www.blissdistribution.co.uk | sales@blissdistribution.co.uk
Bliss Distribution is a dynamic company with a reputation for its rapid distribution of trading cards, collectibles, hobby accessories and more. The company prides itself on providing incredible customer service, both online and over the phone, and offers a small minimum order value of £150 within the UK or £200 outside the UK.
Bliss Distribution’s specialty is trading card games and accessories. The company now has an impressive catalogue of established and emerging TCGs on its roster. Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, My Hero Academia TCG, Universus, Topps/Match Attax are just a few of the card games stocked by Bliss, alongside card protection and accessories from Ultra Pro, Dragon Shield and Ultimate Guard. Bliss services toy and hobby stores across the UK & Ireland in time for release dates, and always offers extra support to stores looking to take part in organised play via its Organised Play team.
Following on from its extended portfolio of trading card games, Bliss has gravitated towards the Hobby sector, bringing on board companies such as The Army Painter, Steamforged, Mantic Games and WizKids to provide a huge range of RPG miniatures and paints to smaller hobby and toy stores across Europe. Alongside this, ranges of dice from Chessex Europe and Fanroll are now stocked, meaning that access to these products in the UK is now much easier.
The company also carries licensed plush from Club Mocchi Mocchi, showcasing properties such as Super Mario, Animal Crossing and Kirby. Bliss Distribution’s licensed product assortment doesn’t stop there, with plenty of accessories featuring Pokémon, Star Wars, popular anime shows and even more available.
Bliss’ focus is on helping independent retailers order small amounts of products, from leading manufacturers, all in one place. With its easy-to-use B2B website, featuring real time stock levels, customers can order and place pre-orders online or call the number above to speak to the company’s knowledgeable, dedicated sales team, which is ready to answer any query.
01279 442 528 | www.trade.thecaratshop.co.uk | info@thecaratshop.co.uk
The Carat Shop is gearing up for the Toymaster May Show 2024, where the company will be showcasing its latest collections of jewellery and gifts. As first-time exhibitors, The Carat Shop hopes to display its commitment to both innovation and quality, with a focus on enriching product ranges for retailers both in-store and online within the Toy & Gift sector.
One of the highlights of The Carat Shop's stand will undoubtedly be the company’s highly successful Harry Potter lines. Visitors can expect to see the brand-new collection of Golden Egg replica products, including a delightful gift tin with a hidden necklace and a charming Keyring and Pin Badge set. This expansion on the company’s existing Harry Potter offering caters to the enduring popularity of the franchise and provides fans with even more ways to celebrate their love for the Wizarding World.
The Carat Shop isn't stopping at Hogwarts, however: 2024 marks a year of significant brand portfolio growth for the company. Capitalising on the immense success of the 2023 Warner Bros. Barbie movie, the highest-grossing film in the franchise's history, The Carat Shop has introduced a captivating collection of Barbie jewellery and gifts. This range, which includes over 20 items alongside POS display options, promises to reignite excitement for the Barbie brand among all ages. With high-quality sterling silver pieces and exciting novelty jewellery such as bracelets, earrings and necklaces, the collection captures the essence of Barbie's iconic symbols and themes.
Tolkien's timeless fantasy epic, The Lord of the Rings, continues to enthral fans worldwide. The Carat Shop is bringing the magic to life with a brand-new collection of keyrings, necklaces and other gift items inspired by the series' most recognisable symbols and themes. Fans can look forward to adorning themselves with the Eye of Sauron, the Leaf of Lorien and the Evenstar, all meticulously crafted to celebrate the enduring legacy of Middle Earth.
Adding a touch of cuteness to the mix, The Carat Shop is introducing a delightful range of Pusheen jewellery and gifts. This adorable collection, featuring the world-famous lazy cat in various designs, includes hair accessories, keyrings and an assortment of charming jewellery pieces.
Holding some surprises back for later in the year, The Carat Shop also has an exciting new range of Wicked products slated for a later release in 2024, strategically timed to coincide with the arrival of the magical movie in October. This addition to the company’s portfolio promises to be yet another enchanting collection, and one that capitalises on the everlasting popularity of the Wicked franchise.
01244 940 200 / 07764 369 245 | www.skillmaticsworld.com
After achieving resounding success at the recent London and Nuremberg Toy Fairs, Grasper Global will be launching more new products into the UK and Irish markets under its two core brands: Skillmatics and Gouda Games.
Skillmatics enables children to build core skills through play with a wide range of products across card and board games, pre-school learning aids, puzzles, STEM toys and arts & crafts. Its team of global educators is actively scaling the brand with fresh games and learning activities, as well as expanding into new categories, such as outdoor and pretend play, arts & crafts and puzzles.
2024 will be the first year that Skillmatics has attended the Toymaster show, and the company has already received positives responses from members. Four lines are listed in all autumn/winter Toymaster catalogues: the Foil Fun Unicorns, the Foil Fun Animals, Guess in 10 Marvel and Guess in 10 Harry Potter. All four retail for £14.99 each.
Skillmatics offers independent stores a full range of arts & crafts, games and learning products with low SSPs and high yielding margins. Its goal is to provide meaningful play experiences for children with educational products and games through an extensive programme of new product development led by its in-house team of experts. Hot products to look out for are the award-winning Foil Fun range, Guess in 10 card game, Snip Snip creative products, Fun with Foam, Science Snippets, Poop Wars strategy game and family fun game Who Knows You Best.
Skillmatics has a fully integrated supply chain with selfowned manufacturing facilities ensuring the delivery of high quality, sustainably sourced products.
To find out more about Skillmatics and Gouda Games, contact David Kelly via the details above.
01253 766 411 | www.casdon.com | uk@casdon.com
Casdon is set to showcase a brand-new licence at this year’s Toymaster Show. Following from its best-selling lines of roleplay Dyson vacuums and hair styling products, the classic Henry and Hetty cleaning products and the latest De’Longhi Barista Coffee Machine, Casdon will be launching a new pizza oven and topping station under the new Ooni brand licence.
Set to hit shelves this summer, the collection will include the Casdon Ooni Koda Pizza Oven and the Casdon Ooni Pizza Topping Station. Always working closely with licence partners, the new toys are exact replicas of the real-life version and feature a flame-effect light that makes pretend play come alive, while also using recycled plastics.
The Ooni Koda Pizza Oven includes a miniature toy Pizza Oven made from recycled plastics, Pizza Peel and Pizza Cutter Wheel, all crafted to mirror their lifesized counterparts. Little ones can slide the six-slice circular pizza in and out of the oven, making their pretend pizzas.
Alongside the Pizza Oven, the Casdon Ooni Pizza Topping Station
is a must-have accessory for budding pizza enthusiasts. The set is made from recycled plastics and includes a Pizza Peel, Four-slice Square Pizza and a removable topping lid section. With a choice of six pizza toppings, mozzarella, pepperoni, basil, pepper, mushrooms and pineapple, and removable sauce pieces, little ones can mix and match flavours to create their dream pizza every time.
As well as the new Ooni licence, Casdon is set to showcase a range of updated products from existing ranges.
Expanding on the Henry and Hetty range, Casdon is set to showcase the new Henry and Hetty Brush sets. The new products are designed to fit little hands, making clean-up a fun game. Also added to the Casdon pre-school range is an updated version of the Casdon Pick n Mix Sweet Shop - the Casdon Pick n Mix Candy Store. Suitable for children aged three and above, the new Pick n Mix Candy Store includes everything little shopkeepers need to run their own candy store while learning through play. Adding more interactive elements, the Casdon Pick n Mix Candy Store comes with a rotating price wheel, sliding candy chute, two candy cups, a scoop, a play money set and real sweets.
07813 725 480 | www.dkbtoys.com | del.siddle@dkbtoys.com
After another successful year, Crazy Aaron’s is back for 2024. DKB will be showcasing its complete range, including four brand new lines that launch in May - Curious Kitten, Playful Puppy, Kawaii Cute and Magic Dragon. DKB is also previewing Crazy Aaron’s new Slime Charmers, which include uniquely themed slimes with different scents and textures. Each slime includes themed charms and textured mixers to add in. Details on range and SKUs, pricing and availability will be released at a later date, but the new lines from Crazy Aaron’s will be launching around autumn/winter 2024.
Launching this summer and being previewed at the May Show are new Monogram products. New Money Banks are coming, as well as new lines in the incredibly popular Blind Bag Clips range. New licences are set to launch this year alongside the extension of some of DKB’s most popular lines, including new Stitch and Marvel banks and bags.
Uncanny Brands continues to excel across the UK, and this year, DKB is introducing new ranges to the already popular homeware range. Alongside Pokémon, DC Comics and Harry Potter, DKB will be showing new lines, including Hello Kitty.
Also launching this summer and extending DKB’s homeware range is Stor. A catalogue of must have licences, such as Stitch, Bluey and Pokémon, across a wide range of high-quality tableware and drinkware, will be on show to preview before the upcoming launch. DKB will be the exclusive distributor in the UK, with bespoke exclusive opportunities on these value lines.
Crazy Forts continues to sell across small independents and some of the larger nationals, with a thriving online community found on Instagram. New lines have joined the range that encourage building, with the Master Builder and Mega Kit.
Wow! Stuff’s launch back in March saw a host of iconic licences being brought to life as Nano Pods. DKB will be showcasing the Wow! Stuff range, including Wednesday and the Wizarding World lines, as well as showcasing the hotly anticipated Real FX Stitch.
020 7298 9515 | www.winningmoves.co.uk
sales@winningmoves.co.uk
Amongst the many ranges Winning Moves will be showcasing at the Toymaster Show, the World Football Stars Top 200 Top Trumps range is a brand-new development under the World Football Stars umbrella. For the first time, all Top 200 players from around the world, across all leagues, will be coming to Top Trumps. From June, Winning Moves will be releasing six Top Trumps packs, one per month up until November, to increase the collectability of the packs. Each pack will contain 30+ players and a manager in premium, gold-foiled cards, and there will be a few in there that form part of the TTXI, Top Trumps’ very own best 11 players of world football.
Launching at the same time as the first pack in June is the World Football Stars Top Trumps Top 200 Starter Kit. This special edition contains the first pack, a small tuck box including 18 legends of the game, featuring Maradona, Beckham and Pele, a display case for all six packs, as well as a TTXI team sheet. The team sheet can be used for players to build their own team of 11 and battle it out on the pitch. As part of its launch plan for World Football Stars Top 200, Winning Moves is working behind the scenes on display options that showcase the range for off fixture space.
In addition, Winning Moves will also be showcasing its range of Stranger Things, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lilo and Stitch, Squishmallows and Super Mario products, many of which are best sellers. There will be a host of board games and card games to see, including Stranger Things RISK, Sonic the Hedgehog Whot! and Top Trumps packs of each.
Winning Moves will be offering its show deal of 5% off £500 orders and 10% off £1000 orders, with delivery by the end of June. Terms and conditions apply, and this deal is exclusive to Toymaster members. Winning Moves also offers free of charge merchandising solutions with stock orders covering a two-time fill.
www.cheatwell.com | sales@cheatwell.com
Lower Marquee
Cheatwell Games is offering Toymaster members a range of high quality, value for money products with great margins. Products that are designed specifically for the independent trade include a new range of Snakes and Ladders, themed with dinosaurs and farmyard animals, with a Christmas edition also available. There are also Picture Dominoes for the very young and an extensive range of classic card games that suit all ages.
Also new for 2024 is Keys to the Castle, a fast-paced, fun-filled simple strategy game where fortune rests on the turn of a key. Players race with their fellow knights through the castle, where behind every door awaits a surprise.
In the game of How Do You Doodle? everybody’s drawing the same, just differently. If some players are drawing a ship, others might be drawing a cruise. They will then have to guess what the other has
In Intergalactic Plumber, players are tasked with de-clogging the space lanes which have become gridlocked with asteroid fields. As they jaunt from rock to rock and, using their plunger to remove asteroids, they will gain points along the way.
Cheatwell is now the distributor of the Opoly range of games. Opoly covers a variety of interests, from dogs to dinosaurs, wines to zombies and cats to Christmas. Each Opoly comes complete with a themed playing board and cards, play cash and the obligatory themed metal playing pieces.
Tension, Cheatwell’s top-selling board game, has a new look for 2024. A race to name ten examples to a given topic, Tension is ideal for families as all age groups can play together. Each year, new topics are added to stay up to date.
The extensive Cobble Hill range of jigsaws has joined Cheatwell’s portfolio of puzzles. Each jigsaw comes with strong imagery, blue-board puzzle pieces and sturdy puzzles boxes with linen print finishes. There are over 130 styles to choose from covering every interest and preference. Roll-away mats, sorting trays, glues and other puzzle equipment are also available. Brambly Hedge and The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady are standout licences in this range.
Six new images have been added to the popular World’s Smallest Jigsaws range. Each puzzle comprises 1,000 pieces but is just A3 in size.
Prices have been frozen for 2024 and lowered for many of Cheatwell’s most popular titles. Cheatwell is also reducing its box sizes and removing single use plastics in its continuing efforts to drive down its carbon footprint. Cheatwell
01628 535 000 | www.spinmastertoys.co.uk
At the 2024 Toymaster Show, visitors to the Spin Master stand can find out about the latest promotions across its vast offering and those that are show-specific.
Spin Master will be displaying many of its latest releases which include the debut toy range from Unicorn Academy, as well as the Paw Patrol spin-off, Rubble & Crew.
In addition to the new offerings, also showcased will be Tech Deck 96mm Boards, Monster Jam 1:64 and 1:24 scale trucks and the spring/summer Paw Patrol theme, Jungle Pups.
Spin Master will have a number of POS materials available for customers to order, such as FSDUs on brands including Tech Deck, Monster Jam and Kinetic Sand, as well as permanent Paw Patrol Spinners and Tech Deck CDUs.
The company will also be showcasing further launches that are set to hit shelves during the second half of the year, including an exclusive early launch specifically available for independent retailers. Visitors are invited to visit the stand to find out more.
Baby Republic
lewis@babyrepublic.co.uk |
glen@babyrepublic.co.uk
Hello Kitty is Baby Republic's latest offering in partnership with ToyTopic. Distributed by Baby Republic, in collaboration with ToyTopic, this new range brings the iconic Hello Kitty characters to life in plush form. With meticulous attention to detail and a focus on quality craftsmanship, each plush toy represents a beloved character.
Leading the collection are the 30cm Hello Kitty plush toys, available in three colours: hot pink dress, red dress and blue dress. At a retail price of £9.99, these will be an affordable addition to a Hello Kitty collection. For those looking to take Hello Kitty on the go, the 16cm Hello Kitty plush keychain, in hot pink dress, allows fans to carry a piece of Hello Kitty with them.
Available in 30cm and 40cm sizes, Kuromi plush toys retail at attractive price points, £9.99 and £14.99 respectively, while the Melody plush comes in at £9.99 for the 30cm version.
In addition to plush toys, the Hello Kitty range also includes 7cm Squeezy plush keychains featuring Hello Kitty and Kuromi. These squeezable companions add an element of fun and offer both practicality and playfulness.
Baby Republic will also introduce Surprise Blind Capsules featuring 4cm Hello Kitty, Kuromi and Melody plush toys. Priced at just £2.99 per capsule, these blind packs add an element of unboxing anticipation to the Hello Kitty experience.
The Hello Kitty Plush range will be available from June 2024. For attendees of Toymaster 2024, Baby Republic is offering exclusive show offers, including discounted bulk pricing and promotional bundles.
(49) 911 75209 0 | www.bruder.de | info@bruder.de
After a late launch in 2023, Bruder’s Range Rover Velar collection is now available within the UK and Ireland. The collection includes a Leisure Version in blue, a Police Vehicle with police figure and an Emergency Vehicle with driver.
Bruder’s newly launched Roadmax series offers realistic play fun for children ages two years and above. The series includes a Dumper, Excavator and Wheel Loader. This summer, the series will also get a new companion: a Tractor with Trailer. The Roadmax series, with has the characteristic Bruder design, has been specially developed with robustness and easy handling. A variety of functions promote hand coordination and helps to train children’s fine motor skills.
New for 2024 are two tractor accessories: a Fliegl Barrel Trailer and the Lemken Cultivator. Both tractor accessories have been introduced alongside the new MB Sprinter Garbage Truck.
In spring 2024, Bruder will be expanding its range of agricultural trailers with the Lemken Grubber Koralin 9 and the Fliegl Jumbo Line Plus Barrel Trailer. The Lemken Koralin comes in 1:16 scale, just under 50 x 45 cm. Fliegl’s Jumbo Line Plus Barrel Trailer comes equipped with a towing hose system which extends by 75 cm.
Manoeuvrable small garbage trucks are becoming increasingly popular. Bruder Spielwaren is following this trend and will launch the MB Sprinter Municipal Garbage Vehicle in late summer 2024. Children ages four and above will learn about the world of waste disposal with the detailed vehicle and matching waste bin accessories, learning through a range of functions.
01225 442 608 | www.heyhugo.co.uk | hey@heyhugo.co.uk
Following a successful launch earlier this year, and with initial stock due to arrive imminently, the Hey Hugo team is ready for its very first Toymaster Show. Hey Hugo’s initial launch focuses on seven different unique designs, with each design having 12 different SKUs highlighting all the things kids love.
For the younger child, there are three designs: Dinoroar is a friendly dinosaur with a modern graphic print; Mission to Mars is made for the budding space explorer with an exciting design while with Magical Forest, children will find unicorns, birds and lots of colourful insects.
For the slightly older child, there are four designs: Level Up is the range for gamers to take things to the next level, the Positive Power range is all about being super positive, while the Top Score is all things football in a classic monochrome design and Jungle Life brings a pastel colour scheme.
Hey Hugo’s backpacks are ready to carry all the essentials, with a large main compartment, two-way zip opener and a secure internal zipped pocket. Two more zipped compartments keep belongings organised and there are two sturdy mesh bottle pockets. There is also a plethora of colourful designs, appliqué detail, a handy keyring and reflective safety strips.
The lunch bags come with a clip-on handle that can be attached to the matching backpack for easy carrying. Hey Hugo’s water bottles will slip nicely into the mesh bottle pockets. They are BPA and phthalate free plastic - reusable, leak-proof and kid-proof.
The A5 180-page notebook comes with a themed-shaped section at the front and a mix of plain, dotted and grid paper. It has a folder with tear-off notepad containing 70 sheets, sticky notes and tabs.
A complete stationery set with a reusable, zipped pocket contains an A5 notebook with 96 pages, two sticker sheets, a pad of sticky notes, a rainbow pen, six full length-coloured pencils, an eraser and a ruler.
Hey Hugo will also be exclusively exhibiting its second wave of products which will launch in Q4. Using many of the existing designs, along with a few new additions, Hey Hugo will have a range of children’s Activity Books, Sticker Books and Activity Packs, as well as further extensions into Jigsaws, Puzzles, Reward Charts, Mix and Match Card Games, and a few other surprise additions.
Kayes of Cardiff
029
Kayes of Cardiff will be featuring new lines and special introductory offers from Curious Universe’s range of craft and stationery products, as well as a selection of popular branded licensed items from Bladez Toys on its stand.
In conjunction with Orchard Toys, there will be new introductions for 2024, in addition to a Mini Games show deal for attendees only. The already popular Peter Rabbit range will be the main focus of the new lines on display.
The addition of James Galt to the Kayes portfolio this year has blended seamlessly with the existing ranges and added an extra dimension for the independent retailer.
Supporting the Toymaster May Show is a key element of the Kayes trading calendar, not only providing a valuable buying opportunity, but a high level of social entertainment and interaction between suppliers and customers which underpins the success of the event.
Kayes is servicing a vast number of independent retailers throughout the UK with branded and pocket money toys through its sales network of company representatives and agents, along with the sales team based at its Cardiff HQ. The recently launched Pocket Money catalogue covers the vast selection of unbranded merchandise that complements the variety available at Kayes.
In addition, Kayes will be re-introducing Playmobil this summer, adding to its selection of brands and suppliers,as well as licensed characters, which all form part of the comprehensive range offered.
The company specialises in servicing the independent sector, including toy shops, garden centres, visitor attractions, chemists and book shops, giving retailers of all categories the opportunity to access a plethora of major brands in small quantities at competitive prices. In addition, Kayes has vast experience in supplying Christmas grottos of all sizes and is happy to discuss catering to individual parameters required.
kevin@wickedvision.co.uk | paul@wickedvision.co.uk | www.wickedvision.co.uk
Upper Marquee
Wicked Vision will be returning to the Toymaster show this year in the Upper Marquee with an extensive range and show offers.
Visitors to the Wicked Vision stand will see its updated FSDU packed with market leading brands, including the Wicked Booma range, Sky Rider High performance discs, Mega Bounce Ultra-High Bounce Balls and more. Prices range from £5 to £30, with the range offering high value without skimping on quality.
The company’s newest creations are Attaxe and Bungee Ball. Children can improve their throwing skills with Attaxe, featuring three rubber-edged axes for safe, exciting play. With its hedgehog design and 14.5-inch diameter, Attaxe promises fun for everyone. Wicked will be launching its new Wicked Bungee Ball, which boasts a soft neoprene wrist strap and a stretchy cord that sends the squishy ball zooming right back. It's a test of lightning-fast reflexes and agility.
At Wicked’s stand, visitors will have the exclusive chance to be among the first to experience Attaxe, where they can try their hand at axe throwing and Bungee Ball, with special early bird prices only available at the Toymaster show. Visitors can also see the new, immersive Vodiac and Let’s Explore (STEM) range. Both are made for learning and entertainment.
Later in the year, there will be the re-launch to Wicked Vision – Brands with Purpose, to coincide with the 25th anniversary.
The UK sales team, Kevin Langstaff and Paul Sheraton, will be on the stand to meet visitors and talk through show offers. To book a specific time for a meeting, get in contact with them via the details above.
01903 885 669 | uk@smart.be Upper Marquee
The team at Smart Toys and Games will be returning to the Toymaster show this May, with a host of new products. Smart Toys and Games will be showcasing its Genius collection at this year’s show, which includes Genius Square, Genius Star and Genius Square XL. The Genius Square puzzle game invites players ages six and up to solve the challenge before their opponent reaches the highest level. The game has over 60,000 puzzle combinations over five difficulty levels, but there is always a solution. Genius Star is a fast-paced game for players ages eight and above, and ideal for the whole family to join in on. Players must race against their opponent to finish the challenge and take the win. Genius Star is a more challenging version of Genius Square; the colourful game comes with five different difficulty levels and over 160,000 puzzle combinations.
The SmartGames IQ series continues to grow this spring with the launch of two new titles: IQ Gears, which was selected as one of this year’s Toy Fair Hero Toy winners, and IQ Waves, which promises to make a splash.
IQ Gears challenges player to fit all the gears onto the game board. When players have the correct solution, the pieces will connect and the cogs on the side of the gameboard will spin simultaneously. In the all-new IQ Waves, players can choose from one of the 120 challenges to fill the grid by placing the soft-touch puzzle pieces in the correct location and orientation.
Smart Dog tests players’ logic. They can choose from 60 challenges, which vary in level of difficulty, all with one goal - to reunite the dog with its trainer. By placing obstacle puzzle pieces onto the game board, the dog needs to jump, hop and tunnel its way around the agility course to find the correct path. Playing Smart Dog Obstacle Run stimulates concentration, planning, problem solving and visual perception skills.
In 5 Little Birds, players must help the birds find the right position by clipping them to their correct location in the wooden tree using the clues provided in each of the 60 challenges. It is a game of logic and deduction for both kids ages five years and up and adults.
01628 488 944 | www.playmonster.co.uk | trade@playmonster.com
Upper Marquee
PlayMonster UK is looking forward to showcasing an impressive line-up at Toymaster with innovation across the board.
PlayMonster UK’s games portfolio has hilarious new games concepts joining the ranks. Fast Blast (spring/summer 2024) is a frenzied on-trend game matching colours and numbers which is quick, easy and fun. Following in the steps of 2023 success, Pigs on Trampolines, PlayMonster is introducing a new frantic action game, Flying Squirrels: Feeder Frenzy (autumn/winter 2024) in which players race to fling squirrels at targets on a bird feeder and collect the most nuts. Flying Squirrels is set to be a big success with the support of social, digital and TV. Playskool, the beloved and iconic brand, will be distributed and supported with newly developed baby and pre-school toys from PlayMonster. The new range will be reimagined and marketed to engage millennial parents and a new generation of kids. Highlights include the Classic Glo Worm with a new design and lullaby sound features, a selection of new Active Play pre-school toys, plus the famous Sit ‘N Spin classic activity toy, Elefun Ball Popper, and Stack ‘N Spin Busy Gears. The new Original MagnaTab is a Montessori-learning, sensory-based drawing tablet which uses magnets and a stylus to teach letters, shapes and numbers.
There is exciting innovation in the best-selling FabLab portfolio with unique new sets. FabLab Airbrush Styler (autumn/winter 2024) enables stylish fans to add cosmetic colour, patterns and freestyle shapes to their hair and body with an electronic professional spray machine. FabLab continues to glam and glow with the introduction of the new FabLab Jelly Glow Jewellery (autumn/winter 2024) created through resin-based light-up jewellery and hair accessories. Extending the glow range, PlayMonster is launching Glow-in-the-dark Glitter Tattoos, Hairlights and an all-in-one FabLab Glitter & Glow (autumn/winter 2024). Fully compliant, PlayMonster continues to use cosmetic bio-glitter in the FabLab range, test to cosmetic standards and is PETA approved.
The Spirograph portfolio continues to grow with Spirograph Doodle Pals featuring fun animal designs to create the famous Spirograph patterns and character art and Spirograph Envelopes, offering Original, Neon and Fun Shapes sets at value prices (spring/summer 2024).
PlayMonster is introducing new playsets to the magical My Fairy Garden Grow & Play collection including a range featuring large growing areas, more creative activities, decorations, lights and sounds, adorable woodland animals, unicorns and beautiful articulated fairy dolls.
0115 938 6444 | www.reydonsports.com sales@reydonsports.com
The 2024 stand from Reydon Sports will see a showcase of exclusive Nerf and Franklin Sports ranges with the newest products on display, along with a warm welcome to any retailer looking to explore Reydon Sports’ full range of sports, toy, leisure and outdoor. Working alongside Franklin Sports, Reydon is an exclusive B2B European distributor for the brand, including its Nerf Sports range with full support of Hasbro UK. Exploring a hybrid of sport and toy through products from Nerf, the ranges are distributed via Reydon’s UK distribution centre based in Nottingham.
The 30+ SKU launch for Reydon showcases a set of sporting product lines that fit into toy, sport, leisure and multiple retailers. One of the bestsellers for this year is the Nerf Pro Hoop basketball set that transforms any bedroom or living room into a personal basketball court. This premium quality, over the door hoop fits most standard bedroom doors and assembles quickly. Other products include balls, basketball, golf and tennis sets, along with the Howler range.
Reydon Sports will be launching Precision Play this summer, an extension of Precision Training. The collection consists of Junior Training Aids for kids, including Reydon’s hero line which is a Skills Trainer Ramp Rebounder and fully Rechargeable Light Up Football. The Junior range for Precision is retail packaged, suitable for any sporting goods or toy store.
To learn more about Reydon Sports and its upcoming ranges, get in touch via the details above.
020 8049 1377 | sales@epochmakingtoys.com
Billiard Room
Epoch Making Toys will be showcasing its full range of Q4 launches across all four brands at the Toymaster Show.
Sylvanian Families will see a new forest theme introduced for autumn/winter. Building on the brand’s key pillar of nature, the Secret Forest Falls features 16 different adventures and secrets to uncover and comes with an exclusive Husky baby. The set can be connected with the new Exciting Exploration Set and historical Family Adventure sets. In addition, new for Q4 will be the Seal Family with special flocking to create a seal-like fur texture, the Style & Sparkle Dressing Room, the Hamburger Stand and the Baby Mermaid Shop. The latter two will sit within the popular Amusement Park range, and the Baby Mermaid Shop can be connected to the Baby Mermaid Castle.
Following the successful launch of its Nail Studio sub-line last year, four new sets will be added to Epoch’s Aquabeads range in July. Enabling fans to create mess-free manicures using just water, the sets will include the Nail Studio Design ‘n’ Display Set and the Nail Studio Disney Princess Nail Designer Kit. Both come with a bow shaped case to store the nails in and use as a worktable. Also available will be two refill kits. Joining the Aquabeads line-up for the first time will be the Harry Potter Keychain Craft Kit and Harry Potter Creations Kit.
Also at the show will be Epoch’s new arts & crafts range, Pati-school. Exclusively available via Toymaster and independent stores from May, before rolling-out across all major retailers, Pati-school allows children to create, decorate and collect treat inspired crafts that all have a function - as memo holders, keychains and even a container to store keepsakes in. The initial range will include four sets – Party Creations Starter Set, Lavendar and Pastel Creations Kit, Pretty in Pink Creations Kit and Pastel Keychain Creations Kit. A further Disney Princess themed set will be available from July.
Within the Epoch Games portfolio, there will be 10 tabletop games under new and iconic licences: Minions U-Turn Bowling offers bowling with a twist and in Minions Hammer Pop players face off against each other to see who can hit their opponent’s Minion first. Three additional games will tie in with the new Despicable Me 4 film hitting cinemas in July, with AVL Maze Mission, AVL Blast Training and Hover Strike Battle. Five action-packed Jurassic World games come with either a selection of dinosaur cards or detailed, collectible dinosaur figures. The range includes Jurassic World Shaky Volcano, Jurassic World Cage Breaker, Jurassic World T-Rex Panic and two balancing games at entry price points: Jurassic World Volcano Quake and Island Quake.
0118 925 3270 | www.basicfun.com
bfuk@basicfun.com
At the Toymaster Show this year, Basic Fun! UK will be introducing brand-new IPs and innovation.
Launching this July, Micro Teenies brings together two trends: macro to micro and the desire for nostalgic brands, taking iconic characters and shrinking them to a novelty micro-size. Fans can collect their favourite characters, which come in miniature boxes, such as Care Bears, Lilo & Stitch and other Disney characters.
Cotton Candykins is a cotton candy-looking plush in a surprise-reveal cotton candy machine pack. Kids pop the top and twist to spin the cotton candy capsule, then remove the plushie, unwrap the cotton candy tail and reveal a character. They can then style and customise their Candykins.
On display at the stand will be the newest additions for Care Bears. Good Wish Bear’s fur is a swirl of blues, greens and purples and the True Friend Bear has multi-coloured accents and script wording around its belly. There is also the fuchsia Be Me Bear, as well as a new collab with Universal’s Monsters, that sees Grumpy as Frankenstein, Tenderheart as Dracula and more.
The Tonka Micro Metal Blind Surprise Capsules are just £2.99 RRP and there’s also newness for the Steel Classics collection, with Tonka Steel Classics Wrecking Ball.
For more information, contact UK Sales by the details above.
020 3598 5119 | www.jazwares.com
Squishmallows will be showing new collaborations with Pokémon, Harry Potter, Adopt Me!, Sonic, Stitch, Disney and Stranger Things, plus more to be announced. Brand new 3.5-inch clips, 5-inch, 7.5-inch, 12-inch and 20-inch Squishmallows will also be available, along with seasonal styles such as Squishmallows Celebrate Mallow Mash for Halloween and the Season of Squish for Christmas. Following the success of CoComelon HugMees by Squishmallows, Jazwares is bolstering the A+ pre-school portfolio with Bluey and Peppa for autumn/winter 2024.
Squish-a-Longs is the newest launch from the brand. Offering a new way to squish in fun, the 1-inch Squish-a-Longs introduce the micro trend into the Squishmallows portfolio. Created with unique soft and squishable plastic, the Squish-a-longs collection will launch with over 150 micro Squishmallows characters including rare and ultra-rare figures, driving the hunt for fans to find their favourites. Taking the Squishmallows brand to a younger target audience, the Squish-a-longs come with fittings that turns them into rings and stylish accessories to dress up the characters. The range encompasses blind packs, clip-ons, larger collection packs and carry cases that double up as imaginative playsets.
Pokémon continues its five-year streak as the No. 1 grossing media franchise of all time. Jazwares’ master toy range for 2024 includes figures, playsets, plush and other collectibles for kids, tweens/teens, kidults and collectors alike. From figure multipacks to new seasonal and select looks for collectors, highlights include brand new 8-inch plush and Sleeping Plush assortments.
The Pokémon 8-Inch Pikachu Plush with Poké Puff is offered by Jazwares a Toymaster exclusive. The snuggly 8-inch plush is made with super soft material and holds a Poké Puff. Featuring authentic details, this popular electric-type is straight from the smash-hit Pokémon Animated Series.
The Pokémon Battle Spinner Figures and Battle Spinner Arena set introduce a whole new way to have Pokémon battles. Kids can pitch Pokémon Battle Spinners in a head-to-head action battle in the arena. As players build up power in the poke ball, they send out the Pokémon Battle Spinner Figure and watch an exciting battle begin.
With more than 105m users and 9b play sessions, Royale High offers players a magical environment where fashion and style reign supreme. Jazwares’ Royal High master toy collection will feature figures, customisable fashion dolls and collectibles that bring the fabulous Royal High metaverse experience into the real world. Surprise features will unlock play experiences in real life and virtually with in-game integration. Fashion accessories will enable fans to style their characters with unique personalised looks. Each set will also include exclusive game codes for virtual items.
Inspired by the hit animated series for pre-schoolers, Jazwares’ innovative Spidey and his Amazing Friends vehicles and plush lines expand with new diecast vehicles and actionpacked Super Loop set in the Amazing Metals segment. The core vehicles line will see exciting new additions with the Spidey Rex-Racer that transforms from a car into a web-dart firing T-Rex, and the Team Split Racer 3-in-1, featuring the core trio: Spidey, Spin and Ghost Spider in 2x web cycles and 1x web jet
020 3417 6565 | www.craftbuddyltd.co.uk
Craft Buddy will unveil its upcoming line-up for the autumn and Christmas season at the Toymaster May Show.
The Crystal Art Buddies autumn/winter 2024 range features the launch of Buddies Series Four with a further 22 characters, bringing more fan-favourites from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, DC Superheroes, L.O.L. Surprise! and Disney.
Further new launches include the new Alchemy licence scrolls and new 2-in-1, multipurpose 200-page notebooks and planners.
Craft Buddy will present product ranges from its Christmas line-up, including a set of six themed styled Buddies with a loop and thread to hang as tree ornaments, XL Festive Gnome and Nutcracker Buddies, new designs of its popular card and themed scrolls and canvases.
The launch of its Crystal Art Junior kits focuses on the four and above age group, with bigger 12mm crystal gems and a large pick-up pen for placement of the crystals onto the card. There are three SKUs – Stitch and Angel, DC Superheroes and Simba from The Lion King.
The Crystal Art Mega Activity Set is suitable for children aged eight and above, available from early summer and offering a range of five items which include 10 stickers, a bookmark, a phone stand, card with easel and mini friends set.
020 3206 1397 | www.clementoni.com | clemuk@clementoni.com
www.justplayproducts.com uksales@justplayproducts.com
Just Play will showcase a catalogue of lines across multiple price points, formats and categories at the Toymaster May Show.
Inspired by the upcoming animated series, the Disney Junior Ariel toy range captures the underwater world. The Splash and Glow Doll has a rainbow water skirt feature that illuminates and dances to Ariel's signature song. The Bubbles Fun Doll creates a cascade of bubbles, whilst the Pop Tails Doll & Case has customisation options.
Under licence from Hasbro, the latest FurReal lifelike animals will continue the legacy of the range. Inspired by the goat yoga trend, FurReal Daisy the Yoga Goat shakes her tail, blinks her eyes and flows into real yoga poses. Still to be announced is another playful, furry friend who will deliver impressive realism and functionality this autumn/winter.
Just Play continues to keep its Disney Stitch line fresh, with new toys inspired by the beloved Disney property. Crack Me Up Stitch will bring laughter to Stitch fans of all ages. Children simply tickle Stitch to hear him giggle.
Fans can unlock a new way to unbox Doorables with the Squishalots Capsule Surprise Machine; they insert the coin and turn the knob to reveal a surprise. The March launch helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: A Phantom Menace, with Galaxy Peek packs and Galactic Cruisers to discover. The former offers 25 figures inspired by iconic moments from the saga, whilst the latter takes collectors on a ride through the galaxy, with characters piloting a cruiser, speeder bike or starfighter.
Clementoni will be presenting a host of new products for 2024 at the Toymaster show, with increased focus on the Infant and Pre-School category, with the Soft Clemmy and Baby Clementoni collections, as well as launches within Arts & Crafts.
Soft Clemmy is the soft play block range designed to create a sensory playing environment from babies’ earliest months onwards. The colourful blocks are made from a material that is kind to delicate teeth and gums, which can also be thrown and stamped on without any risk, allowing babies to safely explore. Soft Clemmy will be supported in 2024 by an increased level of marketing investment covering digital and social media, VOD, PR and partnerships.
The range expands in 2024 with the introduction of the Clemmy Cube, a five-sided activity toy with multiple textures to encourage sensory development and manual dexterity. The Sensory Train is a soft train with moving carriages, each with a different textured surface to stimulate the child’s tactile perception. The carriages can be joined together.
Baby Clementoni is designed to provide children with developmental support and fun as they grow, offering the right products for each stage of life. Talking toys and sound effects introduce little ones to early educational content through play. A highlight is the Tumbling Car Transporter, a semi-trailer that becomes a track for the car to race down, performing tumbling somersaults as it drives.
Following the success of Pen Creator Studio in 2023, the Idea! range expands in 2024 with Pen Mini Studio collector packs. Available in a CDU, these mini packs offer three themes, Fantasy, Monster and Tropical, and nine pens to collect. Also launching in 2024 is the Fragrant Flower Creator, with paper flowers to make and decorate to create an original scented arrangement. The kit includes everything needed to create different and colourful flowers, and by spraying a few drops of perfume on the petals, the flower will give off the desired fragrance.
Ty, the UK’s No 1 plush brand is excited to welcome some fabulous new additions to the Squishy Beanie family! Made from colourful, cosy fabric, we have two sizes of this highly collectable range available while stocks last.
This May, Wilton Bradley will showcase an array of toys and games at the Toymaster Show, each designed to inspire, educate and entertain.
PlayTray is made from food-grade plastic and is a versatile activity platform for kids' painting, sensory play and STEM activities. It features a spout for easy cleaning, detachable legs for compact storage and handles for mobility. Adjustable in height, it fits children of various sizes and moves easily through standard UK doors. The PlayTray is offered as a standalone table or in sets with Sea/Dino or City/Race play mats.
The Pop-Up Play Town range transforms standard UK doors into a role play area. Designed with creativity and ease of use in mind, this product invites children to create their own play spaces anywhere, anytime, fostering imagination and social skills. Consisting of supermarket, ice cream shop and theatre designs, and including accessories like paper play money, this new range is ideal for homes of any size, enhancing STEM learning through role-play while blending education with entertainment.
Wilton Bradley will be expanding its licensed product line-up this year with the Land Rover Defender and the Aprilia Motorbike. Exclusive to the UK, the brand-new Land Rover Defender ride-on combines style with functionality, with its authentic design mimicking the iconic vehicle and its cuttingedge features.
The Aprilia Motorbike Ride-on captures the essence of the legendary Aprilia racing heritage. This ride-on is designed to deliver not just the looks, but the exhilaration of a real motorcycle adventure, with its realistic suspension, precision engineering and attention to detail.
Also at the show will be the brand-new Xootz Magical Unicorn Ride-on, featuring a light-up horn, a hairbrush and carrot accessories, encouraging interactive play. Wilton Bradley’s Bumper Car range continues to resonate with consumers, and on display will be the Big Bumper Car, which remains an evergreen favourite and has inspired engaging consumer videos on platforms like TikTok.
The WaterWall has shown a 170% increase in unit sales last year. This success can be attributed to its engaging STEM features and simple, yet enjoyable, water play experience. Building on the positive reception of the Bubble-Go Scooters in 2022, Wilton Bradley has expanded its range to include the Bubble-Go Trike, which has met with similar success. The Scooter and Trike will be on show in both colourways.
07739 200 153 | www.toyway.co.uk | sales@toyway.co.uk
Lower Marquee
Bachmann Europe has been manufacturing and distributing model and hobby products since 1989. The product portfolio has expanded from its initial model railway ranges to now include plastic kits, model scenery, craft products, wargaming products and toys. Exclusively for the Toymaster Show, the Bachmann team has created some show bundles of its best-selling lines across its hobby and toy ranges. These are pre-selected and offer great margins and low RRPs. Show offers will be available across most of Bachmann’s products.
Bachmann’s range of plastic model kits and accessories is sourced from manufacturers from all over the world and covers a wide variety of genres and scales. The company provides high quality kits at great value to fulfil the needs of current and future generations of modellers. The show bundle will feature a selection of best-sellers, all retailing under £29.99, with further offers based on total spend across Bachmann’s whole plastic kit collection.
There will be two special pre-selected toy bundles covering Arts & Crafts or Creative Play, and these will include 3D photo print wooden puzzles, PepPlay children’s craft items, soft touch dinosaurs, knights on horseback collectibles and Toyway science toys. With average margins of 58% and RRPs all under £15, these products are ideal for holidays and travel.
For over 65 years, Günther has been developing and producing Anything that Flies! – classic children’s kites, dynamic stunt kites, model aircraft, gliders and a variety of airborne toys. Bachmann’s Toymaster Show offer is 10% off trade, subject to a minimum spend across the brand. In-store displays are available for some product groups.
The makers of Woodland Scenics have created a new realistic scenery gaming brand, All Game Terrain. Woodland has taken its top-quality scenery materials and is bringing them to the gaming world with an entire line of landscape products made just for gamers. Designed to ignite imaginations and makes tabletop terrains come to life, a neat in-store display is available with an opening selection offering.
01904 379 123 | www.canaltoys.co.uk
Building on the success of the bestselling Airbrush Plush range, Canal Toys continues its expansion by extending the Airbrush range with the launch of a new subcategory, Airbrush Art. The first product to be introduced into this new category is the Airbrush Art Activity Set.
The Airbrush Art Activity Set contains everything children need to create unique airbrush designs, including a batteryoperated airbrush gun, eight paint markers, 10 stencils, 10 drawing sheets and an instruction manual with helpful tips. The Airbrush Art Case doubles as a convenient storage and transportation solution, making sure children’s creations are always within reach.
Early indications from social media campaigns show that that the Airbrush Art Activity Set is destined to be a big hit, with parents sharing their children’s art creations online. The Airbrush Art Activity Set will be supported by extensive marketing, including TV, digital, influencer, PR and social media campaigns.
The Airbrush Art Activity Set is available now and will be on display at the Toymaster May Show alongside other recent launches including the Airbrush Plush Bucket Neon. Children can use the airbrush tool to decorate and style their plush with the washable, neon, chalk-based coloured markers. Stencils help kids further customise their plush by creating unique designs. The possibilities are endless: kids can either spray directly onto the fur or choose from 70 stencils to create wonderful patterns and designs, then simply wash and repeat.
There are three Airbrush Plush plushies to collect: Unicorn, Koala or Narwhal. Each comes in a handy, reusable storage bucket so they can be easily tidied away along with their accessories. The three plush characters start off white, waiting to be brought to life in the vibrant and on-trend colours.
Playmobil will be showcasing its highly anticipated Anniversary Special Edition Sets at Toymaster 2024. Embracing nostalgia, the Anniversary Special Edition Sets pay homage to Playmobil's iconic classics. With meticulous attention to detail, these sets offer an immersive play experience that sparks creativity and imagination in children of all ages, at great price points, for the run up to Christmas.
The sets include favourites such as the Playmobil Zoo, revamped with new characters and interactive features. Additionally, special edition Fire House and Police Station sets come with classic Playmobil items at great value pricing.
The Anniversary Special Edition sets are scheduled for release at the end of Q3, just in time for the festive rush and are primed to be one of the must-have toys of the holiday season. To ensure maximum visibility and accessibility, Playmobil is committed to providing robust retail support for its Anniversary Special Edition Sets. The company is also investing in a comprehensive marketing campaign spanning 360-degree channels. From captivating advertisements to engaging social media initiatives, the brand aims to celebrate its legacy and showcase the allure of the Anniversary Special Edition Sets to a wide audience. Retailers can also expect extensive marketing materials and support to drive foot traffic and boost sales during the holiday season.
www.puttypals.co.uk
paul@slimepartyuk.com
Slime Party UK will be returning to the Toymaster show for its third year. It has been a very busy Q1 at Slime Party UK, with a move into a new factory in Barnsley, growing the team significantly and launching the new range. This year Slime Party UK is set to introduce its latest collection, the Putty Pals.
The Putty Pals features 16 new sensory putties, each with its own character, from axolotls and peaches to hamsters and cacti. The putties are gently scented and with each sensory putty, there is a Putty Pal charm to collect.
To enhance the collection, Slime Party UK is introducing a new FSDU that comes with collector sheets. This display unit will showcase the entire range, making it easy for customers to browse and select their favourite Putty Pals.
Slime Party UK is also launching a comprehensive marketing pack for retailers. This pack includes videos and photos that can be used on social media platforms and websites, so retailers can easily promote the Putty Pals collection and attract customers with engaging content.
Orders placed at the show for the full collection will receive a free FSDU and 5% discount.
020 7254 0100 | www.university-games.co.uk
University Games will be showcasing all its best-selling lines at the Toymaster show this year, including The Learning Journey range and new launches for 2024.
The 40-strong Learning Journey range, available now, offers competitive price points with great margins. Focused on games, puzzles and toys for the key learning ages and stages from baby and pre-school through to 12 years old, the range includes a selection of high-quality electronic, sensory and construction toys as well as a complete series of educational games and puzzles.
Suitable for kids aged two years and over, the My First Match It! Counting Cupcakes, Heads and Tails, Things That Go and Dinosaur Friends 2-piece jigsaw puzzles help develop hand eye coordination, dexterity and problem-solving skills. The puzzle pieces are selfcorrecting: they only fit with their correct pair, encouraging independent play and building confidence. As youngsters progress, the Match It! Space Bingo and Alphabet Memory lines aid memory and matching skills as well as provide an initial introduction to letters. Further educational games in the series include Match It! 3 Letter Words, ABCs, Spelling, Counting, Mathematics and Rhyme. These educational puzzle games make fun foundations for school, helping kids become familiar with numbers, letters and sums whilst strengthening concentration and building focus.
Supporting the educational Match It! range is a fantastic line of quality puzzles. From the My Big First Floor Puzzles in Unicorn and Sleepy Sloth styles and 4-in-1 puzzle sets, to the Long and Tall ABC Caterpillar and 123 Rocket Puzzles, all are suitable for the youngest of puzzlers. Also available is a range of wildlife puzzles for kids up to 12 years old, including the beautiful shaped 200-piece Safari and Artic jigsaws. All The Learning Journey’s Puzzles and Educational Games are eco-friendly as they are made with recycled paper and soya-based ink.
The Learning Journey range is rounded out with a fun selection of electronic and sensory pre-school toys, including the Crawl About Butterfly, On The Go Controller and Telly the Teaching Clock, while the construction range features the ever-popular Techno Tiles, Gears and Marbles sets, which tick all the boxes for STEM toys.
The Learning Journey range will be supported by University Games with a full trade and consumer marketing campaign throughout 2024. In addition, University Games will have all its best-sellers on display at the show including Charades for Kids, Don’t Say It, Yes Know, Perudo and Who’s in the Bag, as well as new launches such as The Dog Ate My Homework, Dog Man’s 20,000 Fleas Under the Sea, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Rainbow Board Game and Floor Puzzle, and the fun and strategic Art Gallery board game.
Tomy will be showcasing new games for 2024, along with the company’s whole range of best-selling brands, including Britains, John Deere Kids, Club Mocchi Mocchi, Lamaze, Mood Bears, Fat Brain, Hey Clay, Aquadoodle and Megasketcher.
The newly released Medical Mysteries: NYC Emergency Room will be available to play. A new cooperative, story driven game for individuals, parties, groups and couples who love a medical drama, it is being supported with digital, PR and influencer activity until Christmas.
Alongside other new releases this autumn/winter – Clued Up, Hide & Squeak, Sandcastle Splat, Battle Royale, 5 Trax Move and Pop-Up Bluey – visitors to the Tomy stand will be able to play the fast-paced, risk-it-all travel game, 5-Up.
With a big year of football ahead, Tomy is also inviting visitors to try the latest innovation from the Fat Brain Toys brand, Foosbots. Available in single collectible packs, the two-pack travel pack or the ultimate Stadium version, Foosbots is a must-have for this autumn/winter. The best-selling Air Toobz, with its innovative air-powered play, will also be on display for visitors to play with.
A spotlight will also be on the new ranges from Tomy that appeal to consumers in the growing Kidult category. Building on the success of the huggable plush toys from Club Mocchi Mocchi, the range for 2024 will boast characters from TMNT, Kirby, Sonic, Halo, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Super Mario licences. Alongside this, Tomy will be showcasing its highly anticipated Warhammer plush. Characters in the line will feature the Warhammer Sacrosanct Gryph Hound, Nurgling Little Unclean One, Gnasha Squig and Spanna Grot.
Tomy will also be showcasing its programme of stylised collectible figures, directly imported from Japan and the Takaratomy-Arts team, Twinchees. With proven success in Japan, the US and ANZ, this range includes trending anime properties like Demon Slayer, Spy X Family, Chainsaw Man and more.
The brand-new multi-functional action sports line, Band-it Ball, can be transformed from a ball into a rugby ball and a frisbee by using a simple wristband. This brightly coloured ball will be supported with TV and digital campaigns across the summer.
0330 123 2559 | click@clickdistributionuk.com
Click Distribution is returning to the Toymaster Show this May with a number of new properties.
Pet Simulator 99 is currently in the top three games on the Roblox platform. This year, Click Distribution is bringing the gameplay to life with the launch of Mystery Pets Collectibles, Collectible Plush and Exclusive Bundles, all based around the latest instalment of Pet Simulator 99. This range will be supported by hard hitting campaign across YouTube, kids TV and social media.
Blox Fruits has been one of the most anticipated properties of 2023 and Click Distribution has a range of products hitting shelves in 2024, which will be expanding throughout the year. The range will also be backed by a social media campaign.
Biggies, one of the must-have plush lines for 2023, has expanded with the introduction of Little Biggies. Biggies and Little Biggies, the super-sized inflatable plush, are sure to exceed expectations this year.
Swapsies and Lil Swapsies are the world’s first interchangeable plush, hitting shelves in the UK and ROI in July this year.
Panini’s Premier League Collections are maintaining their success in the UK. Premier League Score, Panini’s dedicated hobby product for Premier League, has already hit shelves with great success. Last month saw the launch of the highly anticipated Stitch Sticker Collection, followed by all new England Tournament Edition Collections. To finish off the year, Click Distribution will release the brand-new season of Premier League Collections.
01420 593 593 | www.asmodee.co.uk
Asmodee will be showcasing four ranges at the Toymaster Show this May. These include Word Traveler, Dobble Mr. Men and Little Miss, Pear-Shaped and Harmonies.
Word Traveler is a cooperative party game that has a similar gameplay to the ever-popular Codenames and Concept. The aim of the game is to play as a tourist checking out the sights of a new city, armed with only a few words of the local language.
Players will explore four of the most-travelled cities in the world – London, Paris, Tokyo and New York. They will play out their itinerary to hit all their bucket list items, including iconic foods, exciting attractions, inspiring architecture and more. The locals, who are the other players, will do their best to interpret the clues to help get where they want to go. The game is broken down into two travel days, or rounds, and players need to collect all the city souvenirs to win the game.
Dobble has collaborated with the beloved characters from Mr. Men and Little Miss. Players race to match characters like Mr. Strong, Little Miss Sunshine and Mr. Grumpy. Featuring 55 illustrated cards of these well-known characters and colourful icons, Dobble Mr. Men and Little Miss offers a visual experience that enhances the classic game. However, what sets this version apart is its commitment to sustainability. The Eco Sleeve packaging serves to minimise environmental impact, using recyclable materials that are both eco-conscious and durable.
The objective of Pear-Shaped is to match the pear-shaped objects. Players must be strategic, getting rid of all their cards before the pear takes its final wobble, and the quickest to match with the card in the centre. Players can match by object, colour or number, but if there's an exact match, all bets are off, and it becomes a race against fellow gamers to grab the rocking pear.
Developed by Johan Benvenuto and illustrated by Maëva Da Silva, the Harmonies board game offers a blend of strategy, development and a connection with nature. Harmonies has innovative mechanics, with 3D landscape creation, tile placement and pattern development. The game caters to all preferences with both solo and expert modes, celebrating the combination between plants and animals. Unlike traditional board games that thrive on rivalry and power dynamics, Harmonies explores the necessity of harmony with an ecosystem.
020 8643 0320 | www.flairplc.co.uk | sales@flairplc.co.uk
From classic favourites to cutting-edge creations, Flair’s 2024 collection boasts a diverse range of products that cater to children of all ages and interests.
The Godzilla x Kong Toy Range is inspired by the legendary monsters of cinema and includes action figures and playsets to bring the ultimate showdown to life. With detailed designs and dynamic poses, children can recreate their favourite moments from the blockbuster film and embark on adventures of their own. Already a success in stores, the range will be on display in full at the show.
With over 100 years of heritage, Plasticine is still as strong as ever. Children can use the colourful and pliable modelling clay to sculpt, mould and stretch the imagination. Plasticine inspires artistic expression and tactile exploration for artists of all ages.
The original Stickle Bricks have been entertaining children aged 18 months and above for over 55 years. For little hands with big imaginations, the unique interlocking bricks allow children to construct creations with ease. With a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, Stickle Bricks provide hours of tactile exploration and building excitement for young builders.
Continuing the retro theme, friendly snowman Mr Frosty comes with everything needed to create frozen treats, including crunchy ice, fruity ice shapes and ice lollies.
To learn more about Flair’s brand-new licences and classic retro toy brands, get in touch via the details above.
