TRADE
OPINION
Trade talk
Calling all suppliers and distributors! We’d love to hear your views. Get in touch with Clare@lemapublishing.co.uk to have your say!
As we move through autumn, we quiz suppliers on the return to trade shows and ask them to share some advice for retailers in the light of shortages and price rises GAYNOR HUMPHREY Director Best Years If you have attended trade shows, how has that been for you?
We attended both Harrogate [Home & Gift Buyers Festival] and INDX Toys & Nursery Show [formerly the Independent Toy and Gift Show]. Both were very successful but also very different. Harrogate was significantly quieter than normal, with key suppliers and retailers choosing to stay away. However, the visitors who did attend came with the objective of stocking up, and we took more orders than we have ever taken at a trade show. In comparison, INDX Toys was a lot busier than we have normally experienced, with a definite increase in footfall, and this also converted into a lot more orders than we normally take. In terms of what they were looking for, retailers at Harrogate asked, “what’s new?” but at INDX Toys the emphasis had switched to “what’s in stock?”. How are you supporting retailers in light of shortages and price rises?
STEVE COX UK Sales Director, Keel Toys If you have attended trade shows, how has that been?
Autumn Fair and the INDX Toys & Nursery Show [formerly the Independent Toy and Gift Show] were a great success. With the difficulties in supply chain this summer, key customers “With the were keen to book business difficulties in - not only for the last quarter supply chain… but also for S/S22. Moving forward, this could be a trend key customers and make autumn fairs a were keen to book business - more important part of the buying cycle of the year.
not only for the last quarter but also for S/S22”
How are you supporting retailers in light of shortages and price rises?
Keel Toys are supporting retailers with great products, especially Keeleco, which is fast becoming the must-have sustainable soft toy. What marketing activity can we expect for Q1?
In-store support for the launch of Keeleco Adoptable World. What toy - new or old - would you like to find under the tree on Christmas morning?
A Space Hopper because I always bounce back!
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We have started rationing stock where we have issues, to ensure that a wide range of retailers can access the toys rather than two or three larger retailers buying the whole lot. We source from all around the world - Egypt to “This is going China, India to Sri Lanka - so we have been bringing to be a very in more toys from producers who are not in lockdown. Ironically, we are in a better position than different we could have been, because we helped out a lot of Christmas, our smaller Fairtrade producers earlier in the year so we tell all by buying way more stock than we needed. This retailers if we helped them get back up on their feet and has been don’t have the a lifesaver for A/W. toy you love, Where we have significant logistical issues is with love the toys we our dinosaur toys, so we are trialling road freight to get our toys in before Christmas. This is more have!” expensive than sea freight, cheaper than air freight and gives us a fighting chance of getting stock in by avoiding the congestion at Felixstowe. This is going to be a very different Christmas, so we tell all retailers if we don’t have the toy you love, love the toys we have! What marketing activity can we expect for Q1?
We are struggling to adjust back to pre-pandemic activity when we planned six to 12 months in advance, and now it’s our marketing which is just-in-time rather than our logistics. However, we always try to have something exciting for our independent retailers, so watch this space! What toy - new or old - would you like to find under the tree on Christmas morning?
Definitely a family game. Our family is eclectic and includes neurodiverse members, so a family game is a great way for us to relax together. Previously we have loved everything from Bop It to Rummikub, so any suggestions for this year’s game would be great!
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