The first 2025 edition of Progressive Preschool is out now, featuring a mix of trade show previews, feedback and more.
A lead feature in this issue is the feedback from 25 industry executives across all categories in the infant sector. In garnering their hopes and dreams for 2025, PPS was buoyed to hear the word ‘excited’ mentioned by 17 of them in reference to the year ahead, while it was pleasing how many times ‘opportunity’, ‘growth’, ‘innovation’, ‘ever growing demand’ and ‘new connections’ were also mentioned.
PPS was fortunate to get some time with the ever-busy, but ever-lovely Liz Ireland, founder and md at BigJigs Toys, to share the joy of the company’s milestone 40th anniversary in 2025 and its plans to celebrate.
Plant-based plush is a discussion point from guest columnist Steven Usdan, co-founder and coo at BioFuff, whilst the merits of Black Friday to the baby side of the market have been shared by NielsenIQ GfK’s Emma Wade.
PPS Award winning retailer Pingo Pongo took time to share it’s Retailing In Numbers, highlighting the merits of stocking ‘old friend’ faithful ranges including Le Toy Van and Janod amongst others, whilst observing other high street trends such as spike in fidget toy sales, alongside a reduction of ‘short term’ toys vs those products and ranges with longer life spans.
The upcoming trade shows have been previewed as the sector plans its diary and footwear for Toy Fair (London), Spielwarenmesse (Nuremberg to you and I), and Spring Fair at the NEC. The opportunities for retailers to get up close and personal with product is absolutely vital and so we urge every retail reader to spend as much time as they can at these respective shows. You can’t sell what you haven’t seen, so please – do go see it.
PPS can be found at London Toy Fair on stand B39. If you’d like to set up an appointment please email Jo Cassidy, using joc@max-publishing.co.uk. Don’t forget the open invitation to the informal drinks party, too. We’ll also be walking the aisles in Nuremberg, again for any appointments please email Rob using robw@max-publishing.co.uk, and finally Spring Fair, where the last of additional copies of this issue will be handed out to the more gift side of the sector. Yep, we’ll be there too, do shout if you want to meet.
And if the UK or Nuremberg isn’t exotic enough for you, you’ll also find as at New York Toy Fair – for which an advance look can be found on page 62.
