This week has seen interesting developments in the trade show calendar. First Clarion announced a London trade show in October. The following day the BPA announced that they too would be launching a Harrogate show in October. Both releases are below.

Since Baby & Child in October 09, there has been a deafening silence on what plans there were for an autumn trade event. Many companies need to know and plan in advance. Clarion is well known for its three Baby Shows held in London and Birmingham and directed at the consumer. They also have a lot of experience in running trade fairs in other industries. Filling this gap is an obvious move for them.

However, hot on the heels of this announcement, the BPA have released a statement saying they are in the process of planning an autumn event in Harrogate. The dates are yet to be confirmed. Harrogate has always been a popular destination for this industry, especially as the Spring flowers remind us winter is over.

Nursery Online understands that this event is to REPLACE the Spring event so bringing the industry down to the one trade show each year. This is something that many in the industry have advocated but there has never been any agreement as to when this single event should take place or when or who should organise it.

We live in interesting times!

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The UK’s leading events specialist will host a three-day B2B exhibition for the Baby and Nursery industry on the 10 – 12 October, at Olympia, London.

Building on the success of its consumer-facing The Baby Shows, Clarion Events is launching The Baby Show for Trade: a brand new destination event at the start of the buying season for the baby and nursery industry.

The Baby Show for Trade will take place between 10 - 12 October at London Olympia. It will be the focal point for trade buyers from both independents and multiples to buy new season stock, be the first to see the innovations to give their stores the edge and hear from inspiring speakers. This destination event will also host comprehensive training workshops in order that retailers' sales teams can optimise their in-store demonstrations for maximum sales.

Backed by a six figure marketing investment, The Baby Show for Trade will be the first event to put the needs of the buyers at its centre. Innovations include a dedicated Buyers' Club and Lounge; trade buyer advisory board; telemarketing campaign to key buyers and a Central London location with the best transport links in the UK and pubs, restaurants and bars on its doorstep.

Show Director Matt Miller is confident of the audience for the new show: "We are really excited about this launch and are delighted that we can present something really appealing to the trade. Trade buyers are time poor; they now have an opportunity to visit a destination which offers them not just a much broader offering of products, but they will also be the first to see the innovative new-season products this industry is so good at developing. The Central London location offers buyers and their retail teams a world class sourcing and learning opportunity without incurring international travel costs"

Having launched The Baby Show at Olympia in 2002, Clarion have steadily built a tremendous amount of goodwill in the baby, nursery and maternity markets. The Baby Shows now attract 75,000 new parents and parents-to-be a year across three venues. The high level partnerships, first class production values and professional organisation of the event mean the shows are recognised as among the leading consumer exhibitions in the world.

For more information, you can call Clarion Events on 020 7370 8200 or email Catherine Iredale at Catherine.Iredale@clarionevents.com

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The BPA in conjunction with Harrogate Nursery Fair are holding a joint trade show in October. The flagship event will be held at the industry’s favourite destination venue, Harrogate International Centre. The exact dates will be confirmed next week.

The UK’s leading nursery trade shows will combine their efforts and will draw upon the extensive experience and sector knowledge of both exhibitions to create the UK’s number one nursery trade event at the corner stone of the industry! The two shows have over 70 years combined experience in hosting nursery trade exhibitions. It will be the focal point for trade buyers from both independents and multiples.

Please note the Baby Products Association has no relationship with the Clarion event.

For further information and to book your space please contact Robert Anslow on 01902 671974 or email: Go to the Top                                                                                                                   Return to Main Page

The exciting new KWID wrist watch has made its mark on the retail market as a fun and funky way to not only educate young children in telling the time, but teaching them how to set time limits on certain activities.

With its unique hourglass function, kids can learn to manage their time better and not spend too much time on a particular activity. Parents love it because they can set the boundaries for activities, such as watching television, playing on the computer, or setting time before bedtime.

The vibrant KWID hourglass watch comes initially in two colours – pink and blue – with the green and yellow versions due on the market shortly. The digital screen can be switched into various modes – the hourglass, the analogue and digital clock, and funny animations. Time limits are set at the push of a button, and a beeper indicates the end of the time limit.

Ideal for children four years and upwards, the KWID is already being stocked by Jojo Maman Bebe. This innovative product has pedigree too, coming from the manufacturers of the successful Kidsleep and Globetrotter children’s clocks, which are stocked by John Lewis, Great Little Trading Company, Jojo Maman Bebe, Blooming Marvellous, BabySecurity, Smarter UK and childrenslighting.co.uk.

The watches are supplied in Point of Sale Racks that can sit easily on the pay counter or display shelf, and video Point of Sale units are available free with agreed order quantities.

For further information, click here or call 0117 915 9947

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Push, Spin, Rattle, Rock & Roll with Cosatto’s Hapi Babi Activity Centre complete with 11 features including unique walking disks to encourage walking.

Cosatto’s Hapi Babi Activity Centre will keep baby amused for hours with fun toys and musical light up shapes to stimulate their senses and fuel their imagination and help them learn.

Features unique walking disks to help baby learn to walk, which can be locked if baby’s legs are tired. A great alternative to a baby walker that is suitable for babies who can sit unaided but aren’t yet walking.

The walker has a 360º rotating seat so baby can access a fun collection of interactive toys to stimulate their senses and fuel their imagination. A music and lights station encourages colour and sound recognition, and encourages movement and dancing.

There are three mirrors to develop self-recognition and no doubt baby will love smiling at themselves. The toy bar has bright cuddly toys to aid in hand/eye co-ordination and enjoy soft textures, whilst a range of toys spin, push and rattle to stimulate motor skills and develop interactive skills, keeping baby happy and entertained.

The multi- position height adjustable seat – which can be locked – has an easy self assembly and can be folded flat for storage/travel with detachable legs and a comfortable, removable sponge clean seat.

For more information, head over to www.cosatto.com

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To assist consumers in making an informed decision about which product to purchase Britax have launched ‘feature & benefit’ videos for their six new pushchairs and also the large majority of their child car seats. These videos will not only help consumers but act as a great aid in training store staff on the key features & benefits of Britax products so that they in turn can be more supportive to their customers.

As one of the biggest general problems with child car seats is making sure they are fitted correctly, Britax have also gone one step further and created ‘How to fit’ videos for the large majority of their child car seats to support and aid customers when installing the seat within their car, plus giving them the opportunity to learn and understand how to fit the car seat as they go through the process of purchasing their seat too.

These videos are now already live on the individual product pages on www.britax.co.uk and already with certain retailers. If you would like to have these Britax videos linking into your website contact your local Britax sales representative and they will work with you to get these live.

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The new BEABA Pixie Night Light is suitable for use from birth giving of a soft and gentle light that reassures baby while sleeping.

The Pixie Night Light has been tested as a toy making it totally suitable for babies and toddlers to use and it can be carried as a lantern so that a child can find their way at night.

A button on the back of the night light creates a stronger light when pressed. Its cute but ergonomic shape makes it easy to carry and its design gives the effect of it being a character.

Fully rechargeable, the bulb is LED for energy saving efficiency.

For more information, visit www.beaba.com

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The Clevamama award winning Soother Tree offers a fast, simple and compact way for busy parents to easily sterilise soothers by using the convenience of a microwave.

Designed to take up to six soothers the Soother Tree has a clear lid and as well as being the fastest way to sterilise soothers also offers a great place to store them. As every parent knows, soothers have a nasty and expensive habit of going missing on a regular basis.

Using just 50ml of drinkable tap water in the Soother Tree soothers are sterilised and safe to use in just 60 seconds.

The Clevamama Soother Tree comes complete with two orthodontic soothers.

Health professionals recommend sterilising soothers, bottles and teats for baby’s first 12 months and recent studies have shown that babies using a soother during sleep time are at a lower risk of SIDS.

Clevamama can be found at www.clevamama.com and can be contacted by phone on 00353 1 877 0724 or by email at info@clevamama.com

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Market leading nursery multi-channel retailer, JoJo Maman Bébé has become a winner of three awards.

The awards in question are:

* Winner of the Leading Wales Award for Best Company, at the Hilton Cardiff and was a finalist in the Management and Leadership Skills Development Award.

* Winner of the Prima Baby Award for Best Baby & Child Online Collection

* Winner of the Prima Baby Award for Best Maternity Swimwear Collection

Launched 17 years ago in the height of the last recession, JoJo has survived against all odds as a private company with an ethos based on Social Enterprise. The company has grown year on year to its current size with a thriving mail order and web business and 25 stores across the country including new store openings in Kingston, Cardiff and Bury St Edmunds plus plans to add 5 more retail locations before year end.

“Growing organically, as a private company has been tough in the past couple of years but we are so proud of what we have achieved. It is only by gaining the support and enthusiasm of the whole workforce that we are such a winning team. We would love to pursue an aggressive retail roll out, but are conscious that we can not take undue risks with the business. Our primary concerns are with offering secure employment, excellent quality and great customer service. We will never compromise on these issues,” says a jubilant Laura Tenison MBE.

The JoJo Spring Collection is now available online, via catalogue or through the stores. To view the look book please visit www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

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Visitors to the recent Excel Baby Show made straight for breastvest’s stand after earlier seeing the product featured on ITV’s This Morning programme.

‘Mums had seen breastvest on TV and were desperate to get their hands on one’, said Sam Telfer, breastvest’s founder. ‘It was amazing to see them flying off the shelves’. breastvest sits below mum’s nursing bra and covers postnatal tummies, offering women a snug layer of support and modesty whilst feeding babies. Comfortable to wear, it’s held in place by specially-designed straps.

For more information, head over to www.breastvest.co.uk or phone 07920 748789

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The Toy Talk Awards 2010 are now open for entry. Any new product launches for 2010 are eligible to be entered for the Toy Talk Awards which celebrate excellence in the toy industry.

The first Toy Talk Awards in 2009 attracted a huge amount of entries with winners including Leapfrog, Dice Maestro, Spinmaster, Flair, re:creation and Crafty Kids – a real eclectic mix of companies. 2010 looks set to be a bumper year for entries, with even more award categories to strive for.

Toy Talk Managing Director, David Smith commented, “The Toy Talk Awards have real credibility as they are tested by children in all sorts of settings, from the home to nursery schools and even with child minders. The toys have a rigorous testing procedure with a number of children before the adult in charge reports the findings back to Toy Talk HQ. We then see which toys real children prefer! We love the fact new both new companies and large established toy industry names all compete for the winning entry on an equal footing.”

The Toy Talk Awards is a total internet experience – from downloading the entry forms right to the awards ceremony which is held live on-line! For more information see www.toytalkawards.co.uk

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New from Safababy are the BabyBanana toddler training toothbrush and the BabyBanana teething toothbrush, both designed to encourage good dental hygiene from an early age but also offering gentle gum massage and help when teething.

Both products were invented by a dental hygienist to help her own children and are recommended by dentists and hygienists in the UK.

The teething toothbrush is suitable for use from newborn up to around 12 months and helps to develop good oral hygiene habits from an early age. For toddler from 12 months the toddler training brush can be used with very small amounts of tooth paste.

The bristles are moulded and therefore cannot become loose. Because of the softness of both brushes they are very suitable for use as teething aids and the designs are especially appealing to little ones.

Both products are soft, supple and very bendable meaning that there is a reduced risk of mouth injury from the non-allergenic silicone that is BPA, latex and phthalate free. The brushes are dishwasher safe.

For more information, call 07730 309300

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The Jellybean Group, UK distributor of the couture Belly Bandit support belt, has been overwhelmed over the last few weeks by demand from retailers ordering in this must-have product.

Designed specially for ultra chic mums with tummy tightening ambitions, Belly Bandit is stylish and extremely impressive at helping women regain their former pre-childbirth size. Mums everywhere are asking retailers for the product especially since US Reality Star, Kourtney Kardashian appeared on TV and throughout the press wearing her own designed limited edition version, also now available through Jellybean.

For more information, phone 0207 1831153 or email orders@jellybeangroup.com

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SnoozeShade, the simple and safe alternative to draping blankets and other items over a pram or buggy to ensure baby gets the sleep they need, has been shortlisted as Outstanding New Product in the Women On Their Way Awards 2010.

In addition, rave reviews have been coming in from independent reviewers who describe it as ‘brilliant’ and ‘an invention I can’t live without’.

SnoozeShade has also been commended by baby sleep expert Andrea Grace, Mother & Baby magazine’s sleep expert and author of “Teach Yourself Baby Sleep”. "Snooze Shade is a lovely product which enables babies to get all of the benefits of a day time nap whilst they're on the move. It provides a darkened, cosy environment which will encourage daytime sleep even in babies who won't normally nap in the pram. Babies who are well rested during the day are more likely to sleep better at night."

SnoozeShade featured in the march issue of Prima Baby as a ‘Great New Buy’ and was awarded Gold for Most Innovative Product‚ by Baby London magazine.

SnoozeShade is the UK’s first blackout blind for prams and pushchairs and fits most popular models helping babies get the sleep they need away from home. It's simpler and safer than a draped blanket – and, above all, it works. Its patent-pending design shuts out the world to let sleeping babies lie and helps alert babies switch off. With UPF50+, SnoozeShade can be used all year round and, in its storage bag, is small enough to be hung off pram handles or kept in a change bag or buggy basket.

For more information on Snoozeshade contact them on 020 7183 6459 or email info@snoozeshade.com or see the website at www.snoozeshade.com

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Last month Hendrik Van Der Velde, from FunToSee, and Amanda Allerton from Dusky Moon visited the nursery trade show in Istanbul to support their mutual distributor, Opera.

Amanda reports: “With a population of nearly 76 million Turkey is already Europe’s sixth largest economy and represents significant trade and investment opportunities both now and in the long term in virtually every sector. With this growing population, the nursery market in Turkey is rapidly increasing with new shops and chains opening all the time.

“Hendrik had been to the show before and was really encouraged to see that it was much larger than on his previous visit, with stands arranged in three halls, one for shops and two for manufacturers and distributors. There were some fantastic products and brands to look at and Opera’s stand was constantly busy which was very reassuring and the interest in our respective products was really good.

“On our second day in Turkey, Ozan took us around several of the large shopping malls. They were incredibly clean and very modern and it gave us both such a buzz to see the Dream Tubes and Wall Stickers displayed well in each shop that we visited.

“Istanbul itself was a fantastic place, we managed to have a quick visit to the Blue Mosque and to the Topkapi Palace which were both incredible. With such friendly people and with so much to see, I hope that I will be able to take a holiday there on my next visit!”

For more information, visit www.duskymoon.com

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The Jackloc Company, which manufactures Jackloc™ window restrictors, has appointed www.fingershield.co.uk to sell its products, as part of a campaign to raise awareness in the domestic market.

Predominantly used for new build or as a retro fit in hospitals, university accommodation, hotels, offices, and other building and construction projects throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Australia, Jackloc is now available through www.fingershield.co.uk and its associated website www.simplesafetysolutions.com

Established in 1999, Fingershield Safety (UK) is now one of the largest suppliers of child door safety products to schools and nurseries throughout the UK. In addition, its own brand finger protection devices can be found in play areas, supermarkets, fast food restaurants, leisure centres, family pubs and private homes. Simple Safety Solutions.com was launched by Fingershield in April 2009 to provide a wide range of safety products for the home, specifically sourcing products which are designed to prevent commonplace avoidable accidents.

Chris Higgins, marketing executive at Fingershield, said “The Jackloc is a brilliant invention – it is well constructed and is an inexpensive solution to preventing children from falling out of windows, which is one of the most common type of accidents occurring in a domestic household to children under five years old. We are passionate about child safety at Fingershield and Simple Safety Solutions.com and welcome this product to our range of safety items for parents.”

For more information, head over to www.simplesafetysolutions.com

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The Hauck Capri is the new sporty stroller designed to take on life in the fast lane. Sleek in design, stylish in looks, its lightweight frame makes travelling with baby a breeze.

The Capri has a contoured seat unit which reclines to 152.8°, an adjustable footrest and a 5-point safety harness to nurture and care for baby on the move. The height adjustable handles are unique in turning through 360° to ensure the ideal position for Mum.

The Capri is available in an array of vibrant colours, ideal for those first Spring walks with baby. This superb sporty stroller will also convert to a travel system with the addition of the Hauck Carseat 0+ .

The Capri is available from stock now.

For more information contact Hauck on 01978 664362 or see www.hauck.de

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Dorel is today voluntarily recalling all Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix bases sold before 4 March 2010. The recall concerns a potential problem in the mechanical attachment of the IsoFix connectors to the base.

As a result, the base does not offer the child the desired level of protection in case of an accident. The problem, identified during a routine internal quality check, affects a small percentage of the total production. There have been no complaints or report of incidents.

Maxi-Cosi’s first priority is, as always, making products that help keep children safe. Therefore, owners are advised to stop using their FamilyFix base and contact Maxi-Cosi Customer Care on 01842 763281. No proof of purchase is necessary.

This advice is relevant only for the FamilyFix base, which can be recognised by the product name “FamilyFix”on the side of the product. It does not affect the EasyFix, EasyBase or any other product sold under the Maxi-Cosi brand name. While awaiting the FamilyFix check, parents can continue to use the Maxi-Cosi Pebble or CabrioFix infant seat with a regular seat belt.

Dorel sincerely regrets any inconvenience that this voluntary recall may cause and is committed to consistently delivering all of our products according to the highest quality standards. We take the trust that consumers place in our brands most seriously.

For more information, parents are welcome to contact Maxi-Cosi Customer Care on 01842 763281. Further information can also be found on www.maxi-cosi.com

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